Frustrating Apple Store Line experience today

[ritmomundo]

Scalpers/resellers are becoming much more prominent, as everyone is looking to make a quick buck. Not just with iPhones, but everything. You have to anticipate this for certain popular items, and get in line earlier.

The PS4 and Xbone launches are just around the corner, and preorders are already sold out everywhere. I preordered 2 PS4s, and one will go straight on craigslist to lower my out of pocket cost. I assume many others will do the same.

It might be frustrating, but don't act entitled. Just be smarter the next day and get there extra early.

 

[DanTSX]

I'm surprised at the people defending the scalpers......

We are not. We are calling the OP ridiculous.

Scalping is indicative of market inefficiencies.

People are paying more for the phones. This only means that they are both in short supply and underpriced for their current supply.

 

[quagmire]

Scalpers/resellers are becoming much more prominent, as everyone is looking to make a quick buck. Not just with iPhones, but everything. You have to anticipate this for certain popular items, and get in line earlier.

The PS4 and Xbone launches are just around the corner, and preorders are already sold out everywhere. I preordered 2 PS4s, and one will go straight on craigslist to lower my out of pocket cost. I assume many others will do the same.

It might be frustrating, but don't act entitled. Just be smarter the next day and get there extra early.

If actual users get in line earlier, the scalpers will get in line even earlier. They will always be more motivated to make sure they will get an iPhone because doing it is a business for them.

 

[DanTSX]

I think people may be too quick to say this is racism though. I define racism as the belief that a person or persons are inferior on a legal or social class basis because of their ethnic origin. The OP isn't saying this, and he admits that the group he referred to was perfectly entitled to buy what they were willing to pay for.

Saying that a bunch of people conspired to be as bunch of inconsiderate jerks is different from saying they should have fewer legal rights or should be ostracized for their backgrounds.




I think these are things that Apple should consider. People who are buying the products to use them shouldn't be crowded out by scalpers who happen to have the time and capital to bully the marketplace.

Blaming any group as an ethic gang jabbering away in some moon-language is indeed racist and spiteful. No different than saying that the Jews run Hollywood or similarly insensitive complaints.

 

[Coleman2010]

Why is this ridiculous? There are many things you can't buy without a credit card like renting a car, etc.

FYI, people can rent a car without a credit card. They leave a cash deposit.

 

[DanTSX]

Work harder? You mean have no life and get in line two days before launch? How long before launch should I start to camp out in front of the Apple Store? This whole, "work harder" is more ridiculous than me feeling, " entitled" to an iPhone. I don't feel entitled to an iPhone, but it doesn't mean I won't be pissed if scalpers lined up en mass to buy iPhone's to export for massive profit margins that ended up leading up to actual users not getting an iPhone.

It's legal and it's the dark side of capitalism. Car dealers that mark up cars beyond MSRP is legal. Doesn't mean I won't be pissed at it. Frankly, I don't know how Apple can fight it beyond what they are doing now without as others have said discriminate against other buyers without credit cards, etc.

It's all in dealer agreements. Contracts entered into freely by both parties.

iPhone scalpers have no such restriction and take the risk that their supply is limited to that on hand as opposed to a dealer who contracturaly has access to a supply for resale. In other words, you cannot compare.

 

[quagmire]

It's all in dealer agreements. Contracts entered into freely by both parties.

iPhone scalpers have no such restriction and take the risk that their supply is limited to that on hand as opposed to a dealer who contracturaly has access to a supply for resale. In other words, you cannot compare.

And I wish automakers would put a stop to this when the contracts are renewed. They don't profit from dealer markups. It harms their image, etc.

 

[Coleman2010]

Work harder? You mean have no life and get in line two days before launch? How long before launch should I start to camp out in front of the Apple Store?

If your life is too busy to give up a few hours on a Saturday to get what you want, order from the site and wait 2-3 weeks. Your busy life will not be interrupted and you will not have to stand in line with "those people."

 

[DanTSX]

And I wish automakers would put a stop to this when the contracts are renewed. They don't profit from dealer markups. It harms their image, etc.

If it was bad for business, I suppose they would.....

 

[ritmomundo]

If actual users get in line earlier, the scalpers will get in line even earlier. They will always be more motivated to make sure they will get an iPhone because doing it is a business for them.

Then get there even earlier if getting what you want is important to you. Simple as that.

 

[Retired Cat]

Frustrating Apple Store Line experience today

Blaming any group as an ethic gang jabbering away in some moon-language is indeed racist and spiteful. No different than saying that the Jews run Hollywood or similarly insensitive complaints.

Was the OP remarking on ethnic group/language for the purpose of disparaging that ethnic group, or for the purpose of providing evidence of a conspiracy?

For example, if OP is saying: "X group sucks because ***they*** always buy up product iY" I'd say that's probably a disparaging stereotype.

If OP says that the fact that these folks appeared to be conspirators from the same community because of common language and buying tactics, I don't think that's racist. That's an observation. It may even be the truth.

