I think that this should be a "sticky" thread due to the prevalence of Applecare Scams on eBay. But in the absence of such a thread I am posting a private message that I sent someone in connection with a thread on buying on eBay.
I have also been scammed by eBay sellers offering Applecare. Sellers who e-mail the serial number resell the same serial number to multiple buyers.
Apple's online Applecare registration system will accept multiple registrations of the same serial number. The buyer thinks that the registration is valid and discovers a problem only when it comes time to use the extended warranty. By that time it is usually too late to contest the sale via PayPal or your credit card under their rules. And the scammer's eBay account is long-gone, either closed by the seller or eBay in response to buyer complaints.
Apple considers the first online registration to be the only valid registration; subsequent registrations are invalid. Apple really should update its system so that only one Applecare registration is accepted and subsequent registration attempts are rejected so that unwitting Applecare buyers are immediately notified of a problem with their warranty.
There are also reports of counterfeit Applecare boxes being sold on eBay. It's a jungle out there!
I only use my credit card when paying via PayPal. If PayPal refuses to do right by the buyer a credit card issuer will often side with the buyer. But I have read that PayPal account holders who exercise their credit card protection rights risk having their PayPal account cancelled.
Over the years I have consistently found the best Applecare prices at the L.A. Computer Company. When I checked around a week ago the price for a 13" MBP was $3 less than the Apple education discount. The L.A. Computer Co. is an authorized Apple reseller so you won't have a problem with an Applecare warranty purchased from the company. It ships a box to the buyer who then registers the warranty online using the serial number on the box. (The eBay counterfeit boxes typically lack any registration number...)
Considering the number of eBay Applecare scams I think that it is prudent to avoid buying Applecare on eBay. If a deal seems to be too good to be true, it usually is, so don't become another victim and listen to your intuition.
I have also been scammed by eBay sellers offering Applecare. Sellers who e-mail the serial number resell the same serial number to multiple buyers.
Apple's online Applecare registration system will accept multiple registrations of the same serial number. The buyer thinks that the registration is valid and discovers a problem only when it comes time to use the extended warranty. By that time it is usually too late to contest the sale via PayPal or your credit card under their rules. And the scammer's eBay account is long-gone, either closed by the seller or eBay in response to buyer complaints.
Apple considers the first online registration to be the only valid registration; subsequent registrations are invalid. Apple really should update its system so that only one Applecare registration is accepted and subsequent registration attempts are rejected so that unwitting Applecare buyers are immediately notified of a problem with their warranty.
There are also reports of counterfeit Applecare boxes being sold on eBay. It's a jungle out there!
I only use my credit card when paying via PayPal. If PayPal refuses to do right by the buyer a credit card issuer will often side with the buyer. But I have read that PayPal account holders who exercise their credit card protection rights risk having their PayPal account cancelled.
Over the years I have consistently found the best Applecare prices at the L.A. Computer Company. When I checked around a week ago the price for a 13" MBP was $3 less than the Apple education discount. The L.A. Computer Co. is an authorized Apple reseller so you won't have a problem with an Applecare warranty purchased from the company. It ships a box to the buyer who then registers the warranty online using the serial number on the box. (The eBay counterfeit boxes typically lack any registration number...)
Considering the number of eBay Applecare scams I think that it is prudent to avoid buying Applecare on eBay. If a deal seems to be too good to be true, it usually is, so don't become another victim and listen to your intuition.
