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Don't buy AppleCare on Ebay

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jpyc7 said:
I'm wondering how long Apple has to claim that a registration is invalid? (I haven't looked on their website.) Seems like if you buy Applecare code (from ebay) then the day you receive it is Day 1.

You register it on Day 2. Then 50+ days pass and Apple emails you to say it is invalid? Seems like you should complain to Apple about not telling you sooner.

If you did not register until Day 44 and then Apple tells you a few days later that it is invalid, then you have less to complain about. It sucks since I would think Apple should know immediately from their database whether the registration code is valid or not. My guess is that someone else has used the same number.

I've only bought Applecare once and got the box at the store, but I'd be interested in knowing whether there are some published guidelines on timelines for registering with Apple.
Click to expand...

Hi jpyc, thanks for asking and sorry, I did not tell the whole messy story:

I registered the code with Apple as soon as I got it (in February).
It was accepted by the database, however I never received a confirmation email and when I checked back the status on the webpage read 'processing request'.
(other people told me that it should be a matter of minutes.)

So I phoned Apple and they told me they had a database error. They offered to manually enter the code and I should receive an email - nothing happened...

So I phoned them again and eventually this got resolved and I got my confirmation email on April 7th that the registration had been processed and I am now the proud owner of an AppleCare Protection Plan Zertifikat.

My joy lasted until the 15th, when the second email arrived.

I am sick of this matter...
 
The seller that I bought AppleCare from just sent out an email a few days ago saying that they had issued a bad batch of codes which were being rejected by Apple.

Mine is fine, but reading this topic I am a little worried.
 
Detektiv-Pinky said:
Yes the seller is still active and is selling AppleCare contracts high and fast.

As I said he/she has 10,000 reviews.

And yes I contacted the seller, trying to resolve the issue as soon as I got this email from Apple - I got ZERO response ...
Click to expand...

i'm about to purchase Apple care on eBay from a seller with good feedback. Would you mind sharing the username of your seller so I don't get tricked too?

thanks
 
sounds like Apple messed up

Detektiv-Pinky said:
Hi jpyc, thanks for asking and sorry, I did not tell the whole messy story:

I registered the code with Apple as soon as I got it (in February).
It was accepted by the database, however I never received a confirmation email and when I checked back the status on the webpage read 'processing request'.
(other people told me that it should be a matter of minutes.)

So I phoned Apple and they told me they had a database error. They offered to manually enter the code and I should receive an email - nothing happened...

So I phoned them again and eventually this got resolved and I got my confirmation email on April 7th that the registration had been processed and I am now the proud owner of an AppleCare Protection Plan Zertifikat.

My joy lasted until the 15th, when the second email arrived.

I am sick of this matter...
Click to expand...

Definitely seems like Apple is at fault here. I would guess that the seller received 'bad codes' from Apple and then sent you one. After all, if the seller was already making a profit (with thousands of sales) he doesn't have any reason to start scamming now. OTOH, he has no evidence that Apple sent a bad code so he wouldn't want to send you a new code.

I hope you are able to get Apple or the seller to send you a new code that works.
 
I've registered at last 4 plans with apple that I've bought off eBay within tthe last six months and also used 2 of them. Never had a problem
 
Im also going through a similar situation. I registered and about 5 weeks later (or more) i get the email and of course i don't have the serial number because i only got emailed the code

I contacted the seller who was very surprised but gracious and offered me a refund+compensation for my troubles.

I'm not sure if i wan't to buy another code and i DEFINITELY won't buy a retail version. I'll just get rid of the computer when 1st 1 year warranty is about to run out

I personally think its stupid. Why not just ask for the serial number when you enter the code. Suppose i bought the retail version and binned the packaging (which i do for other stuff i buy) after the website accepted my code where would i be now?
 
Gasu E. said:
How is it that eBay sellers are able to offer Applecase at less than 50% of Apple's price?
Click to expand...

AppleCare is like any other product...it has a retail mark-up. Apple sells a $350 laptop AppleCare to a reseller for (and I'm making a guess) $200 or so. They can then sell it for a $10, $20 profit (or however much they want for it).
 
Contact your credit card company. Tell them that you were scammed, they might be able to do something about it. That is assuming that you used PayPal as a front for your credit card.

Don
 
I think this might be be the seller because there are a couple of negative comments a few pages in and he has the 10,000+ feedback count. I could be wrong though, the OP can confirm.