The OP is not assigning a judgment to a general ethnicity because of the actions of a subset or small group of them.

I do agree with the point raised earlier that going online and finding a store with the item on stock is more productive than complaining here. Still, I'd be mad if I was in the OP's shoes. That's why I either order stuff online or wait a few months for the ridiculous consumer hype to dissipate.

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It's all in dealer agreements. Contracts entered into freely by both parties.

This actually isn't true in many cases, because dealer associations have lobbied State governments hard for all kinds of laws that restrict the power that the automakers have relative to the dealer networks.

This is more akin to extortion via Crony Capitalism. One only need look at how dealer associations have tried to stop Tesla Motors from selling cars direct to see that the dealers are generally not in the least interested in arms-length contracts.

 

[Sugadaddy]

Apple should limit people to 1 unlocked phone purchase, at least during the first months of release.

Scalpers buying 2 unlocked phones to resell overseas means:
1. less phones for contract renewals/new customers, not good for cell phone companies.
2. less sales in other countries where those phones are exported (and where iPhone is more expensive), so less profit for Apple.
3. it hurts Apple's image when someone waits in line for hours and sees a gang of scalpers buying up everything, just like the OP.


Didn't you have to pay by credit card before, and not cash? I don't remember. Also, they could make you sign something that says you won't be exporting it out of the country. When I buy stuff from Dell Canada, I have to agree that I won't be exporting the goods...

 

[alent1234]

stand in line for two hours to buy a cell phone?

 

[dlondon]

You want apple to only do credit card transactions? Not everyone has a credit card. Some people save up and use cash for their transactions.

You want all purchases attached to an Apple ID? What about people switching from an Android/Google platform. They do not have Apple IDs.

All of the ideas being thrown out limit customers and are discriminatory. Because you don't have a credit card you can't buy an iPhone? Ridiculous!!!

I gave card payment (as opposed to credit card payment) as an option and I said perhaps only if someone wanted more than one device. I also said Apple ID, email address, other ID etc. That's not discriminatory.

The problem is that you think you are somehow more deserving of getting the iPhone than these "ethnic gangs" you so colorfully describe.

I did not describe them as "ethnic gangs".

Also, I don't think that I am more deserving than anyone else. I think it would be fairer if everyone was given a fair chance to purchase rather than some individuals buying 10 or more items each.

 

[Coleman2010]

Didn't you have to pay by credit card before, and not cash? I don't remember. Also, they could make you sign something that says you won't be exporting it out of the country. When I buy stuff from Dell Canada, I have to agree that I won't be exporting the goods...

For the iPad Apple tried doing only credit card sales. They were threatened with a law suit when a woman who doesn't have credit cards or a bank account saved for months to buy an iPad then was denied when she tried to buy it. If she had sued Apple, her suit would be justified. It's discrimination.

 

[Max(IT)]

In the past I bought iPhone 4 and 4s in USA, where is 200$ cheaper than in Italy.
I didn't buy the iPhone there just because of different LTE band.
But last time I bought something in an Apple store they didn't accept cash but only credit cards.

 

[Klae17]

I have heard stories about certain groups of people buying up iPhones for sale in their home country for big money and not for personal use (perfectly legal). Anyway, I was at the Menlo Park NJ mall this morning around 11AM for something I needed and saw a relatively short line (counted 57 people not including myself) of people waiting for a 5S. So I decided to wait so I can get one for my wife since I already have mine.

Of the 57 people in line 49 (counted) were seemingly of the same "group" all seemingly knowing each other in what seemed like one big family and chattering in a foreign language. I was able to watch through he window as virtually every purchase being made while I was standing in line (all were at the front 4 tables). Every person (husband, wife & sometimes "older children") in each group that went in 1 group at a time purchased 2 phones each and all paid by cash with LOTS of large bills pretty obviously buying "no contract" devices.

It took around 55 minutes for the line to get to me and I was finally the next one. With about 3 people ahead of me a rep came out and said all he had left were 32gig Verizon (which is what I wanted) and 64gig ATT only in gray. Well, I finally got "escorted" in and placed my order, waited 3 minutes for the "getter" to bring my phone to the sales guy when .... "sorry Sir, all sold out."

I was pissed. Not so much because I didn't get one (which did bother me somewhat because I wasted an hour) but because it was so obvious what was going on with what I would call these "gangs" of people buying phones simply for sale elsewhere and not for their own use. All legal, can't argue with that, just so dammmm frustrating.

I guess there is no way to fix this problem since (as the Apple guy said when I said that the chances of any of these phones being activated in this country are slim to none) "we're just here to sell phones, doesn't matter what is being done with them." Just so annoying when obviously these large groups who gather keep "real" customers away from a chance to get a device. They must have some sort of "calling system" when they find a store with phones in stock because the vast majority did NOT seem like strangers to each other.

It's worse than trying to get concert tickets. At least you do that by phone.

I'm pretty sure they are real customers. 50 x 2 x $650 is over $150,000. Apple would rather have that, trust.

