Apple's support website still lists all authorized third party repair outlets, of which there are many in most cities. I've been recommended them before, it's

Apple's support website still lists all authorized third party repair outlets, of which there are many in most cities. I've been recommended them before, it's not unimaginable, and no, they generally don't send it to Apple (source: a good friend who works at London Drugs, which has a fairly good Apple-authorized computer shop inside of its various locations in Canada). If the laptop itself isn't serviceable (e.g. rare things like diagnosed catastrophic mainboard failure) they will just replace it from repair stock if it's under warranty. The top case / keyboard IS serviceable by most third party outlets to my understanding.