New 13” MacBook Pro has two serial numbers

[m1maverick]

If, however--the big caveat--the above don’t show that you have any coverage, or show a coverage end date sooner than you were told you were getting when you purchased it, NOW the receipt does matter, because you’re going to need to contact Apple or work with whoever sold it to you to prove that you bought this specific computer brand new and it should have a different warranty start date than it currently does in their system. If your receipt doesn’t match what you have in your hands, and/or the store you bought it from is not willing or able to work with Apple to fix the issue, then you have a computer without the warranty you (presumably) paid for and absolutely no way to fix that. Even in this case, I’m pretty sure any and all boxes are irrelevant, unless it comes to returns.

I’m actually not sure these days whether it’s even possible to work with Apple directly (by providing a receipt) to fix the coverage start date on something purchased from a non-authorized reseller--I have done that in the past, but no idea if the process is still even an option. I got a bad warranty start date on an iPad I bought at Costco recently (I think the clerk at the register botched something up), but in that case I went to the store directly and the manager on duty made some calls to fix it, as they’re an authorized reseller.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to work with Apple. He shouldn't have to do that. If he finds himself in this situation he should return it and buy another one from someone else. If the only source is this seller then exchange it for one where all the serial numbers match (computer, receipt, and retail box). If he can't get that then the seller is engaging in shady business practices.

 

[AshX]

This is the correct answer, but with something of a caveat:

If--as it sounds like is the case--the serial in About This Mac and the one printed on the bottom of the computer match, the that’s the serial number of the computer you have. It doesn’t matter in the slightest what any boxes or receipts might have on them, those aren’t the serial number of the actual computer that would be getting actual warranty service.

The caveat about it mattering, however, is what you get when you go to Apple’s coverage confirmation website, checkcoverage.apple.com., and/or under System Settings in the AppleCare and Warranty section.

If one of those locations shows an acceptable coverage status and end date for when you bought your computer, then boxes and receipts don’t really matter, you have the coverage you expect to have.

If, however--the big caveat--the above don’t show that you have any coverage, or show a coverage end date sooner than you were told you were getting when you purchased it, NOW the receipt does matter, because you’re going to need to contact Apple or work with whoever sold it to you to prove that you bought this specific computer brand new and it should have a different warranty start date than it currently does in their system. If your receipt doesn’t match what you have in your hands, and/or the store you bought it from is not willing or able to work with Apple to fix the issue, then you have a computer without the warranty you (presumably) paid for and absolutely no way to fix that. Even in this case, I’m pretty sure any and all boxes are irrelevant, unless it comes to returns.

I’m actually not sure these days whether it’s even possible to work with Apple directly (by providing a receipt) to fix the coverage start date on something purchased from a non-authorized reseller--I have done that in the past, but no idea if the process is still even an option. I got a bad warranty start date on an iPad I bought at Costco recently (I think the clerk at the register botched something up), but in that case I went to the store directly and the manager on duty made some calls to fix it, as they’re an authorized reseller.

Yes, this is my concern. The receipt doesn’t match the computer serial in settings, the latter of which is on the white Apple box. I think the original seller would fix this. But I am considering a straight return for this device anyway. I can’t purchase Apple Care online as it says ineligible so I’d have to go to an Apple Store to have them add it after a proper check.

The question is mainly whether this device was actually refurbished or produced later than 2023. I’ve not noticed anything wrong with this computer other than the screen is uncomfortable to use. I actually downgraded it from Ventura, which it shipped with, to Monterey, the original version for these models via DFU IPSW and it went perfectly. So I do believe it is a genuine MBP. But the screen seems different than the one I used on my old 13” M1 MBP Touchbar.

BTO macs and ,i think, ipads have a SN starting with the letter " Z ".

All my serial numbers start with an “X” except for the receipt which starts with “S.”

 

[Makosuke]

Yes, this is my concern. The receipt doesn’t match the computer serial in settings, the latter of which is on the white Apple box. I think the original seller would fix this. But I am considering a straight return for this device anyway. I can’t purchase Apple Care online as it says ineligible so I’d have to go to an Apple Store to have them add it after a proper check.

The question is mainly whether this device was actually refurbished or produced later than 2023. I’ve not noticed anything wrong with this computer other than the screen is uncomfortable to use. I actually downgraded it from Ventura, which it shipped with, to Monterey, the original version for these models via DFU IPSW and it went perfectly. So I do believe it is a genuine MBP. But the screen seems different than the one I used on my old 13” M1 MBP Touchbar.

You haven't said anywhere I see whether the Apple site or System Prefs show a warranty end date or show it as out-of-warranty, but from the AppleCare ineligible it sounds like it's probably not in warranty according to Apple.

