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Lucky Apple Bags?
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The real truth about the SanFran opening.
And now for a rebuttal. Man, I don't even know where to start. How about the most obvious?
Apple did a pretty good job of controlling the crowd and keeping those crowding the front from assimilating into the line. This is the 3rd store opening I've attended, and anyone else who's been to a few can tell you that Apple uses a lot of the same security (and construction) people over and over again, thereby ensuring that those who were at this opening were well experienced. In fact, the guy in charge of security (wearing the black blazer) was the head at the last opening I went to as well.
Security also checked up on the line a couple of times throughout the night to make sure everything stayed peaceful and secure.
IDs were not required to "receive the goods", although if you wanted to use a credit card, you had to show an ID, as is generally true of most retail establishments who want to cover their ass and protect yours. Many people bought the bags in a pure cash transaction, no ID involved.
Permission? From whom? Apple security? Highly doubtful. In fact, so doubtful, I'm going to say it's just untrue. How was she planning to purchase the bag at all without a wallet in the first place?
People were not chosen to get the bags. It all depended on what place in line you were. You were up front, you got a bag. You weren't? You didn't.
No way in hell you could hide a lucky bag under a jacket. And there would be no reason to have someone else's ID to get a lucky bag. It was one per person.
Shame on you for your bald-faced lies.
True, there could have been better line control in the store to get the bags, but overall, it was pretty peaceful, albeit agitated. My fiance and I got a bag to share. In it, we got:
Airport extreme base station
iLife
Keynote
.mac
bluetooth keyboard
bluetooth mouse
bluetooth adapter (the 3rd party product)
10% off Apple card
silver ipod mini
AFAIK, the bags had all the same stuff, except some had the ipod mini and some had a 15 GB ipod, while most had no ipod. I believe one fellow got a 40GB ipod. I don't recall any 10 GB ipods.
We didn't have any of it before we purchased the bag (tax-free, I might add!), since we have adored Apple for years, but seldom have much disposable cash for technology. The only "useless" thing in the bag was iLife, since I can't run it on my 4 year old clamshell iBook and when I get one than can run iLife, it will come with iLife (thanks 10% off card!).
We hung around the store for a while after we got our bag (we would've got one each, but we figured most had the same stuff in it, so why take a bag away from someone else?) and and chatted with a few folks. There was no riot and pretty much everyone who made an effort to be there early and really wanted a bag got one.
There was a line for the store's single bathroom when we left at about 11:30 a.m.
And now for a rebuttal. Man, I don't even know where to start. How about the most obvious?
octomon said:
Apple did a pretty good job of controlling the crowd and keeping those crowding the front from assimilating into the line. This is the 3rd store opening I've attended, and anyone else who's been to a few can tell you that Apple uses a lot of the same security (and construction) people over and over again, thereby ensuring that those who were at this opening were well experienced. In fact, the guy in charge of security (wearing the black blazer) was the head at the last opening I went to as well.
Security also checked up on the line a couple of times throughout the night to make sure everything stayed peaceful and secure.
IDs were not required to "receive the goods", although if you wanted to use a credit card, you had to show an ID, as is generally true of most retail establishments who want to cover their ass and protect yours. Many people bought the bags in a pure cash transaction, no ID involved.
Permission? From whom? Apple security? Highly doubtful. In fact, so doubtful, I'm going to say it's just untrue. How was she planning to purchase the bag at all without a wallet in the first place?
People were not chosen to get the bags. It all depended on what place in line you were. You were up front, you got a bag. You weren't? You didn't.
No way in hell you could hide a lucky bag under a jacket. And there would be no reason to have someone else's ID to get a lucky bag. It was one per person.
Shame on you for your bald-faced lies.
True, there could have been better line control in the store to get the bags, but overall, it was pretty peaceful, albeit agitated. My fiance and I got a bag to share. In it, we got:
Airport extreme base station
iLife
Keynote
.mac
bluetooth keyboard
bluetooth mouse
bluetooth adapter (the 3rd party product)
10% off Apple card
silver ipod mini
AFAIK, the bags had all the same stuff, except some had the ipod mini and some had a 15 GB ipod, while most had no ipod. I believe one fellow got a 40GB ipod. I don't recall any 10 GB ipods.
We didn't have any of it before we purchased the bag (tax-free, I might add!), since we have adored Apple for years, but seldom have much disposable cash for technology. The only "useless" thing in the bag was iLife, since I can't run it on my 4 year old clamshell iBook and when I get one than can run iLife, it will come with iLife (thanks 10% off card!).
