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

[vant]

Your e-Bay reasons are getting pretty annoying.
I bought on e-Bay and took a risk? So it's my fault?
It's not as if this AppleCare is a fraud, it's real AppleCare from Apple.
Where I got it from has nothing to do with this situation, it was still sealed in the box and everything.

And "they don't write it on the box because people would still complain anyway"?
That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. At least if they wrote it on the box and I complained then I wouldn't be at fault since they warn you on the box.
The only way of knowing this is a Great Britain AC by looking at the box is to see and know the difference between the model numbers.


My page 18/D says otherwise, it says Belgium, UK, France, etc etc. No USA.
I know people in the UK, if Apple won't just fix this directly I'll just put their address in and have it then transferred to the U.S.


Still, their box should tell you what region it's for if it's not region friendly.
And on top of that, the registration should not be allowed to complete if it's not valid for your location.
Pretty much Apple lied to me, telling me that my coverage was activated and fine. They would not have contacted me and told me otherwise, the only way I could find out is by talking to them about it.
Is this seen in a different light by any of you now?
Apple lied to me by saying that I was covered.
Now it's too late to return the AC and they're saying that they won't honor it anymore.

Where you bought the product has EVERYTHING to do with what happened here. If YOU purchased the AppleCare from Apple or an authorized reseller, the chances of this happening would be nil. True you purchased AppleCare, but you purchased AppleCare for the UK.

AppleCare Terms of Service UK:
http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/AppleCare_Protect_Plan_EU_en.pdf

7d. "d. This Plan is offered and valid only in Austria, Belgium, Denmark (excluding Greenland and Faroe Islands), Germany, Finland (excluding Åland), 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."

You are responsible for making sure that you purchased an American version. Apple tries it's best (and succeeds 100%) to make sure you are receiving a region that you belong in if you buy it from their authorized channels. Before you even register your product, you must read the ToS and agree to them.

Lets see an example.

1. You buy concert tickets on eBay
2. You are allowed entry to the concert
3. A random 'ticket check' is performed which you fail (fraud tickets)
4. You get kicked out

Who's fault is it?

I think the situation is bad. I do think it's unfair, but blaming Apple is the wrong direction.

Included is a screenshot of the ToS you had to have accepted to register the product in which you agreed to 7d.

 

[SPNarwhal]

your example is not an equal situation.
fraud tickets? this is not a fraud AppleCare.
And though I bought it on e-Bay, Apple should list what region an AppleCare is for if it's that important.
It's not as if e-Bay is some shady underground thing, it's just to buy what other people have.

It is not fraud, it's legit. If there are strict region rules, then they should list the region on the box.

Though I have to agree to the terms, they should not allow me to proceed with the registration after the address input, if it registers that I'm in the United States, which it did, it should not let me pass that point if it's not valid for the U.S.

If this was a fraud AppleCare I wouldn't blame Apple, because they would have had nothing to do with it.
But this was created by Apple and it is their fault that I purchased this,
I'm careful about the things I buy and if there was any notification that this was region locked on the box, then I wouldn't have boughten it.

The better example is to buy a Ticket for a concert and then you get to the concert and it's cancelled. It was never posted as cancelled, and there was no way to know it was cancelled unless you called and asked. But why would you call and ask if the show was cancelled if there was no reason to think there was?

 

[HBOC]

your example is not an equal situation.
fraud tickets? this is not a fraud AppleCare.
And though I bought it on e-Bay, Apple should list what region an AppleCare is for if it's that important.
It's not as if e-Bay is some shady underground thing, it's just to buy what other people have.

It is not fraud, it's legit. If there are strict region rules, then they should list the region on the box.

Though I have to agree to the terms, they should not allow me to proceed with the registration after the address input, if it registers that I'm in the United States, which it did, it should not let me pass that point if it's not valid for the U.S.

If this was a fraud AppleCare I wouldn't blame Apple, because they would have had nothing to do with it.
But this was created by Apple and it is their fault that I purchased this,
I'm careful about the things I buy and if there was any notification that this was region locked on the box, then I wouldn't have boughten it.

