i waited in line for 5 hours and got no ipad 2 today =(

[egeek84]

Hey guys,
So I went to the mall today around 3PM. I stood in line for 5 hours. They ran out of the white iPads first, then the 3G models. Towards the end, the guy was like you may not get the version iPad you wanted I asked him which one they had alot of he said the black 16 gig wifi only (which is the one I wanted) I finally get inside the store and ironically the guy who sold me the 1st gen iPad last year was the one who helpd me again (really nice guy) Anyways, he goes back and then comes back empty handed and he was like "im so sorry man, we don't have anymore" My hear sunk. I couldn't believe it. I ask to speak to a manger and a really nice manager lady comes over and after we talk for a bit, she gets my info down and told me she would call me back as soon as they get more shipments in and that I wouldn't have to wait in line again.

I am so frustrated that I waited for nothing. I wish they had the reservation system like last year. This time around, it felt very disorganized. People were waiitng under false hopes.

I still love Apple though and will probably go back to the mall tomorrow and see if more shipments come in. Ugh it just sucsk though cuz I wanted mine tonite lol.

 

[saving107]

I am so frustrated that I waited for nothing. I wish they had the reservation system like last year. This time around, it felt very disorganized. People were waiitng under false hopes.

I agree with you. I got their around 3pm to my Apple Store and at 4:30pm an employee came out and warned the people at the end of the line (estimated 450-500 in line) that you might not get the model you wanted, so to be prepared.

As soon as he said that, I left and drove down to Best Buy just 1/2 a mile down the road, where I was number 43 in line there, and I did get an iPad.

This launched seemed so unorganized that even I'm a little disappointed at Apple, I though they were better than this. So many people waiting in line with no guarantee.

 

[mcdj]

You put in 5 hours, and came away empty handed, which sucks for today, but from the sounds of it, people are going to be lining up for this thing for the next few days at least. You were promised not to have to stand in line again...you paid your dues and you'll get the iPad. Do you have instant gratification? No. But will you be some poor slob in line again when they come back in stock? No. You will be a front of the line VIP, which you paid for with 5 hours of your life.

In other words, you stood in line like everyone else and you'll get an iPad like everyone else.

 

[Pballer110]

You put in 5 hours, and came away empty handed, which sucks for today, but from the sounds of it, people are going to be lining up for this thing for the next few days at least. You were promised not to have to stand in line again...you paid your dues and you'll get the iPad. Do you have instant gratification? No. But will you be some poor slob in line again when they come back in stock? No. You will be a front of the line VIP, which you paid for with 5 hours of your life.

In other words, you stood in line like everyone else and you'll get an iPad like everyone else.

This is if the manager really calls him back. Alot of times they will say this stuff and never follow through.

 

[dstar]

wow! 5 hours on line for nothing?

Did you document the whole miserable experience with pictures? That would be really cool to see.

 

[Chewy954]

Sorry to hear that man.. Down here in south florida I just went across the street from my house and walked to walmart at 4. I was the 3rd person there, they had like 10 iPads total, no 32gb models(none came in). Put my name down for the 1 of 2 64gb Black iPad 2's. No Smart Covers in stock, they didnt get any either. People came saying they tried Best Buy but the line was 150+. My iPad Purchasing experience was pretty good. First time buying a apple product at launch and 2nd apple product ever. Not much of an apple person but I love the iPad 2. Black was decided at last second, I told the guy surprise me... both just looked great I couldn't decide lol.

 

[iserian]

Five hours and nothing magical to show for it..... I agree that does indeed suck but it sounds like you are taking it quite well. If its your second ipad I can tell you not much wow there. If its your first dance .....that is a different story.

Hope you get one this weekend.

 

[physicsguy13]

I was in line for about 4 hours to get mine. When I was leaving there was at least 200 people still in line waiting and there had to have been more than 200 people in front of me in line. I was happy to get one but I really feel bad for the people that waited for hours to end up with nothing.

 

[apunkrockmonk]

I went to the local best buy at 4:40 and saw 150-200 people in line when I pulled into the parking lot. I left and went to the mall around the corner to waste some time.

Inside the mall was a "best buy mobile" that had just opened.

There wasn't a single customer in the closet sized store. Just about 10 employees. All of which were really happy to sell me an iPad, as long as I wanted a 16GB black wifi model.

