Did you purchase the phone with a credit card that includes "protection" of purchases from damage within a certain period of time?

Was the neighbor's son playing in the basketball game, too, or did he just come up behind your daughter and knock the ball out of her hand? If he wasn't part of the game, perhaps he should be paying for some of the replacement cost.

And, unfortunately, there's always the aspect of your daughter learning an unfortunate lesson -- that talking on the phone while playing a game (or driving a car, etc.) is never a good combination. If the phone still works as a phone, leave it the way it is. She doesn't need to see anything on the screen in order to make or receive a call.

I just had an Iphone 4 screen replaced a week ago. There are LOCAL much cheaper than Apple shops in many malls. Check it out. I paid $79..looks great! Took an hour. I just waited in the shop. It was a place called Gadget Guru or something like that.

You can probably find a cheaper one on Ebay.

You should also make her get a bulky rubberized case for it that will protect it when it is dropped.

I was also wondering about the case. I don't have a huge bulky case but it's protected the phone nicely when I've dropped it on things like a tile floor.

I was in the apple store once when poor little girl and mother came in with same situation. The guy who was helping them gave her a deal on fixing - $100 I think. That included a lecture on having a proper case.

I think I'd wait a while before having the phone fixed. Daughter needs to learn a lesson.

How old is your daughter?

Ebay-30.00

otter box case I would never give a child any expensive phone with out an otter box case on it ever. I had one put on my husbands phone the day I got it for him. They are the best, check out their site and their videos of dropping phones while climbing mountains. You can find them cheaper than on their site though. I got his at a kiosk in the mall but ebay has them. Be sure you get the one specific for the make and model so the holes all match up.
The boy should have to pay some too he interfered, as Judge Judy would say if step one had never happened neither would any of the other steps have happened. In essence he started the chain of events that ended in the damage. Your daughter was responsible for having a phone anywhere in the danger zone. Both of you were responsible for not putting a good protective cover on the phone day one. So the blame is shared here.
OtterBox
this site has otterbox and other protective covers for good prices.
OtterBox
the otterbox site

I don't think I would wait too long to fix it as others have suggested.. Especially if you live in a humid environment. A break in the case is just an invitation for moisture and dirt to get inside. I agree it needs a "protective" case...not just a "cool looking" one. I also would NOT buy a new screen that you install yourself. I know a pretty techie guy who can build a computer, but he found installing a new screen on his iPhone to be a real PITA. I also agree that if you have an Apple store nearby, they might do it for less if you GO IN and plead for mercy.

I will second...third...the Otterbox! Best thing ever for protecting a smart phone.

I don't think the neighbor boy needs to pay anything for the phone.

She went over there to play. He didn't do it on purpose.

Live and learn with those things, I guess. I haven't bought my kids smart phones. They just have the basic cell. Once they are old enough to buy their own (and they have) they can get them.

Jewels, so sorry about the screen, but reading down the replies, I just had to giggle when ravencajun said...." I would never give a child any expensive phone with out an otter box case on it ever. I had one put on my husbands phone the day I got it for him."
LoL I know she didn't mean she thinks of her husband as a child.......um.....anyway I don't think so....

DId it have any case on it? I have a rubberized one on mine, but it rarely gets dropped. DS(14) has an otterbox on his. He told me about 70% of the kids at school have broken phone screens. With the otterbox I have peace of mind with his.

or maybe I do LOL no but he is drop prone and the phones just cost too much to chance that. So yep he got an otterbox asap!
Mine has a case on it also by the way.

I also have the otter box on my iPhone. I've dropped it a few times n
It was fine.

Having broken mine.....accidents happen.

She is 14 and I have never bought my kids expensive phones until last week. I told her she is going to have to wait a while. We don't have an Apple store here, but I am heading to KC next weekend. I have made a list of all the stores around here and I am going to make her call them tomorrow to find out the prices. So far I've seen that it costs $199 for the repair and I didn't even pay that much for the phone. She had a NIke case on her phone, but after I get this fixed she is getting a more protective case put on it.

She is 14 and I have never bought my kids expensive phones until last week. I told her she is going to have to wait a while. We don't have an Apple store here, but I am heading to KC next weekend. I have made a list of all the stores around here and I am going to make her call them tomorrow to find out the prices. So far I've seen that it costs $199 for the repair and I didn't even pay that much for the phone. She had a NIke case on her phone, but after I get this fixed she is getting a more protective case put on it.

I imagine she really feels horrible about breaking her phone so soon....an expensive learning experience.

raven thanks! would the otter box fit into dh's holder on his hip? he hasn't dropped it yet that I know of but when he's out in some strange places (empty building checking elevators) there's always a chance...

the one I got my husband has a holster thing that the phone snaps into and he wears it on his hip. He loves that part. He did some how manage to break a part on it, I called them and they were incredibly nice, sent a new one right out. I didn't even have to prove ownership. I recommend them not just because it's a great product but also some of the best customer service I have dealt with.

edit to say that the one he has is the Defender series which comes with the holster included.

This post was edited by ravencajun on Mon, Jun 17, 13 at 1:42

Jewels: Until you can get to the Apple store and just want to cry over the bill, this article is certain to make you laugh. Have your daughter, read it, too -- she just might decide NOT to fix her phone!

Here is a link that might be useful: Washington Post on the new coolness of cracked screens

Sorry about the phone, Jewels, that's a shame. I hope it's not too pricey to fix. I just got my first smart phone and bought a cheap rubbery case for it because I'm easy on phones, but I did buy a tempered glass screen protector for it.

That's cute article in the WP, but it's a spoofy one, based on The Onion video, I think.

Might it be a good time to teach her a lesson by having her find a repair place and paying for it herself?

Well she called around the the cheapest she could find was $139.00. She probably called 12 stores in the Wichita and KC area and they ranged from $139 to $275. I must say that she and I both learned a lesson over this incident. I told her she must have an otter box when we get this fixed. She is having knee surgery in two weeks, so I guess I will get it fixed before then,.

Don't forget to call your credit card company if you paid that way. You might have a benefit there.

I did not buy it with a credit card. I did buy an otter box on Ebay for $13.95 in hot pink.

I agree with so many others. She didn't mean for it to happen. She probably feels really awful. I too would make her pay for it. I do that with my almost 14 year old. He's lost so many things. Expensive things. Most have been returned. He's paid for the last phone, bus pass, and will pay for the next pair of eyeglasses he's lost. So far, it's working. Since he had to pay, hm, nothing else has been lost.