Don't buy AppleCare on Ebay

[clyde2801]

Did paypal ever change its policy where it only gives $2-300 of protection to buyers for fraudulently listed items? Makes you wonder who paypal does protect besides paypal.

I now only use ebay to buy smaller items cheaply. The scammers and con men have all but taken that site over, and they're now marching on craigslist. I can't count the number of times, either trying to buy or sell an item, where I got a response stating that he or she just happened to now be in the UK...

 

[tampaappleman]

You Get What You Pay For

!!!Just a warning!!!

I recently bought AppleCare for my iMac on Ebay. The seller did NOT send me the original Apple box for the contract.

6 days AFTER the PayPal protection for the auction expired - I received an email from Apple telling me that the Registration Number that I bought is null and void.
Unless, I also submit the serial number from the box or a paper receipt from an authorized reseller (see attachment in German).

The seller did not answer any of my email requests that I wrote.

Conclusion: Do not buy AppleCare on Ebay unless you also receive the Box...



+++++++Email from Apple+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sehr geehrter Apple-Kundin, sehr geehrter Apple-Kunde,

AppleCare-Registrierungsnummer: 5340xxxxxxxxx / iMac/eMac
Fallnummer: 122xxxxxxxx

Vielen Dank für Ihren kürzlichen Erwerb eines AppleCare Protection Plan. Gerne schließen wir die Registrierung für Ihren Plan ab. Allerdings benötigen wir dazu weitere Informationen von Ihnen. Bitte senden Sie uns eine der folgenden beiden Angaben bzw. Unterlagen:

1. Die Seriennummer Ihres AppleCare Protection Plan. Sie finden die Seriennummer auf einem Etikett auf der Verpackungsunterseite des AppleCare Protection Plan. Bitte senden Sie die Seriennummer sowie die oben aufgeführte AppleCare-Registrierungsnummer und die Fallnummer per E-Mail an acaa@apple.com.

ODER

2. Ein Kaufnachweis für Ihren AppleCare Protection Plan. Sie können den Kaufnachweis einscannen und per E-Mail an acaa@apple.com senden oder unter Verwendung des angefügten Deckblatts an (916) 399-7337 faxen. Geben Sie in beiden Fällen unbedingt die oben aufgeführte AppleCare-Registrierungsnummer und die Fallnummer an. Bitte beachten Sie Folgendes:

- Ein gültiger Kaufnachweis für Ihren AppleCare Protection Plan ist der Beleg, den Sie beim Erwerb des Plans erhalten haben, zum Beispiel ein Kassenbeleg. Darauf sollte Folgendes genannt sein: 1. Kaufdatum des Plans, 2. detaillierte Produktinformationen, 3. Gesamtpreis und 4. Informationen über den Apple Store oder den autorisierten Apple-Händler, bei dem Sie den Plan erworben haben. Wenn Sie den Kaufbeleg nicht mehr haben, fragen Sie bitte beim Verkäufer nach, ob ein neuer Beleg ausgestellt werden kann.

- Folgende Unterlagen können wir nicht als Kaufnachweis akzeptieren: 1. Dokument zum Bestellstatus, 2. Versandbenachrichtigung oder 3. E-Mail-basierter Kaufbeleg, der bearbeitet werden könnte.

Bitte senden Sie uns die Seriennummer oder den Kaufnachweis für den AppleCare Protection Plan bis zum 5/15/2009. Wir werden die Registrierung abschließen. Anschließend erhalten Sie von uns eine Bestätigungs-E-Mail.

Sollten wir die Seriennummer oder den Kaufnachweis für den Plan nicht bis zum 5/15/2009 erhalten, können wir die Registrierung nicht abschließen, und Ihr Produkt wird nicht vom AppleCare Protection Plan abgedeckt.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Abteilung für AppleCare-Verträge

A typical example of what happens when you are trying to go the cheap lane. It's like buying a Mercedes and not having the money to gas it up. Don't feel sorry for you...

 

[Music_Producer]

Correct, I buy the codes from one source and the boxed version elsewhere, my costs are different. For now I am getting boxed applecare for macbook pro which I can sell for $210, I usually get between 5 and 20 a week, if anyone is interested at this price, feel free to private message me.
As far as the auction for boxed applecare that I listed, the ebay auction # was 120428886694, as you can see, only 2 sold at $199 so it didn't really work out so well.

I am not sure how long that auction will be viewable on ebay so please check it right away as ebay gets rid of them after 2 or 3 months and you'll see this auction ran just a few days after i posted on the forum that I would be listing them.