I wanted white but I settled. I'm glad I did, I love this thing already.

 

[Mystikal]

I agree with you. I got their around 3pm to my Apple Store and at 4:30pm an employee came out and warned the people at the end of the line (estimated 450-500 in line) that you might not get the model you wanted, so to be prepared.

As soon as he said that, I left and drove down to Best Buy just 1/2 a mile down the road, where I was number 43 in line there, and I did get an iPad.

This launched seemed so unorganized that even I'm a little disappointed at Apple, I though they were better than this. So many people waiting in line with no guarantee.

What do you expect? They cant send 1000 to each store.

 

[butters149]

I didn't get the model I wanted but I did get 2 64GB black wifi only after waiting in line for 4.5 hours, will be trying to sell the other 64GB one or give to family.

 

[baummer]

Availability was first come, first serve. They can't realistically meet the inventory demands at each retail sales channel, and this is why Target and Best Buy are usually all over the map, and some stores get more than others. I'm sure someone's job at Apple is to determine how much inventory to send based on sales data, location, etc.

You took a risk, it didn't pay off immediately, but it will payoff assuming the manager keeps their word. If not, then it's a life lesson that with product launches, there is never a guarantee that you will get whatever item you are waiting for (unless you're among the first 10 in line).

Hope you get your iPad 2 before Monday.

 

[rritterson]

What do you expect? They cant send 1000 to each store.

Like hell they can't. Apple can send as many of anything as they want to any store anytime, as long as they wait long enough to pile up the inventory first.

 

[Bobomix]

Now that you are going to wait for the 2nd shipment, you might as well order through an authorized reseller and save some tax.

 

[newdeal]

...

What do you expect? They cant send 1000 to each store.

The apple store in buffalo had well over 1000. There was a line a good 1000 feet long with people standing 2 or 3 wide and most people got something. White 3G iPads were the first to sell out, then black 3G

 

[RyanTheGeneral]

If there was option for a bb I would of suggested that. I already knew the apple store would be packed so went to the bb around the corner. Got there later then I expected thanks to my girl But still walked away with the one I wanted about 2 hours later. And that's only because they had to do a recount about half way through.

 

[ozred]

Hey guys,
So I went to the mall today around 3PM. I stood in line for 5 hours. They ran out of the white iPads first, then the 3G models. Towards the end, the guy was like you may not get the version iPad you wanted I asked him which one they had alot of he said the black 16 gig wifi only (which is the one I wanted) I finally get inside the store and ironically the guy who sold me the 1st gen iPad last year was the one who helpd me again (really nice guy) Anyways, he goes back and then comes back empty handed and he was like "im so sorry man, we don't have anymore" My hear sunk. I couldn't believe it. I ask to speak to a manger and a really nice manager lady comes over and after we talk for a bit, she gets my info down and told me she would call me back as soon as they get more shipments in and that I wouldn't have to wait in line again.

I am so frustrated that I waited for nothing. I wish they had the reservation system like last year. This time around, it felt very disorganized. People were waiitng under false hopes.

I still love Apple though and will probably go back to the mall tomorrow and see if more shipments come in. Ugh it just sucsk though cuz I wanted mine tonite lol.

Respectfully, now you know why Apple doesn't care.

They know suckers will put up with whatever crap Apple dishes out, and love every minute.

Some people respect Apple more than themselves.

 

[sanford]

Respectfully, now you know why Apple doesn't care.

They know suckers will put up with whatever crap Apple dishes out, and love every minute.

Some people respect Apple more than themselves.

Oh, now nobody makes anyone stand in line. I only managed to get my iPad 1 at launch because they did the online pre-order thing and I live in a Saturday delivery area. On a 12-month cycle, Apple is still running about a month ahead of delivering iPad 2s. I'm not defending Apple, because there is nothing to defend. More people wanted an iPad 2 than were available at launch, but not so many more that the majority of people who waited in line didn't get one. And the people who didn't get one, 99% will stay by one when available. In business, that's considered a banner product launch.

 

[482214]

I dont think apple really care who gets what ipad after what ever wait time - just as long as they sell them all!

 

[a17inchFuture]

Damn this is my fear ....

I am going to try and buy one this morning, right after opening ... I called last night a couple hours before closing, and the woman said they had the model i wanted, then when i asked if they would tomorrow, said, "I HIGHLY doubt it ... we're open til midnight." ... Really hope she was wrong or BS'ing...

