Problem with Macbook pro registered w/ someone else's Apple Id

[ilnave]

Hi everyone,
this is my first post and I hope I am posting in the right section.

I am based in Italy.
I had a discount coupon to spend in a physical store, therefore I bought a macbook pro that I planned to sell at a little discount in order to get some cash.

I listed the product on a classifieds site and sold it yesterday. The mac was completely new and still with its plastic wrapping on the box.

Today, the buyer tells me the mac is already registered.

Among the various contacts I had with potential buyers, I gave serial number and copy of the receipt to one of them (not the actual buyer).

If someone with bad intentions registered the mac, can we get this fixed in some way?

The buyer has both the original receipt and the mac and the box.
I have copy of the credit card transaction through which I paid at the physical store.

Do you have any experience with such situations?
Any advice?
Thank you

 

[DeltaMac]

Seems a little dodgy to buy a new Mac, with the intention of selling it to get some cash...

If you bought the "new" MacBook Pro at an Apple retail store, then you are the first owner. If you never opened it up, or turned it on before you then re-sold it, then that MacBook Pro would not suddenly be registered with Apple.
I don't think you can do that with just the serial number in hand, without actually using the MacBook Pro to connect as a new user.
The problem would come if the fake registration appears with some strange AppleID.
You would have to contact Apple, with proof of ownership, and that you bought it from an Apple retail store, and NOW it has some else's AppleID.
Apple should be able to clear that up for you, but you have to call the AppleID support number, and be able to prove that you own the MBPro.

OR - you didn't buy an actual new system, and the place where you purchased sold you a used or returned system, and conveniently "forgot" to tell you.

 

[ilnave]

thanks for your answer.

To clarify the situation, here's the whole story.
In december I bought a large TV in a physical store, I needed the TV and chose that store because they were giving coupons whose value was 50% of the purchase.
I spent 1800 euros on the TV and so got 900 euros to spend in the same store in January.
The store is an electronics store and not an Apple Store.

When I went to the store to spend the 900 euros, I wanted to purchase an Apple product and resell it at a discount in order to end up paying my TV much less than 1800 euros. The only sealed apple product they had was this macbook pro retina, and I decided to add the extra money to the 900 euros and purchase the mac and resell it.

All this just to clarify there is nothing dodgy and I can 100% demonstrate I purchased the boxed mac with my credit card in a legit store.

As I explained, I then listed the new product on sale on a classifieds site.

I had checked the serial number coverage a few days ago and it was unregistered.

Unfortunately, when dealing with some interested buyers, I gave the serial number and copy of the receipt to one of them, to prove it was all authentic.

The only two possibilities I see are:
1) this person made an abuse and registered the product in his/her name. I remember I had checked the product coverage a few days later and it was still unregistered. If I were to commit and abuse and register something on my name, I Would do it as soon as I have access to the necessary information.

2) The buyer registered it correctly but for some reason he is not aware. He texted me that he cannot register the product. I have the feeling he is not a super expert, therefore this may have happened as well. I texted him how to check which products are registered to his apple id, he will let me know probably tomorrow (it's evening in Italy).

As I wrote before, the buyer now has everything: original receipt, box, computer.
I have made a credit card transaction and I have the credit card receipt.

I have a phone appointment with Apple for tomorrow morning.

If there is any other thought or idea, please let me know.

 

[DeltaMac]

One question:
What would be the point of registering something that a potential buyer does not buy, and, in fact, never take possession?
Sorry, it is a rhetorical question, I think.

If your story is true, the buyer already apparently registered it, and doesn't know it. And, now is trying to register it, again, and it's already registered (by the buyer), and won't register a second time... Amazing! ...

So, if there is a problem with ownership, it is the buyer who needs to call AppleCare (not you!)
I suspect AppleCare, as usual, should give a good answer to the person who can prove ownership.
For example, the date of the registration. If that date is AFTER your sale, then the buyer did it - would you agree?

 

[ilnave]

One question:
What would be the point of registering something that a potential buyer does not buy, and, in fact, never take possession?
Sorry, it is a rhetorical question, I think.

If your story is true, the buyer already apparently registered it, and doesn't know it. And, now is trying to register it, again, and it's already registered (by the buyer), and won't register a second time... Amazing! ...

So, if there is a problem with ownership, it is the buyer who needs to call AppleCare (not you!)
I suspect AppleCare, as usual, should give a good answer to the person who can prove ownership.
For example, the date of the registration. If that date is AFTER your sale, then the buyer did it - would you agree?

I had read that the potential buyer could declare it stolen, that is the only thing I could find as a reason for using the information.
I know it is common practice to give the serial number on used products, unfortunately I did not think about the consequences of giving the number of an unregistered product.

I also think the buyer registered the product , I hope this is what he will confirm tomorrow.
I have setup a call with Apple just to know what they say, e.g. what they need to change registration in their systems.
I want to be informed and to inform the buyer as well.

Thanks for the support.