Yup, Macman did indeed list boxed versions of apple care - of which 2 sold. At the risk of making less profits though, I think you should stick to the boxed versions - your distributor might be a fraudulent character and could seriously get you in trouble.

 

[nizmoz]

MacMan, this is Russ. Sadly Apple won't do anything for me. I have tried for the past week getting them to move it to the new machine from my old one with what I have and they keep denying me as they want a receipt, and a # off the box. I don't have and I asked you for. What can you do to fix this situation? Please let me know in email. If you can resolve this, I am sure everyone here will be happy including myself.

Wow, how the tides turn. I am being blacklisted and I didn't even know I did anything wrong. I have had to refund a few people because Apple has changed how they enroll plans. Their change appears to be random, but they do occasionally ask for a serial # from the box. I am not sure who NIZMOZ is, but if you are due a refund, or you would like me to help fix an issue, I will be happy to do whatever necessary to make things right.

I am still selling many applecares and most are going through fine, if there is an issue with enrolling a plan, I either fix it with apple for my customer or I issue a full refund.

I am sorry if I have caused any of my customers any problems, but if a customer let me know of an issue, I always answered immediately, so maybe NIZMOZ is having an email problem or something of the sort, but I have no record of an unresolved issue. Please send me a private message and let me know what is going on.

Correct, I buy the codes from one source and the boxed version elsewhere, my costs are different. For now I am getting boxed applecare for macbook pro which I can sell for $210, I usually get between 5 and 20 a week, if anyone is interested at this price, feel free to private message me.
As far as the auction for boxed applecare that I listed, the ebay auction # was 120428886694, as you can see, only 2 sold at $199 so it didn't really work out so well.

I am not sure how long that auction will be viewable on ebay so please check it right away as ebay gets rid of them after 2 or 3 months and you'll see this auction ran just a few days after i posted on the forum that I would be listing them.

Sell the boxed version for $180 and you will sell them. It only costs $10 bucks to ship via USPS in their free boxes you can get. Paying over $200 for the box version vs not is way too much between the two.

Right and per them without an invoice it wasn't sold by a reseller, so it was considered a bootleg copy. And since I didn't have the box either I was screwed.

It's from responses here that made me think you wouldn't do anything, and I am still unsure how you can. Sure you can give me another code, but what fixes the problem with me transferring it again if Apple ever needed to replace the machine again?

I am not sure how I am no where to be found, up until this morning I didn't receive any information on this, Nizmoz emailed me last night finally in response to my email to him. As far as a bootleg applecare goes, that's ridiculous, Apple will not swap an applecare from one computer to the next without an invoice, it doesn't matter if you buy it from me or from an authorized reseller. His situation would have been easy to fix by me if given the opportunity and actually still can be fixed if he communicated with me.

The applecare I sold him worked perfectly on his computer, he was covered, then he had a problem with that computer and apple swapped it out, how is it my fault or the applecares fault that he had an issue with a lemon computer. Apples policy to not swap applecare without an invoice is what created his problem, I am sure that he told apple he bought it on ebay and the "bootleg" thing was the "genius's" response.

Even after all that, I have no idea why this guy thinks I am going to leave him hanging out to dry. It is beyond me.

Brian (MacMan) is helping me resolve this situation. Just a FYI to everyone, he does seem to be a stand up person and will back his products. So he is helping me resolve this as I don't have a way to fix this situation at the moment. But I want a boxed AC since that is what Apple is asking for it seems. Without a invoice too not sure what will happen though. But at least it's better than nothing right now that it has.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

A typical example of what happens when you are trying to go the cheap lane. It's like buying a Mercedes and not having the money to gas it up. Don't feel sorry for you...

Wow, hindsight is such a wonderful thing. Why didn't you start telling this earlier when everybody recommended buying AppleCare of Ebay?

I never asked anyone to feel sorry for me.

 

[Music_Producer]

Sell the boxed version for $180 and you will sell them. It only costs $10 bucks to ship via USPS in their free boxes you can get. Paying over $200 for the box version vs not is way too much between the two.

He probably gets it for $180 from his distributor - ebay sellers don't really make boatloads of profit. Due to intense competition they sell at a minimal profit.

 

[guklein]

He probably gets it for $180 from his distributor - ebay sellers don't really make boatloads of profit. Due to intense competition they sell at a minimal profit.

You said you would buy the boxed version of AC promptly.
Done?
Let us know.

 

[nizmoz]

Guys, finally after dealing with Apple i was able to get them to move my AppleCare over to the new laptop. And this was MacMans AC. So I am covered till 2012. !! MacMan is a good guy and tried to assist me.

