How long does it take to confirm (ebay) AppleCare registration?

[Richard1028]

I just ran a separately purchased registration for AppleCare (e.g., not auto-enroll) last week for a MBP. It took about 1 minute. After reg, I went to the warranty.do and it showed up there with the proper coverage time frame.

Yes. It seems all the registrations eventually go through and show up on the warranty page as "covered". Even a stolen code.

But my point is, if you used a code that was stolen out of a box and that box hasn't been purchased yet, you'll eventually be screwed if somebody buys it.

 

[yellow]

Ahhh.. ebay. I'll add that to the thread title.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...if its to good to be true, its not worth saving a couple bucks... use the phone and call next time to be sure...

 

[iLog.Genius]

It still doesn't make sense. The stealing scenario is highly possible but Apple can't go ahead and start choosing who is the "real" buyer. Maybe the "real" buyer got the box some other way that isn't legit as well, Apple can't go ahead a revoke APP, as far as Apple knows, the sale is already made and they got the money for it. Also, if you enrollment goes through, it doesn't get revoked. If you think it happened to you, then there's a strong chance that your APP was never enrolled to begin with.

 

[Richard1028]

It still doesn't make sense. The stealing scenario is highly possible but Apple can't go ahead and start choosing who is the "real" buyer.

Sure they can... it supposedly happened to this guy just a few weeks ago:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/690859/

Maybe the "real" buyer got the box some other way that isn't legit as well,

Well, you'd figure whoever is the bearer of the magical applecare box would be the legitimate owner as there can't be 2 boxes for the same code. Here in the U.S. "possession" is nine-tenths the law.

Apple can't go ahead a revoke APP,

Again, in their agreement they leave that open-ended by saying you might be asked to prove the purchase of your Applecare down the road.

Also, if you enrollment goes through, it doesn't get revoked. If you think it happened to you, then there's a strong chance that your APP was never enrolled to begin with.

This is exactly what the guy in the above link says happened to him. But he didn't have the box... just a code bought from ebay which was valid and registered just fine yet was revoked 2 months later.

Further along in the linked thread (if you have the stomach to read all of it) there is discussion about an ebay seller that just provides codes without a box. However, neither he or anybody else can confirm that Apple does indeed sell Applecare without a box.

Again, moral of the story: Always buy the box if you're not getting it directly from Apple over the phone. If my Applecare code is ever in dispute at least I have proof it's unique and mine. (Or else those Chinese DVD bootleggers have branched out and are also printing AppleCare boxes these days. )

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Hey, you're right. I just got off the phone with them.

I gave the tech dude my mac serial number and his records showed my AppleCare registration had indeed gone through and that I was covered for another 2 years.

Great! I then asked why the website still says my registration was still, "In Progress". He didn't know but assured me I was covered.

So I then asked him to send my certificate/proof. He was kind of taken aback by this and just assured me that I was covered because his system said so. I explained that I am supposed to get a certificate or email confirming this. He put me on hold for a few minutes and came back saying I would get my certificate in a couple of weeks. Ok, I'll wait.

While I had this guy, I asked why it took so long to register AppleCare. He said that somebody at Apple needs to contact the AppleCare seller first. (which I find hard to believe). I asked what good that would do because I bought mine from another person, not a store. He didn't have an answer and just assured me that my AppleCare code would only work for my mac. (uh... no kidding).

So... the bottom line is I won't believe I'm covered until I have it in writing. And I'm just wondering if Apple doesn't scrutinize folks like me more closely because I bought Applecare through a third party. (As opposed to buying it directly from them).

Just believe me, that your status is now changed to 'registered' means nothing. Customer care can force-push the status and will even issue you the certificate. However, it might just be questioned later on

I have been through this situation myself. Apple has apparently a different department that tracks dubious cases and they might ask you for proof of purchase from an authorized apple reseller or the serial number as it is printed on the outside of the Box.

Since you have the box, your chances are a bit better than mine (I only had the code), unless people now also fake the boxes - as some people have said would be quite easy...

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

<snip> Also, if you enrollment goes through, it doesn't get revoked. If you think it happened to you, then there's a strong chance that your APP was never enrolled to begin with.

Well, this has certainly happened to me. I bought 'code-only' from Ebay and even have been issued an AppleCare Protection Plan Certificate that is not worth the paper it is printed on...

 

[guklein]

Anyone has heard another case about AppleCare cancelled after it registered?

Detektiv-Pinky is the only case I heard about it...