Wow. I really underestimated demand for the next iPhone.
In the days leading up tot he release of Apple’s latest gadget, there was lots of speculation: would there be long lines? Would it be impossible to activate our precious iCandy? Will use of 3G data give us buttrot?
All of these things, I poo-pooed. “Bah!” I thought. “The new iPhone isn’t THAT big of a deal. It’ll sell all right, but people won’t go desperate over it. Nothing to worry about.”
Boy, was I wrong:
ROCKAWAY, N.J.—By 9:45 a.m., about 100 customers already were lined up near the Apple Store at the Townsquare Mall here, all hoping to purchase a new iPhone 3G which goes on sale today for $199. The line blocked several other stores and wrapped around a nearby perfume kiosk.
The buying process takes at least 15-20 minutes per phone and there’s plenty of inventory on hand, said David Steinruck, store manager. Then the line grew longer by another few dozen when stock ran out at an AT&T store upstairs. Most customers in queue were 30 to 50 years old and several were using their current iPhones and laptops to stay in touch with their jobs through various Wi-Fi networks in the mall.
Sure enough, demand has been so high on launch day that once again, Apple’s servers are flattened under the crush. iNerds have gone desperate, and lines formed worldwide. The media is referring to this new iteration as “Pornography for Gadget Whores.”
And I has to ask the question: should I gawk at the fanboys, or should I join them?
My friends, I’m ashamed to admit, I chose the latter.
At 4:30 a.m. I awoke. I didn’t intend to wake up so early; in fact I was beat from a previous day’s long drive on work-related business. But there I was, wide awake. My soul knew it was iDay, and although perfectly functional and serving me well, my then current original iPhone was now officially old and busted today.
So I showered, drove to the nearest AT&T store, and got in line. I was number 7. Numbers 6 and 5 got there at 3:00 a.m. And Numbers 3, 2, and 1 camped out starting when the store had closed last night.
They were there because they heard rumors, stuff like the nearby Apple store at the mall already had a fistfight or two break out. Pandemonium and larger crowds existed at the bigger stores. Scary stuff.
And sure enough, around 6:30, 7:00, we were no longer alone. The line of 7 had grown to at least 70. The staff arrived, and began counting people. We each held our breath, hoping we wouldn’t be the one to be told we don’t have enough iPhones. Everyone from this guy onwards can go home.”
Fortunately, I don’t think those words were uttered at all. The doors opened, and people were let in a few at a time. I was lucky enough to be the last guy of the first group allowed in. 20 minutes later, I had a new phone and was a happy Apple Geek, smiling at the legions of people standing in line, huffing and shuffling, furrowed frows, wondering, “what’s taking so loooong?” as they waited their turns.
The only incident throughout the whole thing was a grouchy manager at an adjacent Starbucks, who was angry that some of the folks in line were sitting in her store’s outer patio chairs. Interestingly, after she made a scene, called the cops and forced the AT&T staff to move the line in a different direction from her storefront, people STOPPED going in to her store for coffee. 🙂
Now I have no wonderment as to why Starbucks is in so much trouble.
I’m now not only an iPhone geek, but officially a “line guy.” Though in my defense, I’m not hard core. I aonyl stayed around for 2 and a half hours. If I ever feel motivated to camp out for a night or more for something so trivial, someone please shoot me.