Which means that, if you were sold a computer that was supposed to have a factory warranty, you got ripped off, and since your receipt doesn't match the actual computer serial number there's nothing you can do to fix that--your only recourses are return or standing there while the seller works with Apple to fix it for you. Which, for a computer this old, I'm quite skeptical they will be able to at all.

It coming in a sealed box with a serial number that matches the computer case and its motherboard makes it seem more likely that the computer itself isn't counterfeit and just got put in a different shipping box by the store, but that doesn't explain why the receipt doesn't match, nor does it help at all with the fact that fundamentally you have a computer without a warranty.

If I were guessing, I'd say that the computer's warranty start date is when it originally shipped two or three years ago--maybe to the store, maybe to whoever bought it originally and didn't open it--then the store or a middle-man stuck it in a different shipping box. But that doesn't explain why the store would put a different serial on the receipt, which seems extremely shady--again, guessing, maybe they knew that the computer wasn't "really" new (unopened but with an expired warranty) and just slapped something on there hoping you wouldn't check.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to work with Apple. He shouldn't have to do that. If he finds himself in this situation he should return it and buy another one from someone else. If the only source is this seller then exchange it for one where all the serial numbers match (computer, receipt, and retail box). If he can't get that then the seller is engaging in shady business practices.

My comments were of a general, "this is how it works" nature, and the "work with Apple" would only apply to a situation where you bought a legit computer and have a legit receipt to prove it, in which case Apple Support can (or at least did in the past) update the start date of the factory warranty in a few minutes of back-and-forth and a photo of the receipt. If memory serves it was a very quick process.

In this case, more specifically, the computer is out of warranty and the receipt doesn't match the computer, so indeed working with Apple is completely pointless. It appears most likely they were sold old-stock with a bogus receipt, which is entirely on the seller.

I'm actually a little skeptical it's even possible to buy a Mac this old with a factory warranty: my understanding is that Apple warranties start on the day the computer was purchased from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. If it was NOT purchased from an Authorized Reseller, then the warranty started on the date that it was originally purchased somewhere authorized, which was probably years ago. Basically, to get a factory warranty on a computer that has been out of production for years, you would need to find an Authorized Reseller that still has stock, which I'm not sure is a thing that even exists--looking at the internet, it appears that at least in the relatively recent past when a model goes out of production Apple re-collects remaining stock from authorized dealers and probably sells them as refurbs, but in any case works to keep "old new stock" from floating around being sold as brand new.

Perhaps something about the above is no longer true or I misinterpreted internet insider comments, and there are situations where authorized resellers do stock old models, or an unauthorized reseller has some method of selling new-old-stock with a warranty.

 

[m1maverick]

Perhaps something about the above is no longer true or I misinterpreted internet insider comments, and there are situations where authorized resellers do stock old models, or an unauthorized reseller has some method of selling new-old-stock with a warranty.

A while ago a vendor was selling brand new, unopened 2019 Mac Pros. There was a discussion about it in the Mac Pro forum. Someone bought one and verified with Apple that not only did it have the original warranty but that it was eligible for Apple Care. So it sounds as if it's possible if unlikely.

EDIT: It seems you are correct and whoever provided the above information I referenced is incorrect. From the sellers website:

"While these are genuine Apple products, Apple does not extend its Limited Warranty or AppleCare+ coverage to overstock items sold through secondary channels like ours. Apple will not offer support or service for these units, and they are not eligible for AppleCare+ under any circumstances."​

With this information I would highly recommend the OP return the system if an Apple warranty is important.

 

[Makosuke]

EDIT: It seems you are correct and whoever provided the above information I referenced is incorrect. From the sellers website:

"While these are genuine Apple products, Apple does not extend its Limited Warranty or AppleCare+ coverage to overstock items sold through secondary channels like ours. Apple will not offer support or service for these units, and they are not eligible for AppleCare+ under any circumstances."​

With this information I would highly recommend the OP return the system if an Apple warranty is important.

That does indeed back what I was suspecting and the internet seemed to indicate.

More importantly, it means that in this case it really wouldn’t matter whether the receipt had the right serial on it or not—the computer is too old to be sold with a factory warranty. End of story.

If they’re not an Authorized Reseller it would seem it doesn’t matter whether the computer is sealed and brand new, or whether every serial number agreed, the computer doesn’t have a factory warranty anymore. Nor would one from any other store.

The oldest Mac you would be able to buy with a factory warranty would, therefore, be from Apple’s refurb store. And I just checked—they have no MBPs older than M3, and nothing with a touchbar. So it seems very unlikely it’s possible to buy this model with a factory warranty anywhere, period. You might find a reseller warranty, but apparently not from Apple.

That would also mean the only reason for the bad serial on the receipt (if it’s intentional) would be to prevent you from returning it when you figure out they lied about the factory warranty—“You can’t return this, the serial on the receipt doesn’t match the computer”.