Why doesn't Apple tell you this? (or their box) [AppleCare]

[Richard1028]

even if i was in london when i bought it, I would need a receipt from an authorized reseller.

What is all this nonsense about "authorized" sellers all about? (not you, OP).

So, you can buy a used macbook from another person and transfer the applecare coverage but you can't buy a brand spankin' new box of Applecare from a stranger and use it? Again, authorized sellers my ass. Restricting such sales is even illegal in certain countries.

OP, you possess the box. That's all you need.

 

[iLog.Genius]

If you click on that link, then click on "Terms and Conditions" and then Click on the "English PDF" line under Europe, you will find this:

"... 7. General Terms ...

d. This Plan is offered and valid only in Austria, Belgium, Denmark (excluding Greenland and Faroe Islands), Germany, Finland (excluding Aland), France (excluding Corsica, overseas departments and territories). Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain (including Balearic Islands but excluding Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla) Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway (excluding Svalbard) and the United Kingdom. This Plan is not offered to persons who have not reached the age of majority. This Plan is not available where prohibited by law."

If you click on the English PDF for North America you will see a similar paragraph saying the Plan is only valid in the US and Canada.

That doesn't make any sense. So if you buy AppleCare in North America, it's only applicable and repairs can only be done in North America? That's very incorrect. Regardless if there are "region" AppleCare (which there isn't by the way), the fact is AppleCare is still worldwide coverage and regardless of where you buy it, you're still obligated to receive support if you're in another country. This is a big selling point for businesses who send representatives around the world.

Instead of playing the blame game saying what Apple should do, just call them back and verify that AppleCare is worldwide coverage.

 

[vant]

That doesn't make any sense. So if you buy AppleCare in North America, it's only applicable and repairs can only be done in North America? That's very incorrect. Regardless if there are "region" AppleCare (which there isn't by the way), the fact is AppleCare is still worldwide coverage and regardless of where you buy it, you're still obligated to receive support if you're in another country. This is a big selling point for businesses who send representatives around the world.

Instead of playing the blame game saying what Apple should do, just call them back and verify that AppleCare is worldwide coverage.

Worldwide coverage is being able to repair your laptop from anywhere.

Worldwide coverage DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN BUY EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY!

This should be obvious.

As for the whole extended warranty from different country thing, it does cost the Apple different amounts to warranty items in different countries. A LCD screen might cost more to ship to the US than the UK, hence the price difference in AppleCare.

By trying to go around and shop for applecare warranties meant for other countries, you are actually avoiding the price given to US consumers for extended warranty issues.

Is Apple to blame? Absolutely not. Different countries have different laws in terms of warranty, and pricing reflects that. The US might have a specific repair-attempts law that might not exist in China. If you bought the AppleCare from China, you would be avoiding the pricing and disclaimers that came with the AppleCare in the US.

 

[SPNarwhal]

I'm not really getting on Apple about having a regional AppleCare,
I'm more concerned about them not clarifying it on the boxes.
An AppleCare box from the US looks and has the exact same stuff in/on it as AppleCare for every other country.
It does not say the Region it is for.
And then on top of that, when you register it to your MacBook, it should be smart enough to recognize and deny your address if it is outside the region if it is that big of a deal.
It should not go through and tell me that I have extended coverage until 2012.
What happens then? I assume I have the coverage, because it says that I do. Then my laptop breaks, and I take it in and then they tell me that it's not valid? Oh, and by then it would probably be after my initial year so I can't add AppleCare onto it anymore.

So what if I bought it on e-Bay? And I know it's not the seller's responsibility to make sure that the buyer uses the product correctly. But, if there was a posting on the Ad saying it was for a specific region only, I would not have bought it. And I'm sure there would have been if there was a way to specify which region it's for, but there's not. All AppleCares look the same, there is nothing written on the box about where it covers, it just says that it does.

AppleCare Protection Plan, by the way.
So yes, it does extent the warranty, it's not just for their support.

I'm not saying Apple is at fault that they have regional restrictions,
I am saying Apple is at fault because there's no way to know what region an AppleCare is for, and it will let you register it to your device no matter where you say it's for. Pretty much, it will tell you you have the coverage, until you go in and talk to Apple and they say that even though it says it worked and says you have coverage, you actually don't.