We hung around the store for a while after we got our bag (we would've got one each, but we figured most had the same stuff in it, so why take a bag away from someone else?) and and chatted with a few folks. There was no riot and pretty much everyone who made an effort to be there early and really wanted a bag got one.
There was a line for the store's single bathroom when we left at about 11:30 a.m.
Luckies, you got an iPod Mini. Tell us how you like it too! I hope Apple does this at all their stores some time. I would love to get one!
applekid said:Just one question. Any of you get attacked by some PC fanboys?I mean come on, those PC users must've thought you guys were nuts! Personally, I would've done it too if I lived in CA, but since I didn't...
Lots of drunken idiots driving by and yelling things like "IBM forever!" in the middle of the night, to which we agreed... After all, they make the chips in our Macs. Some people were really rude, others were very tasteful about expressing their interest in our passion.
Dan
I remember the "IBM forever" yell - strangely I assumed he was a Mac fan, all fans know that IBM is good for Apple, and has been that way since the G3. The AIM alliance.
I got mostly annoyed that we had to justify why we were in line to a lot of people. Most of us around just said "there is free stuff" after the 100th time asked. One lady next to us would patiently describe the lucky bag concept which a lot of people responded positively to. I admire her patience... cause I didn't have it =)
It struck me that no one walking by really understood that showing allegiance for something is okay... and in fact many people can't say they really love something they use every single day. That is why Apple is such a powerful company and their customer base are so devoted.
Who would do that for their cellphone carrier? or the car they drive? or the range they cook their meals on? or any product you use day in and day out.
I got mostly annoyed that we had to justify why we were in line to a lot of people. Most of us around just said "there is free stuff" after the 100th time asked. One lady next to us would patiently describe the lucky bag concept which a lot of people responded positively to. I admire her patience... cause I didn't have it =)
It struck me that no one walking by really understood that showing allegiance for something is okay... and in fact many people can't say they really love something they use every single day. That is why Apple is such a powerful company and their customer base are so devoted.
Who would do that for their cellphone carrier? or the car they drive? or the range they cook their meals on? or any product you use day in and day out.
natekendrick said:
True - you can't buy that kind of marketing. People lined up to buy copies of Windows at midnight, but how many PC users would camp out?
Dan
So, to begin: Yes, my wife and I camped out, and yes, we did, in the end, get Lucky Bags (neither of which had Mini's, by the way ). I showed up at about 5:45 pm Friday, and got the spot immediately behind the trash can (for those who were there). For the most part, it was relatively fun, everybody was in good spirits, or at least, mellow. A few people were kind enough to provide pizza at midnight, and donuts at around 5. Once morning came, it was a different matter, though. The Apple security guys came by at around 8AM saying that we would have to pack up our stuff by 9 (since all of us had sleeping bags, chairs, etc), but not 15 minutes later, told us that we had to "pack up and move forward", barking out commands such as "come on people, fill the 'phantom spaces'". At 9:30 we were informed by an Apple rep that, contrary to what we were expecting, the bags would be given out in a first-come first-served feeding frenzy, to the dismay of all. We were also told that if we were interested, we should make sure to "not climb the stairs", but to head towards the rear-right of the lower level. By 10:00 the crowd was so dense that it was practically impossible to see any of the proceedings (even though I was around within the first 25 people, and 6' 4", I didn't even know Steve Jobs was there until I got back home and on the computer!) Then we were marched into the store and, contrary to what we had been told, the ONLY way we were allowed to go was up the stairs (two rows of Apple employees were completely blocking the way to the counters). The clapping and music were fun UNTIL we turned the corner to see that a HUGE mass of people had filed in and were purchasing bags! We had no idea that the number of people had been limited, as nobody told us this, but it looked close to a mosh pit forming around the counters...all told, we had no idea whether or not our trip had been in vain until we finally got to the front. I must disagree with another poster: that crowd was not controlled at all! In fact, at one point, we were all literally crushed forward into each other into the counter, and after every purchase was made, people were literally fighting for the next spot! I'm not sure which San Francisco the "controlled crowd" was in, but it surely was not the one in California! Had they at least informed all of us who were in there at the time that we ALL would be getting lucky bags (if this was even the case), then there would have been less of a problem (I hope). Of course, the best situation would have been to hand out numbers, as we all thought they would do.
