Apple debuts iPhone 4 to sprawling lines, lengthy waits

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  • Reply 41 of 82
    Apple Store Line 14th Street NYC:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGNs6kvadws
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  • Reply 42 of 82
    I stopped by the Apple store at Town Square in Las Vegas at 6am to pick up a preorder. There were about 500 people in line for the non-preordered purchases, which I expected.



    But I was pretty surprised to see a line of at least 400 people for the preorder pickup. I can't really comprehend why that many people would line up (and camp out, in many cases) for something that is guaranteed for pickup by close of business today. Sure there's going to be a few people that do it for fun, but that many??



    And considering there are three Apple stores on a 4-mile stretch of street, I can only imagine what this would have been like if we still only had one.



    We turned around and left, and will hopefully suffer much less time in line this evening.
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  • Reply 43 of 82
    johnleejohnlee Posts: 1member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by joelesler View Post


    I waited at the Louisville, KY store for ~2+ hours, they had two lines, one for reserve, one for pick ups. However, the Apple store personnel didn't look like they had their crap together, were too busy showing off, and it was taking forever. They were only taking about 5 people at a time in the store.



    I was there too, waited only 40 minutes before I discovered that the massive line wasn't being separated into reservations and hopefuls until it actually reached the store. What's the point of making a reservation if I have to wait 6 hours with everyone who is hoping to get lucky?



    It was also at that point that I decided that it's just a phone and I would rather wait 3 weeks to get it in the mail while i live my life than wait in that line.



    I also think the staff at the Louisville Apple Store may need some (re)training. When the iPad was released, I tried to go in there on it's launch day to purchase something completely unrelated, and the sales person had to check with the manager to see if I could come in the store since I wasn't planning to buy an iPad,
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  • Reply 44 of 82
    Yikes.... This guy dropped it on accident today and busted the whole back. Sounds like they might have to give away those ugly bumpers for free to keep their warranty allocation forecast close to actual.



    http://gizmodo.com/5571658/first-iph...-one+foot-drop
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  • Reply 45 of 82
    zoetmbzoetmb Posts: 2,657member
    Maybe I'm just too impatient a person, but I won't stand in a long line for anything. There's nothing wrong with my iPhone 3G. I waited to buy that phone until there was a day when I could walk into an Apple store and pick it up without waiting. I intend to do exactly the same thing for the iPhone 4. If that's a month from now or two months from now, no biggie.



    Even if they were giving away the phone for free, I wouldn't have stood in a long line. Just not worth my time and the boredom of standing in line.



    I think many of these people who absolutely have to have the phone (or anything) on the first day of release had parents who never denied them anything and always stopped what they were doing whenever the spoiled little brat let out a little cry. In my lifetime, we've had beatniks, hippies, yuppies, the "me" generation, generation X and generation Y. I think this generation is "generation i".



    But...this is all good for Apple and it doesn't do anyone any harm. But if people put as much energy into education or political action or into community groups or volunteering for a non-profit, we'd all be much better off. Instead we're obsessed with a freaking piece of hardware made in China by underpaid workers. People can't put their phones (of any brand) down for more than five minutes at a time and we're all connected. We've become the Borg.
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  • Reply 46 of 82
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DJRumpy View Post


    For those of you wondering why we would stand in line, I suspect most are like me. They couldn't get the 'ship' option to respond. I finally gave up and selected the 'pick-up' option.



    Bingo. I'm at the Fair Oaks location in VA and they have an overflow line for the pre-order and walk-in lines!



    I'm in line to get into the real line. Amazing...
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  • Reply 47 of 82
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by daving313 View Post


    Yikes.... This guy dropped it on accident today and busted the whole back. Sounds like they might have to give away those ugly bumpers for free to keep their warranty allocation forecast close to actual.



    http://gizmodo.com/5571658/first-iph...-one+foot-drop



    And you actually believe anything Gizmodo writes?



    Besides, I don't go to Gizmodo any more. I refuse to support criminals.
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  • Reply 48 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post


    And you actually believe anything Gizmodo writes?



    Besides, I don't go to Gizmodo any more. I refuse to support criminals.



    You only believe sites that align with your interests?
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  • Reply 49 of 82
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sfogviper View Post


    And considering there are three Apple stores on a 4-mile stretch of street, I can only imagine what this would have been like if we still only had one.



    We turned around and left, and will hopefully suffer much less time in line this evening.



    I wouldn't bank on it. The people in line are the ones that could get off work. \



    And Town Square? The only outdoor mall Apple store in Vegas? You really are a masochist
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  • Reply 50 of 82
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by daving313 View Post


    You only believe sites that align with your interests?



    That's a pretty cheap shot. The choices aren't just between criminal sites and sites that aren't sleazy. If you are a Gizmodo defender that says more about your lack of character than the OP's character.
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  • Reply 51 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DocNo42 View Post


    That's a pretty cheap shot. The choices aren't just between criminal sites and sites that aren't sleazy. If you are a Gizmodo defender that says more about you lack of character than the OP.



    Lack of character because you assume I am a Gizmodo defender? Geesh. It's getting rough around here. Not a Gizmodo defender, but I don't solely believe sites that align with my own beliefs/interests and dismiss others if they present something I don't agree with. I tend to gather information from as many sources and formulate my own opinions.
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  • Reply 52 of 82
    macinthe408macinthe408 Posts: 1,050member
    I knew it was too good to be true.



