Other Anyone miss the days of standing in line?

[Denzo]

Never did it when I was young. Wouldn’t do it now. But not being high and mighty - I did rock up for the PS3 launch!

 

[Denzo]

If only for the stories:

For the iPhone 3G launch, there was a huge first-come, first-serve line at an Apple Store while I was on vacation during the summer. This was inside the mall, so lots of activity. Finally got to near the front, and some guy walked up and offered $100 to take someone’s place in line. No takers, so he increased to $300. Some interest, but the five of us in front were now trying to get him to increase. He pulls out $500 and starts waving; meanwhile, the people towards the back were both mad but also offering their spots. Eventually, he bought the front of the line spot for $1000, the former front line person walked away with the cash, and then the Apple Store rep walked up and said that it wasn’t allowed. An argument ensued, mall security got involved, hecklers from the line, etc. The line hopper eventually got their phone, and we all moved on with our black shiny new phone to access the newly-launched App Store.

That guy appreciates being able to order online now hahaha

 

[NewUsername]

I didn’t have the money back then, I had a €30 Nokia phone for which I most definitely did not stand in line! 🤣

 

[Isamilis]

I stood in line on iPhone 4s. I was at the 7th position on the line. The media reporter took picture of us which I avoid (I don’t want my colleagues at work knew that lol).

 

[Jumpie]

How bad is your stockholm syndrome?

I’m starting to like you lol

 

[Gantris]

I can remember doing this for the original iPhone and iPhone 3g. Was a hell of a lot of fun. We’d geek out with the other people on the line and talk up the new tech. Apple was a different beast at the time too. Both times they had the local Starbucks bring coffee and snacks for everyone on the line. They treated the launches super special and honestly it felt that way. Not that current launches aren’t special, they just feel a bit factory set. Get in, get out. The early launches had an organic feel to them, good times.

 

[thebrick]

Last time when I was in line, it was for iPhone 7. I don’t really miss it anymore. I’ve been upgrading with iUP ever since then and I prefer getting it delivered or via scheduled pick-up.

 

[Duncan-UK]

I remember reading how at his local Apple Store, Woz went to buy a phone and made an announcement saying who he was and asking if he could cut in the line. Pretty disgraceful sense of entitlement really!

 

[GoodGuy313]

I clearly remember doing this for the iPhone 4. It was at a Radioshack, they didn’t say how many they had in stock the day before, turns out they had 8 (2 32GB and 6 16GB) and I was number 8 in the line 😂 it was anxiety driving but also thrilling.

I aslo remember going with some friends for a midnight release of a Halo game which was pretty relaxed and fun.

Do miss some part of the experience, especially the social gathering part but not gonna lie, waking up early for putting the order and receiving it on launch day for sure is a flex.

 

[lkalliance]

I would expect this wasn't the first tech product that people waited on line for, but the first one I remember was well before the iPhone: Windows 95.

 

[Ktaifan]

It was an exciting time when I lined up for my first iPhone (the 4) overnight. While less convenient than ordering online now and having things delivered directly to you, it's the anticipation and camaraderie with others that makes it a more special experience and memory.

 

[Flow39]

Not really I still have PTSD from lining up the night before for iPhone 6 Plus only to be told they had 5 phones in stock

Did you wait in line at a carrier store? They were notorious for having only a handful of 6/6+ models in stock I remember. A lot of people in the back end of the line I was in tried the carrier stores and then had to leave and come to the Apple Store because carriers had barely any phones for walk-ins. Good times.

 

[Cybiker]

I worked quite a few of the launches - on a 15 min break I happened to see that GBM snagged one of my coworkers pictures form Twitter - Apple wasn't too happy about this one, I can laugh about it now though.

Short Lines for Verizon iPhone 4

If you’re looking to pick up a Verizon iPhone today you’ll probably be able to waltz into your nearest Apple store and just buy one without standing in lines for hours like many AT&T customers did last June. Verizon reportedly sold more than 500,000 iPhone 4 units on February 3, the first day it...

www.gottabemobile.com

 

[Fat_Guy]

I waited in line for the Apple Watch 5 in Stainless Steel on launch day. The guy in front of me was a YouTuber going to buy as much as he found and do his thing. Unlike the usual store experience this middle aged woman from the head office greeted me and shook my hand (never had that happen before), took me inside where they got the watch and incredibly I was able to pay for this 1200.00CAN watch totally through Apple Pay on my phone where before it had a 100 buck limit. I really had fun that day, but me thinks those days are gone.


Apple really knows how to make you feel special when you over pay for their products, but I have to admit they do it well!

 

[ShadowGuardian87]

I kinda miss it in some ways. Now that I am in my early (ish) 30's I don't think I could do the whole waking up at 4 or 5 AM to go stand in line for 6 or 7 hours . Not to say I couldn't do it just wouldn't be ideal as that kinda stuff is easier in your 20's LOL. But I did do it when I was 22 for the iphone 4 launch in 2010.

