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Long Lines Persist for iPhone 4, Second Round of Pre-Orders Shipping
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So I was one who couldn't get through to pre-order / pre-reserve and decided to wait in line opening day. Mall security said no one allowed on the property until 5:45 am. I arrived at 5 am to find a throng had already lined up. Lesson learned.
I had the only portable chair that rocked
Store opened at 7. By lunch time - noon, the line slowly moved, and I decided not to abandon hope. At 12 pm, I was #300 in the non-reserve line by my count, and that line looked about 800 deep. The other reserved line looked about 3 times as long -- and people kept coming. At one point it was even more agonizingly slow to get in because the servers to activate phones crashed. Finally Apple got smart and removed the iPhone 4 display models off the tables which helped move people out of the store sooner.
The rate was about 4 people taken from the reserved line for every person in my non-reserved line
I figured out there would be some people like me wanting to quit, and found someone 100 bodies ahead willing to sell their spot
Anyway, I am n.e.v.e.r. doing that again. Poor people in the other line. The store is oriented such that our line stretched around the west and south side with shade awnings and we had the more interesting view of the street and stores, so we had cool shade the whole time whereas the reservation line went to the back parking lot in full sun and no shade awnings the whole time
Were you at the Victoria Gardens store?
Friday morning at Regent Street, London. Photo by Rob Smith
Long lines persist for the iPhone 4 a full day after its official launch day. The photo above was taken at the Regent Street Apple Store in London this morning.
Meanwhile, we've heard that the second round of iPhone pre-orders have begun shipping ahead of schedule. Customers who ordered the iPhone 4 from Apple after the initial batch sold out were originally quoted a July 2nd ship date, but some of those customers have now started receiving shipping notifications.
The continued strong demand bolsters analysts' recent estimates of blockbuster opening weekend sales. Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster estimated yesterday that Apple will move 1.0-1.5 million iPhone over the first three days of availability. Oppenheimer's Yair Reiner followed up with a more bullish claim of as many as 1.5 million iPhones sold on the first day alone, presumably including those that shipped to customers a day or two early.
Apple reported after last year's launch weekend for the iPhone 3GS that it had sold "over one million" units in the first three days of availability. Given claims of substantially increased pre-order increase over last year and reports of Apple's longest lines ever for launch day sales, it certainly seems likely that the company will eclipse last year's performance.
Article Link: Long Lines Persist for iPhone 4, Second Round of Pre-Orders Shipping
the sad part is that everyone in those lines knows about the issue but they still continue to wait and spend their money..That is what lets Apple know that its ok to **** on customers....My question is, with the bumper does that limit the so called radical invention of the outside antenna..Mine is scheduled to ship July 15, im waiting on more from Apple,if nothing happens i will cancel because i wont go for that
Wow...
Humans have never looked more like cattle. So much for "Think Different."
Oh yeah? How about December 3, 1979 , the Who in Cinncinati? Complete with a stampede. Or India (March 2010)? How about soup lines in the 1930's?
Welcome the group-think dynamics, Jr. We'll make room for you as you alone run towards the fire while others run away from it (since your so above it all and wot-not)
Cheating
Yes. One more thing - there were a few men - (yes, men) who cheated the line rules and managed to slip into the apple store under the guise of buying a MacBook Pro computer - and then purchased an iPhone 4 without making a computer purchase .
I know this because they were about 6 bodies ahead of me, and then I saw them bragging about their purchase and swinging the familiar, small, almost square shape in their bag -- and then hopping into their friend's getaway car laughing.
They did not appear to be related... just happened to execute their idea together. And I know it must have been an iPhone 4 because this happened about 11am, and they would not have waited from 5am to 11 am only to slip in for a 3G model. And then store employees wised up and refused anyone into the store except those in line.
What was really bad is that one of the guys had a very visible tattoo of an American flag on his forearm, (sad that our cultural values have changed from virtue to instant gratification)... yet was not the least embarrassed about his selfishness in screwing all the other people in line.
Yes. One more thing - there were a few men - (yes, men
) who cheated the line rules and managed to slip into the apple store under the guise of buying a MacBook Pro computer - and then purchased an iPhone 4 without making a computer purchase . I know this because they were about 6 bodies ahead of me, and then I saw them bragging about their purchase and swinging the familiar, small, almost square shape in their bag -- and then hopping into their friend's getaway car laughing.
They did not appear to be related... just happened to execute their idea together. And I know it must have been an iPhone 4 because this happened about 11am, and they would not have waited from 5am to 11 am only to slip in for a 3G model. And then store employees wised up and refused anyone into the store except those in line.
