I learned of the e-bay Applecare programs from this site. Applecare is something I normally wouldn't buy, but the e-bay price is quite attractive. Is there any downside or watchouts on buying this off e-bay?
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Downsides to e-bay Applecare?
- Thread starter fredhargis
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If the price is quite attractive (significantly lower than what Apple sells it for or what the authorized Apple dealers on the web are charging) I would stay away from it.
Even if the seller accepts PayPal, you can still lose money. Using PayPal or even a credit card is no guaranty that you won't be out $$$. Think of it this way... you buy Applecare from an eBay seller and 6 months from now your Mac needs to be repaired. You find out Apple will not honor what you purchased. You're screwed.
Regards.
In all of the threads like this (which seem to pop up weekly, with lots of people saying they've bought AppleCare from eBay), I've never heard of that happening. Do you have a link to a story or anything?
FWIW, most eBay AppleCare sales have always been significantly lower in price than Apple or Apple authorized resellers sell it for.
Just excercise due diligence and you will be fine. I've purchased ebay Applecare contracts for my wife's Ipod and my mother's macbook.
In both cases I confirmed the apple part number with the seller. That is the biggest risk, that you will buy the wrong applecare product.
other than that, the cautions that some people said above are simply incorrect.
If you use a credit card you ARE guaranteed not to lose money. It may take you a bit of time to set up the dispute, but you WILL get your money back.
Pretty much the same it true for paypal. I recently disputed some VMWare fusion I purchased. It was advertised as unopened and was in fact opened and used. I disputed it via Paypal and got all my money back. Including shipping.
Your case will be much weaker if you legitimately purchase the wrong product. So like I said, confirm what the correct part number is on apple.com and confirm the seller's number, and you hsould be fine.
Also, once you get the applecare, call apple to activate it. Then you will know if you have a problem. dont try to finesse it by waiting until you have a problem.
In both cases I confirmed the apple part number with the seller. That is the biggest risk, that you will buy the wrong applecare product.
other than that, the cautions that some people said above are simply incorrect.
If you use a credit card you ARE guaranteed not to lose money. It may take you a bit of time to set up the dispute, but you WILL get your money back.
Pretty much the same it true for paypal. I recently disputed some VMWare fusion I purchased. It was advertised as unopened and was in fact opened and used. I disputed it via Paypal and got all my money back. Including shipping.
Your case will be much weaker if you legitimately purchase the wrong product. So like I said, confirm what the correct part number is on apple.com and confirm the seller's number, and you hsould be fine.
Also, once you get the applecare, call apple to activate it. Then you will know if you have a problem. dont try to finesse it by waiting until you have a problem.
I don't think there is a down side. I got my mac mini plan from an ebay seller for a great discount. I called apple before I bought it and they said as long as it was sealed in box that it was just like buying it from the apple store.
I think they buy them in lots, like at a store closure. Probably an apple reseller, not an "apple" store. The plans come in a sealed box you know.
Thanks to all for your opinions. I think I'll go ahead and get one, but I did ask to confirm the part number as suggested. As always, great advice on this forum!
Tempted to buy from ebay, but
found in a couple of websites that you need to make sure in the case of an iMac (which is what I have), that Applecare needs to be purchased in the country where you will be using the computer.
Say for example that on ebay a seller in Australia is offering an iMac Applecare, if I purchased it and later needed it for the iMac, supposedly it would not be accepted by Apple.
Apparently, the country restriction does not apply to laptops. If anyone knows differently, you may want to post that information here.
found in a couple of websites that you need to make sure in the case of an iMac (which is what I have), that Applecare needs to be purchased in the country where you will be using the computer.
Say for example that on ebay a seller in Australia is offering an iMac Applecare, if I purchased it and later needed it for the iMac, supposedly it would not be accepted by Apple.
Apparently, the country restriction does not apply to laptops. If anyone knows differently, you may want to post that information here.
Ebay sellers generally buy "lots" from businesses going out of business, often for very little money. They then sell what they bought for less than the cost of retail. Everyone gets a good deal, provided you buy from a reputable seller. I generally look for a feedback score of above 99%.
Morod
I bought Applecare from L.A. Computer (a slightly more expensive, safe and secure alternative to eBay auctions still FAR cheaper than buying from Apple directly) in the USA for my Japan Apple Store-purchased iMac and it worked fine. Applecare coverage is global.
Maybe I lucked out, but I bought mine and authorized it right away, and even received the official notice form Apple (in the mail, no less) that I'm good to go. I did wonder about the country of origin stuff, since some of the listing were Canadian, and I'm in the US. But everything's good at this point.
It's just a registration number and it works regardless of where you bought your machine or the Applecare coverage was packaged.
Rest assured you're good for the full 3 years.
SaSaSushi- Thank you for the first-hand information.
I take it that you have already used or registered your U.S. bought Applecare in Japan.
I take it that you have already used or registered your U.S. bought Applecare in Japan.
Yes, I have indeed.
Of course I can't guarantee that everyone else everywhere else will have the same results but it is a pretty good indication that they should.
Guess what...
I called the Apple support center to ask them directly regarding the purchase of an Applecare protection plan in a country other than where the iMac was purchased. Since the rep wasn't sure, I prodded him. He put me on hold and took the time to check with someone else. Unfortunately, he then confirmed what I had read elsewhere - that if my iMac was purchased in the U.S., only an Applecare protection plan purchased in the U.S. or Canada would be honored.
It's just a registration number and it works regardless of where you bought your machine or the Applecare coverage was packaged.
Rest assured you're good for the full 3 years.
I called the Apple support center to ask them directly regarding the purchase of an Applecare protection plan in a country other than where the iMac was purchased. Since the rep wasn't sure, I prodded him. He put me on hold and took the time to check with someone else. Unfortunately
, he then confirmed what I had read elsewhere - that if my iMac was purchased in the U.S., only an Applecare protection plan purchased in the U.S. or Canada would be honored.I bought mine on eBay and had no problems. I didn't get the retail kit (which I didn't need). Instead, I e-mailed the guy my PowerBook's serial number, he set everything up, and a couple weeks later, I got the official AppleCare letter in the mail. And I know it was good because I later had to get my PowerBook repaired under the extended warranty and didn't have any problems
I called the Apple support center to ask them directly regarding the purchase of an Applecare protection plan in a country other than where the iMac was purchased. Since the rep wasn't sure, I prodded him. He put me on hold and took the time to check with someone else. Unfortunately
And I'm telling you that I don't care what they say I'm living proof that it works just fine on a Mac bought anywhere.
I bought my iMac in Japan and my Applecare in the USA. It's registered and I've already had the machine serviced several times under the plan.
I called the Apple support center to ask them directly regarding the purchase of an Applecare protection plan in a country other than where the iMac was purchased. Since the rep wasn't sure, I prodded him. He put me on hold and took the time to check with someone else. Unfortunately
Crap,i've bought a iMac & MBP's in the states bought them back to the UK & then bought applecare and have had to then take them into UK stores,no questions have ever been asked
oh nearly forgot the plans were bought of ebay
I never really thought about doing that on e-bay, but what a good idea. It sounds like it works out well for most people as well.
My cousin's fiancee just bought a macbook and didn't have the extra 183.00 for applecare right now, so I'll be sure to tell her to get the applecare from ebay.
Thanks for the good topic
My cousin's fiancee just bought a macbook and didn't have the extra 183.00 for applecare right now, so I'll be sure to tell her to get the applecare from ebay.
Thanks for the good topic