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How was your iPad 2 Launch experience?
- Thread starter eddiexhart
- Start date
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We have a great Best Buy where I live. They handed out claim tickets when they opened the door at 10:00 am. told everyone to come back at 5:00 pm. When I showed up at 4:30 there were about 20 people in front of me. The line went pretty quick and they had all the accessories by the area where you picked up your iPad(s) so those in line got first choice. They had at least 100 iPads to sell, I was very pleased.
Woke up early because of the Japan news. Got on the netbook and loaded my shopping cart with my iPad 64GB WiFi and accessories. Didn't submit the order because I figured they wouldn't possibly sell out of the most expensive models at the store. So I went to the mall to get one today. The line was small when I got there at 1:30. Everyone was looking for a 16 or 32GB so I figure no big deal.
Go shopping for curtains and grab some lunch. Come back at 3pm and the line has grown by a hundred more people. I get in line and again everyone around me is looking for a 16 or 32. Line doubles and triples.
At 5pm there's a cheer in front and the line starts moving. Then it suddenly stops. We wait around for another 15 minutes, then start a slow meandering crawl to the door that lasts an hour. In the distance we see Apple employees out of the store talking with the first 10-15 folks at the head of the line. Looks like they may be canvassing the line to reserve orders but they never go beyond those 15 people.
Rumbles start that all the 3G models are sold out. Guy in front of me texts his wife in the store who asks and says that's not true. Line moves some.
Then word comes the 3Gs are sold out. Line moves but slowly down and around the mall.
About 15 minutes later rumbles say white 64's are out. Huh? They aren't supposed to sell. Ok, I don't need white.
Lady in front decides to bail. Guy behind me is hoping for a 16GB WiFi. We all expected he'd be outa luck.
Get to the little corner around the building some guy is there hawking a kickstand for iPhones and iPads. We ignore him. Then Apple Employees come out saying 64GB and 32GB's all sold out. Only 16GB WiFi remains. Line completely disintegrates.
So after a few hours in the mall and couple in line I left empty-handed, grumbling over Apple hype and all the reasons I loathe this company. Get home, pull up the web store and order a 64GB white WiFi for delivery in April. No accessories. How sad is it to have an overpriced cover for a device that won't arrive for another 2 weeks?
Line was mostly in good spirits. But if I had to do over I would have just submitted my order online in the morning and went back to bed.
Lesson learned. No more waiting in lines for undetermined stock and baseless rumors.
Another 15 minutes and an Apple employee takes to t
Go shopping for curtains and grab some lunch. Come back at 3pm and the line has grown by a hundred more people. I get in line and again everyone around me is looking for a 16 or 32. Line doubles and triples.
At 5pm there's a cheer in front and the line starts moving. Then it suddenly stops. We wait around for another 15 minutes, then start a slow meandering crawl to the door that lasts an hour. In the distance we see Apple employees out of the store talking with the first 10-15 folks at the head of the line. Looks like they may be canvassing the line to reserve orders but they never go beyond those 15 people.
Rumbles start that all the 3G models are sold out. Guy in front of me texts his wife in the store who asks and says that's not true. Line moves some.
Then word comes the 3Gs are sold out. Line moves but slowly down and around the mall.
About 15 minutes later rumbles say white 64's are out. Huh? They aren't supposed to sell. Ok, I don't need white.
Lady in front decides to bail. Guy behind me is hoping for a 16GB WiFi. We all expected he'd be outa luck.
Get to the little corner around the building some guy is there hawking a kickstand for iPhones and iPads. We ignore him. Then Apple Employees come out saying 64GB and 32GB's all sold out. Only 16GB WiFi remains. Line completely disintegrates.
So after a few hours in the mall and couple in line I left empty-handed, grumbling over Apple hype and all the reasons I loathe this company. Get home, pull up the web store and order a 64GB white WiFi for delivery in April. No accessories. How sad is it to have an overpriced cover for a device that won't arrive for another 2 weeks?
Line was mostly in good spirits. But if I had to do over I would have just submitted my order online in the morning and went back to bed.
Lesson learned. No more waiting in lines for undetermined stock and baseless rumors.
Another 15 minutes and an Apple employee takes to t
Went to the Newport Beach California Fashion Island Apple store around 1:30 and had about 80 people ahead of me. By the time 5PM rolled around, I had at least 200 people behind me. Walked out about 5:50 with 2 32GB models. One black one white. Going to eBay the white one for $$$ 
I had a great time. I pent about 6 hours with a group of really cool guys in line around me.
Everything was handled in an organized manner. I got there around 11:20 AM and was about 30-40 in line. I got the model I wanted, which was the 32 gig wi-fi in black.
