They didn't have the expertise nor care to do proper repair back even when they could. I had a friend in ~2006 take a Windows desktop PC to them that wasn't booting; they told her to buy a new (needlessly large capacity) hard drive. I took a look at it, and fixed it... by running CHKDSK.

> There isn't much repair to be done anymore.

I want to to qualify that as: "There isn't much repair to be done anymore at geek squad." Computer/cellphone repair is still alive. For example, pretty much anyone with some time on their hands and access to youtube can do cellphone screen replacements. I've personally replaced the screen on my phones 4 times, and the battery once, all without any training or past experience. Laptops are even easier since you don't have to pry a screen off.

That has been the case forever. Geek Squad and Co cater to most people - who won' t attempt even the simplest repair themselves. After that, yeah, the incentives are poorly aligned for the customer - when the repair business is also one of the main sellers of new hardware...

Why so many screen repairs?

Try as I may, I haven't been able to find a solution to the treacherous force of gravity, my local government has ignored my pleas for softer sidewalks, and I can't shake my addiction to dropping things. My most recent screen replacement was because I placed my phone on a table outside, foolishly not realizing that flat != level.

Isn't Best Buy doing (some) Apple repairs now?

Last time I checked they weren't doing any repairs on site. They would collect your device and ship it off to a service center.

They are indeed. Mostly screen replacements.