Apple support/warranty is now subject to Service Providers' Discretions (Bottom-lines)
I gonna share my experience for you to decide.
I powered up my iPhone 6 and found some a smudge along the right edge, so I contacted the apple chat line and uploaded some photos for their evaluation. I was advised to bring it to a service centre, however, as the smudge looks strange I want to confirm if it was a claimable case before I spend my time. They couldn't confirm.
So I brought in the phone to A.Lab at Changi City Point, the counter staff claimed it was a pressure damage, however agreed to upload more photos to Apple Tech Support and escalated the case for further evaluation and advised me to call Apple directly after an hour.
I called the toll free line and an adviser confirmed that a replacement is possible after consulting his senior and advised me to speak to A.Lab and request a replacement.
I approached A.Lab and was told that the person in charge was on a break and advised me to come back in 2 hours. I returned in 2 hours and was told that replacement is not possible. And asked me to contact Apple support again on my own substitute phone, after explaining to another person in Apple support, he requested to speak to A.Lab. As my android phone was running out of battery, the call was cut off during the conversation between A.Lab and Apple.
Upon returning home, I contacted the Apple Chatline again as I has the recording of my first tele-conversation with Apple support. I was told to my shock, that Apple service provider has the full authority to refuse service even under warranty and as in this case A.Lab thought the screen was damaged by pressure. And my recording will not be entertained as it was not consented by Apple.
I was very angry not because the set was not replaced but to the evasiveness of Apple support and A.Lab.
If A.Lab thought that the screen was not serviceable then they should refuse me the first instance. However, they escalated the case and upload photos and advised me to call Apple Support. And this wasted more that 4 hours of my time.
And whatever advice/confirmation Apple Support gave can no longer rely upon as final decision rest with service providers.
Given the new contractual relationships of Apple and its service providers, I could imagine that the service providers would refuse as many claims as possible since they affect their bottom-lines. And Apple support would not intervene even for some grey cases.
Anyway, my iPhone screen seems to recover after I restored from backup and I swore to myself not to trust Apple warranty and pay to extend warranty cause the service providers would go all out to protect their bottom lines.