Have you ever "camped out" for an iPhone on launch day? If so, any tips?

[Flow39]

I camped for the 6 and would do it again in an instant if I was upgrading this year. I was in line for 16 hours. My tips:
-Bring a chair
-Get there about 10-12 hours early (or earlier, maybe 16-20 hours, if you want a very specific/limited supply model)
-Bring snacks (not too much salty stuff)
-Water/Caffeine to get you through the night
-Umbrella (it wasn't forecasted to rain when I went but it ended up raining for about half an hour at 4 AM)
-All of your necessary devices, fully charged
-Chargers/Cables
-External battery pack
-Jacket
-Movies/Music/Games loaded onto your devices
-Headphones
-Backpack to store all you stuff in
-Social skills
-Winning attitude

It's a lot of fun if you talk to the people around you. I went alone but made a number of friends and even formed up a small group! Most of the campers are willing to save spots and give you some snacks. One guy in my "group" when I camped out ran to Walmart at 3 AM and got a bunch of snacks for the people in my group. When I got left behind when they pulled most of my group into the store, a couple People in the group told the employees that I was with them so they let me in with my group! The campers do that kind of stuff all the time! We had a great time down there! I think that everyone that calls themselves an Apple fan should try camping out at least once for an iPhone, it's a really awesome experience

 

[JayIsAwesome]

I've never done the "camping out for an iPhone" thing. Never was my thing, plus I sell cell phones. So I'm usually pretty busy on iPhone launch day (schedule is gonna be crazy this year -_-)

I would say just show up early, maybe bring a friend, bring some food (nothing too messy), bring something to keep you entertained, check the weather, don't forget your money (seriously that would suck if you got all the way up to the register...iPhone sitting there ready for you, only to realize you forgot your wallet or something), and when you get your phone...don't show it off. Get it and get the hell out. So many stories of people getting robbed for their iPhone outside of various retail stores on launch day.

Above all, have fun. Hope everybody enjoys their phone. I preordered mine. Can't wait to get it

 

[smartguy510]

I pre-ordered yesterday and wanted the in-store pickup option but it was not available, and by the time my order went though, it said November AND that it would ship to my family's address. Granted, I will be going for Thanksgiving, but I was thinking of taking some chances and going to the Apple Store on the 16th (I have Fridays off at work) The closest to me is an Apple Store in a mall, but about 20 minutes away is the biggest of the five Apple Stores in my city and I feel like they have more of a chance of having the Jet Black 7+ 128.

* How early do I need to get there if I want it on launch day? I know the store opens at 10:00 a.m., so maybe 4:00 a.m.?
* How big of a chance is there that they won't have *any* or very, very few JBs 7+ 128?
* Am I better off going to AT&T super early?

Just to save some repliers some time - "No, I always pre-order! Much easier! Receive it at my doorstep!" (Thanks for bumping the thread though)

I've camped out for the iPhone 5 for 4 days and the iPhone 6 Plus for about 5 days. I recommend depending on the weather. Socks( I mean lots of them) a sleeping bag, a lawn chair to put your sleeping bag on and a buddy. One of you can go eat while the other waits. It's brutal though , I lost both times about 5-7 lbs because of just waiting around and not eating too much while I was camping.

 

[slippery-pete]

I pre-ordered yesterday and wanted the in-store pickup option but it was not available, and by the time my order went though, it said November AND that it would ship to my family's address. Granted, I will be going for Thanksgiving, but I was thinking of taking some chances and going to the Apple Store on the 16th (I have Fridays off at work) The closest to me is an Apple Store in a mall, but about 20 minutes away is the biggest of the five Apple Stores in my city and I feel like they have more of a chance of having the Jet Black 7+ 128.

* How early do I need to get there if I want it on launch day? I know the store opens at 10:00 a.m., so maybe 4:00 a.m.?
* How big of a chance is there that they won't have *any* or very, very few JBs 7+ 128?
* Am I better off going to AT&T super early?

Just to save some repliers some time - "No, I always pre-order! Much easier! Receive it at my doorstep!" (Thanks for bumping the thread though)

Bring a pup tent

 

[Luba]

Thanks for the tips guys! I live in a city with 5 Apple Stores... how early do you think I need to be there?

Also, am I better off going to an AT&T store close by to an Apple Store?

One year, I forget the model, but the Apple Store had run out. I should have simply got into the carrier store line as soon as I heard the news. It was early so I would have had no problem getting what I wanted. But I assumed that since the Apple Store didn't have it, the carriers wouldn't either. By the time I thought of going to the carrier store, they were sold out.

A mall store is actually good, IMO. You can't get their extremely early as they won't let you line up. Also, after a while they'll let you into the mall which is cleaner and more comfortable than being outside of the mall.

Never had problems with going to the bathroom as people are good in saving your place in line. I think the earliest I ever got to the mall was 6 or 7, so not too bad. I never camped overnight.

It was a fun experience, but this was back in days when Steve was alive and Ron Johnson was Head of Retail. The stores weren't so corporate then, and the workers were fans too. Friends and Family thought I was crazy, but I think it's worth doing for the experience. I did it a couple of times. Maybe I'll go this year as I have this Friday off to get the AW as I read some stores will have AWs on Launch Day. It's better to go with friends, but difficult to setup as it's a work day. I would have gone to more of them, but didn't want to get up early, wait in line, then find out I have to abandon my spot to go to work. Going in to work at 11 could be ok, but not noon.

 

[circatee]

In 2008, I arrived at the Apple shop in Lenox Mall, GA at around 03:00. I've not done anything like that since...