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hasanahmad

macrumors 65816
Original poster
May 20, 2009
1,486
1,673
What is the strategy where Mall Police and Apple stores do not allow lines for the iPhone to form till 4 AM. What should I do? get there how long before?
 
Not sure if it's like this everywhere, but since they rule was put in place in my area, it ends up like this:

Throughout the night, people attempt to line up. Almost immediately, the mall cops pull up and kick them out. This includes people both lined up as well as waiting in their cars....the mall security treats the entire mall, including the lot, as private property.

At 5:59AM (or 3:59 in your case), tons of cars stream into the parking lot, park, and folks rush towards whatever mall entrance is deemed the "line entrance." (Usually the entrance closest to the Apple store.)

It's really quite unsafe...I wish they would just allow people to camp overnight.
 
OK, serious answer. If the mall was semi-organized, they'll have a single entrance designated as the line-up entrance. A line will be marked and security will monitor the line for issues. At a specific time, the line will be let in and escorted to the Apple Store inside the mall.

There are way too many opportunities for litigation for the mall to let it be a free-for-all (like WalMart a few years ago with the Black Friday stampede).

My recommendation is to drive to the mall a few hours before the designated time. If mall security lets you park, fine. If not, circle the parking lot and avoid the rent-a-cops. They may even have the entrances to the parking lot blocked, so circle the neighborhood like lions stalking a wounded gazelle.

Move fast, don't be afraid to elbow your way in front of people, bribe your largest scariest looking friend (better if they look like an angry biker) to be your "muscle".
 
OK, serious answer. If the mall was semi-organized, they'll have a single entrance designated as the line-up entrance. A line will be marked and security will monitor the line for issues. At a specific time, the line will be let in and escorted to the Apple Store inside the mall.

There are way too many opportunities for litigation for the mall to let it be a free-for-all (like WalMart a few years ago with the Black Friday stampede).

My recommendation is to drive to the mall a few hours before the designated time. If mall security lets you park, fine. If not, circle the parking lot and avoid the rent-a-cops. They may even have the entrances to the parking lot blocked, so circle the neighborhood like lions stalking a wounded gazelle.

Move fast, don't be afraid to elbow your way in front of people, bribe your largest scariest looking friend (better if they look like an angry biker) to be your "muscle".

I usually am always the largest scariest looking friend....
 
...or alternatively save yourself a bunch of hassle and avoid the hordes of numbskulls with no lives by waiting until the stampede has died down and the stores have restocked. You've waited a year for this phone, so what's another week-or-so?
 
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