Look forward to dealing with MacMan in the future.

 

[feedmeister]

Guys, finally after dealing with Apple i was able to get them to move my AppleCare over to the new laptop. And this was MacMans AC. So I am covered till 2012. !! MacMan is a good guy and tried to assist me.

Look forward to dealing with MacMan in the future.

Nizmoz,

Thanks for letting us know how it all worked out. It seems like MacMan is great to work with if we have any issues. I'm definitely leaning towards buying from him very soon.

Thanks!

 

[DewGuy1999]

Guys, finally after dealing with Apple i was able to get them to move my AppleCare over to the new laptop. And this was MacMans AC. So I am covered till 2012. !! MacMan is a good guy and tried to assist me.

Look forward to dealing with MacMan in the future.

Thanks for letting us know that Macman812's AppleCare is a safe eBay buy. I'm curious, did Macman812 have a part in this resolution or was it because of your persistence with Apple that finally resolved it? Maybe you could detail the process so if anyone else has the problem they'll know what to do to get it resolved.

 

[nizmoz]

Thanks for letting us know that Macman812's AppleCare is a safe eBay buy. I'm curious, did Macman812 have a part in this resolution or was it because of your persistence with Apple that finally resolved it? Maybe you could detail the process so if anyone else has the problem they'll know what to do to get it resolved.

No he didn't. I just had to fight with Apple to get them to do anything. Not much of detail other than talking to multiple people multiple times, and got someone willing to do it.

 

[DewGuy1999]

No he didn't. I just had to fight with Apple to get them to do anything. Not much of detail other than talking to multiple people multiple times, and got someone willing to do it.

So, maybe Macman812 isn't such a great eBay seller. Thanks for filling us in.

 

[nizmoz]

So, maybe Macman812 isn't such a great eBay seller. Thanks for filling us in.

I would say, if he sells the boxes then no one should have a problem. If he just sells the code, then it's a 50/50% chance you might have issues. But MacMan was willing to work with you to resolve it by getting a new code.

 

[boston44]

Alright, call me an idiot, but please someone fill me in. I need AC for my 13 inch MBP. It's $183 w/ student discount at apple, should I just buy it from them or are the boxed versions okay? Am I going to need a receipt for repair saying I did buy it from Apple or Best Buy? Thanks.. Anyone know who a good seller is? MacMan?

 

[DewGuy1999]

Alright, call me an idiot, but please someone fill me in. I need AC for my 13 inch MBP. It's $183 w/ student discount at apple, should I just buy it from them or are the boxed versions okay? Am I going to need a receipt for repair saying I did buy it from Apple or Best Buy? Thanks.. Anyone know who a good seller is? MacMan?

IMHO, after reading this entire thread, I'd have to say that if you want no problem in the future, buy a boxed AppleCare from an Apple Store or an authorized Apple Reseller, like Best Buy, Amazon.com, etc. If you're willing to take a chance get the boxed version from eBay, etc. If you like to gamble then get the code only on eBay. Good Luck!

 

[boston44]

IMHO, after reading this entire thread, I'd have to say that if you want no problem in the future, buy a boxed AppleCare from an Apple Store or an authorized Apple Reseller, like Best Buy, Amazon.com, etc. If you're willing to take a chance get the boxed version from eBay, etc. If you like to gamble then get the code only on eBay. Good Luck!

Thanks, I only gamble in poker.. I think I'll just go with the Apple Store, so no one can accuse me of anything should I need service.

 

[nizmoz]

I kinda find it interesting that I would have thought MacMan would have been happy that this was resolved. Instead he ignored my email letting him know I got Apple to resolve it and no response.

 

[Music_Producer]

I kinda find it interesting that I would have thought MacMan would have been happy that this was resolved. Instead he ignored my email letting him know I got Apple to resolve it and no response.

He's a seller, probably gets a ton of emails a day. I'm sure he'll respond.

To an earlier poster - I'm still not decided on whether I'm going to purchase AC as I'm in two minds about keeping my MBP or selling it before the 1 year warranty is up - the lack of express card ports in the new MBP is holding me back from buying it.

If I do get the boxed AC - I'll let all of you know how it turns out (though I'm sure a boxed one should pose no problems)

 

[Macman812]

So, maybe Macman812 isn't such a great eBay seller. Thanks for filling us in.

Its a little unfair to say I am not such a great ebayer, The fact is that apple switched the applecare to the new computer, so the applecare was legit. I mean how critical do you need to be of me. I sold what was promised, how does that make me a bad ebayer DewGuy?

