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Don't buy AppleCare on Ebay
- Thread starter Detektiv-Pinky
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That only applies to UK education customers and to new items, not refurb. It's a great deal but it's very limited.
Unfortunately Apple will not accept this as proof of purchase from an 'Apple Authorized Reseller'
At least not in my case. Yours might be different...
Unfortunately Apple will not accept this as proof of purchase from an 'Apple Authorized Reseller'
At least not in my case. Yours might be different...
I read the heck out of the terms and conditions for Applecare and could find no reference to authorized resellers.
So we've concluded that macman is a great seller and safe to buy from correct? And app.holdings is not, right?
Any others?
Thanks
Like this seller: http://myworld.ebay.ca/480sherry/
nothing but positive feedback, and even repeat buyers! Surely someone would have said something if the codes didn't work in the end! Am I right?
Any others?
Thanks
Like this seller: http://myworld.ebay.ca/480sherry/
nothing but positive feedback, and even repeat buyers! Surely someone would have said something if the codes didn't work in the end! Am I right?
It clearly states that you bought AC from an unauthorized reseller.
This argument is stupid. So Apple is responsible for someone trying to break their codes?. Are you responsible for not having bank-style security windows at home if someone breaks in to steal your money? Software companies are responsible for internet piracy as they don't make uncrackable applications?.
There are two responsible parts here: the guy that sells the code and teh guy that buys the code knowing that is getting an unreasonable low price from a non-authorized reseller. Whether Apple tells you your code is crap on day one or on day 300, that's irrelevant. You knew that could happen as you bought from an irregular channel.
I bought AC from an authorized reseller, I have my box and proof of purchase and I am not worried whatsoever that this is going to happen to me in the next one and a half years.
Go to court and explain to the judge that you paid half the price for a product that wasn't even complete (as you did not get the box) and you paid that money to a non-authorized reseller on eBay. In your dreams the judge is gonna make Apple pay for your mistakes.
Go read the terms and conditions of Applecare. Find a requirement to buy from an authorized dealer.
I'm glad you enjoy your high horse so much. Many of us bought these items on Ebay long, long before there was any discussion of problems. Your argument assumes that the Applecare Ebay purchase was made now... after people had contract canceled and discovered the problem. A year ago forums such as this were full of praise for Ebay Applecare purchases. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say...
And yes, I am responsible for making sure my home doesn't get broken into. Who else would be responsible? I assess the risk and decide if I need bars on the windows or an alarm system. Then I live with the risk I decided I was comfortable with.
Yes software companies are responsible for protecting their products from piracy. Yes Microsoft makes their media with hologram looking disks to ensure consumers can tell they are legit.
Clearly you haven't spent much time in court. Things like you described happen every day.
What is the sellers/stores name? I want to buy an APP too but not sure which is the right seller.
So, if someone breaks into your house or steal your car, it is your fault for not protecting it?. I could only understand that if you leave them open or give the keys to someone else, but if you do what is reasonable to protect them, how could it be your fault?.
Apple is not accepting everyone's word to join AC: they ask for a code. If the code is cracked, are you seriously telling me that a judge would consider it is Apple's fault and not the cracker's?. Are you kidding me?.
And it is not a question of hindsight: it's common sense. If someone was offering brand new-boxed MBPs, "completely legal", for $600, would you buy one?. Why do you think they sell it so cheap. Really, can you give a reasonable explanation why "John Nobody" in the internet can sell much cheaper in eBay than Best Buy or Circuit City or Apple themselves?. I'll tell you why: it is a scam and anyone above 12 can see it.
And I know they were selling this on ebay for a long time, but never ever I would buy something like this from a guy I don't know.
I've mentioned this before, but apparently no one cares as long as they're getting something for cheap.
I'm a Apple reseller myself, and I double checked with Ingram Micro, Tech Data, other distributors and Apple themselves - they do NOT sell 'codes only' to resellers. It's not as though they have a manufacturing line where one line is for packaged Apple Care and one line prints out random codes.
