6 ms·

Want to be first in line for an iPhone? Rent a tent.

45 points by judegomila 16y ago

aschobel 16y ago
You may be the first in line to wait overnight, but you may not be the first person to buy the iPhone at this Apple Store. I camped for the iPad launch and they split the lines in two a few hours before store opening. Folks with reservations got to go in first. For every ten people with a reservation they only let one in without a reservation. Still a really fun experience meeting fellow enthusiasts and you may get your mug on CNN, NYTimes, Reuters, AP, random world newspapers. :P I was lucky enough to be the first to walk out w/ an iPad at SF Apple store even though I was third in the reserved line.
- catch23 16y ago
  The AT&T iPhone reservation system was only live for 1 day before it got overloaded and shutdown. I know lots of people that got stuck in the middle of the process and couldn't even enter in their credentials without it failing in the middle of the process. My bet is there will be less reservations for this phone than the ipad.
- cmelbye 16y ago
  That was the same situation at the Scottsdale Apple Store for the iPad launch. I didn't reserve, so I was in the other line, and they really did let in one person for every ten people (at least). It was maddening, but there were a few nice people to talk to at least.
- derefr 16y ago
  I figured out an "exploit", if it could be called that—my MBP died (from a faulty video card, thankfully recalled) on the iPad release day, so I booked a Genius Bar appointment for first thing in the morning, and was let in ahead of both queues. I could have purchased an iPad right then, if I had had the inclination.
philk 16y ago
It's a hilarious money making idea but I have trouble understanding why people queue up overnight for these things[1] as opposed to buying it the next day or next week. It's just a phone, albeit a rather lovely one. [1] Although not nearly as puzzling as the people who queued up for Windows 95.
- catch23 16y ago
  If sales are as strong as the ipad was on release date, it might go out of stock for a month or two.
- JacobAldridge 16y ago
  When the iPad was released in Australia the queues outside the Apple stores were long with fans who'd been there much / most / all of the night. Other distributors with plenty of stock opened on time to ... no queues, and provided prompt sales all day.
  - dagw 16y ago
    People aren't queueing simply to get an iPad. They are there to partake in the experience. The act of queuing and hanging out with like minded people and making the purchase at the actual Apple store is as much a part of the package as actually getting the iPad.
- smokey_the_bear 16y ago
  I'm not really sure what to do. I'm an app developer and really need the phone, but I had a lot of trouble with the pre-order system, and couldn't get an order through until the ship date was back to July 14. If I don't go camp out, I won't get one for a month.
  - yanowitz 16y ago
    Decide what your hourly time is worth and then perhaps buy one on eBay instead?
- patio11 16y ago
holdenc 16y ago
Of all reasons to spend the night on the street -- a new iPhone? The economy must be getting better...or maybe I am just getting old. I feel embarrassed knowing that in some places hungry people are lining up like this for food.
- loewenskind 16y ago
  It's hardly new, remember the people who camped out weeks in advance to see Star Wars episode one?
ajg1977 16y ago
If you're planning on wandering down at 6:50am to your pre-booked tent you may be in for a surprise. Generally Apple frown on "placeholders", at two launches I've been at stores have sent an employee out a few hours before opening to assign numbers to those already waiting.
mcdowall 16y ago
Seems like a clever piece of Viral Marketing to me!

45 points by judegomila 16y ago

You may be the first in line to wait overnight, but you may not be the first person to buy the iPhone at this Apple Store. I camped for the iPad launch and they split the lines in two a few hours before store opening. Folks with reservations got to go in first. For every ten people with a reservation they only let one in without a reservation. Still a really fun experience meeting fellow enthusiasts and you may get your mug on CNN, NYTimes, Reuters, AP, random world newspapers. :P I was lucky enough to be the first to walk out w/ an iPad at SF Apple store even though I was third in the reserved line.

catch23 16y ago
The AT&T iPhone reservation system was only live for 1 day before it got overloaded and shutdown. I know lots of people that got stuck in the middle of the process and couldn't even enter in their credentials without it failing in the middle of the process. My bet is there will be less reservations for this phone than the ipad.
cmelbye 16y ago
That was the same situation at the Scottsdale Apple Store for the iPad launch. I didn't reserve, so I was in the other line, and they really did let in one person for every ten people (at least). It was maddening, but there were a few nice people to talk to at least.
derefr 16y ago
I figured out an "exploit", if it could be called that—my MBP died (from a faulty video card, thankfully recalled) on the iPad release day, so I booked a Genius Bar appointment for first thing in the morning, and was let in ahead of both queues. I could have purchased an iPad right then, if I had had the inclination.

philk 16y ago

It's a hilarious money making idea but I have trouble understanding why people queue up overnight for these things[1] as opposed to buying it the next day or next week. It's just a phone, albeit a rather lovely one. [1] Although not nearly as puzzling as the people who queued up for Windows 95.

catch23 16y ago
If sales are as strong as the ipad was on release date, it might go out of stock for a month or two.
JacobAldridge 16y ago
When the iPad was released in Australia the queues outside the Apple stores were long with fans who'd been there much / most / all of the night. Other distributors with plenty of stock opened on time to ... no queues, and provided prompt sales all day.
- dagw 16y ago
  People aren't queueing simply to get an iPad. They are there to partake in the experience. The act of queuing and hanging out with like minded people and making the purchase at the actual Apple store is as much a part of the package as actually getting the iPad.
smokey_the_bear 16y ago
I'm not really sure what to do. I'm an app developer and really need the phone, but I had a lot of trouble with the pre-order system, and couldn't get an order through until the ship date was back to July 14. If I don't go camp out, I won't get one for a month.
- yanowitz 16y ago
  Decide what your hourly time is worth and then perhaps buy one on eBay instead?
patio11 16y ago

holdenc 16y ago

Of all reasons to spend the night on the street -- a new iPhone? The economy must be getting better...or maybe I am just getting old. I feel embarrassed knowing that in some places hungry people are lining up like this for food.

loewenskind 16y ago
It's hardly new, remember the people who camped out weeks in advance to see Star Wars episode one?

ajg1977 16y ago

If you're planning on wandering down at 6:50am to your pre-booked tent you may be in for a surprise. Generally Apple frown on "placeholders", at two launches I've been at stores have sent an employee out a few hours before opening to assign numbers to those already waiting.

mcdowall 16y ago

Seems like a clever piece of Viral Marketing to me!