How much chaos is involved at an Apple store on launch day?

[haqsha23]

I wouldn't mind going to an Apple store to pick up my iPhone, this is one iPhone I would rather have specifically shipped to my residence. And the nice thing about my delivery carrier, is they deliver relatively early in the day, so I can still have it quicker over my Apple Store.

Why so? I'll be going to the store due to the fact that my UPS delivery window is usually between 6-7pm. If I was assured that it would arrive via shipping before 11am, I might've reconsidered.

 

[JD2015]

What I mean is... if I pre-order online and choose in-store pickup, how long should I expect the process to take? Will I have to wait in line for hours, or do I have to make an appointment for pickup, or do I just show up and be in and out in maybe 10-20 minutes?

Normally I stay far far away and just do shipping. But this time I’d like to go pick it up kinda early in the morning, since I’m going out of town in the afternoon and don’t want to worry about what time FedEx or UPS will show up.

Just wondering what other people have experienced in the past.

There may not be an option for instore collection when ordering tomorrow for the IPX.
If you do though get this option then they will check to see if stock available for your store of choice. If there is then you will get a choice of available times to pick up. Beware though this will add additional steps in the ordering process. Upon arrival, you go to the in-store pickup queue. There will most likely be a second queue for people chancing it to see if there is instore stock.Ask if unsure which is what queue. As for waiting times, no longer than 10-15 minutes and if late they hold on to it for the day I believe (but check with the store) and then release it for general sale if not collected. Make sure though that you have everything the email asks you for such as ID, the card you paid for it, proof of address etc. If it doesn't match what you have used then it may be rejected. Also, just a tip, as the IPX will be in such short supply then be careful when you leave the store for any opportunistic thieves.

 

[44267547]

Why so? I'll be going to the store due to the fact that my UPS delivery window is usually between 6-7pm. If I was assured that it would arrive via shipping before 11am, I might've reconsidered.

Because some stores are going to be so chaotic and swarmed with iPhone X buyers, I would rather avoid that and have it shipped directly to my address specifically for this iPhone launch.

 

[Five_Oh]

Telling us where you live would be helpful. The lines at the 5th Ave store in NYC are gonna be slightly longer than East Jabip, Kansas.

Hey! It can get very busy here in East Jabip.

'Specially now that the harvest is over.

 

[KingslayerG5]

It's expected to sell 130M in its lifetime. Nearly 100M in its first year. Not bad for a phone that started off over $1000 and no Plus/XL variant yet.

It only has 2-3M available at launch. You can basically look at November 3 as Scalper Friday mixed with Apple zealots that want it or badly need an upgrade.

It's going to be BAAAAD, dude. Worse than PS3's. Most chaotic launch day ever. Pre-orders haven't happened yet and this site is already slow and crashing.

November is going to be a fun read in this forum. Many praises as if some posters would rather keep their X over their children threads and negative cry me river threads.

 

[slippery-pete]

I once saw a guy drop a cup of hot coffee on himself at an iPhone release.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Was in a store this week buying 8 plus for wife - kidding with the Apple person about first day - she said if she didn't have to she wouldn't come within 1/2 mile of store on first couple of days

 

[KingslayerG5]

I actually applied for Uber and Lyft before Postmates and DoorDash. I ended up not doing ridesharing because I don't want to drive groups of people or drive them to airports with my small hatchback. They do potentially make more money than couriers.

All I know is ridesharing near Apple Stores is going to be a field day for drivers. Surge prices through the roof. No Jingle All The Way chaos or a line across the town like Futurama. It's not going to be Black Friday/Denny's fights brutal. Seen way too many fights on YouTube. But it's going to be a field day for Uber and Lyft drivers.

 

[iMas70]

I'm going to have mine shipped to the Apple store. They provide a timeframe to pick up your order. It worked great when I picked up my LTE Apple Watch.

 

[Diving Capers]

It goes something like this

 

[SHKLMRE]

HAH

View attachment 727571 View attachment 727573
It goes something like this

AHAHAHAHHA. this just made my day.

 

[predation]

Yup zoo.

You can probably take a case of water and sell each bottle for like $5 each.
[doublepost=1509057561][/doublepost]

I've had my last couple of iPhones held at my UPS hub on launch day. That's worked pretty well for me, since there's no telling what time of day the UPS truck will get to my house.

If you do that make sure you try and go when they open.

After work is worse than the Apple store.

 

[Diving Capers]

HAH

AHAHAHAHHA. this just made my day.

That first movie is sooo good.

I even managed to find “Sex Panther” at Allen’s Boots in Austin

 

[tekchic]

I preordered for in-store pickup for the iPhone 6+ launch and had a blast. They had two lines, one for the walk-ins, and one for the preorders. I was probably 9 or 10 in the preorder line, and it was like a little geek party. We all sat around showing our new cases that we ordered from Amazon, chatted, etc.

Some Apple store employees came through with a cooler of goodies, drinks, etc around 30 min prior (This was inside of a shopping mall in PHX). Then at opening, they all came out running in a line cheering and high-fiving everyone in line, then brought you in a few people at a time and someone helped you get paid up and activated.

I'd love to do it again if I could but only as preorder/guaranteed pickup. I'd rather be at the Apple Store opening for pickup than have to play UPS/Fedex roulette with the doorbell, or have to obsessively track why my phone went from China to Hong Kong, back to China, to Korea, then finally to Anchorage (yes, I was on THAT flight last year for the 7+ haha).

 

[phpmaven]

it's mellow

View attachment 727413

Oooo... I forgot about that one. I seem to remember that they made them line up across the street from the mall and them made them move and then the whole line collapsed into a mob. That was ugly.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

If you do that make sure you try and go when they open.

I pick it up at the hub shortly after it opens. I'm not sure why I'd go there when they weren't open. 🙂


Disclaimer: This is intended as a serious reply. Thank you.