Actually people on eBay *can* sell AppleCare cheaper than retail stores.. they just make lower profits than normal - BUT, this would only apply to the boxed versions. The 'code only' AppleCare is ridiculous (the Ingram Micro rep was actually puzzled and had to ask a higher dept. manager to see if they carried a 'code only' applecare!)
The way I see it is, the codes are either cracked, or they are taken from real packaged Apple care - and then a refund is requested after a year has passed or so. But again, as mentioned before, if Apple doesn't notice then people are willing to take the chance.
eBay apple care... WORKS FINE!
I bought my apple care on eBay and it's totally fine.
I never received the box, just a serial number. I entered that number on apple's site and it activated my apple care.
I even received a letter in the post from apple confirming it AND last week my power adapter died.
For the record I made an appointment at the apple store and they replaced it as the apple care I bought on eBay was fine and covered it. Just because you got a dodgy item, doesn't mean everything on eBay is. Oh and I also buy my mobileme on there and it works as well.
Cheers, Tommy
Apple Inc.
AppleCare Protection Plan Certificate
Mr. T Campbell
Thank you for purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan. This certificate confirms that you agreed to AppleCare Protection Plan terms and conditions and the Apple product(s) entitled for coverage.
Please keep this certificate and the original proof of purchase for your Apple products and the Agreement as they may be required if there is any question as to the product's eligibility for service under the Agreement.
Below you will find a list of products entitled for AppleCare Protection Plan coverage. Please take a moment to review it. If corrections are necessary or if you have questions please call us on 0870 876 0753.
Agreement Type: APP - MACBOOK AIR/MACBOOK
Agreement/Enrolment No.:
Coverage is now in effect and expires on 31/01/2011. The AppleCare Protection Plan is a uniquely integrated service and support solution that extends your built-in service and support coverage.
If you experience difficulties with the covered Apple product, please follow the instructions on the AppleCare Protection Plan user's guide before calling Apple for assistance on 0870 876 0753.
For complete details on the AppleCare Protection Plan visit www.apple.com/uk/support/products/
AppleCare Team
Apple product(s) covered under agreement:
Product Serial Number Contract End Date
MACBOOK (13-INCH LATE 2007)
I bought my apple care on eBay and it's totally fine.
I never received the box, just a serial number. I entered that number on apple's site and it activated my apple care.
I even received a letter in the post from apple confirming it AND last week my power adapter died.
For the record I made an appointment at the apple store and they replaced it as the apple care I bought on eBay was fine and covered it. Just because you got a dodgy item, doesn't mean everything on eBay is. Oh and I also buy my mobileme on there and it works as well.
Cheers, Tommy
Apple Inc.
AppleCare Protection Plan Certificate
Mr. T Campbell
Thank you for purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan. This certificate confirms that you agreed to AppleCare Protection Plan terms and conditions and the Apple product(s) entitled for coverage.
Please keep this certificate and the original proof of purchase for your Apple products and the Agreement as they may be required if there is any question as to the product's eligibility for service under the Agreement.
Below you will find a list of products entitled for AppleCare Protection Plan coverage. Please take a moment to review it. If corrections are necessary or if you have questions please call us on 0870 876 0753.
Agreement Type: APP - MACBOOK AIR/MACBOOK
Agreement/Enrolment No.:
Coverage is now in effect and expires on 31/01/2011. The AppleCare Protection Plan is a uniquely integrated service and support solution that extends your built-in service and support coverage.
If you experience difficulties with the covered Apple product, please follow the instructions on the AppleCare Protection Plan user's guide before calling Apple for assistance on 0870 876 0753.
For complete details on the AppleCare Protection Plan visit www.apple.com/uk/support/products/
AppleCare Team
Apple product(s) covered under agreement:
Product Serial Number Contract End Date
MACBOOK (13-INCH LATE 2007)
The house thing is an example. If you are not responsible for making sure your home is secure then who is? Apple is responsible for creating a system of codes that aren't easily cracked. If it gets cracked then they need to fix it, and you can bet that if it directly hit their pocket then they would.
