If you hadn't heard, hundreds of people were
turned away from Apple Stores last night, iPhone 3G-less. However, being gluttons for punishment -- and having nothing to do over the weekend -- they've returned in droves to Apple Stores, with reports of lines longer than 200 people stretching out from The Cube, Apple Store Chicago (pictured) and even a store in Durham, NC. Apple offered up vouchers last night, at least at some stores, to anyone still waiting in line, so those folks can show up whenever and jump the line for a phone -- about 30 of them are lined up at The Cube currently. If you don't mind you can let us know in tips what the current status on the line / stock is at your local Apple or AT&T store is, and we'll try to keep track of this mayhem through the weekend. Good luck out there!
[Thanks to everyone who sent this stuff in]
posted Jul 12th 2008 2:16PM
It's the in-store activation people. Sell them the phone and people will be out in 30 minutes.
Isn't "..:Part II: Redux" redundant?...
There are also two too many colons in that headline.
funny you should mention colons...
...Oh THAT kind of colon! Man, I just went to the bathroom for no reason!
Here in southern california I live by the mission viejo mall and there frekin a bunch of down syndrom babies that work at the apple store they have a line of over 200 people and it gose very very slow about 5 minutes a person. To maney old people .
Too many spelling mistakes!
thank god for edgukashun.
Everyone knows that the store at Fashion Island is way better anyway.
if 3 spelling mistakes is to much for you Shut your computer off and get off the Internet
welcome To the social
Wow. You're really unplesant.
seriously dude,that's at least five mistakes, not counting grammar mistakes, and I didn't even bother to go back and really count... dolt.
Mission viejo has every model except the 16 G Black
I just called
fashion island has all iphones 4-5 hour wait
same wait time for mission
Ahem....its one thing to do a casual post with no puctuation, but its another to ramble on and offer us blatant spelling mistakes.
Original Post:
Here in southern california I live by the mission viejo mall and there frekin a bunch of down syndrom babies that work at the apple store they have a line of over 200 people and it gose very very slow about 5 minutes a person. To maney old people .
Spelling Mistakes:
california should be California
frekin should be freakin
apple should be Apple
syndrom should be syndrome
gose should be goes
To should be Too
maney should be many
and then you get:
Here in southern California I live by the mission viejo mall and there freakin a bunch of down syndrome babies that work at the Apple store they have a line of over 200 people and it goes very very slow about 5 minutes a person. Too many old people .
Grammatical Mistakes:
add a comma after California
add "are" between 'there' and freakin'
add a period after store and make 'they' capitalized
add a semicolon after slow
'Too many old people .' isn't even a sentence.
Huked on fonics wurked fur mi!!
Don't forget to capitalize "Mission Viejo Mall" and "Down syndrome"
And also, make up your mind... Is the problem cause by too many Down syndrome babies, or too many old people?
How about this guy not making offensive comments about people who are mentally challenged.
The WHO ICD, or correct name for Down Syndrome is Down's Syndrome.
It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who described the syndrome in 1866.
The irony is that he's making fun of people that are mentally challenged because of genetics while he is mentally challenged because of lack of education/paying attention in school.
Do not make fun of people with Down Syndrome,i have an adopted sister with down syndrome and she is the most sweetest person and happens to be brilliant at computers and anything technical.It looks like you are the one with the brain problem,you can't even spell!
Apple Somerset (Troy, MI) - Been in line for two hours. The wait has been pretty consistent. Out of black 16GB.
I always feel out of place in that mall. Too high class.
I went to Apple Somerset this morning at 7:15 they opened at 8:00 and I had an activated phone by 8:30. The people said it was a pain doing the activations.
They have always been expeditious and polite whenever I have been there.
Glad i got mine yesterday. I wonder how many iphones each apple store got and if they will run out this weekend?
Wait'll you see what we're going to do when / if the Zunephone ever launches! Looking forward to the Microgadget / Engadgetsoft comments everyone.
Oakridge Mall in San Jose had line almost out the door ~150 people by opening time. All iphones in stock with large stacks inside the store and more stock in the backroom.
Valley Fair is a mess too. I tried again this morning and the line was just as bad as yesterday. Was going to stand in it but it was roped off to new people at the time. this is madness!
I was going to hit the out of the way los gatos apple store but they were sold out of everything last night per the inventory tracker.
I hate standing in lines, and love having the fed ex guy do all the work for me.