    I woke up this morning, checked my App Store app reservation, which I made last week, and, lo and behold, it's no longer there.



    I logged into Apple Concierge page for the Apple Store in which I made my reservation as well--gone, GONE.



    I am now wary of walking into the Apple Store tonight only to be told to get in the Purchases line, which will definitely be empty as I'm sure non-reserved iPhones will be sold out.



    I have the automated e-mail confirming my reservation, but it doesn't have a reference/reservation number or anything else that couldn't be edited in HTML. If it's not showing up in my App Store app or the Concierge page, I'm fucked. Right?
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  • Reply 53 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bartfat View Post


    So you're going to wait in line for hours on end instead?



    The pre-order line is even longer. Most will have to spend half or a full day before getting their phone. And they pre-ordered. Absolutely nuts.
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  • Reply 54 of 82
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by zoetmb View Post


    Maybe I'm just too impatient a person, but I won't stand in a long line for anything. There's nothing wrong with my iPhone 3G. I waited to buy that phone until there was a day when I could walk into an Apple store and pick it up without waiting. I intend to do exactly the same thing for the iPhone 4. If that's a month from now or two months from now, no biggie.



    Even if they were giving away the phone for free, I wouldn't have stood in a long line. Just not worth my time and the boredom of standing in line.



    I think many of these people who absolutely have to have the phone (or anything) on the first day of release had parents who never denied them anything and always stopped what they were doing whenever the spoiled little brat let out a little cry. In my lifetime, we've had beatniks, hippies, yuppies, the "me" generation, generation X and generation Y. I think this generation is "generation i".



    But...this is all good for Apple and it doesn't do anyone any harm. But if people put as much energy into education or political action or into community groups or volunteering for a non-profit, we'd all be much better off. Instead we're obsessed with a freaking piece of hardware made in China by underpaid workers. People can't put their phones (of any brand) down for more than five minutes at a time and we're all connected. We've become the Borg.



    I agree. I walked away, despite my pre-order. My priorities aren't so screwed that I'll kill a full day waiting in line for this phone.
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  • Reply 55 of 82
    docno42docno42 Posts: 3,764member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by daving313 View Post


    I tend to gather information from as many sources and formulate my own opinions.



    I fail to understand how the original poster criticizing Gizmodo would automatically cause you to assume he wasn't doing the same?



    Whether you are an Apple fan or not, Gizmodo and Gawker are scum and deserve to be shunned. It's not an issue of what they report as much as the sleazy way they conduct themselves.
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  • Reply 56 of 82
    rbonnerrbonner Posts: 635member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by StLBluesFan View Post


    I agree. I walked away, despite my pre-order. My priorities aren't so screwed that I'll kill a full day waiting in line for this phone.



    Nice judgement. Me, got a ton done in line with the wifi connection and a lawn chair, and enjoyed some great conversation. I guess it is all in how you look at it.
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  • Reply 57 of 82
    rbonnerrbonner Posts: 635member
    It's an interesting issue. Folks will complain if they release a crap product, and complain if the release an amazing product but there is high demand.



    Anyone really think that Apple should tone down the quality a bit to not have lines?
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  • Reply 58 of 82
    Went to my local O2 store for a sim for my iPhone 4 this morning forgetting it was the launch day, mine arrived yesterday, and the queue was unbelievable. Hundreds of people happily waiting.



    I had mine in my hand and nearly got mugged. People were just drooling over it. The guy at the door wouldn't let me in for a sim and said the shop was effectively closed for iPhone 4 upgrades. I was a little peeved but not surprised. There was one guy complaining he only wanted a charger for his Blackberry but the bouncer on the door wasn't having it. I wouldn't care but they only had two staff dealing with the upgrades...on iPhone day!!



    Out of desperation i popped into the Vodafone store around the corner expecting the same and it was dead. The guy said he'd had one or two customers in but that was it. He actually had iPhone 4's in stock for both pre-orders and walk in customers.



    I ended up getting my sim from them and i'm a long term O2 customer so screw you O2.



    Just shows you how people think, linking Apple with a carrier.



    Anyway as i went back to my car i diverted past the O2 queue and whispered that Vodafone have then in round the corner. The queue went down pretty quickly LOL



    Must have been more than a few opportunist in that line.
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  • Reply 59 of 82
    adamiigsadamiigs Posts: 355member
    Got in line at 530am at the UTC Apple store (in line for a friend I already had my 4 from yesterday fedex), I was about 125th in line, by 7am there were about 800-900 people in line. Apple employees gave out coffee, pringles, goldfish crackers, apples and oranges, dried fruit snacks and little packages of nuts (not that little actually), they really took care of everyone there.
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  • Reply 60 of 82
    onhkaonhka Posts: 1,025member
    It would be interesting to see some photos of the Apple's vs Microsoft's store fronts today.
    APPLE.................................................. .......MICROSOFT
    • Scottsdale, AZ

      Scottsdale Quarter............................................Scottsdale Fashion Square Mll

      15169 North Scottsdale Road...........................7014 E Camelback Road Suite 1288



    • San Diego, CA

      7007 Friars Road..............................................7007 Friars Road Suite 324



    • Mission Viejo, CA

      936C The Shops at Mission Viejo......................578 The Shops at Mission Viejo



    • Lone Tree, CO

      8401 Park Meadows Center Dr..........................8505 Park Meadows Center Dr Suite 2095

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