My understanding is that only the original owner can purchase Apple Care. Is this correct?
Apple Care - Original owner only?
Geewhizz on 22/12/2012 - 08:39
Related Stores
Comments
My understanding from what I read on the Apple site recently was that it could readily be bought within 30 days of purchase, and after that (but still within the 12 months manufacturers warranty period) it needs to be taken to an Apple 'Specialist' to ensure there is no pre-existing damage.
Hi Geewhizz,
I do not know the answer to your question, I'm afraid.
However, with reference to Ozpete's comments, Applecare+ is only available in the United States. It is the one where you are covered for accidental damage also and does not exist in Australia. As I understand it you can take up Applecare (ie support and hardware protection) any time within the first 12 months of owning the iPhone/iPad.
That said, the product may be registered to the original owner in which case you will have to visit an Apple Store (or perhaps call Applecare) to get it changed into your name.
Your best bet is to make a Genius Bar appointment and try to do it all at once (assuming you live in a major metro area).
Source: Friend works for Apple Retail
Your best bet is to make a Genius Bar appointment and try to do it all at once (assuming you live in a major metro area).
Sadly not.
There's an FAQ here http://www.apple.com/support/products/faqs.html but that doesn't explicitly answer your question.
Applecare is transferrable, but it also always relates to the original purchase date of the item. So if you buy an 11 month old iPhone from someone and then buy Applecare, you'll obviously only get 13 months of benefit, not an entire two years.
You don't need to buy the boxed applecare. If you just contact applecare directly, which in Australia is 1300 321 456, you should be able to provide them with your device details, and pay for the applecare over the phone. I've done that several times, though on one occasion they did need to register the device in a specific system first, (I think they had to link it to my Apple ID) and I had to call back 24 hours later to actually buy the applecare. Still easier than going into a store though.
Plus one to Zambuck's response.
In reference to your post in the iphone purchase thread there is another point that needs to be made
So that probably is the first limitation that will be reached. ie someone re-selling it needs to sell within the 30 days
Apart from that limitation, based on checks on the Apple site/forums, it appears that you can get Applecare as a second purchaser as long as purchased within the time period that starts from the first purchase date.