I think the videos are a great insight, people witnessing lines in Australia didn't understand what was going on. They were here in droves, I was the 3rd or 4th Australian amongst approx 160-170 of them and watched seat selling (even up to half an hour before opening), dodgy deals, security throwing out one of the leaders (although they allowed him back at 5:30am, plus 3-4 other leaders existed in the line in front of me). I even watched the leaders point at the first 70 odd people and say 'these are your people' then at the other group of 60-70 people 'these are my people'.
Leaders ran and hid from news cameras prior to launch, paid attendees with Apple gift cards, or gave them gift cards for purchases that were pre-loaded with dirty money, even handed them scribbled on bits of paper with the stock they had to order. I watched them brief people prior to joining the line on what to say 'you were asleep at your friend X's house and have only just got here' (when I alerted security this was the script they kept spinning to security).
One other Australian in line left voicemails on the Apple store answering machine at midnight before launch altering them of seat selling. I alerted security a number of times during the night before launch and security said they had received a number of complaints. I alerted Apple reps before launch and all they did were hand me off to security, where security did nothing..
Shame on you Apple and centre management – you were both well aware, but due to low stock, big lines, media – I guess you ignored it for your own sake and benefit. You're making money, clean or dirty – so who cares right?
Apple have to do something for future launches. Debit / credit card / interest free card verification, then entered into a lottery system, choose random cards to create your line – or forget the long lines and overnight stays, make it reservation only with card verification.
Cash and iHype are the problems - it's not a good look.