Unfortunately, I came out of it with a bad taste in my mouth: Yes, the bags were full of the promised "$600+" worth of products, however, it seemed mostly like an excess stock dump than anything. For example:
Airport Extreme: $250
iPod Mini: $250
I GUARANTEE that EVERYBODY would have walked out happy if we had gotten an iPod Mini! But an Airport? Come on...most of us who need one already have one! .Mac is fine, since a re-up is always nice, but do they really think that any of us who were in the front of that line DIDN'T already have iLife? And, I hate to say it, but Keynote is not the most useful app for the majority of customers (on the other hand, FCE, or even the Garageband Jam Pack would have been welcome). The Wireless Keyboard and Mouse are nice and all...but again, NONE of these are big sellers...quite on the contrary. And of course, a 10% off card...aka an invitation to shop more! (By the way, I heard many of these same complaints outside the store and in the BART station) Even though this stuff is worth more, I would rather have saved the 16 hours I lost out of my life, and purchased an iPod mini or 2 online for the same cost. Even a little variation in the bags (ie an iSight or something) would have been nice, but these were obviously strategically planned to move product that doesn't sell well. Other than the one mouse that I would have purchased for my wife's iBook (carpal tunnel problems, etc), I don't think I would have purchased any of this stuff off the shelf at this time. All told, I think I would have rather even put all the money ($498) towards a replacement for her aging 333MHz iMac. To put a more positive spin on it, the stuff IS all nice, just not stuff I would have really *wanted*---I know, gambling is always risky, but I wish there had been at least one thing in there to really get excited about.
I think with a "value" point of 600-1000 they could have done a MUCH better job of packaging products that customers would be EXCITED about, and in any case, the lack of variety is still what was the most irritating (especially since we both bought a bag, expecting different stuff). Also, the mayhem that ensued inside the store really ruined what started as a good experience...especially considering that we were all on relatively short fuses & not thinking too clearly due to lack of sleep, it would have been nice if it had all been organized and straightforward, rather than anarchic (although that is Apple's style, isn't it ). Anyways, I have ranted too long...again, they did do what they promised, it just would have been nice to see them do a little more.
By the way, sorry to the guy I yelled at in the store, but you were crushing everybody, regardless of what you thought you were doing. And to those of you who think I am lying...I can take pictures of my lucky bags to at least prove I was there.
I am still trying to figure out what to do with the stuff in the bags...the longer I have it, the more tempted I am to open it up and use it (eg. those cords can be a little annoying every now and then; it WOULD be nice to extend my airport range (even though none of my computers support APE), Bluetooth would be nice on all of our computers)...but then I consider how much it actually costs vs its real value to me....and then how much it would cost....and then how NICE it would be to have a Mini...and then...this stuff can drive you nuts....any suggestions?
). I showed up at about 5:45 pm Friday, and got the spot immediately behind the trash can (for those who were there). For the most part, it was relatively fun, everybody was in good spirits, or at least, mellow. A few people were kind enough to provide pizza at midnight, and donuts at around 5. Once morning came, it was a different matter, though. The Apple security guys came by at around 8AM saying that we would have to pack up our stuff by 9 (since all of us had sleeping bags, chairs, etc), but not 15 minutes later, told us that we had to "pack up and move forward", barking out commands such as "come on people, fill the 'phantom spaces'". At 9:30 we were informed by an Apple rep that, contrary to what we were expecting, the bags would be given out in a first-come first-served feeding frenzy, to the dismay of all. We were also told that if we were interested, we should make sure to "not climb the stairs", but to head towards the rear-right of the lower level. By 10:00 the crowd was so dense that it was practically impossible to see any of the proceedings (even though I was around within the first 25 people, and 6' 4", I didn't even know Steve Jobs was there until I got back home and on the computer!) Then we were marched into the store and, contrary to what we had been told, the ONLY way we were allowed to go was up the stairs (two rows of Apple employees were completely blocking the way to the counters). The clapping and music were fun UNTIL we turned the corner to see that a HUGE mass of people had filed in and were purchasing bags! We had no idea that the number of people had been limited, as nobody told us this, but it looked close to a mosh pit forming around the counters...all told, we had no idea whether or not our trip had been in vain until we finally got to the front. I must disagree with another poster: that crowd was not controlled at all! In fact, at one point, we were all literally crushed forward into each other into the counter, and after every purchase was made, people were literally fighting for the next spot! I'm not sure which San Francisco the "controlled crowd" was in, but it surely was not the one in California! Had they at least informed all of us who were in there at the time that we ALL would be getting lucky bags (if this was even the case), then there would have been less of a problem (I hope). Of course, the best situation would have been to hand out numbers, as we all thought they would do. Unfortunately, I came out of it with a bad taste in my mouth: Yes, the bags were full of the promised "$600+" worth of products, however, it seemed mostly like an excess stock dump than anything. For example:
Airport Extreme: $250
iPod Mini: $250
I GUARANTEE that EVERYBODY would have walked out happy if we had gotten an iPod Mini! But an Airport? Come on...most of us who need one already have one! .Mac is fine, since a re-up is always nice, but do they really think that any of us who were in the front of that line DIDN'T already have iLife? And, I hate to say it, but Keynote is not the most useful app for the majority of customers (on the other hand, FCE, or even the Garageband Jam Pack would have been welcome). The Wireless Keyboard and Mouse are nice and all...but again, NONE of these are big sellers...quite on the contrary. And of course, a 10% off card...aka an invitation to shop more! (By the way, I heard many of these same complaints outside the store and in the BART station) Even though this stuff is worth more, I would rather have saved the 16 hours I lost out of my life, and purchased an iPod mini or 2 online for the same cost. Even a little variation in the bags (ie an iSight or something) would have been nice, but these were obviously strategically planned to move product that doesn't sell well. Other than the one mouse that I would have purchased for my wife's iBook (carpal tunnel problems, etc), I don't think I would have purchased any of this stuff off the shelf at this time. All told, I think I would have rather even put all the money ($498) towards a replacement for her aging 333MHz iMac. To put a more positive spin on it, the stuff IS all nice, just not stuff I would have really *wanted*---I know, gambling is always risky, but I wish there had been at least one thing in there to really get excited about.
