Locked Out of Find My on AirPods

Hello Apple Community,

I’m reaching out here as a last resort after exhausting all other options. I recently bought a pair of AirPods (only three months ago), and they’re still under warranty. Unfortunately, they’re now locked to an old Apple ID that I no longer have access to. I’ve tried every possible route to recover my old account, including using iforgot.apple.com and providing verification info, but I still can’t access it.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

1. Contacted Apple Support Online: I explained the situation in detail, but they informed me that the only way to unlock the AirPods and access Find My features was to log into the old account, which I cannot do because i don't have recvoery key. No other workaround was offered.
2. Visited an Apple Store In Person: I went to a physical Apple Store, hoping they could help reset the AirPods or unlock the device. However, I received the same response: the lock can only be removed through the original Apple ID, which is inaccessible to me.
3. Proof of Purchase Provided: I presented all necessary proof of purchase to show that I am the legitimate owner. Despite this, I was told that no further help could be provided unless I accessed the old account.

The AirPods are in perfect working condition, but because they’re locked to the old Apple ID, I cannot track them or use the Find My features, which was a significant reason for purchasing them. This limitation leaves me with a brand-new product that I can’t fully use, simply because of an issue with Apple’s account recovery process.

My Frustration and Request for Help:

I’m extremely frustrated. I feel like I’ve done everything right here. I bought the AirPods new, provided proof of ownership, followed all the support steps, and even went in person, yet I’m stuck with a device that doesn’t work as advertised because of a lock I can’t remove.

I’m reaching out here to see if anyone has had a similar experience and found a solution. If anyone from Apple is reading this, please let me know if there’s any way to escalate this or consider an exception, given the product is under warranty and I’ve shown proof of ownership. I simply want to use my AirPods to their full extent, and I feel this situation is unfair to me as a loyal Apple customer.

Thank you to anyone who can offer advice or assistance. I really hope Apple will recognize the need for a practical solution to issues like this.