It's Apple's responsibility to identify the cracked codes. If people find themselves in a situation where Apple only bothers to REALLY check out the code when it's about to hit them in the pocket, but they could care less to validate it when the customer registers it then they are at fault for that.
And yes it is hindsight. It is perfectly reasonable to think you can buy extended warranties WAY cheaper than the manufacturer sells them. I said it earlier in the thread. My families business sold extended warranties, and we could sell them... probably discounted 60% and still break even, and obviously the underwriter was making their money selling them to us.
At the time that a lot of these were purchased, the circumstances were different. You had:
-Sellers with 99.9% feedback on thousands of transactions
-The expectation of protection from Paypal buyer's protection
-The expectation of protection from your credit card company
-The expectation that if the code registered ok then the deal was legit
-Massive amounts of positive feedback regarding Ebay Applecare purchases on forums such as this one
Now, we know that Paypal won't back you up... The sellers might have sold a TON of these before anyone got burned... You credit card won't help because you will be too far out of the window for that... And we know that some people have had the AC coverage seem fine until many months later... And obviously we see the negative "press" on forums.
If you don't want to buy something on Ebay fine. I know lots of people who won't buy ANYTHING on Ebay, but obviously not all sellers on Ebay are dishonest. But you would have to be crazy to think that the above scenario didn't change the way that the risk was assessed a year ago vs now.
I think the moral of the story is to only buy a sealed box when you are buying applecare on ebay. Period, end o' story.
How many digits are the codes, is it somewhat reasonably possible for a fake code to match a real code? Unlikely, but let's say you bought AC via Apple but don't activate it for a week because you're busy. Meanwhile during the week a fake code is used for AC. You then try to activate your real AC code, would you get bumped or would it bump the fake code? Hmm, well the fake code would be looked upon by the system as real since it's identical to the real code. Hmmm, so hard to say which code would get invalidated, probably "real" since it was entered in the latest. The system would think an old code is being re-used??
Then what's happening is Apple's system is being too loosy goosy initially when people sign up saying ok to codes it shouldn't, then later it gets more strict and notices codes are bad?? Why would the system say initially it's good then later say it's invalid?
I am just wondering from the other side, as a few have mentioned, what are the chances of buying a real code and having Apple say that's not valid. Maybe AC not worth getting, and if Apple is selling to Authorized Resellers at 65% of retail, the actual cost of AC to Apple is say 50% of retail? If so, they are making 100% profit from AC, is that the typical mark up of extended warranties?
Then what's happening is Apple's system is being too loosy goosy initially when people sign up saying ok to codes it shouldn't, then later it gets more strict and notices codes are bad?? Why would the system say initially it's good then later say it's invalid?
I am just wondering from the other side, as a few have mentioned, what are the chances of buying a real code and having Apple say that's not valid. Maybe AC not worth getting, and if Apple is selling to Authorized Resellers at 65% of retail, the actual cost of AC to Apple is say 50% of retail? If so, they are making 100% profit from AC, is that the typical mark up of extended warranties?
I recently bought AC from macman812, registered it and received a certificate from Apple within 30 minutes. My serial number is "covered" according to Apple's inquiry page. Because I was under the gun -- forgot my warranty was due to expire -- I made the purchase before discovering this topic.
With no prior knowledge of these scams, I chose macman from amongst the other sellers based on feedback from others who had purchased from him, and no reported problems from them. His response here gives me a little comfort, but I'm conscious that I still have the full protection afforded by PayPal (well, perhaps not) and my credit card company. We'll see how it shakes out.
Under the law, one has no recourse for having purchased stolen or counterfeit goods, so I don't expect anything to be forthcoming if problems do arise down the line.
However, as borne out by my own experience, and others here, Apple's administration of their purchase/warranty database is deficient.
