It could be because they want to be there for the experience, but for me... I never ordered anything online before. Ever. I'm paranoid with my credit card being used online, and I know it's on an Apple website so I can pretty much guarantee my safety, but the fact when it delivers to my home... No one is home after 8AM. Everyone in my family has work or school and we usually won't be home until 4PM. So, I don't want a $800 iPad sitting on the porch for hours.
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Why wait in line when you can pre-order?
- Thread starter karsal
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It could be because they want to be there for the experience, but for me... I never ordered anything online before. Ever. I'm paranoid with my credit card being used online, and I know it's on an Apple website so I can pretty much guarantee my safety, but the fact when it delivers to my home... No one is home after 8AM. Everyone in my family has work or school and we usually won't be home until 4PM. So, I don't want a $800 iPad sitting on the porch for hours.
I can't believe that Fedex leaves a package at your front door! That's insane! In Japan the delivery mob Apple uses leaves a friendly note to say they came to deliver you the package, but you weren't home so please give them a call to arrange a time for them to come deliver it. I could be the next day or a few days later and it can be until 9pm at night. They give you a 3 hour window for delivery.
Fedex sounds crappy in comparison.
BUT, if I were young again I would definitely wait in line for the social aspect of it. I remember waiting in line to see some big tent pole movies like Terminator 2 and it was this huge buzz of expectation that had everybody pumped and excited. It was great.
Fedex sounds crappy in comparison.
BUT, if I were young again I would definitely wait in line for the social aspect of it. I remember waiting in line to see some big tent pole movies like Terminator 2 and it was this huge buzz of expectation that had everybody pumped and excited. It was great.
Not trying to be debbie downer, but you do realize the chances of you getting a device on launch day, 4 hours after the go on sale is pretty slim. Especially if you are doing it on a lunch break which I assume is an hour at most.
Believe me I hope you find one, but I would not be surprised if you are in here saturday posting "iPads all gone in my area"
I Don't know your experience with these launches so I just wanted to make sure you knew the possibilities of you finding one are going to be slim.
good luck!!!
Yeah I know what you mean, I'm just hoping really! I might just get into work late, and pick it up before work, I did get one last year and was in an out in 10 minutes, I'm in London, and we have quite a few different retailers selling it so fingers crossed!!
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Yeah here in England it's the same, they never leave parcels outside the door, it's just crazy, either put a note through saying "we called but you were out" and they deliver the next day or you pick it up from the depot.
Fedex won't leave the iPad at your door unless you pre-sign for it and leave the pre-sign form on your door.
I would think twice about having FedEx or UPS leave a high dollar item at my door. Its not uncommon for theives to follow the drivers around and steal packages left at someones door.
Maybe they are like me and ordered first thing and got shafted by Apple delaying the order to certain areas in Scotland and Northern Ireland. People ordered hours later that we did and are getting their iPads on Friday while we get an email saying ours are going to be delayed until the 21st.
Why not have it delivered to work? That is what I do. Same, I live in the country so I am sure it would be ok until I get home but at the same time I am not really ready to put that to a test. So I have all packages that have to be signed for sent to my office address. It has worked for the last two iPads I have ordered and numerous other packages I have bought.
No time off of work. Package safely in my hands. Signature for delivery provided. Problem solved.
Seriously, has no one learned that not everyone works in an office? Lots of people work out in the field, bouncing from one place to the next, often without a brick-and-mortar office to speak of.
Or maybe those show off die hard Apple egotistic fans (no offense) like to be seen walking out of the Apple store purchasing the iPad..
I was hitting refresh on the Apple Store website for an hour after the keynote, lol.
Even when I got in, it would crash, but I persevered, because I couldn't bear to wait 2-3 weeks for it to be available again, and I'm never gonna line up.
I got lucky that one of my days off happened to be Friday too!
Even when I got in, it would crash, but I persevered, because I couldn't bear to wait 2-3 weeks for it to be available again, and I'm never gonna line up.
I got lucky that one of my days off happened to be Friday too!
I'm not one to normally post something like this, but for some reason decided to here. Buckeyestar may be right.
An iPad, especially a brand new one, is a luxury item. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, God bless you, and I hope you can get some savings and meet your obligations. Buying an iPad is not how to do it though.
You do get bonus points for not buying it on credit though! Too many people do that (including our government), and it's killing us.
Possibly a matter of distances, volume, and local crime rate. Where I live (outside a major US city) it is a good 45 minute drive to the closest UPS depot. Not sure how far to FedEx, but probably similar. Standard practice here is:
If no adult signature required, leave on porch.
If adult signature required, they will sometimes try to deliver to neighbors. They leave note with current disposition (will try again/call for pickup/left it at x house).
NONE of the delivery services here will 'arrange a time' for you. The best they will do is give you a several hour window that they may or may not actually meet.
As to waiting in line - I am just thankful Apple does the online pre-order process. I am not missing work and sitting in a concrete parking lot all night for an item that I won't die without.