What was really bad is that one of the guys had a very visible tattoo of an American flag on his forearm
, (sad that our cultural values have changed from virtue to instant gratification)... yet was not the least embarrassed about his selfishness in screwing all the other people in line.I have the bumper case on. It has definitely stopped the signal degradation issue.
To asnwer you question, I get 5 bars steadily in my office with the bumper case on whereas my old naked 3GS used to fluctuate between 4 and 5 bars. It may not be a significant signal increase, but the new design does seem to have an effect.
Didn't **** on me. I absolutely love my iP4, warts and all. A tremendous unit.
Face it. You already made your decision. Cancel now and let someone else take your unit. Seriously, you have been pre-disastered and confidence shaken. No matter how great it may be, you'll forever be seeing every little thing as a big deal and saying "Dang, I saw this coming! Why did I let myself get locked in for 2 years/ WHY!?" Go, do it now! Cancel cancel cancel! Get on the <insert smartphone you prefer here> band wagon and go, be confident and happy!
Note: No sarcasm at all. Seriously, if anyone has reservations get out now while you can. It is only a phone, there are others out there. You'll be able to get one a month, a year, a decade later. Why let yourself get into a bad position if you genuinely question that action?
I had my first Apple launch day experience yesterday and it was quite fun.
Got to the mall (indoors, YAY!) at 5am and was about #100 in the reserved queue. Had some great conversation with the people around me. About 6am a few Apple employees came out with a HUGE cart filled with boxes of Duncan Doughnuts and started with the first person in the reservation line and went through EVERY person (including the walk-in line) and offered a free doughnut. Then they came through with a cart of bottled water. Again... giving them away.
At 7am the doors of the Apple store burst open and a big line (15-20) of Apple employees came running out and went through the whole line; giving high fives and cheering and shouting. Was really fun. I took a video: iPhone 4 Launch Day Videos
I was out of the store by 0900 and had it home and synched by 1000. I really like the device. It feels QUITE different from my 3gs something I have to get used to. All of my Droid co-workers were quite silent yesterday. I guess they knew better than to speak in the presence of greatness! LOL
Got to the mall (indoors, YAY!) at 5am and was about #100 in the reserved queue. Had some great conversation with the people around me. About 6am a few Apple employees came out with a HUGE cart filled with boxes of Duncan Doughnuts and started with the first person in the reservation line and went through EVERY person (including the walk-in line) and offered a free doughnut. Then they came through with a cart of bottled water. Again... giving them away.
At 7am the doors of the Apple store burst open and a big line (15-20) of Apple employees came running out and went through the whole line; giving high fives and cheering and shouting. Was really fun. I took a video: iPhone 4 Launch Day Videos
I was out of the store by 0900 and had it home and synched by 1000. I really like the device. It feels QUITE different from my 3gs something I have to get used to. All of my Droid co-workers were quite silent yesterday. I guess they knew better than to speak in the presence of greatness! LOL
Is anyone in the UK considering going with Tesco Mobile?
£20 a Month
For the 16GB / 32GB
Handset price: £349.00 / £429.00
£20 Tariff 12 Month iPhone Contract (250 minutes, unlimited texts , 1 GB mobile data and unlimited BT Openzone Wifi)
£35 a month
For 16GB / 32GB
Handset price: £229.00 / £299.00
£35 Tariff 12 Month iPhone Contract (750 minutes, unlimited texts , 1 GB mobile data and unlimited BT Openzone Wifi)
I've never use Tesco Mobile so I don't know what the coverage is like, but they use the O2 network. The deals seam a lot better than what O2, Orange, Vodafone and 3 offer. Also I don't know if there is a fair usage policy on the "unlimited" BT Openzone Wifi.
£20 a Month
For the 16GB / 32GB
Handset price: £349.00 / £429.00
£20 Tariff 12 Month iPhone Contract (250 minutes, unlimited texts , 1 GB mobile data and unlimited BT Openzone Wifi)
£35 a month
For 16GB / 32GB
Handset price: £229.00 / £299.00
£35 Tariff 12 Month iPhone Contract (750 minutes, unlimited texts , 1 GB mobile data and unlimited BT Openzone Wifi)
I've never use Tesco Mobile so I don't know what the coverage is like, but they use the O2 network. The deals seam a lot better than what O2, Orange, Vodafone and 3 offer. Also I don't know if there is a fair usage policy on the "unlimited" BT Openzone Wifi.
People do work for a living. I was able to wait 7 hours in line yesterday but that's because I work at night so waiting beginning at 5AM was not a problem.
I originally had reservations at one store but decided to head over to another store as a walk up once I heard how many people were waiting in the reservations line at the store I had the reservations. I'll do it again next year too just as I have done the past three.