I purchased a brand new Mac from a major authorized reseller, registered it, and received confirmation back. On a whim, I checked the Online Service Assistant to find that a few months had already ticked off the one year warranty? No worries, I have the paper receipt, but I still want to correct the record, and not have to purchase AC until closer to the one year mark.
Evidently, errors like this occur frequently enough that they already provide instructions on the site on how to correct a purchase date by submitting a proof of purchase. I don't like sending documents into a void, so I call to speak to a human, who can find no record of my registration(?!), but is happy to help. I later receive an email confirmation of the corrected date....but the OSA now shows that it is for the day prior, so they were apparently not content to short me at least one day of coverage.
So, record keeping is obviously not Apple's forte. It's no surprise that they can't keep track of an extended warranty when they have problems getting the basic warranty down in the first place, never mind with fraudulent extended warranties in the mix. A simple 15 digit numerical code is probably not too difficult to crack; I was surprised that that is all is required to register a plan. There is $10 shareware with tougher codes.
I wonder what the next inquiry will return? Not confidence inspiring.
With no prior knowledge of these scams, I chose macman from amongst the other sellers based on feedback from others who had purchased from him, and no reported problems from them. His response here gives me a little comfort, but I'm conscious that I still have the full protection afforded by PayPal (well, perhaps not) and my credit card company. We'll see how it shakes out.
Under the law, one has no recourse for having purchased stolen or counterfeit goods, so I don't expect anything to be forthcoming if problems do arise down the line.
However, as borne out by my own experience, and others here, Apple's administration of their purchase/warranty database is deficient.
I purchased a brand new Mac from a major authorized reseller, registered it, and received confirmation back. On a whim, I checked the Online Service Assistant to find that a few months had already ticked off the one year warranty? No worries, I have the paper receipt, but I still want to correct the record, and not have to purchase AC until closer to the one year mark.
Evidently, errors like this occur frequently enough that they already provide instructions on the site on how to correct a purchase date by submitting a proof of purchase. I don't like sending documents into a void, so I call to speak to a human, who can find no record of my registration(?!), but is happy to help. I later receive an email confirmation of the corrected date....but the OSA now shows that it is for the day prior, so they were apparently not content to short me at least one day of coverage.
So, record keeping is obviously not Apple's forte. It's no surprise that they can't keep track of an extended warranty when they have problems getting the basic warranty down in the first place, never mind with fraudulent extended warranties in the mix. A simple 15 digit numerical code is probably not too difficult to crack; I was surprised that that is all is required to register a plan. There is $10 shareware with tougher codes.
I wonder what the next inquiry will return? Not confidence inspiring.
I think you totally missed the point here. The code might work for a while, until it doesn't. Without notice, the seller can ask for a refund or could have sold the same code to other people. As long as this other people don't need to use it, you might be fine, but when two different computers are registered under the same AC contract, problems arise.
Surely Apple are responsible if they are missing AC being used multiple times. It can't be hard to protect against this type of fraud(which I don't think is happening anyway because it is protected against).
Also, some of these sellers on ebay have been operating for years, so any fraud would of been brought to Apples attention years ago. Then all they would have to do is contact ebay officially and have these sellers removed. I think ebay would listen to a company as big as Apple.
One of the protection systems is actually contact the customer and ask for the serial number that appears on the box. A box that you don't have...
For them to be removed from eBay, it has to be proven that they are doing illegal things, which is not so clear. Apple would have to present evidence that they are sellig stolen codes, or cracked codes, because selling AC is not illegal. And they would have to do it on a one by one basis.
But Apple don't ask you to keep the serial number so how can they refuse you if you don't have it and are you saying Apple can't even detect fraud even if they are investigating if a fraud is taking place???
One minute your saying AC is being used multiple times, then stolen, then cracked.... which is it or is it all three????
RE: Don't buy AppleCare on Ebay
source:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/apple/index.html#d10jul2009
"I suspect I know why some eBay-purchased AppleCare registrations are being voided by Apple after initially being accepted.