But seeing comments like the ones above, with people saying they just bought any model they could (and 2 of said model they didnt want, no less--which also happens to be the one i wanted), makes me very worrisome....

Im gonna be pissed if i take a 30 dollar cab to apple this morning to be there at opening, only to have them be sold out.... And im not like those d-bags, im not gonna buy literally whatever they have, only the one i want or nothing.

Oh, and BB or anywhere else isnt an option for me, i have a 600 dollar gift card from returning a ipad 1 at christmas ... I've been patiently waiting for the new ipad model since december, only to likely not get one now..... great.

 

[gquiring]

What do you expect? They cant send 1000 to each store.

They could have sent more to retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Target. They could have allowed pre-orders for folks that can't stand in line. And why this 5pm non-sense? Why not open doors at normal business hours? It's all to create a media frenzy circus. To think some stood in line for 10+ hours is beyond silly.

 

[sinsin07]

What do you expect? They cant send 1000 to each store.

What to expect?

Well for iPad 1 launch at the Fifth avenue store, they had someone come around and ask what you were getting and how many, 1 or 2. They jotted this down on paper. I got there at 3:00 and was out by 5:20.

For iPad 2 launch at the NY Soho store they had Apple employess come out and did numerous lines counts.

Around 4 PM they handed out Apple cards of some type with a empbeded number of some sort, like a claim check for equipment left for repair. If you didn't get a card because you came to late, you knew there was no need to wait around.

A nearby coffe shop had a waitress give out free cappuccino to everyone on line, probably paid for by Apple.

When you were half way to the door, Apple employees came out and announced what was already sold out.

When you one on third away from the door, more Apple employess came out with iPhones and asked what you were getting, then they told you if that was still availabe and entered your choice on their iphone.

When you were ten minutes outside the door, an Apple employee collected your card and wrote on each what you wanted.

I got to the Soho store at 3:00 and was out by 7:20. The difference between Fifth Avenue and Soho is when I got into the Soho store, it was practically empty, maybe 40 customers?. They only let in a few at time, probably because they did not have enough staff or something.

That is what to expect.

The Apple store know how much of each item they have and can plan accordingly, there is no reason people should have to wait on line for nothing. Apple Stores are not new to this game and this is not there first launch of an item.

 

[MikePA]

...and if they sent 1,000 to each store, what if 1,500 people showed up? People would still whine. Big surprise.

People who decided to wait in line should have known they were risking either not getting the model they wanted or not getting one at all. If I'd done that and didn't get one, I'd have more self esteem than to start a thread whining about it.

 

[butaneko]

I got to the Apple store in Garden State Plaza in Paramus, NJ yesterday around 4:15. I'd say the line was about 250 people deep at that point, but I'm a pretty bad estimator. Anyway around 5:45 they are walking the line announcing that they are out of certain AT&T 3G white models. About 6:00 they come around announcing that they are out of all 3G models. The guy behind me who had been waiting for almost 2 hours wanted a 3G model so he left the line. I'm sure a bunch of other people did too. Finally around 6:20 they come around and tell us they are running low on all models, so I'm sweating the last 20 mins on line. I'm thinking I want white but I guess I could get black, want 32 but I guess I could go up or down. Ugh!

I finally get to my "escort" into the store and mention the stock issues. She seems surprised about them and says they weren't told they were running low or that 3G was out. Get to the counter and apparently the only units they were out of were 32gb 3G white At&T. So I was relieved to get my 32GB white wifi, but I was annoyed on behalf of all the people wanting 3G models that they misinformed.

 

[xraydoc]

I agree that Apple should have allowed reservations like they did for the original iPad's release.

I waited for 5 hours (got there at 12:30) before I got in to the store. They had sold out of several models by then. I knew I wanted a black 64GB 3G model, but wasn't sure about AT&T or Verizon; I was thinking AT&T since it worked well enough on my iPad 1, but I have a Verizon iPhone 4 which has been awesome, so I wasn't sure which carrier to use for the new iPad. The choice was made for me as they only had Verizon 64GB black models left.

Works fine and I'm quite satisfied.

As I was leaving the mall, an Apple employee came out and announced to the line that all AT&T iPads had sold out. I thought there was going to be a riot!

Then again, each store can only physically stock so many...