I am concerned because I bought Applecare from this guy. Guess the only way to resolve this is to email Applecare?

This is worrying though, as many people will leave the feedback immediately after registering. Apple really shouldn't email people saying they're covered then email them later saying they're not - can't they check the code out in the first instance? Seems like it is Apple that are making this scam easy, if indeed it is a scam.
 
Detektiv-Pinky said:
I have this gut feeling that somebody figured out how to generate Registration Numbers that the Apple registration website swallows and makes a fortune selling them cheap on Ebay.
Click to expand...

I always figured that they were, but that we didn't care.


If that wasn't the case, then how and why was the serial number first accepted by Apple? You got the "Congratulations. Thanks for registering Apple Care" message, didn't you? If Apple knew that your code was bogus at first, they would have rejected it on the day you tried to register it. I'm sure their system doesn't just accept any letter-number combination.
 
Abstract said:
I always figured that they were, but that we didn't care.


If that wasn't the case, then how and why was the serial number first accepted by Apple? You got the "Congratulations. Thanks for registering Apple Care" message, didn't you? If Apple knew that your code was bogus at first, they would have rejected it on the day you tried to register it. I'm sure their system doesn't just accept any letter-number combination.
Click to expand...

The same applies with the iTunes code fraud system - it could be that these apple care purchases were made with fraudulent credit cards - so Apple accepts the code initially, and then later when the card holders dispute the claims - they cancel these codes, leaving the buyers of these codes in the lurch.
 
So I'm curious. For those who got screwed by this, did you receive the AppleCare certificate in the mail from Apple?
 
Another reason I buy it from the retail store; I don't have time to deal with all these issues that may arise.
 
yyyyyeah why would you buy this from eBay. you should have buyer protection on eBay/paypal and you can still call up your bank and cancel the charges.


you should have checked that out before buying something, especially something as sketchy as AppleCare
 
michael.lauden said:
yyyyyeah why would you buy this from eBay. you should have buyer protection on eBay/paypal and you can still call up your bank and cancel the charges.
Click to expand...

OP did have protection, but it was only for the first 45 days and the AppleCare was canceled on the 52nd.

As with the bank, it's not as easy as calling; you need to provide proof of purchase and that means a box.
 
I purchased from the same seller in December apple care for my cinema display. just checked on apple support and it's still valid. I recommend a guy called macman1812 or something like that. Purchased apple care for my macbook pro last night and it registered straight away whereas mostly it takes a few days for registration to go through.
 
I have had good luck calling Paypal, and have had the 45 day limit waived, even for a transaction that was way over the 45 day limit. You need to speak to them directly.
 
Detektiv-Pinky said:
Hi jpyc, thanks for asking and sorry, I did not tell the whole messy story:

I registered the code with Apple as soon as I got it (in February).
It was accepted by the database, however I never received a confirmation email and when I checked back the status on the webpage read 'processing request'.
(other people told me that it should be a matter of minutes.)

So I phoned Apple and they told me they had a database error. They offered to manually enter the code and I should receive an email - nothing happened...

So I phoned them again and eventually this got resolved and I got my confirmation email on April 7th that the registration had been processed and I am now the proud owner of an AppleCare Protection Plan Zertifikat.

My joy lasted until the 15th, when the second email arrived.

I am sick of this matter...
Click to expand...

Dimwhit said:
So I'm curious. For those who got screwed by this, did you receive the AppleCare certificate in the mail from Apple?
Click to expand...

See my previous post.

I got the certificate email on the 7th of April (after some lengthy phone calls to resolve my stuck registration status).

The second email hit 8 days later...
 
hldomster said:
I think this might be be the seller because there are a couple of negative comments a few pages in and he has the 10,000+ feedback count. I could be wrong though, the OP can confirm.

I am concerned because I bought Applecare from this guy. Guess the only way to resolve this is to email Applecare?

This is worrying though, as many people will leave the feedback immediately after registering. Apple really shouldn't email people saying they're covered then email them later saying they're not - can't they check the code out in the first instance? Seems like it is Apple that are making this scam easy, if indeed it is a scam.
Click to expand...

I found the AppleCare team to be quite unresponsive.
I told them on the phone that I bought it on on Ebay and they did not care. I send them an email describing my problems - still nothing.

They just keep asking to send them the Serial Number or a paper receipt from a Apple Reseller.

I will give them another call on Monday - will keep you posted....
 
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