I recently purchased an AppleCare plan (a shrink-wrapped boxed set from an authorized reseller) for a MacBook Pro. When I tried to use the enclosed registration code to register the computer on Apple's site, it came back as already in use.
I called the AppleCare line and spoke with a (very polite) representative. She asked me when and where I'd purchased the AppleCare box and for a second code from the box sticker. She spoke with "another department," and after some time on hold, told me the computer had been registered successfully.
I suspect that a scammer used a key generator to generate the exact same registration code and then sold it on eBay. When I called up and proved to Apple that I had the legitimate boxed set, I suspect that the person who'd registered with it before me was de-registered.
I would strongly recommend buying AppleCare only in a sealed, shrink-wrapped box."
Unless an ebay or other "email AppleCare seller" is willing to send you either:
- the box itself, or,
- the portion of the box that contains the "second" code as mentioned above, or,
- a fax or scan of the box showing the original and "second code"...
.... I will speculate that the overwhelming majority - perhaps 100% - of "email AppleCare" offers are essentially fraudulent: i.e., they sending code-generated codes or codes obtained by non-legitimate means.
Clipping off that part of the cardboard box that contains the codes, perhaps a sheet or two inside, putting it into a thin envelope, and putting postage on it, should add only $1.00 or so to the final cost of the sale.
I think most email AppleCare buyers would be happy to pay $1 more to ensure that the copy of AppleCare that they are buying is genuine and legitimate. After all, the seller _did_ buy a boxed, legitimate version of AppleCare for resale... right... RIGHT?
Any email seller who refuses to do this per the request of the buyer is suspect.
- John
source:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/apple/index.html#d10jul2009
"I suspect I know why some eBay-purchased AppleCare registrations are being voided by Apple after initially being accepted.
I recently purchased an AppleCare plan (a shrink-wrapped boxed set from an authorized reseller) for a MacBook Pro. When I tried to use the enclosed registration code to register the computer on Apple's site, it came back as already in use.
I called the AppleCare line and spoke with a (very polite) representative. She asked me when and where I'd purchased the AppleCare box and for a second code from the box sticker. She spoke with "another department," and after some time on hold, told me the computer had been registered successfully.
I suspect that a scammer used a key generator to generate the exact same registration code and then sold it on eBay. When I called up and proved to Apple that I had the legitimate boxed set, I suspect that the person who'd registered with it before me was de-registered.
I would strongly recommend buying AppleCare only in a sealed, shrink-wrapped box."
Unless an ebay or other "email AppleCare seller" is willing to send you either:
- the box itself, or,
- the portion of the box that contains the "second" code as mentioned above, or,
- a fax or scan of the box showing the original and "second code"...
.... I will speculate that the overwhelming majority - perhaps 100% - of "email AppleCare" offers are essentially fraudulent: i.e., they sending code-generated codes or codes obtained by non-legitimate means.
Clipping off that part of the cardboard box that contains the codes, perhaps a sheet or two inside, putting it into a thin envelope, and putting postage on it, should add only $1.00 or so to the final cost of the sale.
I think most email AppleCare buyers would be happy to pay $1 more to ensure that the copy of AppleCare that they are buying is genuine and legitimate. After all, the seller _did_ buy a boxed, legitimate version of AppleCare for resale... right... RIGHT?
Any email seller who refuses to do this per the request of the buyer is suspect.
- John
Heck, they could send the entire AppleCare package. It's only light weight cardboard, with a few sheets of paper and a CD inside. Amazon lists it as weighing 1.6 oz. According to the USPS a First-Class Mail Package would cost $1.39. Heck I'd be willing to pay an additional $3-5 to insure that I had authentic AppleCare. I can't imagine that most people would be adverse to this. I think the reason that it's not offered is because the AppleCare that's being sold via email code only is illegal, if not, then let the sellers offer the option of the buyer getting the sealed package as well as the code only.