The better example is to buy a Ticket for a concert and then you get to the concert and it's cancelled. It was never posted as cancelled, and there was no way to know it was cancelled unless you called and asked. But why would you call and ask if the show was cancelled if there was no reason to think there was?

Yes, I see your point in that Apple should say you HAVE to buy in the country in which you live to be covered. Also, the SELLER should also state that, or maybe see where the seller is hailing from.

I was going to buy AC from eBay (I bought it for my iPhone, and realized that it could be a fraud, as I didn't get a box or anything, just a code..I only saved like $20..), but I started to investigate and research and thus why I bought from Apple.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Why does Apple need to specify it? Apple sends the AppleCare to the appropriate channels so if it is region locked, it goes to only that region. So like the post above yours, where you got it from has everything to do with your situation. I'm not trying to be an ass or anything but you need or want them to specify it on the box so it helps you and others who go the eBay route. There are the terms there on that page so if you read it or still wasn't sure, you need to call Apple and make sure that it's ok instead of assuming things especially if you got it from eBay.

Apple is just doing business as they have been, you were just the unlucky guy who was sold an international AppleCare from a random dude on eBay.

 

[Richard1028]

Not so. Here is the info online... I copied and pasted this info...http://images.apple.com/legal/applecare/docs/AppleCare_Protect_Plan_NA_en.pdf

if that doesn't show up, here is the link to get to the PDF. it is on page 5, http://www.apple.com/legal/applecare/appgeos.html

Do you understand the premise for this thread? The OP is complaining because he/she bought an Applecare box that is limited to another country yet this box doesn't say that anywhere on it. You can't open a sealed box to read the book!

So why are you posting PDF's? What does this have to do with the OP's argument?

 

[Son of Matrix]

If you want, try register it with a uk address if you have a friend in uk. I bought my refurbished laptop in uk n now I am living in Australia. I bought a Australian AppleCare MA515FE/A and going to register it soon. Wish me luck. There's a forumer here who said that when he registered AppleCare in a different part of US then it works.

Here's the story.

I bought AppleCare on E-bay, brand new, for my 17" uMBP.
I got it, registered it to my laptop, and that was it. It said it was registered, and that proof of insurance would be coming in the mail.
It never came, and I never thought too much about it since it was in the systems anyway in case I ever really needed to use / prove it.
So, I called Apple last week because my speakers are being wacky, and I figured I'd just ask them about the AppleCare papers, couldn't hurt to have them just send me some proof papers or whatever while I already have them on the phone.
So anyway, it turns out that the AppleCare is AppleCare for Great Britain, and since I live in the U.S. it won't cover my laptop, "which is probably why I didn't get the papers."
Ok? Why do they make AppleCare for different countries?
Why did it let me register it and it never told me it was invalid? I put my address and everything in there, you know?
And why does the AppleCare box say nothing about a region? It does not say anything about Great Britain. (or any country for that matter.)
Now it's too late to get a refund from the seller, and Apple is telling me since I don't live in Great Britain that it won't cover me.

I don't understand though.
Why wouldn't they tell me this way sooner? Why wouldn't the box say something about it if it was that big of an issue?
Why do they have AppleCare for different regions anyway? Are there different restrictions or something?

I guess I'm just out the 200 dollars then?

I thought Apple had good customer service but this is my first experience with them and it's kind of ******.

 

[chrisrottan]

I guess most of the morons never heard of sales ethics and/or misrepresentation of labels.
It's a big deal here in the US, and is considered as fraud. Even the FBI takes pride on suing commerce law breakers.
That's why you specify items that need registration

 

[chrisrottan]

Why does Apple need to specify it? Apple sends the AppleCare to the appropriate channels so if it is region locked, it goes to only that region. So like the post above yours, where you got it from has everything to do with your situation. I'm not trying to be an ass or anything but you need or want them to specify it on the box so it helps you and others who go the eBay route. There are the terms there on that page so if you read it or still wasn't sure, you need to call Apple and make sure that it's ok instead of assuming things especially if you got it from eBay.

