pomdter, to repair any sealed refrigeration system like refrigerators requires advanced knowledge of refrigeration fundamentals, tools and brazing skills. One must be thoroughly familiar with diagnosing damaged refrigerators, separating electronic issues from the sealed refrigeration system. Compressor failure automatically means a tubing cutter to slice into two copper lines, possibly a third line too. The two main lines are to the compressor, the third line is to the filter/drier capsule. New parts are plumbed in and brazing skills needed to heat copper until red, flowing a brazing rod into the joints; high temperature soldering requiring MAPP gas in yellow canisters similar to propane torches. MAPP gas has mixtures to increase output heat for brazing. For a professional repair, one factory appendage on a compressor is coupled with a tap. This tap allows connecting an electric vacuum pump to evacuate this repaired system of air and any moisture. Refrigeration gauges are connected between pump and tapped line. Once all air and moisture is removed, final test reveals whether or not the brazing sealed this repaired system or not. If a vacuum leak occurs to allow air back into this system, the repair wasn't correct. Zero leak back means refrigerant can be installed per capacity specifications on the manufacturer's label. Done correctly, a repair is as good as new from the factory. The appendage is squeezed between the tap and compressor then carefully cut with the end brazed shut to create a permanent seal. The tap is removed. I cannot comment on (outrageous labor charges?) labor rates for repairs. A rough estimate is around 2 hours for compressor replacement. The labor rate given seems very high but I don't know how labor charges are assessed. Refrigeration repairs however, are nowhere near rocket science.