AppleCare on AirPods gifted over 60 days ago

The AirPods still come with the 1 year of AppleCare coverage from the date of purchase, so if they are defective after 6 months, you are still covered. The AppleCare+ coverage is the option to extend it to 2 years and that is the one that needs to be purchased within 60 days. Having extended coverage more than 2 years makes more sense on a $1000 or more device than it does on an accessory that can be replaced for around $200 depending on the model.

AppleCare Products - Headphones - Apple

the house always wins!

True in almost all situations. 😉

As for updating start dates … see this article.

About the purchase date or expiration date for your AppleCare agreement - Apple Support

I’d hope that a tracked delivery service confirmation combined with an Amazon invoice explicitly tying your purchase to that particular track number would be a sufficient basis for a “date adjustment.”

Warranty starts on the date of purchase, not when you begin using them.

The 60 day clock to get AppleCare+ also starts on the day they are sold.

Re: “… [if] recipient did not open the product and it’s defective …”

True enough.

But I can’t think of ANY product warranty where coverage commences …

… “Whenever the purchaser gets around to actually using it.”