Apple is just doing business as they have been, you were just the unlucky guy who was sold an international AppleCare from a random dude on eBay.

Apple needs to specify it because of what we call the interstate commerce law. If two different regions have two different laws with regards to an item being sold by a company, the company MUST inform their buyers. Why? You can buy an AppleCare at another state from visiting family and register it back to your residency state.
Same goes for international packages. There very same sentence "Global coverage".

The new labels on the AC products are as such: With the exception of North Carolina, the company obligated under the AppleCare Protection Plan in the United States is AppleCare Service Company, Inc.

Your AppleCare Protection Plan (“APP”), AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod (“APP for iPod”) or AppleCare Protection Plan for Apple Display (“APP for Apple Display”) or AppleCare Protection Plan for Apple TV (“APP for Apple TV”), (each referred to herein as the “Plan”) is governed by these Terms and Conditions and constitutes your service contract with the Apple Sales
International (“Apple”).

Now, trolls go away and we'll wait for the OP to get this resolved.

 

[vant]

Apple needs to specify it because of what we call the interstate commerce law. If two different regions have two different laws with regards to an item being sold by a company, the company MUST inform their buyers. Why? You can buy an AppleCare at another state from visiting family and register it back to your residency state.
Same goes for international packages. There very same sentence "Global coverage".

The new labels on the AC products are as such: With the exception of North Carolina, the company obligated under the AppleCare Protection Plan in the United States is AppleCare Service Company, Inc.

Your AppleCare Protection Plan (“APP”), AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod (“APP for iPod”) or AppleCare Protection Plan for Apple Display (“APP for Apple Display”) or AppleCare Protection Plan for Apple TV (“APP for Apple TV”), (each referred to herein as the “Plan”) is governed by these Terms and Conditions and constitutes your service contract with the Apple Sales
International (“Apple”).

Now, trolls go away and we'll wait for the OP to get this resolved.

That would actually apply here, if there was an international body that could actually have jurisdiction to enforce it.

As the US sees it, Apple sells legitimate products here in America that work. There is absolutely nothing you can do (even in SUE-SUE-SUE America) about country labeling.

 

[Son of Matrix]

Op: Is your 1 year warranty expired? I will suggest to do it again online and this time send your proof of purchase to your e-mail... or try to call applecare another time again...

 

[ncdasa]

You're kidding right? I'm not siding with Apple here but the OP purchased AppleCare through eBay. Now I'm not going to argue if that's right or wrong, I don't care. There is always a risk when buying anything from eBay and unfortunately the OP got the short end of the stick. Apple isn't out there trying to screw people. They're offering a service expecting that the customer go through the appropriate channels to purchase that service but the OP tried to save a few dollars. That's not Apple's fault. If anything, he should blame the seller on eBay for not disclosing that the serial number for that box was infact for X country but he really can't do that either. Assume that the seller is dumb and he's just trying to sell whatever. OP took that risk and again, unfortunately it didn't work out.

Why would i be kidding? I mean, yes, personally I dont think was trying to defraud a bunch of people, but what they have done warrants prior notification anyway! Not only on their boxes, but on their web-site, and through email also. This principle applies in this circumstance regardless of whether the OPs apple care was bought from e-bay or not, and whether it was legitimate or not (which it was anyway, so ).

What if someone travels internationally for their business and naturally buys AC overseas, have they done somethings crooked to apple? Do they deserve to be put out of their purchase with no warning?

And yes, stupid people will complain anyway, even if this rule is explained on the box - OR BETTER YET - AS A PART OF THE PURCHASING PROCESS!!
BUT THATS WHAT "DISCLAIMERS" ARE FOR!

Therefore when someone goes to take legal action the company can say "Look HERE ----> <----- . I TOLD YOU SO!!!" Thus the reasoning follows THAT IF THEY DONT DO THIS they should be held legally accountable.

