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Is the experience of waiting at apple worth it?

I'm probably the odd one out here as I really enjoy queeuning up :D

Been doing it since iPhone 3GS - you meet some great people.

Worse day was iPad 2 Launch as I waited 8 hours in line, standing, no break :eek:

There's always a great atmosphere though.
 
all you guys talking about the heat/ sun ect..

pfft here in germany we are waiting in line at 8 degrees celcius :(
 
Wow, some of the experiences on here are rough! In LA at the grove they bought us organic coffee and pastries, smart water, and umbrellas. I arrived at 5am, left by 11 am. It was cool, and Jason Bateman was in line and was cool. Do it!
 
Curious - To those who bring chairs/blankets and such, what happens when the doors open? Do you bring all of that into the store? Leave it outside? Put it in your car 15 minutes before?
 
I waited for 3 hours for the 3G a few days after launch in the midday July Texas heat. It was kind of fun, but if I'd left empty handed, the memory wouldn't have been nearly as good. :)

For the iPhone 4 launch, I went to the at&t store which is a quick walk from the nearest apple store. The apple store had hundreds in line, and the AT&T store had about 10 people in line.

I'm glad that this launch is in the coolness of September, but I'm preordering from now on.
 
Not sure how waiting in line for hours is amusing. But really not all that necessary. Many malls don't even allow camping or parking in their lot all night. Find one of these malls and when they will open their doors -- usually 5-5:30. 2.5hours is doable w/ minimal loss of sleep or productive work hours. Beats having to wait 2-4 weeks.
 
I vote yes. I did it for the first iPhone (I wasn't buying it but my dad wanted it and so as a father's day present my sister and I stood in line). We were first ones in line and it was definitely fun to do once. I don't know if I will do it again but you talk to a lot of interesting (& crazy) people and we got in the newspaper. So it was pretty fun :)
 
txflyfish said:
They pass out umbrellas and water bottles. So not too bad


You guys are scarrying him. MAN UP YOU GOTTA DO THIS AT LEAST ONCE
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Why? When I bought the original iPhone on launch day at the AT&T store, I waited maybe 45 minutes in line (only did it because the line was short--the Apple Store lines were nuts and I live within 10 miles of three different Apple Stores); skipped the iPhone 3G and 3GS; preordered iPhone 4 and had it on launch day; preordered iPhone 5 and will have it on launch day tomorrow.

The Apple Stores are fun places when there's no line, but standing in line over night or all day on launch day is not my thing (and with planning you never have to stand in line--when I know I'm getting the newest iPhone or iPad, I always go for online preorder which puts it at my door on launch day).

I'd take my chances at the phone stores, early in the AM, and if they have none, then wait for the initial rush to die down until there's available units in stock, or order online and live with the few weeks wait time.
 
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dylanlive said:
Curious - To those who bring chairs/blankets and such, what happens when the doors open? Do you bring all of that into the store? Leave it outside? Put it in your car 15 minutes before?
Click to expand...


Yeah, just put it all in your car. Or leave it outside. Usually the line is courteous enough to let you put your things away.
 
Cricketman said:
Waited in line for iPad 3 launch. It was my first apple launch, and was definitely a fun experience. Line wasn't too bad either, but I expect it might be longer for the iPhone. I got there about an hour before opening.

I think every apple enthusiast should do it at least once!
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So one hour before opening and you were still able to get an iPad without any problem?

My store opens at 8am, what time should I arrive? Mall doors open at 6am. I'm a working adult and definitely not interested in doing the whole overnight thing, haha.
 
I've done it a couple times. I actually enjoyed it for the most part. Apple even passed out water and breakfast to everyone that wanted it. I was shocked by that.


Though, this year I decided to just pre-order because my work schedule simply won't allow me to do it this year. But it's certainly an experience every geek/nerd should try :p
 
Based on these stories tomorrow likely won't be happening lol

I was planning on lining up around 7AM and being out by 815AM.

Oh well, will take a glance at the line, but no way would I wait longer than that.

Worst case, I'll get another day
 
I've done a black friday line, that was fun.

Now with work, might be hard, I'd love to do it, but the Apple Store here has no public parking, so I'd have to pay for parking hourly AND I want an unlocked device... ...so I might be waiting for a while.
 
I have been in line for iPhones, iPads, store openings, and Mac OS X. iPad launches weren't that great since it's March/April and cold outside.

For iPhone, it wasn't that bad. Of course, if you didn't pre-order one, it's your only route to go.
 
OneMike said:
Based on these stories tomorrow likely won't be happening lol

I was planning on lining up around 7AM and being out by 815AM.

Oh well, will take a glance at the line, but no way would I wait longer than that.

Worst case, I'll get another day
Click to expand...

Let me assure you that lining up at 7am will not even come close to cutting it! You'd be lucky to get one, and if you did it would be noon by the time you left.
 
It was exciting the first few times. I remember launch day in 2007 when it didn't go on sale till 6pm that Friday. I was in line from 10am till 6pm and a few of my friends showed up during the day and it was loads of fun... but since then I think you should just pre-order. It isn't like there will be such a shortage.
 
Getting mixed messages here...not sure what to do. Like I said, not camping out, but I have no problem getting up early and arriving at the store a few hours before opening. Just don't want to wait and then not even get a phone.

FWIW, my Apple store isn't in a big city like New York or something.
 
I waited in line for 4 to 5 hours for the iPad 2 launch. Interesting experience, but I would never deal with an Apple launch in person again. Like everyone says, just do it once for the hell of it.
 
Maybe this will help?

http://www.suntimes.com/business/15255018-420/why-people-line-up-outside-apple-stores-for-the-latest-iphone.html
 
Never understood the allure of waiting in line when you can just pre-order the product. Tonight after I get off work, I'll come home, walk my dogs, have a few beers, and go to bed. Wake up in the AM some time and come down stairs, play Call of Duty, or watch TV, and wait till the doorbell rings. As opposed to coming home after work, changing clothes, grabbing a chair, some caffeinated products, and figuring out how my place in line could be held when I go to the bathroom, wait in line for hours with a bunch of people I don't know, and probably won't like, only to get to the front of the line and probably not get the version of the phone I wanted anyway. Forget that...
 
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