I arrived at the Charlotte, NC Apple store at 7:30 this morning. There were already about 40 people in line. By the time they opened at 9, there were about 200-250. Instead of making people wait, serving one by one, they scheduled appointments for everyone in time blocks. I was given the 11-12 time block (of course I hopped in the appointment line at 10:40 and was in by 10:50). About an hour and a half of actual waiting verses standing in line that whole time wasn't too bad. The young lady that assisted me once inside said there were more than enough phones to meet demand for the day.
The Charlotte store has always been good to me. Maybe they know that behind my mild-mannered self stands the all-powerful super blogger Murphy Mac.
apple store victoria gardens, Rancho cucamonga CA. last night 5 hours from get in line to leaving with a phone
I have to say, I was a lucky one. In Cincinnati at the Apple store, I arrived at 6:30am and was out with my phone by 8:15am on Friday. Not bad and I have to say, worth the wait. With Exchange email, GPS and iPod, I am officially a one gadget geek. Hope the battery hold up better than it did yesterday after a full charge.
Look for the out of the way AT&T stores. I wandered in to one this morning in Waltham, MA (@ 470 Winter Street I believe) around 10:30am and got my 16 gb white 3G-er with NO WAIT. Turned out to be their last 16gb one, but they said they'd have more on Monday...
The Burlington Mall Apple store had a very steady 25-30 person line as of 2pm today...
The Columbia, MD Apple store is out as of Saturday at around 2PM. The AT&T stores in the the same mall ran out yesterday.
The cool thing is the AT&T store started doing a reservation/pre-purchase system when they ran out of stock yesterday. As soon as they get more, you get a phone call and have 72 hours to pick it up.
Anyone having GPS issues? I cant get it to work and Location Service is turned on.
O and the home button tilted. it presses upward and doesnt press and a whole (much like the MacBook Pro power button issue where it presses tilted). Compared it to 1st gen but havent compared it to other 3G
Oklahoma City: 150+ lined up at the Apple store when the doors to the mall opened at 8:00 they said they would run out with about 20 peps left in line. I got mine!!!!
Of course we'll call you...
short hills= 1 hour
I'm just waiting a week like I did last year, and just walking it and getting it done in 15 minutes.
20+ people waiting in the rain at The Summit Apple Store in Birmingham AL. Looks like one of the glass doors was broken since yesterday afternoon. There is a large piece of plywood covering the right side of the entrance. Disgruntled Apple fiend?
I went to the store in Durham last night around 7pm. Shortly after I got there, they started discouraging anyone else from getting in line because it was 4+ hours long and they wanted to be out of there by midnight. I walked out of the store at 11:30 with a new iPhone and they still had "plenty" in stock. I didn't see any vouchers being handed out, but then again I wasn't paying attention to what was going on behind me. There were only about 15-20 people behind me in line when I bought the phone at 11:30.
I went to ATT store this morning and there was 30 people outside and about 10 people in-store. I didn't want to wait and went back few hours later and they told me it's sold out. Next shipment will be on Monday and they told me I don't have to be on line on Monday. I'll just wait.
This wll be my first iphone. I really don't like att but I'll give it a try this time.
Last night there was about 250+ ppl at crabtreevalley mall , NC. So i went home and tonight im going to see if there is anymore line because i want one sooo bad!
Oklahoma City: Apple store sold out this morning before noon, about 150 in line, I would say 90% in the line got the phone. I got mine!
Stock situation fine at most Apple stores around the UK, o2 stores said to be getting shipment at 1pm today, reservations possible. Queues outside Apple stores though, and slow moving ones at that.
Kenosha AT&T is completely sold out. The rep I spoke with had sold 13 iphone on back order and there were 10 other reps so I won't be getting a phone anytime soon.
Went to an AT&T store yesterday. They sold out so I had them reserve me a 16GB black unit when it comes into the store.
I went to the Apple store to get a case for my phone I bought yesterday and found out that if you want to get anything, you had to wait in line. If you were doing a repair or wanted to get a computer you'd have to wait in the line. The manager had a take it or leave it attitude. Unfortunately, most fanboys will gladly take it, but it just sounds like bad business sense to prevent all other purchases (not to mention customer bad will by not doing repairs).
I went into the Huntsville, AL Bridge Street Apple Store at around 10:30 this morning and there was some old guy at the door in a suit being a real jerk to people with this same attitude. I just wanted a case and had to wait in line also. Luckily, a nicer girl in an Apple t-shirt helped me get to their one employee who was helping non-iPhone customers.
I went to my local AT&T store at 7 am yesterday and there were about 20 people in line so i figured i would be fine...wrong! I was the beginning of the people who weren't getting one haha! So around 2 I was at Aventura mall in Miami with a friend and the line was like 200+ but it was moving fast so we got in line! Got my white 16GB in under 2 hours! and they continued to sell until closing!!! I was told by a friend that works @ that apple store that they originally received 1500 phones & shipments continued to roll in throughout the day!