Life is good!
Everything was handled in an organized manner. I got there around 11:20 AM and was about 30-40 in line. I got the model I wanted, which was the 32 gig wi-fi in black.
Life is good!
I personally had a great experience. Got off work at 5:30, got to the main Best Buy in Knoxville, TN around 5:45, walked in to a line of only 25-30 people, got my golden ticket for my 32 GB Black AT&T 3G...outta the store around 6:15. Flawless. Submitting this on my new iPad 2! I love this thing so far!!!
My launch experience was nearly perfect. I got in line at 7am and was fourth. I brought my MacBook Pro and spent half the day watching Archer. I spent the other half the day talking to the people around me. Apple Store employees were very nice... Handed out lots of water and coffee. Immediately got my 64GB White iPad 2 and walked out of the store around 5:15.
It went good.
Slept most of the day, headed to walmart around 12ish to see if there was any line forming.. went home to chill, went back to walmart around 330, and was 3rd in line and walked out proudly with my 32gb white ipad2
Great Day.
For Fun After the ipad2 launch at walmart, i decided to go by best buy to see what the crowds were like and it was insanely crowded inside, id say 150-200+ waiting in line and i managed to walk back there to see how many units they had, they had alot alot of ipad2's in a steel caged box.
Slept most of the day, headed to walmart around 12ish to see if there was any line forming.. went home to chill, went back to walmart around 330, and was 3rd in line and walked out proudly with my 32gb white ipad2
Great Day.
For Fun After the ipad2 launch at walmart, i decided to go by best buy to see what the crowds were like and it was insanely crowded inside, id say 150-200+ waiting in line and i managed to walk back there to see how many units they had, they had alot alot of ipad2's in a steel caged box.
In one word.....
Epic. Spent all morning with my family. Went to Stride Rite & bought my 4 year old 2 pairs of Staw Wars shoes (They had the Darth Maul sandals he wanted, sweet!) After lunch with my fam, I decided to call a Wal-Mart near my work to see what kind of line they had. (Mind you, it was almost 1PM) The woman on the phone laughed at me. "Line, really? There is no one here!" So off to Wally World I go. Got there about 2:15 & low & behold, I was all alone. The Wal-Mart staff could not have been nicer, telling me in detail what they had for stock (5 Black 16GB WiFis, the rest is was either 1 or 2 of each, 19 total) Some people joined the line later & when they went on sale, maybe a dozen people in line. Got my Black 16GB WiFi & was at work early. See, told you it was epic!
Epic. Spent all morning with my family. Went to Stride Rite & bought my 4 year old 2 pairs of Staw Wars shoes (They had the Darth Maul sandals he wanted, sweet!) After lunch with my fam, I decided to call a Wal-Mart near my work to see what kind of line they had. (Mind you, it was almost 1PM) The woman on the phone laughed at me. "Line, really? There is no one here!" So off to Wally World I go. Got there about 2:15 & low & behold, I was all alone. The Wal-Mart staff could not have been nicer, telling me in detail what they had for stock (5 Black 16GB WiFis, the rest is was either 1 or 2 of each, 19 total) Some people joined the line later & when they went on sale, maybe a dozen people in line. Got my Black 16GB WiFi & was at work early. See, told you it was epic!
I think I said I waited three hours in another thread. Brain blip. I actually waited five hours. The experience was as good as waiting in line for five hours can be. The staff was helpful and communicative. They managed the crowds well and gave out drinks. I got what I wanted, even though I was toward the end of the line. The only compromise was having to get a Verizon rather than ATT iPad, but it's no big deal. I use this thing mainly at home and will only activate cell data when I'm traveling probably twice a year or so. No complaints.
My experience was a good one. Checked out bb around 12pm no line so I decided to get lunch with a friend. Come back around 2 30 pm and we find 8 people in line so we decide to line up. We chatted with a couple of cools dude in front of us while the line grew behind us. When everything was said and done, I walked out with my shiny new iPad by 5 10pm and so far I am loving this thing
and so far I am loving this thing
It went horribly.
Went to the local Apple Store at around 10 AM. Waited in line for 8 hours. Me and the girlfriend were about #130 in line. As it gets closer to 5PM, line jumpers and people holding spots brings it up to #300 or so.
At about 5:45 we get close to the entrance and Apple asks us how many we want. "2" we say. They inform us they are sold out of the 16GB wifi-only white iPad, the one the Mrs. really wants, but decides we'll just eat the $100 and get a 32GB wifi for her (I was getting a 16GB wifi 3G).
So we get into the store around 6PM and find out they are sold out of everything but the 64GB black Verizon iPad, so we leave empty handed. No offers to put us on a waiting list, nothing. They won't even tell us when they'll be getting more.
