Why doesn't Apple use a lottery for reservations?

That's a really goofy idea.

 

This is a horrible idea and would make people even angrier.

 

Awful idea. Anybody could put their name down and this ending up with a bunch of people who can't even pay for it with a reservation.

 

Because as long as they sell out, Apple doesn't really care who gets one and who doesn't. Nor should they.

 

Trying to do that, in multiple countries, with multiple carriers (all of whom have their allotments already) would be a huge cluster... foul-up.

And of course it's only a late-night headache in North and South America.

 

Agreed. As is, it's already pretty random. No reason to throw in another level of complexity.

 

i get that a lottery system might be more fair, and it would make it so people don't have to wait out in the dark and cold. but i think my chances of scoring a 6 plus in particular are improved by waiting in line, putting up with the cold and the wait when many people aren't.

 

But then when people lose they will just bitch about it. At least right now we can just say "Should have been faster"

 

Ha! Good luck with that. Expecting people to preauthorize ~$1,000 for a lottery?

 

May be fine for WWDC but not this.

 

So you didn't get one for launch day, huh? Sorry about that.

 

Socialist!

 

We're buying a phone, not Jordan's or Yeezy's. People actually need these to make a living. If they want it bad enough they'll line up.

 

That would be a huge buzzkill.

The anticipation, anxiety, anger, frustration followed by the rush, the thrill and the joy of finally scrambling and managing to find a new iPhone is a large part of the almost ritualistic frenzy that Apple whips up for its customers every year. And most people like that.

 

Or, move to Australia. I ordered my new iPhone when preorders opened at 5pm Friday arvo, beer in hand.

 

They did use a lottery. It was called Apple servers. You had to get lucky as hell to win a launch day phone.

 

No matter what the system, it will inevitably be unfair to someone and favor someone else. It's human nature to prefer the most personally advantageous method. The choice often comes down to merit vs. chance, and our preference varies with circumstance. If you believe that the reward should go to the most deserving, chances are that your definition of "deserving" matches your personal traits. If you prefer chance, you lack the (apparently) favored traits.

I did my homework, so I knew when pre-orders went on sale. I work late hours, so I managed to be awake at 3:01 am EDT, for all the good it did me. I had a noon business meeting, so by 4:01 am, despite my superior intelligence, natural advantage, and hard work, I went to bed empty handed. I gave it another try about six hours later, before I headed out to my meeting. I was in luck! The model I wanted was still available for 9/19 delivery (or 19/9, your pick). Had I wanted a different color and capacity, I'd have snoozed and lost. Shall I attribute the results to, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win," or "dumb luck?" All I know is, early did not get this bird the worm, and I doubt either nature or nurture played a role.

 

LMAO...that's one way of putting it.

 

And THAT is where you went wrong. To think this forum or twitter is in any way indicative of reality.

It's like walking into the insane asylum and asking "anyone crazy in here?" "Gee, based on how many crazy people are in here, the whole world must be nuts!"

 

This made me LOL, thank god I have verizon though, ordered silver 6 64gb for pick up at my local apple store on Friday, can't do that for AT&T or Sprint

 

How is the current system any less 'fair' than a balloting based system?

First come first serves sounds pretty fair to me as it is.