I think with a "value" point of 600-1000 they could have done a MUCH better job of packaging products that customers would be EXCITED about, and in any case, the lack of variety is still what was the most irritating (especially since we both bought a bag, expecting different stuff). Also, the mayhem that ensued inside the store really ruined what started as a good experience...especially considering that we were all on relatively short fuses & not thinking too clearly due to lack of sleep, it would have been nice if it had all been organized and straightforward, rather than anarchic (although that is Apple's style, isn't it
). Anyways, I have ranted too long...again, they did do what they promised, it just would have been nice to see them do a little more.By the way, sorry to the guy I yelled at in the store, but you were crushing everybody, regardless of what you thought you were doing. And to those of you who think I am lying...I can take pictures of my lucky bags to at least prove I was there.
I am still trying to figure out what to do with the stuff in the bags...the longer I have it, the more tempted I am to open it up and use it (eg. those cords can be a little annoying every now and then; it WOULD be nice to extend my airport range (even though none of my computers support APE), Bluetooth would be nice on all of our computers)...but then I consider how much it actually costs vs its real value to me....and then how much it would cost....and then how NICE it would be to have a Mini...and then...this stuff can drive you nuts....any suggestions?
Datazoid said:
Well that was enlightening. Mmm, I still think I would seriously considering queing but a lucky bag doesn't seem very lucky
Sorry that so many people didn't have a blast or love the bag. True, security was bitchy and they should have given us numbers, but the bags are great. I don't need ANY of the things in mine and I'm bummed that I didn't get an iPod mini, but I'm selling it on eBay and making some money.
The gift card is an invitation to shop, but so what? It'll save you more money replacing your old Mac than you spent getting the bag. If you can't have fun in line without winning something spectacular in the bag, don't risk it. I would have been there either way and had fun. In fact, complaining about the bags reminds me of people complaining about iLife costing money. Deal with it. Apple didn't offer great promotions like this at most of the other Apple Stores, and they were by no means obligated to, just as nobody put a gun to your head and made you camp out.
Dan
The gift card is an invitation to shop, but so what? It'll save you more money replacing your old Mac than you spent getting the bag. If you can't have fun in line without winning something spectacular in the bag, don't risk it. I would have been there either way and had fun. In fact, complaining about the bags reminds me of people complaining about iLife costing money. Deal with it. Apple didn't offer great promotions like this at most of the other Apple Stores, and they were by no means obligated to, just as nobody put a gun to your head and made you camp out.
Dan
alset said:
That's pretty much my view as well. Think about it -- less than one in a million people in the country got a chance to get a lucky bag. I mean, even if you don't like it so much, the collectible value in a few years to an Apple fanatic is staggering.
And if someone was just there for the fukubukuro, a quick check would've shown that the lucky bags in Ginza also had pretty much the same things in them across the board.
I had a great time, the only issue was the crowd within the store "lining up" to get the bags, but I think I already mentioned that.
octomon said:They all liked me very much
I doubt it was 'awe'. I am not sure what is worse, that you (alledgedly) did it, or thought it would be a good thing to tell us about.
Marc
Why moan about lack of iPod Mini's
Seems a few people here are moaning about not getting an iPod mini.
If you wanted an iPod Mini so much why not save yourself $1 and buy one for $249!
Taking a gamble then moaning that you didn't win is just plain.... <fill in blank>
Seems a few people here are moaning about not getting an iPod mini.
If you wanted an iPod Mini so much why not save yourself $1 and buy one for $249!
