Spares cost more than the phone!!

My son has a Sony Xperia E4 cellphone which he dropped. The screen is smashed but the phone still works so the LCD is ok. I have contacted the Sony repair center and a new screen costs R2500 - you have to get the whole LCD and screen, can't get a separate screen only. A new phone costs in the region of R2000 so please explain to me how it is possible that the screen only costs more than a whole new phone!!!<br> DO NOT BUY SONY PHONES AS THE COST OF REPAIRS WILL BANKRUPT YOU!!