...and look if your just an apple fanboy and think Jobs is some messiah and the value of your existence is defined and substantiated by the fact that you own an computer, FINE! I have no problem with that, but be sensible enough not to interfere with ordinary people who just want to use their computers as practical tools in their lives and dont just want to be used as impractical tools in the lives of their computers.

SUE!!!!

EDIT: Alright, I just read above that this IS explained in the agreement during purchase ( 7d ), which unfortunately I think means the OP is $#!† out of luck. As far as the people who think that this justifies that this isnt clarified on the box on the box or that apples doesnt overtly explain this in an unavoidable way during purchase - you all are pretty pathetic, sorry to say. You need another hobby other than identifying your lives with your computers.

 

[vant]

EDIT: Alright, I just read above that this IS explained in the agreement during purchase ( 7d ), which unfortunately I think means the OP is $#!† out of luck. As far as the people who think that this justifies that this isnt clarified on the box on the box or that apples doesnt overtly explain this in an unavoidable way during purchase - you all are pretty pathetic, sorry to say. You need another hobby other than identifying your lives with your computers.

No, I get annoyed when people place blame to the wrong face. Same reason why people speak up when gay marriage is the topic.

 

[Rampant.A.I.]

The amount of personal attacks and cat-fighting in this thread is nothing short of staggering.

 

[ncdasa]

No, I get annoyed when people place blame to the wrong face. Same reason why people speak up when gay marriage is the topic.

yeah, I hear that (i mean the part about people placing blame arbitrarily)...

...but i still dont think it justifies or even applies to the fact of not taking reasonable steps, well within their means I should add, to see that something like this wouldnt happen to their "valued" costumers.

Dont understand the allusion to gay marriage here

 

[G4DP]

What don't you people get. If you buy a laptop in UK you must purchase the AppleCare for that machine in the UK for that AppleCare to provide valid World Wide coverage.

It's not a difficult concept to understand.

And it's not a recent change. It has been this way for a while. At least 2 years.

It's not Apples fault if you don't bother to read the terms and conditions of a protection plan.

 

[G4DP]

But this was created by Apple and it is their fault that I purchased this, I'm careful about the things I buy and if there was any notification that this was region locked on the box, then I wouldn't have boughten it.

They made you buy it did they? They stood there and forced you to buy AppleCare from an Ebay seller?

You can't be that careful, if all in the name of a few dollars you bought AppleCare from an unknown source. You didn't think to check where you were purchasing it from and whether that would invalidate it in any way?

Apple are not to blame.

 

[Winni]

So anyway, it turns out that the AppleCare is AppleCare for Great Britain, and since I live in the U.S. it won't cover my laptop, "which is probably why I didn't get the papers."

Apple claims that AppleCare is a WORLD WIDE warranty - the AppleCare boxes that I buy in Germany are absolutely valid in the US or any other part of the world where Apple has a dependency. That is the only reason to buy the expensive AppleCare. So whoever spoke with you told you a big bunch of crap.

Anyway. It is a rather well known fact that Apple's service is overpriced and generally sucks. They only get away with it because they completely focus on consumers. With the sort of service that Apple offers, it is impossible to get a foot in the enterprise market.

 

[tjcampbell]

Bizarre... I bought a MacBook in Canada and it was repaired in GB a few years back without question.

 

[ncdasa]

I think the resolution is to be found here, not in trying to reason with the mindless apple fanboys/trolls/Apple Co. megalomania enablers on this thread, but in directly contacting and/or pursuing legal action.

Although there may be little to no hope in actually settling anything in court, this is still likely to shake loose some of s narcissism and get them to honor some kind of compensation for their NEGLIGENCE (yes, I said it !!! "N-E-G-L-I-G-E-N-C-E" ..and WHAT ?!?!).

Besides, like I said earlier, there is a principle here and attempting to take legal action sends a message to that needs to be sent from time to time to injure their vanity. It is a necessary rude awakening that its not like everyone who buys computers is a happy independence-relinquished brainwashed cult member , and that some people are still just pragmatic customers.

