Past Pre-Order Experiences.. NO SPECULATION PLEASE

[16Paws]

To help us bide the time before our watches show up, we get shipping notifications, or we get charged. I thought it would be fun if people shared fun memories of past pre order launches.

I have one. When I got my iPhone 5 it came in an unmarked FedEx van. The guy had me sign for it and as he was walking off he yelled. "Woo! IPhone day!" got in his van and drove off. I don't know why but that always stuck with me.

I enjoy these launches because it brings a community together, so lets enjoy that.

What are your favorite pre-order/launch experiences and because we are waiting for the Apple Watch what did you order?

Please. No speculation or questions about when you may get your watch... there are 1000s of threads for those... I direct you there for those types of posts

--
42mm Space Gray Sport

 

[ROBBJR]

Meeting The FedEx Van

In the small town I live in (25K residents) you can figure out where the fedex truck is going to be on "iPhone" day. I have consistently met the FedEx truck on the release of each iPhone on my lunch hour at the same hotel. I expected the same routine for the apple watch. Not going to happen. Order confirmed at 5 minutes past the opening gun but alas, not enough manufactured before hand to meet the demand in the first 5 minutes (and it is not the $17K gold watch folks) so I am a bit non-plussed this go around. No watch for me on opening day. I have been an apple person since 1984, never owned a PC or android and never will. So deep breath taken and understand the latest marketing messages from Apple that they too are learning new lessons in the new endeavor.

 

[HussRainbow]

I remember launch day of the 6/6+ TNT Australia had people delivering in all kinds of vehicles, a couple arrived at my place in a 4WD and they seemed pretty excited, I signed for my 6+ and the wife asked me which model I got, it was a good day all round!

 

[16Paws]

I remember launch day of the 6/6+ TNT Australia had people delivering in all kinds of vehicles, a couple arrived at my place in a 4WD and they seemed pretty excited, I signed for my 6+ and the wife asked me which model I got, it was a good day all round!

That is awesome.

 

[Night Spring]

Last year, I did not preorder the 6/6+ because I was discouraged by stories of constrained supplies, and I was happy with the 5S. But my partner woke me up at 5am on launch day and insisted we go line up. So we hopped in a cab to go to the Grand Central store, but the cab happened to drop us off in front of the Verizon store that's also in Grand Central. We saw a few people waiting there -- maybe about 10-15 people. We looked at each other, and got in line there. Store opened at 8:00 or 9:00 or whatever time it was, and we got in and bought our phones and was out in under half an hour. Then we walked around to the Apple Store and gawked at the humongous line -- we didn't even attempt to determine how long it stretched. It was just the longest line snaking through Grand Central and out onto the street and around the block. And we would never have thought of going to the Verizon store, if the cab hadn't dropped us off right there. I think I will always remember that launch because it was just such a stroke of luck that made us avoid that line!

 

[wknapp0924]

I missed my delivery guy for the iPhone 5 by 3 minutes when i was rushing home from work. I drove around my neighborhood like a mad man looking for the delivery guy but to no avail. Had to wait 5 dreadful hours to go pick it up at the distribution center. I saw a UPS guy I worked with a lot at my job and yelled at him to find my iPhones. He emerged with them minutes later.

For the 6 launch i pre-signed and took the day off. I was sleeping when I heard the door open and once I ran down to catch him he was gone, I had an iPad set up recording motion and the driver actually opened up my screen door and put the iPhone boxes in between my screen door and front door and then locked the screen door for me. I was impressed with that one.

 

[trek360]

Going back to the initial iPhone launch day I went down to the store that afternoon just to check it out. I had no intention of buying one. Saw the floor display and had to have one. It turned out they had one left and I got it. It was really a great phone for its time and I ended up using it for four years. Still use it as an iPod. Of course, who can get an iPhone on launch day afternoon in store now?

The price drop a few weeks later didn't feel so good though. Any one else remember Amex crediting the difference?

 

[16Paws]

Going back to the initial iPhone launch day I went down to the store that afternoon just to check it out. I had no intention of buying one. Saw the floor display and had to have one. It turned out they had one left and I got it. It was really a great phone for its time and I ended up using it for four years. Still use it as an iPod. Of course, who can get an iPhone on launch day afternoon in store now?

The price drop a few weeks later didn't feel so good though. Any one else remember Amex crediting the difference?

No but I remember getting some sort of Apple Credit. Not for the difference, but for some amount.

I was on holiday and I asked my parent's grab one for me... those were the days. They bought four. In store. Around 5pm on launch day.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Everyone always goes into the histrionics about this and that and then they get their product and it all dies down again until the next Apple release.

They complain about the product. They complain about how they couldn't pre-order right at 3:01am. Then they complain they couldn't get the product earlier than the next guy. Then they complain that it's not enough in store because Apple was somehow irresponsible for not having enough on hand even when there seems to be insatiable demand for Apple products at launch. Next thing the people are coming up with threads about which Apple Execs need performance evaluations from the MacRumors crowd as if we are even qualified to comment on an Apple Exec's performance. *sheesh* Rinse and repeat in September when the iPhone comes out....or if the 12" iPad ends up being a HOT item.

 

[16Paws]

Everyone always goes into the histrionics about this and that and then they get their product and it all dies down again until the next Apple release.

They complain about the product. They complain about how they couldn't pre-order right at 3:01am. Then they complain they couldn't get the product earlier than the next guy. Then they complain that it's not enough in store because Apple was somehow irresponsible for not having enough on hand even when there seems to be insatiable demand for Apple products at launch. Next thing the people are coming up with threads about which Apple Execs need performance evaluations from the MacRumors crowd as if we are even qualified to comment on an Apple Exec's performance. *sheesh* Rinse and repeat in September when the iPhone comes out....or if the 12" iPad ends up being a HOT item.

Sort of going for positive reminiscing to pass the time, but I guess if that is how you like to look at things

 

[AdonisSMU]

Sort of going for positive reminiscing to pass the time, but I guess if that is how you like to look at things

That's the way MacRumors works. I've been through several releases on MacRumors and it's like clock work.

 

[trek360]

No but I remember getting some sort of Apple Credit. Not for the difference, but for some amount.

I was on holiday and I asked my parent's grab one for me... those were the days. They bought four. In store. Around 5pm on launch day.

Great story. It's easy to forget how far we have come from that first launch day. And if the Apple watch launch is any indication, there may be no more in store purchases on launch day.

As an aside, I have read a lot of people on this forum talking about Apple rewarding early adopters. That first launch and the price drop is a reminder of how they rewarded early adopters. Even with some sort of credit that never sat well with me.