That is Apple's fault.

If this is not valid for me, it should have told me so other than telling me that it worked.
And if there is such strong regional restrictions, then they should write the region on the box.

I'm not going to buy AppleCare and then register it and then have it say that it's valid and my protection is extended successfully, and then go and call Apple wondering if this AppleCare is working for me. Especially over a regional thing that is not in any way promoted by Apple on the product itself.

 

[vant]

So if I purchased an iPhone from eBay and it happens to be a Chinese version (but box isn't labeled as), is Apple at fault or the eBay seller for not stating that?

 

[vant]

Also, I agree with the fact that it would be nice if Apple labeled the boxes with Country of intended sale.

I do not agree that Apple is 'at fault' or 'liable' for this issue.

 

[fabian9]

I'm not really getting on Apple about having a regional AppleCare,
I'm more concerned about them not clarifying it on the boxes.
An AppleCare box from the US looks and has the exact same stuff in/on it as AppleCare for every other country.
It does not say the Region it is for.
And then on top of that, when you register it to your MacBook, it should be smart enough to recognize and deny your address if it is outside the region if it is that big of a deal.
It should not go through and tell me that I have extended coverage until 2012.
What happens then? I assume I have the coverage, because it says that I do. Then my laptop breaks, and I take it in and then they tell me that it's not valid? Oh, and by then it would probably be after my initial year so I can't add AppleCare onto it anymore.

So what if I bought it on e-Bay? And I know it's not the seller's responsibility to make sure that the buyer uses the product correctly. But, if there was a posting on the Ad saying it was for a specific region only, I would not have bought it. And I'm sure there would have been if there was a way to specify which region it's for, but there's not. All AppleCares look the same, there is nothing written on the box about where it covers, it just says that it does.

AppleCare Protection Plan, by the way.
So yes, it does extent the warranty, it's not just for their support.

I'm not saying Apple is at fault that they have regional restrictions,
I am saying Apple is at fault because there's no way to know what region an AppleCare is for, and it will let you register it to your device no matter where you say it's for. Pretty much, it will tell you you have the coverage, until you go in and talk to Apple and they say that even though it says it worked and says you have coverage, you actually don't.

That is Apple's fault.

If this is not valid for me, it should have told me so other than telling me that it worked.
And if there is such strong regional restrictions, then they should write the region on the box.

I'm not going to buy AppleCare and then register it and then have it say that it's valid and my protection is extended successfully, and then go and call Apple wondering if this AppleCare is working for me. Especially over a regional thing that is not in any way promoted by Apple on the product itself.

Have you called AppleCare again in the meantime? I bought my previous laptop and apple care in the states and didn't have any problems getting it serviced in the UK. AppleCare is global, that's why there is no need to point out that it's regional!

Fabian

 

[XP Defector]

Keep us updated because thats the entire reason I'd buy Applecare, since I constantly move around the world.

 

[vant]

I don't think you guys are getting it.

If you have AppleCare, you may have your laptop serviced anywhere in the world.

You must purchase the AppleCare in the same country as your mac purchase which is the main issue here.

Good: Buying a Mac in UK and buying AppleCare at an Apple store in the UK.

Bad: Buying a Mac in the US and buying AppleCare in the UK.

 

[kasakka]

I don't think you guys are getting it.

If you have AppleCare, you may have your laptop serviced anywhere in the world.

You must purchase the AppleCare in the same country as your mac purchase which is the main issue here.

Good: Buying a Mac in UK and buying AppleCare at an Apple store in the UK.

Bad: Buying a Mac in the US and buying AppleCare in the UK.

I don't see why that would make a difference? If you can have it serviced anywhere under AppleCare, then surely it shouldn't matter which country you purchased from? I got my MBP in the US and later decided to buy AppleCare when I came back to Finland so why would that make AppleCare less valid if my machine breaks down on a trip to Germany for instance?

 

[maflynn]

I think people forget the old adage, buyer beware.

This is particularly true in this day and age with the intarweb, and ebay.