 

[Carlanga]

bad managing, store should have counted and told people of stock quantities before you wasted an hour for nothing in october

 

[Klae17]

Apple should limit people to 1 unlocked phone purchase, at least during the first months of release.

Scalpers buying 2 unlocked phones to resell overseas means:
1. less phones for contract renewals/new customers, not good for cell phone companies.
2. less sales in other countries where those phones are exported (and where iPhone is more expensive), so less profit for Apple.
3. it hurts Apple's image when someone waits in line for hours and sees a gang of scalpers buying up everything, just like the OP.


Didn't you have to pay by credit card before, and not cash? I don't remember. Also, they could make you sign something that says you won't be exporting it out of the country. When I buy stuff from Dell Canada, I have to agree that I won't be exporting the goods...

I think people in line at the apple store is great for Apples image. It means people want their products.

 

[Carlanga]

I'm surprised at the people defending the scalpers......

You will usually find the people that defend scalpers are other scalpers. Scalperception.

 

[DanTSX]

You will usually find the people that defend scalpers are other scalpers. Scalperception.

I find most people blaming scalpers are people who don't have the phone they want because of their own faults.

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I gave card payment (as opposed to credit card payment) as an option and I said perhaps only if someone wanted more than one device. I also said Apple ID, email address, other ID etc. That's not discriminatory.



I did not describe them as "ethnic gangs".

Also, I don't think that I am more deserving than anyone else. I think it would be fairer if everyone was given a fair chance to purchase rather than some individuals buying 10 or more items each.

Yes you did. Not those exact words, but a "gang", from another land, all speaking the same language, excluding you...........

Maybe there should be a law against how many people can buy iPhones. It's not FAIR to you.

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I gave card payment (as opposed to credit card payment) as an option and I said perhaps only if someone wanted more than one device. I also said Apple ID, email address, other ID etc. That's not discriminatory.



I did not describe them as "ethnic gangs".

Also, I don't think that I am more deserving than anyone else. I think it would be fairer if everyone was given a fair chance to purchase rather than some individuals buying 10 or more items each.

Yes you did. Not those exact words, but a "gang", from another land, all speaking the same language, excluding you...........

Maybe there should be a law against how many people can buy iPhones. It's not FAIR to you.

----------

stand in line for two hours to buy a cell phone?

That was only the start of the long list of intellectual failures that day.

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Was the OP remarking on ethnic group/language for the purpose of disparaging that ethnic group, or for the purpose of providing evidence of a conspiracy?

For example, if OP is saying: "X group sucks because ***they*** always buy up product iY" I'd say that's probably a disparaging stereotype.

If OP says that the fact that these folks appeared to be conspirators from the same community because of common language and buying tactics, I don't think that's racist. That's an observation. It may even be the truth.

The OP is not assigning a judgment to a general ethnicity because of the actions of a subset or small group of them.

I do agree with the point raised earlier that going online and finding a store with the item on stock is more productive than complaining here. Still, I'd be mad if I was in the OP's shoes. That's why I either order stuff online or wait a few months for the ridiculous consumer hype to dissipate.

----------



This actually isn't true in many cases, because dealer associations have lobbied State governments hard for all kinds of laws that restrict the power that the automakers have relative to the dealer networks.

This is more akin to extortion via Crony Capitalism. One only need look at how dealer associations have tried to stop Tesla Motors from selling cars direct to see that the dealers are generally not in the least interested in arms-length contracts.

yes she was.


Stop buying new cars then, and form a group encouraging others to do so, form a buyers club and negotiate better prices, or use capital to make your own dealership and charge what you think is "fair". All the crony capitalism in the world cannot pull the checkbook out of your pocket.

 

[Pompiliu]

Oh puh-lease.
Cry me a river! They have every right to buy a phone and do what the hell they want with it.
You should be thankful apple has limit of 2 iphones for a person.

Thanks for wasting our time with your 1st world problems thread.

Now i'll post a cat so others won't feel as pissed as me!

 

[Bowsa2511]

The Online tool is pretty good

 

[dlondon]

Yes you did. Not those exact words, but a "gang", from another land, all speaking the same language, excluding you...........

Firstly you accuse me of using the term "ethnic gangs". I deny this and you repeat that I did, but not exactly in those words. You then go on to say that I said other things that I simply did not say.

I repeat that I did not use the word "gang". I also did not say "another land", anything about "speaking the same language" or anything along the lines of "excluding me".

Think you've confused me with someone else.

 

[DanTSX]

Firstly you accuse me of using the term "ethnic gangs". I deny this and you repeat that I did, but not exactly in those words. You then go on to say that I said other things that I simply did not say.

I repeat that I did not use the word "gang". I also did not say "another land", anything about "speaking the same language" or anything along the lines of "excluding me".

Think you've confused me with someone else.

Yes. I thought I was responding to the OP, whom if they did not edit their original post, had complaints of the nature that I was referencing.

No harm.