Picked one up at the ATT store this morning in the UVillage (university of Washington)......2 hours of waiting, 5 minutes in the store. They said they will get more in tomorrow.
you people waiting in line to get the most recent gizmo: get a life.
you people that spend your time reading and posting on a blog about gadgets: get a life.
AT&T Brookfield, WI on 124th had 10 or so 8 GB (black) ones this morning. Could have had one but just pre-ordered mine instead. Go big or go home.... (16gb white). Great customer service today as opposed to yesterday.
WHY ARE YOU READING IT AND COMMENTING? THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF NEWS I AM NOT INTERESTED AND I DON"T GIVE A FU*CK
I had been hearing in the blogosphere before the iPhone 3g launch that the iPhone would not be a big deal and that people would not wait like they did last year. But it seems to me that things are alot crazier this year than last. I was able to walk in last year after the line died down and purchase an iPhone without a hiccup. Tried it this year and the line was out the Mall entranceway at the Columbia Mall Apple store.
Is it more people getting iPhones this year or is it just the activations holding the process up in your opinions?
Apple Store in San Luis Obispo, CA - Sold out all models. No shipments until Monday.
Waiting here at 3rd st. promenade since 9am. Still another 100 people in front of me and around 200 behind me
Seriously, they need to stop. Engadget.com should not be a fanboy.
P.S. Do the sheep know they are being over charged pretty badly for their "new" AT$T monthly plan? It is a very nice piece of tech, a beautiful phone, but seriously the new monthly bill is fucking wrong. The original plan was 3 times better. If I had an iPhone I would stick with the original to save money.
so, how exactly is $20 a month for unlimited Edge data and 200 SMS 3 times better that $35 a month for unlimited 3G data and 200 SMS?
In fact, the AT&T iPhone plans are $10 a month less then the Verizon plans.
So, sorry, I'm not getting your math.
I do think that text's should basically be free when you get a 'UNLIMITED' data plan ... somehow data is different then ... data?
Anyways, hopefully there will be an app that can take advantage of the data and turn texting into real data and save on that $15/20 a month for texting.
Don't know why they haven't whipped out that iChat on this sucker yet :(
Last I checked (and I could be wrong) the new data plan for $30 didn't include messenging anymore. To get the 200/unlimited to ATT customers is $10. So that will be $20 a month extra, or $480 more for your two year contract ($360 at $15 a month). Add that to the decrease in cost of the phone ($200) gives you a net of $160 to $280 more for 3G.
I am an ATT customer little one and I have had 3G for a while on my phone. I also have used a friend or two's iPhone original to browse the net. There is definately a speed difference, but I saw no reason for it because I just use internet on my phone for information, quick e-mails, and check the state of my home network. Any serious web browsing will and should be done on your computer.
What's the point of saving that little bit of money. In 50 or so years, you'll be pushing up daisies and before you do, you'll think back about how you wished you'd have bought that new iPhone 3G. The majority of people buying iPhones can easily afford it, even the ones that complain, so what's the big deal. Buy it today, concern yourself about paying for it next month when the time comes.
@Joshua Topolsky
Do you only read Apple news? Microsoft already said that they're not going to make a "Zunephone," and that is the terrible name for a phone. I know you didn't come up with it, but you actually repeated it. If you weren't living in an Apple bubble, you would have heard Microsoft say that it was just going to put the Zune software into Windows Mobile. So, it'll probably still be called Windows Mobile, but it will have better media playback. So other than saying the Zune software was added to WinMo and a review or two, there will probably won't be much on it. And certainly none of this "people are lining up," "people are still in line," and "line not going anywhere" crap like this. This isn't even real news; who really cares that people are wasting their lives away for something that they'll get rid of in a year by standing in another line waiting for the replacement for what they're waste their life away today?
I didn't realise how lucky I was to get one of these wee things!
there's about 100+ people at the Pasadena, CA Apple store
Went to ATT stores here in lexington,ky . Arrived at 9am. They opened at 10am. I was 17th in line. They had 20 16GB and 30 8GB. I was out with my phone at 10:30. Seemed everything was going VERY smooth today. Looks like ATT stores are getting more shipments in EVERY day.
don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.
I waited in line with a friend for 2 hours. I didn't get one, and the idiots inside the store take FOREVER.
Seriously, what is WRONG with these people.