While I understand the OP's angst and frustration, clearly the burden of doing due diligence was on his shoulders.

I almost pulled the trigger on buying applecare on ebay but as I was researching, I found that the ebay was rife with counterfeit applecare warranties. People found out how to generate the number. While you may beable to register the warranty, they may need proof such as applecare's serial number to which you didn't get that (because its on the box and the counterfit applecares don't have a box).

Long story short, if its too good to be true, it is it may be and do your home work.

 

[iBlue]

I can almost understand this for desktop machines but not laptops. It has been my understanding that applecare is global. I would call Apple again. I'm not sure that first rep got it right.

 

[Richard1028]

I just looked at my box which reads:

Global repair coverage may be subject to certain restrictions.(4)

Cheeky bastards.

I'm sure the fluctuating value of the U.S. dollar is at play here otherwise we'd all be buying Applecare in other countries.

But I still think the OP has a case.

 

[Richard1028]

.While I understand the OP's angst and frustration, clearly the burden of doing due diligence was on his shoulders.

So a receipt and original box aren't enough?

to which you didn't get that (because its on the box and the counterfit applecares don't have a box).

Please don't start another "ebay sucks" thread. Again, the OP here has everything you'd get at a retail store. (i.e... the box).

 

[DewGuy1999]

Corrected information. Incorrect info is crossed out and corrected info is added in.

For your consideration:

Apple Store US
MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan
MB587LL/A - $249.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan
MB588LL/A - $349.00

Apple Store UK
MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan
MA519ZM/A - £195.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan
MA515ZM/A - £273.00

According to the Apple Calculator's currency converter the UK AppleCare works out to $323.93, $25.07 cheaper IF we Americans can buy it. Also, notice that the US AppleCare is for ONLY MacBook Pros (w/ or w/o Display) whereas the UK AppleCare is for MacBooks, MacBook Airs and the 13-inch MacBook Pro. And last but not least notice that the US AppleCare is part number MB588LL/A whereas the UK AppleCare is MA519ZM/A.

Different countries, different part numbers.

I'm sure that there are other differences for other countries. So I'd say taken all together, all AppleCare is not created equal.

Best advice is Buyer Beware when buying AppleCare from anyone that's not an authorized reseller in the country where you reside.

 

[madog]

For your consideration:

Apple Store US
MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan
MB588LL/A - $349.00

Apple Store UK
MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan
MA519ZM/A - £195.00

You were looking at the wrong box.

£273.00 for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan

Before it was easy to distinguish as a MacBook or a Macbook Pro warranty. The prices are the same, but now they are labeled as MacBook Pro 13", and the MacBook Pro (which then is defined as for the 15" or 17" only).

Kind of confusing.

Nothing in the UK should be cheaper overall because of the included VAT tax. Some things may be relatively cheaper in comparison before that tax, but I think most products will come out to a bit more after the fact.

 

[DewGuy1999]

You were looking at the wrong box.

£273.00 for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan

Before it was easy to distinguish as a MacBook or a Macbook Pro warranty. The prices are the same, but now they are labeled as MacBook Pro 13", and the MacBook Pro (which then is defined as for the 15" or 17" only).

Kind of confusing.

Nothing in the UK should be cheaper overall because of the included VAT tax. Some things may be relatively cheaper in comparison before that tax, but I think most products will come out to a bit more after the fact.

Umm, here's the link and it distinctly states 13-inch MacBook Pro £195.00, but there also is this for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan £273.00 that applies to the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro.

 

[iLog.Genius]

I don't think you guys are getting it.

If you have AppleCare, you may have your laptop serviced anywhere in the world.

You must purchase the AppleCare in the same country as your mac purchase which is the main issue here.

Good: Buying a Mac in UK and buying AppleCare at an Apple store in the UK.

Bad: Buying a Mac in the US and buying AppleCare in the UK.

I get it but fine, let's say you buy a Mac in the States and then you relocated to the the UK. You're telling me you would have to find a "US-region" AppleCare? Not only does that make no sense, gives the customer even more trouble - you have X amount of Apple Stores in the UK but can't can't touch their AppleCare because you bought your computer in the States? It might be a rule that I can't verify at the moment but that is very stupid if it's true.