RE: Don't buy AppleCare on Ebay
Source for the following:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/apple/index.html#d13jul2009
More interesting comments about "email AppleCare":
---------------
"I too bought two different Applecare agreements from a vendor on Ebay. The hundreds of positive comments convinced me that this was OK.
Weeks later (after I too had provided positive feedback after being hassled for it by the vendor) Apple rejected one of the agreements, and wanted the hard copy and additional numbers from the packaging. I opened a dispute with Paypal, and very quickly another number was provided by the vendor. But Apple wasn't having any of it, and the computer's one year warranty expired in the interim. Paypal ultimately upheld the dispute and refunded my money, but there was no way to "take back" the feedback on Ebay to warn others.
I wish Apple would provide some clear guidance on this issue. If Applecare numbers are being illegally "generated", this is a clear IP violation that would allow Ebay to shut them down quicksmart."
---------------
"I purchased Applecare on eBay for my iMac from "memorymate" an Australian company which auctions all sorts of computer peripherals. I received the registration code only from them as per the auction details, no box or contents.
I was able to register my iMac with Apple using the registration code, but it was not confirmed and placed on hold. After about a month I received an email from Apple saying that my code was invalid unless I supplied to them a receipt from an authorized Apple dealer for the Applecare purchase. I couldn't, of course, because I had not purchased it from an authorized dealer.
I then contacted memorymate about the issue and they responded that yes indeed, they had sent a faulty registration code and would shortly send another.
I never received the new registration code no matter how many times I contacted memorymate. eBay support was of no help either. It didn't seem to matter to eBay that one of their sellers was selling invalid Applecare products.
I lost the $87 I paid on eBay for Applecare. I ended up buying Applecare from the Apple Store at the regular price.
Lesson learned!"
---------------
It's becoming increasing evident that "AppleCare codes without the box" are - by and large - scams.
- John
Source for the following:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/apple/index.html#d13jul2009
More interesting comments about "email AppleCare":
---------------
"I too bought two different Applecare agreements from a vendor on Ebay. The hundreds of positive comments convinced me that this was OK.
Weeks later (after I too had provided positive feedback after being hassled for it by the vendor) Apple rejected one of the agreements, and wanted the hard copy and additional numbers from the packaging. I opened a dispute with Paypal, and very quickly another number was provided by the vendor. But Apple wasn't having any of it, and the computer's one year warranty expired in the interim. Paypal ultimately upheld the dispute and refunded my money, but there was no way to "take back" the feedback on Ebay to warn others.
I wish Apple would provide some clear guidance on this issue. If Applecare numbers are being illegally "generated", this is a clear IP violation that would allow Ebay to shut them down quicksmart."
---------------
"I purchased Applecare on eBay for my iMac from "memorymate" an Australian company which auctions all sorts of computer peripherals. I received the registration code only from them as per the auction details, no box or contents.
I was able to register my iMac with Apple using the registration code, but it was not confirmed and placed on hold. After about a month I received an email from Apple saying that my code was invalid unless I supplied to them a receipt from an authorized Apple dealer for the Applecare purchase. I couldn't, of course, because I had not purchased it from an authorized dealer.
I then contacted memorymate about the issue and they responded that yes indeed, they had sent a faulty registration code and would shortly send another.
I never received the new registration code no matter how many times I contacted memorymate. eBay support was of no help either. It didn't seem to matter to eBay that one of their sellers was selling invalid Applecare products.
I lost the $87 I paid on eBay for Applecare. I ended up buying Applecare from the Apple Store at the regular price.
Lesson learned!"
---------------
It's becoming increasing evident that "AppleCare codes without the box" are - by and large - scams.
- John
I have to agree. I purchased AppleCare for my parents MBP from eBay, but I made sure it came with the box (it was a christmas present). It's like buying a CD. I prefer to purchase CD's with the insleeve and packaging rather than downloads, because I want to have something physical in my hand.
Whenever any purchase is made (mainly online), always remember "If it's too good to be true, it always is" and "Caveat emptor".
- Status