I ordered my i4 June 15th. i managed to have gotten an order in. Maybe it's because I ordered two phones.? i don't know. But i haven't received a shipping confirmation or even some sort of update. My AT&T order number still tells me it's processing. ITS ANNOYING. I called AT&T last night and they said that they're working as hard as they can to fulfill all the orders made on the 15th. no later than the 28th? Its frustrating to see my order status just say pending when others have gotten a delivery notification for a later date in july.
u didnt get me one?!?!?!
edit. after reading this i was motivated to try. so i did. I failed.
I figured out there would be some people like me wanting to quit, and found someone 100 bodies ahead willing to sell their spot
At the store I went to in the walk up line, those were were confirmed to be getting an iPhone were given tickets. This was at about 9AM and the line was still enormous. Someone came up who didn't have a ticket and offered a $100 to buy my ticket. I refused. I decided earlier that I would accept $200 for my spot if someone offered but the $100 offer was the only one.
I was about #100 in line and got in that line at 5AM. I estimated that the phone availability for walk ups was about 200 and those were the ones who got tickets. I'm thinking that those who were in the line by 6AM were able to get those tickets before stock ran out. The reservations line was about equal to those without reservations and the lines were huge.
And yes, I learned about the "phone defects" while in line but still didn't bother me.
So I was one who couldn't get through to pre-order / pre-reserve and decided to wait in line opening day. Mall security said no one allowed on the property until 5:45 am. I arrived at 5 am to find a throng had already lined up
I had the only portable chair that rocked
Store opened at 7. By lunch time - noon, the line slowly moved, and I decided not to abandon hope. At 12 pm, I was #300 in the non-reserve line by my count, and that line looked about 800 deep. The other reserved line looked about 3 times as long -- and people kept coming. At one point it was even more agonizingly slow to get in because the servers to activate phones crashed. Finally Apple got smart and removed the iPhone 4 display models off the tables which helped move people out of the store sooner.
The rate was about 4 people taken from the reserved line for every person in my non-reserved line
I figured out there would be some people like me wanting to quit, and found someone 100 bodies ahead willing to sell their spot
Anyway, I am n.e.v.e.r. doing that again. Poor people in the other line. The store is oriented such that our line stretched around the west and south side with shade awnings and we had the more interesting view of the street and stores, so we had cool shade the whole time whereas the reservation line went to the back parking lot in full sun and no shade awnings the whole time
Why would you wait in line for an entire day and then pay $72 just to get a phone? My 3G is slow and banged up, but I can wait two more weeks to get my pre-order unit delivered to my house for free!
ETA: By the way, I was late for a meeting this afternoon stuck in traffic and frantically trying to call people to let them know and reschedule. My iPhone 3G w/iOS 4 was sooo slowww and frustrating, I decided to walk in to the Apple store next to my house on the way home to see if they had any and if I could cancel my pre-order due July 6-8. I walked out with a 32GB in 5 minutes...
3 Minutes
I tried on initial pre-order day for 12 hours to get through until 8:33 PM CST when I was finally able to get my wife's iPhone 4 pre-ordered. For whatever reason it would not allow me to place an order with two phones on the ticket at the same time. So i finished her order, then proceeded to place mine at 8:36 PM. Both of the orders were scheduled to then be shipped on July 2nd. Yesterday, I got notification that her order had shipped and figured they'd send me notice that mine had shipped a few minutes later. All day yesterday nothing. Ok, no big deal it'll ship in the AM. This morning, nothing. How are they making the selections on which orders to ship and when? Hoping maybe later today it'll ship. I'm the nut who's stood in line all other times and enjoyed myself but figured this would be easier. Should have camped out for release maybe.
I tried on initial pre-order day for 12 hours to get through until 8:33 PM CST when I was finally able to get my wife's iPhone 4 pre-ordered. For whatever reason it would not allow me to place an order with two phones on the ticket at the same time. So i finished her order, then proceeded to place mine at 8:36 PM. Both of the orders were scheduled to then be shipped on July 2nd. Yesterday, I got notification that her order had shipped and figured they'd send me notice that mine had shipped a few minutes later. All day yesterday nothing. Ok, no big deal it'll ship in the AM. This morning, nothing. How are they making the selections on which orders to ship and when? Hoping maybe later today it'll ship. I'm the nut who's stood in line all other times and enjoyed myself but figured this would be easier. Should have camped out for release maybe.
Economic Freedom
Economic freedom is nice to have. Read it again "Sam" - time is money, so paying $72 to save 4 hours of waiting... well you do the math. Besides, I sold my old 3G (before the market saturated) because I wanted the new model.