 

[madog]

Umm, here's the link and it distinctly states 13-inch MacBook Pro £195.00, but there also is this for MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan £273.00 that applies to the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro.

Yes, and I was just pointing out you were comparing the 2 different AppleCares in your original post. The U.S 15/17" ("MacBook Pro") to the UK MacBook Pro 13" ('MacBook Pro 13"/Air/MacBook') pricing which are not the same AppleCares.

Apple Store US
MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan
MB588LL/A - $349.00

Apple Store UK
MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan
MA519ZM/A - £195.00

Also, notice that the US AppleCare is for ONLY MacBook Pros (w/ or w/o Display) whereas the UK AppleCare is for MacBooks, MacBook Airs and the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Which is incorrect. Both stores have one for "MacBook Pros" (which again is for 15/17") and the one for the MacBook Pro 13"/Air/Book. Both stores have separate warranties for the 13" Pro and 15" Pro and is the same price it was before when it was 13" MacBook's and the 15" MacBook Pros.


U.S.

MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan $249.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan $349.00

U.K.

MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan £195.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan £273.00

I don't blame you. It's Apple's fault for making this confusing. If we Americans purchased the same warranty it would most definitly be more expensive due to the current exchange rates.

 

[Aboo]

I am willing to bet that the OP was sold an Apple Care MBP unit that was meant for higher education students/faculty in the UK. This may be the reason for the problem. Apple Care for the MBP in the HE segment within the UK is really cheap (50 pounds or so IIRC), but unlike the US counterpart, it only extends phone coverage to 3 years and not hardware coverage (since a 3 year hardware coverage is included by default on all HE UK purchases).

Just my 2 cents.

 

[CrackedButter]

I say this with all seriousness and this isn't a witty reply for everybodies amusement...

Send me your laptop and I will do it for you as I live in the UK. It might work out cheaper to send it too me and cost to send it back rather than buying Applecare again.

 

[DewGuy1999]

Yes, and I was just pointing out you were comparing the 2 different AppleCares in your original post. The U.S 15/17" ("MacBook Pro") to the UK MacBook Pro 13" ('MacBook Pro 13"/Air/MacBook') pricing which are not the same AppleCares.

Which is incorrect. Both stores have one for "MacBook Pros" (which again is for 15/17") and the one for the MacBook Pro 13"/Air/Book. Both stores have separate warranties for the 13" Pro and 15" Pro and is the same price it was before when it was 13" MacBook's and the 15" MacBook Pros.


U.S.

MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan $249.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan $349.00

U.K.

MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro - AppleCare Protection Plan £195.00

MacBook Pro (w/ or w/o Display) - AppleCare Protection Plan £273.00

I don't blame you. It's Apple's fault for making this confusing. If we Americans purchased the same warranty it would most definitly be more expensive due to the current exchange rates.

I'm sorry. You are absolutely correct. I didn't look at the AppleCare page close enough to notice that it had the same plans. Although I listed the wrong plan in my original message, I was right that the US and UK versions do have different part numbers so there is a way to tell one version from another. Sorry for confusing this issue even further.

 

[SPNarwhal]

So if I purchased an iPhone from eBay and it happens to be a Chinese version (but box isn't labeled as), is Apple at fault or the eBay seller for not stating that?

That wouldn't be the same, a chinese iPhone? They are not made by Apple.
And this coverage covers repairs, not just phone calls.
And also, if this was not compatible with my Macbook Pro it should not have let me register it. Do you guys not understand this?
It's not only that I bought this one, and it doesn't state that it is for a specific region. But it allowed me to go through the registration and complete it and it told me that it was done and my coverage was extended and that proof would be coming in the mail. It shouldn't have allowed me to complete the registration, and to only find out that it's not actually valid until I call Apple.
I mean, it still says that my laptop has AppleCare on it.

Also, the box says Global Repair Coverage.

