3 ms·

How is this any different from any other high demand product?

alextingle 16y ago
It's a phone. That's a class of produce so "in demand" that phone companies give you a new one every year, even if you don't ask for it.
- epochwolf 16y ago
  Replace phone with hotdog. I can bet you there is a place in Chicago that has lines out the door. I fail to comprehend how the type of device is relavent to this discussion.
ajscherer 16y ago
In many similar situations people don't have reservations. Guaranteeing they receive a product requires them to be one of the first people through the door when the store opens. Taking reservations may have created the false impression that one could show up later in the day without the need to wait in a long line. The other difference I can think of is that in similar situations the manufacturer and the retailer are two completely separate entities. It's more difficult for me to imagine getting angry at Nintendo because Best Buy is making me wait in line. I don't really see the point in taking reservations if people are going to have to stand in line all day anyway.
- ghshephard 16y ago
  Clearly the point is to guarantee you a phone on the first day. :-)
- timwiseman 16y ago
  Taking reservations may have created the false impression that one could show up later in the day without the need to wait in a long line. I concur with you in everything you said, but I think it is important to remember that that impression was false only because Apple arranged it that way deliberately. As others have stated, they knew the maximum number they could serve in a day and could have refused to reserve more than that, or made reservations for specific times of day and then ensured they had enough staff to cover those reservations. If they truly got overwhelmed by surprise (say some employees got sick), they could have started handing out numbers so people could be free to walk away for a bit and return closer to time based on their number. Etc.

It's a phone. That's a class of produce so "in demand" that phone companies give you a new one every year, even if you don't ask for it.

epochwolf 16y ago
Replace phone with hotdog. I can bet you there is a place in Chicago that has lines out the door. I fail to comprehend how the type of device is relavent to this discussion.

ajscherer 16y ago

In many similar situations people don't have reservations. Guaranteeing they receive a product requires them to be one of the first people through the door when the store opens. Taking reservations may have created the false impression that one could show up later in the day without the need to wait in a long line. The other difference I can think of is that in similar situations the manufacturer and the retailer are two completely separate entities. It's more difficult for me to imagine getting angry at Nintendo because Best Buy is making me wait in line. I don't really see the point in taking reservations if people are going to have to stand in line all day anyway.

ghshephard 16y ago
Clearly the point is to guarantee you a phone on the first day. :-)
timwiseman 16y ago
Taking reservations may have created the false impression that one could show up later in the day without the need to wait in a long line. I concur with you in everything you said, but I think it is important to remember that that impression was false only because Apple arranged it that way deliberately. As others have stated, they knew the maximum number they could serve in a day and could have refused to reserve more than that, or made reservations for specific times of day and then ensured they had enough staff to cover those reservations. If they truly got overwhelmed by surprise (say some employees got sick), they could have started handing out numbers so people could be free to walk away for a bit and return closer to time based on their number. Etc.