Taking a gamble then moaning that you didn't win is just plain.... <fill in blank>
Not trying to be a bitch or anything. But you are the reason I didn't get one. You are the reason they say "one bag pre person"
natekendrick said:
I was clear in the other email that my girlfriend and I both both a bag each. Since we both have most everything in the bags - we are selling the bags to recoup our money and time spent. It was one bag per person, stop trying to be bastards.
Yes, we could have bought an iPod mini - but... oh yeah - all the iPod mini's have been sold out! You can look on EBay, they go for $300.
boo hoo, I wasn't lucky and didn't get an iPod... you would do some minor complaining too if you waited 16 hours. Let me vent a bit
Yes, we could have bought an iPod mini - but... oh yeah - all the iPod mini's have been sold out! You can look on EBay, they go for $300.
boo hoo, I wasn't lucky and didn't get an iPod... you would do some minor complaining too if you waited 16 hours. Let me vent a bit
natekendrick said:
I guess the extra two ours really made a huge difference, because even when I found that I didn't need ANY of the items in my bag, I was still happy. 14 hour wait.
Dan
Hey I know it's a long shot... but anyone that wants to give away some stuff can feel free to send it my way. I don't have ilife and I need keynote. Being a student sucks! I never have any money. I'll pay shipping if anyone is feeling generous. (Please don't laugh and make fun of me)
octomon said:
An excellent troll. I was laughing the whole way through. Do you post on Slashdot too?
My $0.02
The bag contained:
<I>- iLife
- Keynote</I>
Already Owned.
<I>- .Mac subscription</I>
Don't want.
<I>- 10% Discount card</I>
Useful, but I already have my G5. I'll probably misplace it or find out that it expired before I'm ready for my next "Major Purchase" where its actually worth a few bucks.
<I>- Bluetooth USB adapter
- Wireless Mouse
- Wireless Keyboard</I>
Which I also don't want.
<I>
- Airport Extreme (w/ modem and external ant. jack)
- An iPod Mini!!!
- An iPod 20GB
</I>
For roughly $250, I could have bought any one of these...and gotten whichever one I wanted.
Overall, I generally expected Apple to provide grab-bags that are biased towards products that don't really cost them much in actual direct manufacturing costs (eg, software: Keynote, iLife, .Mac), or are hardware items that might not be selling all that great (probably the wireless stuff), plus some smattering of something hot (iPod Mini...but I'd not be surprised if these are provided in whatever's the least popular color
-hh
The bag contained:
<I>- iLife
- Keynote</I>
Already Owned.
<I>- .Mac subscription</I>
Don't want.
<I>- 10% Discount card</I>
Useful, but I already have my G5. I'll probably misplace it or find out that it expired before I'm ready for my next "Major Purchase" where its actually worth a few bucks.
<I>- Bluetooth USB adapter
- Wireless Mouse
- Wireless Keyboard</I>
Which I also don't want.
<I>
- Airport Extreme (w/ modem and external ant. jack)
- An iPod Mini!!!
- An iPod 20GB
</I>
For roughly $250, I could have bought any one of these...and gotten whichever one I wanted.
Overall, I generally expected Apple to provide grab-bags that are biased towards products that don't really cost them much in actual direct manufacturing costs (eg, software: Keynote, iLife, .Mac), or are hardware items that might not be selling all that great (probably the wireless stuff), plus some smattering of something hot (iPod Mini...but I'd not be surprised if these are provided in whatever's the least popular color
-hh
wdlove said:
Sorry if I was obscure - - I didn't pick up a Bag.
The word on the 10% discount card is what I'll characterize as:
"No OBVIOUS expiration date".
The underlying point of my statement is that paying ~$250 or so for a bag of stuff I either already have or don't want means that in order to break even, I need to go spend $2500 to recoup the $250 I spent via the 10% discount card. But since I just spent $2500 for a G5 within the past 6 months, the odds that I'm going to make an equally large purchase in the near future is effectively zero.
The card's value to me is what its worth to me, not what it is theoretically worth to the ideal buyer who's about to drop a couple grand. Currently, the only thing I need right now is a $15 FW400 cable, so a 10% discount card is worth no more than $1.50 (although I do realize that said card really is an attempt to try to incentivize me to buy more than just that).
Its dangerous to generalize, but for the proverbial "Apple Faithful", between the "Year of the Laptop" and the G5, most of us probably have relatively fresh hardware, so we're not as likely to have a "Really BIG" purchase to maximize the potential value of a 10% card right now. As such, its one of the better times that Apple could offer one...I doubt that we'll see any of these cards exceed $200 on eBay, and I'd be surprized if they go above around, say, $150.
-hh