And your whole statement of restrictions in other countrys and/or the price differences, then it shouldn't be global.
Yes, I get it that the globality is for the repairs themselves and not the AppleCare itself, but does that really make sense?
Repairs in the U.S. won't cost Apple any less to do than repairing in the UK,
so a UK AppleCare shouldn't cover someone in the U.S. then.
Does that make sense to you? Makes sense to me.

This is not buyer beware, I bought a legit AppleCare.
It should be Apple's responsibility to either specify a region for their AppleCare if there is one, or be professional enough to not let you register a computer in a non-compatible region.
I wouldn't mind if I bought this AppleCare and it denied me when registering, but for it to go on as if it's legit and say that it's complete and proof will be mailed to me, and I can't find out it's not valid until I call Apple directly?
I mean, why would I call Apple about it? I wouldn't have a complaint because it went through fine. It never said anything ever about a region.
I wouldn't have minded that, I would have been able to refund then.

It's not as if I bought a fake AppleCare, this is still made by Apple, for their products.

And, okay. There is a way to specify a UK AppleCare from a US AppleCare.
The parts number? When I bought AppleCare I had no idea about a region restriction, it didn't say anything about it. I'm not going to look at a part number and think "this looks like a UK part number." how would I know this?
That's the smallest detail ever.

And so if I lived in Great Britain, and then moved to the U.S. this would be legit?
So if I find someone in Great Britain to accept this applecare under their address and then transfer it over it will be legit?
That's the stupidest thing ever, why won't they just transfer it over anyway?
It was still paid for, they have their money.

 

[DewGuy1999]

That wouldn't be the same, a chinese iPhone? They are not made by Apple.
And this coverage covers repairs, not just phone calls.
And also, if this was not compatible with my Macbook Pro it should not have let me register it. Do you guys not understand this?
It's not only that I bought this one, and it doesn't state that it is for a specific region. But it allowed me to go through the registration and complete it and it told me that it was done and my coverage was extended and that proof would be coming in the mail. It shouldn't have allowed me to complete the registration, and to only find out that it's not actually valid until I call Apple.
I mean, it still says that my laptop has AppleCare on it.

Also, the box says Global Repair Coverage.

And your whole statement of restrictions in other countrys and/or the price differences, then it shouldn't be global.
Yes, I get it that the globality is for the repairs themselves and not the AppleCare itself, but does that really make sense?
Repairs in the U.S. won't cost Apple any less to do than repairing in the UK,
so a UK AppleCare shouldn't cover someone in the U.S. then.
Does that make sense to you? Makes sense to me.

This is not buyer beware, I bought a legit AppleCare.
It should be Apple's responsibility to either specify a region for their AppleCare if there is one, or be professional enough to not let you register a computer in a non-compatible region.
I wouldn't mind if I bought this AppleCare and it denied me when registering, but for it to go on as if it's legit and say that it's complete and proof will be mailed to me, and I can't find out it's not valid until I call Apple directly?
I mean, why would I call Apple about it? I wouldn't have a complaint because it went through fine. It never said anything ever about a region.
I wouldn't have minded that, I would have been able to refund then.

It's not as if I bought a fake AppleCare, this is still made by Apple, for their products.

And, okay. There is a way to specify a UK AppleCare from a US AppleCare.
The parts number? When I bought AppleCare I had no idea about a region restriction, it didn't say anything about it. I'm not going to look at a part number and think "this looks like a UK part number." how would I know this?
That's the smallest detail ever.

And so if I lived in Great Britain, and then moved to the U.S. this would be legit?
So if I find someone in Great Britain to accept this applecare under their address and then transfer it over it will be legit?
That's the stupidest thing ever, why won't they just transfer it over anyway?
It was still paid for, they have their money.

You're probably right, it should not have let you register an AppleCare different than the country you live in if that's a requirement of coverage. In your situation, I'd call Apple and ask to speak to Customer Relations, they're usually pretty good about helping customers get satisfactory results to problems with AppleCare. Give it a try and let's us know how it turns out.

 

[madog]

Although I listed the wrong plan in my original message, I was right that the US and UK versions do have different part numbers so there is a way to tell one version from another.

True. If they were exactly the same they would have the same model numbers as far as Apple is concerned. Doesn't seem right that the specifics aren't listed on the box.