An AT&T rep I spoke with yesterday in order to "kick in the pants" my number port over from HELIO told me that she heard the majority of AT&T stores were holding back a lot of iPhones for preordered Enterprise Sales for businesses. I'm assuming this is why the AT&T stores were selling out quicker than the Apple Stores, which don't do that.
For all the waiting and the confusion with the activation in store, both Apple employees at the store as well as the AT&T customer service person on the phone helping me with my number port were all very helpful. I waited 4 1/2 hours in line yesterday before I got into the store but once I did it went pretty smooth. I'm very happy with my phone since yesterday. This thing really blows my previous phone (Helio Ocean) away.
At the Oakridge store in San Jose, there's about 80 people in line at noon. Line seem to be moving very slow.
Leawood, KS (brand new, opened yesterday) had about 30 people in line this morning, still in stock!
I am in Oklahoma nad just got my iPhone at Penn Square mall, one of the two Apple stores in Oklahoma, had to go there because all ATT stores are out. I waited about 2 hours, once I got in the activation was extremely quick. There were roughly 75-100 in line at all times, if not more. But there were a couple of personable people in front of me so it wasn't that bad.
I've been told the wait for Chicago store is ~4 hours.
@Garst -- Not only would most people disagree that what we're reporting on "isn't news," but I reckon a decent majority of our readers find the information useful. Furthermore, if you read Engadget on a regular basis, then you would realize that the information you're repeating about Windows Mobile and the Zune software has been reported... here... by me.
http://www.engadget.com/tag/zunephone
The Zunephone reference was a joke, but I'm drawing a parallel to a device from another manufacturer that would garner this kind of attention. Take a look at the wide scope of my / our coverage, and think twice about making broad generalizations about our work here.
Don't hate apple hate the game!
I always 'lol' at the people who bring out the "Too much Apple on Engadget" card.
Do you remeber last years veiwing figures on here? All of the main viewed posts were for Apple.
People gotta get their fruit!
I just had a giant urge to go buy an iPhone, even though I have a perfectly fine N95.
Then I realised I'd be paying £630+99 for the phone, with a £35, 18 month contract. And I was sad.
Though, I might be tempted to get one if the PAYG iPhone is £200. Very tempted.
You should just get an iPod touch. Keep your n95. It's a much more valuable and powerful piece of equipment. You won't like being limited by the iPhone after using the n95. I tried it.
I was at that Durham NC store yesterday. Arrived at 7:30AM with about 100 people in front of me and left at 2:00PM. It was insane how slow the line was moving. I'm glad I did it now though to see the line continued on today and places are starting to sell out of the 16gb black.
I arrived at the Lenox Apple Store in Atlanta at 7:30am and was about #21 in line. At 8:40 they started serving customers with vouchers from getting turned away. At 9:00AM, so long as the voucher line was empty, they started serving those in line this morning. Voucher users were given precedence over those waiting, whatever. Around 10 it was my turn and by 10:30 I was on my way with a 16GB white iPhone.
I was waiting with a couple friends at the store at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst, Ohio (near Cleveland). I thought it was incredibly poor that they were turning away paying customers for other products. I saw a few people come to the store knowing exactly what they wanted, but if it wasn't an iPhone they wouldn't take care of them. That is no way to treat customers. That Apple Store is one of three (soon to be four) in the state, some of those people may have driven an hour or so to be there. I understand that the iPhone was of prime concern yesterday and needed the most attention, but they should've had some way to help the few customers that come for other things. Especially when some of those customers knew exactly what they wanted to purchase.
Not cool Apple, not cool.
And for the record, I am not an Apple basher. I don't own an iPhone, but I do have two Macs.
I've been using computers for 23 years now. I've had a cell phone since 1995...and using the same service and number since 1997. I love gadgets and technology. I check Engadget a few times a day to see what's new.
Yet, I cannot for the life of understand why ANYONE would stand four, five hours...or days in line for ANYTHING- whether it be the iPhone or Wii or PS3.
Are so many people so much in a rush that they do this? They can't wait a couple of days? Why is having something so new so fast so important?
I laughed last year when this insanity happened with the first iPhone and then Apple went and lowered the price just a couple months later. Reminds me of someone I knew who spent over $3500 on a wide screen Sony tv years before anything was broadcast in HD. Within nine months, his tv was obsolete...newer and much better ones were half the price. He got stuck with a dinosaur because he had to be first on his block.
Beyond all this... ATT service is horrible. And that touch screen on the iPhone and iTouch... miserable. I love my iPod Classic and my Blackberry Curve. (At least I can change one battery myself when the time comes.)