I am definitely an Apple fan
Economic freedom is nice to have.
Read it again "Sam" - time is money, so paying $72 to save 4 hours of waiting... well you do the math. Besides, I sold my old 3G (before the market saturated) because I wanted the new model. I am definitely an Apple fan
I was one of the lucky ones to get my preorder in very early (after furiously resubmitting all of my info 100+ times before it finally got through) by around 3:30 my time (1.5 hrs after the site was up). I ended up having to go through AT&T's site instead of Apple.com because the neverending OOPS! errors and network timeouts.
I now know for any future ordering to stick with Apple's site as AT&T really has no clue how to keep up with the demand or to fulfill orders properly: I had multiple friends that had ordered at 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM (after the initial supposed cutoff for the first shipment) and they got their phones before I did, one got his on Monday, and a couple on Tuesday, and some on Wednesday. I didn't get mine until actual launch day even though it supposedly shipped on the 17th. I asked AT&T why their ordering system appears to be randomly fulfilling orders sooner and they said they ship out the orders in the order they are placed. Maybe so, maybe not. Maybe I should blame FedEx. I'm just glad I received mine and that it doesn't appear to have any major issues. I can reproduce the signal issue if I'm completely smothering the antennas but not from my normal grip (I'm a lefty, and my hand covers the spots that people say cause the issue).
I'm hoping my maximum protection InvisibleSHIELD will provide enough buffer so I don't have to keep using this 3rd party bumper protector, it ruins the beauty of the phone and turns it into just another rectangular Droidish brick...
I now know for any future ordering to stick with Apple's site as AT&T really has no clue how to keep up with the demand or to fulfill orders properly: I had multiple friends that had ordered at 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM (after the initial supposed cutoff for the first shipment) and they got their phones before I did, one got his on Monday, and a couple on Tuesday, and some on Wednesday. I didn't get mine until actual launch day even though it supposedly shipped on the 17th. I asked AT&T why their ordering system appears to be randomly fulfilling orders sooner and they said they ship out the orders in the order they are placed. Maybe so, maybe not. Maybe I should blame FedEx. I'm just glad I received mine and that it doesn't appear to have any major issues. I can reproduce the signal issue if I'm completely smothering the antennas but not from my normal grip (I'm a lefty, and my hand covers the spots that people say cause the issue).
I'm hoping my maximum protection InvisibleSHIELD will provide enough buffer so I don't have to keep using this 3rd party bumper protector, it ruins the beauty of the phone and turns it into just another rectangular Droidish brick...
Holyoke MA out of stock
I just got back from our local Apple Store. The place was eerily empty, except for the blue-shirted employees. As my wife and I walked in, one of the employees was explaining to a customer that they simply had no iPhones left and might get some more in next week. He could put his name on a waiting list if he was interested. I walked over to the nearby AT&T store and got the same story. (I didn't bother with The Shack.)
On a side note, I played around with three of the iPhone 4 display models. I was surprised at how heavy the phone is. I also didn't care for the feel of it. The edges seemed too sharp, as if I was holding a thin piece of plywood. I would definitely get a case just to round the edges a bit. On each of the display models, I pawed the entire phone and purposely tried to short out the 3G signal. But the signal never wavered on any of them. Maybe there's a special signal booster in the store.
But as has been said before: the display is gorgeous and the performance is ... well, snappy!
I just got back from our local Apple Store. The place was eerily empty, except for the blue-shirted employees. As my wife and I walked in, one of the employees was explaining to a customer that they simply had no iPhones left and might get some more in next week. He could put his name on a waiting list if he was interested. I walked over to the nearby AT&T store and got the same story. (I didn't bother with The Shack.)
On a side note, I played around with three of the iPhone 4 display models. I was surprised at how heavy the phone is. I also didn't care for the feel of it. The edges seemed too sharp, as if I was holding a thin piece of plywood. I would definitely get a case just to round the edges a bit. On each of the display models, I pawed the entire phone and purposely tried to short out the 3G signal. But the signal never wavered on any of them. Maybe there's a special signal booster in the store.
But as has been said before: the display is gorgeous and the performance is ... well, snappy!
Sounds like alot of you got lucky getting your phones in such short time. I arrived at the Manhattan Beach CA store with my reservation about 8am to find a line out the mall and down the street.. maybe 750+ people. They only had one line because the Mall would not let them set up two lines (one for reservations and one for walk-ins). I got my phone 11 hours later at 7pm! I'm sooo sunburned today.. look like a lobster. Apple fed us 4 times.. nice egg&ham breakfast sandwiches, and turkey, ham or roastbeef sandwhiches and cupcakes later...
I'll NEVER do this again!
I'll NEVER do this again!