AppleCare+ Cannot be purchased post sale!!!
I'm pretty sure that the only way to get AppleCare+ is by ordering it with your iPhone 4S. Unlike regular AppleCare, where you have 90 days after purchase to add it on.
You are correct. Here is something to note and it has not been advertised or even mentioned. You MUST order AppleCare+ at the time of ordering your iPhone 4S since the serial # of your phone is tied directly to it (I say its more of Apple doing a little CYA when so when someone doesn't and breaks their iPhone, then oh well). but you CANNOT order AppleCare+ post purchase. No going to the Apple Store, Carrier, Retailer, etc. So if you are like me and you ordered yours from say Verizon (or AT&T, or Sprint or some other carrier) and they are NOT selling AppleCare+ then you are SOL on this one.
I went to my local Apple Store and (thank you Eve at the Apple Store you were great) she spent about an hour trying to get through on launch day and she confirmed that unless you buy it at point of purchase its not an option later.
Verizon of course is still selling the original AppleCare but not the AppleCare+.
I will say, I am still on the fence about canceling my iPhone 4S and re-ordering with Apple or not at all. I feel Apple is doing a huge disservice to their customers, especially the 200,000 that pre-ordered from AT&T in the first 12 hours of launch day. How many millions and millions of iPhone customers are going to be pissed off when they can't get AppleCare+ or AppleCare at ALL?
Bad apple, bad.