I literally had just gotten back from being in France for two weeks for a film internship (Cannes Film Festival), so my body was still trying to get back adjusted to east coast U.S time again. I got up at 4 AM and stood in line until like 6 PM EST that evening. The line for non pre order folks for the iphone 4 was NUTS. The pre order and non pre order lines nearly filled the entire second floor of the mall. The local news was there covering it all day long. The apple store was handing up water and food all day long too ( donuts and fruit in the morning, Pizza Hut in the after noon, and chick fil a for dinner).

There was this one really arrogant guy who tried to cut line. As soon as I was about to call him out he got outta line and left for the entire day lol. I did bond with the folks in front of me and behind me though. By the end of the day we all felt like years long friends and family LOL. Sadly, some of them shut down their social media pages so I haven't heard from them in a while. But it was a tiring and fun experience for sure. And yes, all of us got an iphone 4.

Here is an actual footage from somone else who was also there at the iphone 4 launch in my area of VA on YouTube. I am seen briefly in the video lol.

After that I did go to the iphone 5 launch but the line was no where near as crazy. The last time I seen large amounts of people camping out for an iphone was in 2017 for the iPhone X.

 

[doolar]

Somewhat yea. It was a big deal when the Iphone 3G hit Sweden, I stood in line with maybe 100 others at Telia's flagship store in Malmö. It was funny when one of Telia's (Telia is Swedens old "Televerket", which was state owned back in the days) stale old relics of a manager came out and told us that "There is only a limited number of "terminals" available. The word "terminal" is sooo old school to use about a phone, it was kinda funny.

Anyway, I got my 3G and queued for the 3Gs the year after, then I stopped. Good times!

 

[GadgetBen]

Back in the day:

In Westfield mall in London, I walked past the Apple queue for an iPad 2 (which went across the store and outside and around the building). A few stores after Apple Store there was a small local AV/TV shop. They had no queue and plenty of stock! Afterwards, I walked back past the same people in the queue and showed them my new iPad.

It was funny watching people decide if they should stay in line.

 

[eyedoc2020]

Lololol!!! I never miss standing in any line!

 

[leslieg]

Did you wait in line at a carrier store? They were notorious for having only a handful of 6/6+ models in stock I remember. A lot of people in the back end of the line I was in tried the carrier stores and then had to leave and come to the Apple Store because carriers had barely any phones for walk-ins. Good times.

Nope, this was at the only Apple store in my city in Australia.

 

[OneInfiniteLooper]

I’ve actually never been able to go to a store on launch day because of work (and I’d never take off work for a phone), but now I work S-Th so I’m doing my first launch day pickup. Have the first pickup window! Very excited

 

[ucfgrad93]

I camped out overnight for the iPhone 4 release. Had a great time, but I wouldn’t and haven’t done it again.

 

[kawalerzysta]

I don't miss waiting in line because I never waited in line for anything. But I do miss those videos of people buying the new product that Apple played at keynotes after the product launch. It was really exciting to see people be so excited about great products. I miss that. There's no excitement about Apple products anymore.

Never waited in line for phone. But I don't want to wait in line for anything. Back in good old days of communism in Poland I spent enough time in lines waiting for hours for toilet paper and other basic supplies. You were lining at stores because there was possibility that meat store might get meat or grocery store may get sugar on that day.Here is example of line of people waiting for toilet paper.

And here is image of somebody lucky enough to score toilet paper.

 

[Feyl]

Never waited in line for phone. But I don't want to wait in line for anything. Back in good old days of communism in Poland I spent enough time in lines waiting for hours for toilet paper and other basic supplies. You were lining at stores because there was possibility that meat store might get meat or grocery store may get sugar on that day.Here is example of line of people waiting for toilet paper.
View attachment 1841786

And here is image of somebody lucky enough to score toilet paper.
View attachment 1841793

Dude, I'm from Czech Republic. The lines of people that waited just to get bananas or oranges are legendary. Everytime my grandma says that socialism was better I always roll my eyes.

 

[jr866gooner]

I haven't tended to be an opening-day phone-getter (though I ordered my SE 2020 on opening day as an exception). But I did once go in the afternoon on a opening day: a coworker and I decided on the spur of the moment since we both wanted the 4S to just up and go. Went to the Mall of America store, not far from where we worked. Assumed we would have to stand in line, and hoped it wouldn't be too bad. But nope. Just walked right into the store, each asked to buy a 4S in whatever capacity, paid, walked out. It was kind of surreal there being no line in a generally crowded place like Mall of America.

Only other time I remember standing in line was for OS X Panther. That is until the pandemic, when I had to make a reservation and stand in line to buy an Apple Watch. But I don't think that counts.

A memory and a phone experience you got together. It’s nice to go through finding out about little tips and tricks from someone who has the same phone etc.

 

[michial]

I have some good memories doing it with my son. I miss the social aspects of it for sure. Same with waiting for a blockbuster movie. But I appreciate reserved phones and seating today!