 

[Son of Matrix]

I bought a refurbished MacBook pro from the uk. Then bought an AppleCare from eBay with the exact AppleCare model number that the sold in Apple aust website with box n I have just sucessfully registered it. I bought the aust version because I reside in Australia now. I got that AppleCare cert printed out from apple website upon registering. Take a couple of minutes for them to verify the AppleCare registration no. though. few long minutes

What don't you people get. If you buy a laptop in UK you must purchase the AppleCare for that machine in the UK for that AppleCare to provide valid World Wide coverage.

It's not a difficult concept to understand.

And it's not a recent change. It has been this way for a while. At least 2 years.

It's not Apples fault if you don't bother to read the terms and conditions of a protection plan.

 

[tsubikiddo]

man o man...

I'm about to buy an APP too and lucky that I clicked into this thread
please keep me posted as I need to re-evaluate whether I will have the chance to have my machine 'serviced'

*sigh*

 

[vant]

What don't you people get. If you buy a laptop in UK you must purchase the AppleCare for that machine in the UK for that AppleCare to provide valid World Wide coverage.

It's not a difficult concept to understand.

And it's not a recent change. It has been this way for a while. At least 2 years.

It's not Apples fault if you don't bother to read the terms and conditions of a protection plan.

It's sad right?

People actually think they have a leg to stand on for 'legal action' LOL.

 

[iLog.Genius]

It's sad right?

People actually think they have a leg to stand on for 'legal action' LOL.

I too find it hilarious when people want to bring in legal actions like Apple has no clue on how to run their business. Yes, let's buy AppleCare get screwed and then blame Apple and file a lawsuit because AppleCare should work even though I didn't know the terms and because I bought on eBay.

Legal action MIGHT work if you were to go to a channel that actually sells AppleCare and they sold you an international AppleCare. See how everything somehow leads back to eBay? eBay is a store of unknowns and you buy at your discretion and take it all the errors that can go wrong with the transactions and or items.

 

[alent1234]

Nope, she said it was legit but it wasn't valid because I did not live in Great Britain and that I would need one for the United States.
She didn't know it was bought on E-bay, she thought I bought it straight from a re-seller. She just said that "This AppleCare is for Great Britain, and so it will not cover you since you are in the United States."

I don't get it.

Again, the box should specify if it's for a specific region.

Selling insurance is highly regulated everywhere and laws differ by state and country. Apple as a corporation has a lot of legal subsidiaries that are registered to sell AppleCare insurance in different countries. And the policies are underwritten by different insurance companies depending on where you live.

 

[SPNarwhal]

Right, I didn't know the terms because Apple doesn't promote them.
In order to read the terms of my specific AppleCare, I have to buy it, open it, and read the booklet. They should promote it on the box.
If it was promoted on the box, I'm sure that sellers (yes, even e-Bay ones) would list it as it's specific region.

By the way, I didn't buy from a random dude on e-Bay the way you're thinking,
it was an e-Bay store. Some guy's shop who sold a ton of stuff, he said he bought it from Apple in bulk. He also sold their laptops and such.

I'm not going to just assume that an AppleCare is not valid for me if the box says nothing about a region safe thing, even if I knew the guy lived in another country I wouldn't have thought about it.
And then on top of that, I'm not going to assume that it's in-valid if the registration goes through telling me that I'm covered by it.

And you guys say, the Apple has made it where "if you buy in the US then you get a US version" ok.. so? There's nothing stating that people are going to buy from them or a reseller directly, people buy things online all the time. You keep saying Apple is a great company and knows it's business, then they should at least know this and make it less likely to happen.
You guys treat buying stuff online almost like it's illegal or forbidden.
All I'm saying is,
if there is such a strong region restriction, then they should list it on the box to know what you're buying. All AppleCares look the same, and that is not right.
And on top of that, they should let you know it's not valid while registering it, rather than letting it complete and telling you that it's good.
How hard would that be? You have to put your Address in anyway, if it's something other than the region of that specific AC it could just stop and tell you, not just let you pass through.