When warranty period starts?

I got my new Airpods in May 2022, as a gift from a vendor. Now they have the well known defect but Apple said the warranty expired last month and offered to sell me another pair. Really? Upsetting. Wouldn't it make sense that the warranty start from first use? Does not seem logic that $250 headphones last only 9 months and become electronic garbage to be recycled so soon.