 

[a4cab03]

Hi All,

First post here, long time reader.

I just bought my first mac MBP 13 2 weeks ago on Ebay from a reputable authorized dealer at retail price but no tax. However, I took advantage of Bing live cashback (8%), ebay coupon (8%) plus ebay bucks (2%) and ebates (3%) cashback. That brought my total down to $950, a super great deal IMO.

I've been a windows user for ages and I'm glad now to be a mac user .

After reading this thread, I took my chance and bought a brand new sealed in box AC on Ebay for $135. The box did have the serial # on the outside.

I did not have any problem registering both my MBP and the AC. I also called AC CS and provided the AC serial# for them to verify and it was legit.

 

[nizmoz]

Its a little unfair to say I am not such a great ebayer, The fact is that apple switched the applecare to the new computer, so the applecare was legit. I mean how critical do you need to be of me. I sold what was promised, how does that make me a bad ebayer DewGuy?

Well guess you are happy.

 

[DewGuy1999]

Its a little unfair to say I am not such a great ebayer, The fact is that apple switched the applecare to the new computer, so the applecare was legit. I mean how critical do you need to be of me. I sold what was promised, how does that make me a bad ebayer DewGuy?

Well, maybe I misunderstood your earlier post, but didn't you say that you would help him with this? Apparently, you didn't and he had to fend for himself with Apple, luckily due to his persistence he got it resolved. Someone who is/was less persistent would've been left at a "loss". I've never heard of anyone having this problem with boxed AppleCare purchased from a Apple Reseller. So, draw your own conclusions.

 

[Macman812]

I kinda find it interesting that I would have thought MacMan would have been happy that this was resolved. Instead he ignored my email letting him know I got Apple to resolve it and no response.

I am sorry I didn't respond immediately, and I am happy its resolved, but I also have a 3 kids and a wife and a job so its difficult to respond to all issues immediately. I left the house this morning at 5 am and just got home now 9:34PM and I am responding. If this makes me a bad guy and a bad eBayer, then guilty as charged.

Well, maybe I misunderstood your earlier post, but didn't you say that you would help him with this? Apparently, you didn't and he had to fend for himself with Apple, luckily due to his persistence he got it resolved. Someone who is/was less persistent would've been left at a "loss". I've never heard of anyone having this problem with boxed AppleCare purchased from a Apple Reseller. So, draw your own conclusions.

Nizmoz didn't post the fact that I told him I would get him a boxed applecare for his replacement computer, I can forward you the email if you like. What more can I do then that? In the mean time, he worked with apple and got it resolved, does that make me a bad guy/ebayer?

By the way, if you have an applecare purchased from apple directly and you don't have a receipt or serial #, you will have the same problem.

 

[nizmoz]

Well, maybe I misunderstood your earlier post, but didn't you say that you would help him with this? Apparently, you didn't and he had to fend for himself with Apple, luckily due to his persistence he got it resolved. Someone who is/was less persistent would've been left at a "loss". I've never heard of anyone having this problem with boxed AppleCare purchased from a Apple Reseller. So, draw your own conclusions.

Let me try to help Brian here. He can not control what Apple does. He did offer me a replacement which I would have taken if Apple did not come through. I was trying to help us both by continuing to fight Apple to get this moved over which I finally did. Again it is not MACMANs fault for not helping me as he can only do so much. Not sure what else I can say.

 

[DewGuy1999]

Nizmoz didn't post the fact that I told him I would get him a boxed applecare for his replacement computer, I can forward you the email if you like. What more can I do then that? In the mean time, he worked with apple and got it resolved, does that make me a bad guy/ebayer?

By the way, if you have an applecare purchased from apple directly and you don't have a receipt or serial #, you will have the same problem.

Let me try to help Brian here. He can not control what Apple does. He did offer me a replacement which I would have taken if Apple did not come through. I was trying to help us both by continuing to fight Apple to get this moved over which I finally did. Again it is not MACMANs fault for not helping me as he can only do so much. Not sure what else I can say.

Okay, I'm getting out of this conversation. I haven't purchased AppleCare on eBay since 2003 so I guess I don't really have any business posting in this thread. I'm sorry I got involved with it. I'm sorry that I said/implied things about Manman812 that apparently are not true. Please accept my apologies. To anyone who's now reading this thread, please do not put any value in comments that I made in reference to Macman812 or his sales on eBay as I have no first hand knowledge of his sales and/or support practices concerning the sale of AppleCare on eBay.