I'm pissed.
By the way, anyone else get the feeling there's a shortage of AT&T models. My friend was like #20 in line and they were already out of 3G models. 0.o
Went to the local Apple Store at around 10 AM. Waited in line for 8 hours. Me and the girlfriend were about #130 in line. As it gets closer to 5PM, line jumpers and people holding spots brings it up to #300 or so.
At about 5:45 we get close to the entrance and Apple asks us how many we want. "2" we say. They inform us they are sold out of the 16GB wifi-only white iPad, the one the Mrs. really wants, but decides we'll just eat the $100 and get a 32GB wifi for her (I was getting a 16GB wifi 3G).
So we get into the store around 6PM and find out they are sold out of everything but the 64GB black Verizon iPad, so we leave empty handed. No offers to put us on a waiting list, nothing. They won't even tell us when they'll be getting more.
I'm pissed.
By the way, anyone else get the feeling there's a shortage of AT&T models. My friend was like #20 in line and they were already out of 3G models. 0.o
The AT&T 3G models are going out FAST! The guy behind me who was 11th in line wanted AT&T 3G 32GB and that was sold out as well as the 16 and 64...
I waited online at Best Buy for 1 hour; I was about the 30th person. When they started giving out tickets and got to me (at 4:50pm), they didn't have the one I wanted, white 16GB AT&T.
So I went to another Best Buy 15 minutes away just to see if I could get lucky. Waited in line for 30 minutes. Didn't get one. I'll go back today to reserve one. I still have my original iPad so I'm not in too big of a rush.
So I went to another Best Buy 15 minutes away just to see if I could get lucky. Waited in line for 30 minutes. Didn't get one. I'll go back today to reserve one. I still have my original iPad so I'm not in too big of a rush.
Purchasing my white 64GB 3G AT&T model iPad 2 was a very pleasant experience. Arrived at the mall at noon and was about the 20th person in line. Everyone was really nice and talkative. The group around me promised to hold each other's place if you need to get something in the mall or use the bathroom. Apple employees kept checking to see if we needed anything and passed out Smart Water. It was all very festive.
Golden tickets were handed out at 4:30. Were told that assured something would be available for you but not which specific model. At about 5 til 5 cheers started and the line seemed to surge towards the front of the store. Everyone was taking pictures and employees were in the store taking pictures of us. Kind of surreal.
At 5pm, a sort-of maître d type person introduced each customer to the Apple emplyee who was going to assist you. A nice bubbly girl took my hand and lead me inside. By 5:09 I was out the door, brand new iPad 2 in hand!
The investment of waiting 5 hours ahead of time was well worth it. I would have hated having to wait while the line moved and worrying if the model I wanted was going to sell out.
It's strange to think that in about 3 months I'll be back there waiting for the iPhone 5.
Golden tickets were handed out at 4:30. Were told that assured something would be available for you but not which specific model. At about 5 til 5 cheers started and the line seemed to surge towards the front of the store. Everyone was taking pictures and employees were in the store taking pictures of us. Kind of surreal.
At 5pm, a sort-of maître d type person introduced each customer to the Apple emplyee who was going to assist you. A nice bubbly girl took my hand and lead me inside. By 5:09 I was out the door, brand new iPad 2 in hand!
The investment of waiting 5 hours ahead of time was well worth it. I would have hated having to wait while the line moved and worrying if the model I wanted was going to sell out.
It's strange to think that in about 3 months I'll be back there waiting for the iPhone 5.
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great experience
It was my first iLaunch at an Apple Store. I've gotten a few iDevices on launch day but not from an Apple Store.
I got to Bellevue Square Mall at 10am and was somewhere between 40th and 50th in line. Waited until 5pm. Apple staff were friendly and were handing out water and cookies almost non-stop. They got the crowd excited at launch time and then the buying process was smooth and seamless. I was out of there with my 64GB 3G (AT&T) black iPad2 by about 5:20pm.
Really a great experience. My only complaint was that I forgot something to sit on and that was my own fault. Everything else was great though.
m&c
It was my first iLaunch at an Apple Store. I've gotten a few iDevices on launch day but not from an Apple Store.
I got to Bellevue Square Mall at 10am and was somewhere between 40th and 50th in line. Waited until 5pm. Apple staff were friendly and were handing out water and cookies almost non-stop. They got the crowd excited at launch time and then the buying process was smooth and seamless. I was out of there with my 64GB 3G (AT&T) black iPad2 by about 5:20pm.
Really a great experience. My only complaint was that I forgot something to sit on and that was my own fault. Everything else was great though.
m&c