I bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 through Amazon's resale program in "Like New" condition for $249. The watch is physically excellent and does not appear to be marked as lost, but it is still linked to another owner through Activation Lock. The serial number is printed on the resale packaging, and I have the invoice Amazon provided.
I submitted Apple's Activation Lock removal request three times, including the Amazon invoice, but each request was rejected. The form asks for the store's address, so I entered Amazon's information. Is there any additional documentation or a different way to submit the request that might help? I'm hoping to keep the watch because the current price is around $500, and Amazon says it cannot exchange the item. I'm not trying to bypass the lock—I only want to know whether Apple can remove it with legitimate proof of purchase.
4 Answers
The unusually low price may be explained by the Activation Lock. Apple isn’t obligated to unlock a device simply because it was resold to you, so the practical option is to return it and recover your money rather than keep submitting requests.
The invoice date from Amazon may not match the device’s original activation records, which can cause Apple to reject the request. Adding the serial number to the invoice could help only if it is genuinely part of the retailer’s documentation, but it probably won’t overcome the fact that this was a second-hand purchase.
You should return it for a refund. Apple generally requires proof from the original purchaser or an authorized retailer, and a resale-program invoice usually doesn’t establish that you’re the original owner. The previous owner would need to remove the watch from their Apple account, or provide the original purchase documentation.
For future purchases, buying directly from Apple or an authorized retailer is much safer. With used devices, make sure the seller erases the watch and removes it from their Apple account before completing the sale; otherwise, even a legitimate-looking device can be unusable.
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