I can't say that I agree with you about the screen being horrible, but I am curious about why exactly so MANY people just HAVE to have it so badly, and so soon, that they can't wait a few days until there are no lines... but a judge I work with once said it very well... "We seem to have lost our sense of humility for a heightened sense of entitlement."
I don't know where it came from, but we now live in such a gimme gimme gimme consumerist state of being, that is only masked by the constant barrage of new products and things to consume--and still our economy is failing miserably.
From what I've read, Apple isn't allowing cash purchases, so again, all of this consumerism is underpinned by borrowed equity and not any real, material value. Where are these items being produced? How are these items themselves benefiting our economy? Sure they present yet another direct channel for marketing and advertising, but I'm talking about the services involved with the product, and the physical fabrication of the product. Made in China. Overseas tech support.
I'm NOT Apple bashing, but my point is: we're not only losing our sense of patience and humility, but we're just channeling our assumed equity right out of the country, and slipping on a financial banana peel all the way to... who knows?
Carlo...
Great response...really well done!
Thanks.
You people commenting nastily on people's comments on a blog where you're meant to comment. Get a life.
This was meant to be a reply to http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/12/iphone-3g-the-waiting-game-part-ii-redux/comments/13134008/
I was at the 5th Ave store around 12:30 today. Line was wrapped around the block, toward Madison Ave. Looked miserable. I think I'll try again on Monday.
Had a crappy time at the Oak Brook Apple Store in Illinois! Line was cut in front of me last night as they wanted to close at 11. Told everyone to come back this morning at 9. Wouldnt provide vouchers or numbers or anything like that. Said they would have all models in the morning. Went back at 8am - tons of people but the security guard kept shouting at us to move on - "there is no queue". The people in the queue disagreed. Eventually three reps came out and announced the obvious - we needed a proper queue. Finally the bomb dropped - in the second most petulant tone of the morning an Apple rep announced that "if you're looking to buy a 16gb black iphone we have none left". when someone in the crowd indicated that the apple website stated that all 3 models would be available this morning, a snarky apple rep surpassed here snottiness saying "yeah, that site is not accurate". no luck in illinois today!!
Damnit..I was going to head to the Oakbrook store tonight! so no go? Maybe they got a shipment during the day...
Crap...I'll likely be trying there tomorrow. None of the damn AT&T stores can keep them in stock because Apple hoarded them at their stores. Now they can't keep them in stock there either? Greeeeat.
Hmm: You can always give it a shot but as of 9AM they had no black 16gb (cant vouch for the other models as i skidaddled shortly thereafter)
thor79: The shortage certainly is crazy. Still, if another shipment comes in tonight/tomorrow i'll be more than happy to stand in line again. I do not want to go back to work on monday without spending some time enjoying this!!
If either of you guys head that way and find that they are indeed selling 16gb black, please respond to this post - i will do likewise and hopefully they'll get something in stock soon! Good luck!
Will do. I called the Woodfield store as well and they are out of 16GB Black as well. I asked if they would be getting any in for tomorrow and they said no. They won't have any before Monday. I would expect the same to be for Oakbrook.
Got there at 8:30am. They had all models but were low on 8GB and 16GB Black...plenty of 16GB White at Oakbrook. I was about 30th in line when I got there. Got to number 3 before they ran out...DOH! Going to go back tomorrow when everyone is probably working and get one in the morning.
Just to clarify. They ran out of only 16GB Black when I was left. They still had 8GB Black and 16GB White. Line is about a 3 hour wait they were saying. 200-300 people in line. Chances are you'll only get white if you go.
it took some queuing but i finally got mine at the michigan ave. store. Since they are downtown (one of the larger stores) they have PLENTY of stock so i can only recommend avoiding the burbs if at all possible - i only wish i had gone there friday instead of oak brook.
I'm heading down to the Michigan Ave store this morning. They are, as of now, the only Apple store in the Chicago area with the 16GB Black. Taking a chair this time so I can sit in something comfortable at least for several hours. Looks like the rest of the stores will be getting more in...but it's at some random time today at each store. I'm not about to get to the Oakbrook store at 8am and wait till 5pm or whatever when the shipment arrives. Same with AT&T stores. I figure give the Michigan Avenue store a try, and if I can't get it there...just try Oakbrook or my AT&T store on the way back. With my luck I'll be #1 in line when they run out though. :P
Leaving early enough this morning to, hopefully, miss most of the morning rush and nab a parking spot before the garages really start filling up.
Just called:
Soho, NYC: 4-6 hours and will be cutting off the line sometime after 4:00.
5th Ave: 3-4 Hours.