I can understand special circumstances.. but in reality I think it's simple procrastination and/or lack of preparation. (at least for people in these forums) That, and frankly there are certain people that actually like the cue experience.
Users of this forum mostly knew, based on news stories, that the iPad launch was going to happen ~march months ago.
Based on this info, I sold my iPad 1 64-3G about a month ago so I wouldn't take a higher price hit. Having money in hand and prepared for the announcement it was just a matter of pre-ordering after that.
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They will though... they left $900 worth of wheels outside my front door about a month ago...
Users of this forum mostly knew, based on news stories, that the iPad launch was going to happen ~march months ago.
Based on this info, I sold my iPad 1 64-3G about a month ago so I wouldn't take a higher price hit. Having money in hand and prepared for the announcement it was just a matter of pre-ordering after that.
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They will though... they left $900 worth of wheels outside my front door about a month ago...
Why pre-order when you can wait in-line?
Everybody is different. I've pre-ordered some items, but for this iPad and a few other devices I've queued.
Different strokes for different folks.
Everybody is different. I've pre-ordered some items, but for this iPad and a few other devices I've queued.
Different strokes for different folks.
I've only done the line thing once. That was for the first iPads with 3G.
I got to the mall at about 5 am. I was first in line. I saw the ropes setup for the expected long line, so I didn't feel too stupid, but I started to feel stupid around 8 am when the 2nd person showed up!! If I remember right, they didn't start selling them until 5 pm that day. I brought work with me, and decided to just work from there.
It was pretty funny and kind of fun. The employees got a kick out of us, and especially me for being first. They couldn't believe I got there at 5 am. They applauded everyone when we came in to buy our iPads.
All that said, I wouldn't do it again. It was a long day!
I got to the mall at about 5 am.
I was first in line. I saw the ropes setup for the expected long line, so I didn't feel too stupid, but I started to feel stupid around 8 am when the 2nd person showed up!! If I remember right, they didn't start selling them until 5 pm that day. I brought work with me, and decided to just work from there. It was pretty funny and kind of fun. The employees got a kick out of us, and especially me for being first. They couldn't believe I got there at 5 am. They applauded everyone when we came in to buy our iPads.
All that said, I wouldn't do it again. It was a long day!
Never understood this mentality either. Don't get me wrong, I love 
goodies just as much as anyone else but standing in line for hours/days on end just to be "first" to get one? Makes no sense. As much as the wait is killing me now, I'm assured that once I get home from work, my iPad will be waiting for me. That and, knowing my luck, I'd stand in line for 8 hours and by the time it's my turn to shop, they'll be all sold out.
Same thing applies to Black Friday sales too. I can get just a good a deal as those who camped outside at midnight oogling to get that "deal" advertised somewhere. Gotta shop smarter, not harder.
goodies just as much as anyone else but standing in line for hours/days on end just to be "first" to get one? Makes no sense. As much as the wait is killing me now, I'm assured that once I get home from work, my iPad will be waiting for me. That and, knowing my luck, I'd stand in line for 8 hours and by the time it's my turn to shop, they'll be all sold out.Same thing applies to Black Friday sales too. I can get just a good a deal as those who camped outside at midnight oogling to get that "deal" advertised somewhere. Gotta shop smarter, not harder.
For some people delivering to work is not a good idea as the mail system at work could mean not seeing the package for days or ever if the mail staff is a little dodgey. For others, they may travel between job sites a lot and not have someone at the office all the time to sign for packages. Some people may need to travel for work and may be out of town that day so a local Apple or other store may be their best bet. Hubby has done the event thing for a few iDevices, he thinks its fun if he has the time to do it. This time around two iPads pre-ordered online and I'll be working from home waiting for the delivery and getting both set up so hubby can just play when he gets home.
- Some people don't order online.
- Some won't have the money till then
- Some may return and don't want to deal with shipping back
etc..
Then some just want to stand in line for no reason
Some people don't have a credit card to pre order. Mine was cloned years ago, had a crap load of stuff bought on it in Canada, and since then, i've refused to use anything like that again.
I do stuff the old fashioned way, go to the shops, the Apple Store, and actually enjoy it.
But if i did have a CC, or anything like that, I'd probably pre order and get it delivered to my work.
I do stuff the old fashioned way, go to the shops, the Apple Store, and actually enjoy it.
But if i did have a CC, or anything like that, I'd probably pre order and get it delivered to my work.
FedEx says mine will arrive by 3PM on Friday. Unfortunately, that gives me NO idea when they are showing up. I have an interview at 9AM, so worst case scenario I'd have to wait until the end of the day and go pick it up.
Of course, I probably will still try to hit up either Apple or Best Buy for a 32GB as I ordered a 16GB (not sure if that's enough for retina).
Of course, I probably will still try to hit up either Apple or Best Buy for a 32GB as I ordered a 16GB (not sure if that's enough for retina).
Agreed. It can be a fun experience and you can meet some new friends as well. I feel no need to talk down or look down on anyone who chooses to stand in line all night Thursday for the iPad or anything.
It's a choice, it can be fun. It is part of every Apple launch.