If you’re the proud owner of an iPhone 5, you’ll no doubt be aware the screen sports Corning’s Gorilla Glass, making it highly scratch resistant.

But if you’re this guy, or have ever repeated his stunt, you’ll have endured the sickening realisation that the iPhone5’s screen is no less crack-resistant than the iPod touch, iPad, or any other generation of iPhone.

If you drop your phone, there’s a chance that the screen – which is still made of glass – will break.

And that’s what happened to me while taking my phone out of my pocket while jogging (oh yeah) on Signal Hill last week (oh no).

Let’s assume for a moment that like me, you’re one of the lucky ones – that the inner components of your phone have survived completely undamaged.

Well, that’s great! “It’s not that bad, I can still see what’s happening on the screen. Texts still work fine, and I’ve never made that many phone calls anyway.”

Besides, it’s annoyingly expensive and time comsuming to get your iPhone repaired.

Why are we even having this conversation, then?

Because when you’re sitting in a meeting at work, and you begin to make excuses for your perpetually broken iPhone screen, people begin to get the impression that you’re not very good at life, and by extension, at work. If you’re fine with rolling with a spiderwebbed screen like a 15-year-old, you’re probably also fine with not cutting your hair, brushing your teeth, meeting deadlines, or glossing over line items in a list of deliverables.

Which makes repairing your broken screen something of a high level priority. But lets say for example that you’re a bush ranger – board room impressions aren’t a big deal in your line of work. Apple Doctor take care of the following problems:

– The administrative schlep: Their couriers fetch and deliver your injured iDevice from wherever you are. No need to burn your lunch hour standing at a counter.

– The cost of repair: They’ll match or beat their competitors, and they’ll do a better job. Besides, this is a necessity, unless you’re fine with sending out the message that you can’t control your life.

– Buyer’s remorse: Psychological spell associated with any kind of expense, especially tech-based. This problem is mitigated through the very real joy of unboxing your repaired iDevice. It honestly feels like you just got a new iPod/iPhone/iPad.

No, really. Check out the unboxing of my “new” iPhone.

Do yourself a favour and contact appledoctor.co.za the next time your iPod or iPhone or iPad needs a repair.

And now, just for fun, here’s a couple of guys melting an iPhone in acid.