Maybe people missed the pre-order, didn't have the money at time of the pre-order, or want to pay by check or cash instead of credit card.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Thousands of Customers Waiting in Line at Apple Retail Stores for iPhone XS, XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4 as Global Launch Continues
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Maybe people missed the pre-order, didn't have the money at time of the pre-order, or want to pay by check or cash instead of credit card.
People stay in line when a new Starbucks or an In-N-Out open, and neither coffee or cheeseburgers are revolutionary.
The photo of Berlin makes little sense. The time on the tweet says 9:45 a.m. on 20 September 2018, but as of this writing, it is currently 22:56 19 September 2018 in Berlin. Now if the person who wrote that tweet was elsewhere in the world and was sharing a photo someone else took near evening in Berlin, that would make more sense.
Do you realize that if we follow Seneca and his stoicism, being in line (for anything) among other people is much better than being on Macrumors complaining about people in line?
With preorders arriving on Friday by UPS or FedEx I am surprised that this is still a thing. Maybe people do it for the fun of it -- there is a certain excitement that comes with showing up on launch day and getting the new iPhone.
I wanted to get my Apple Watch Series 4 by tomorrow, but I wanted the Nike Edition so I have to wait until October anyway.
I wanted to get my Apple Watch Series 4 by tomorrow, but I wanted the Nike Edition so I have to wait until October anyway.
No, this is certainly sad that someone decides to use their free time to wait in line for a phone. It's 2018.
It's a poor use of time. UPS is bringing mine tomorrow with no waiting.
If that happened I would buy a hat, then proceed to eat it. I don’t remember that happening with any recent Mac. Bookmark this day, BornAgain.
Oh and before you cheat, I need a proper line — if it’s just you frothing at the mouth and bashing on the window of an Apple Store, baying for your new Mac Mini, that won’t count
A Chick-Fil-A is opening in a month from now near me. First one in the area. There will be lines overnight for people waiting just to order a chicken sandwich, fries and a drink.
These people are the equivalent of youtube commenters that type “first!”
Wow, amazed people still do this. I upgrade every two years and I remember some releases where my iPhone was just about to kick the bucket but my 7+ is still going strong 2 years old.
Sad maybe for you. Maybe they just want to mingle among other random people. Maybe they just want to enjoy the fresh air. Maybe they find sad to do everything through UPS with little or no human contact.
Wait, is this 2008? There's no need to wait in line over these new iPhones. You'll be fine with an 8 and even 7 model.
My days of waiting in line for over 90 minutes are long over. I get it, but I wouldn’t wait beyond my above time limit.
One of the reasons why I wait to upgrade my phone is the ability to get in and out within 30 minutes. With the push for social gatherings in the Apple store now, my aim is to spend even less time there.
One of the reasons why I wait to upgrade my phone is the ability to get in and out within 30 minutes. With the push for social gatherings in the Apple store now, my aim is to spend even less time there.
That's their adventure, and they enjoy it. Meeting people, staying out of their homes, testing their solar chargers, battery backups and similar gadgets to remain online. It's camping in the city without a tent.
If I had the free time, I may do it, even if I'm not buying anything.
And this does a lot more than sneakers do. This took a lot more engineering and brains than sneakers do.
I’ve queued up overnight twice. I lived in the city centre, not far from the Apple Store so it didn’t seem like a big deal.
The first time was for the iPhone 4 in 2010. I was sixth in the queue and I had quite a nice night. The people around me were Apple fans and we spent about five or six hours just chatting, playing games on our phones and generally having a good time.
The second time was in 2013 for the 5S. I arrived at the same time I had in 2010 but was way, way down the queue. It was hugely different. By about 6am, there were scalpers everywhere, pushing into the queue with no security around. It rained and nobody spoke to each other all night. That’s when I decided my queueing up days were over.
The first time was for the iPhone 4 in 2010. I was sixth in the queue and I had quite a nice night. The people around me were Apple fans and we spent about five or six hours just chatting, playing games on our phones and generally having a good time.
The second time was in 2013 for the 5S. I arrived at the same time I had in 2010 but was way, way down the queue. It was hugely different. By about 6am, there were scalpers everywhere, pushing into the queue with no security around. It rained and nobody spoke to each other all night. That’s when I decided my queueing up days were over.
Exactly this. I thought of it as urban camping as well. Made some new friends that I still talk to day to day from that iPhone 4 line.
The iPhone 6 line was the last time I ever did this. Never again, scalpers ruined the vibe.
There's something depressing seeing so many people being herded through a queue.
Good for you then, who cares what other people do. As long as they enjoy it and aren't harming anyone. What's sad are people like you who have to criticize and make assumptions about others based on your own personal opinions/feelings. Now that's sad. Who are you to decide how someone else should spend their free time?
For my part, I'm not complaining, I'm simply contemplating. Still, thank you for reminding me how much I waste my life online.
I’d probably do the same, just to meet some nerdy people. As a parent and adult with way to many things to do it’s almost impossible for me now
However, I still remember standing in line for.......... Windows XP (a bit ashamed of admitting this). Met lots of interesting people there, some of them became friends I talked to for many years.
Why is it sad? Serious question tho. People wait in lines for a lot of things. Why is waiting in line for a phone or watch sad?