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iPad Line-ups (Canada)

jcphoenix

jcphoenix

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 6, 2009
89
24
Ottawa
So this will be my first time lining up to get any Apple product (though I've been a faithful Mac user since first year university) and I was wondering from other people who have experienced lining up for Mac products, etc...how much earlier is a reasonable amount of time to begin lining up for the iPad? I live in Ottawa and the Rideau Centre Apple store opens at 8am. I am planning on lining up around 6am (it's the earliest I can get there as the bus doesn't start running till 5am). Is that a decent time to line-up? Or is that too late? Would they cut the line at some point if they realize there's way too many people and too little iPads? Or could you feasibly find yourself lining up for hours only to discover they don't have any more stock left when you reach the front?

I'm aiming to get the 16GB WI-FI+3G model, otherwise, the 32GB WI-FI +3G model (and if that's sold out, either the other 16GB or the other 32GB).

I really want to get one on Friday as I will be travelling for a week in early June for some meetings related to work and this would be the perfect thing to keep me connected as I fried my iPod recently and my Nokia phone is just about done (also planning on getting the new iPhone when it comes out). I'd appreciate any info or experiences I can get (like for those of you in the U.S., how much earlier did you line-up if you got it on launch day?)...

In any case, I'm really excited about the iPad - I'm planning on seeing 30 or so films at the Toronto Film Fest this year in September and this will be perfect for the dozens of hours I'll be in line during those two weeks.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
I got in line for my 3G iPad 20 minutes AFTER it went on sale.
Click to expand...

Whats your location though?

But, I think lining up before the store opens is a good idea, because I think its better to be certain than regretting that you didn't get one. But I wouldn't line up at 5 am, because I doubt that many people will be lining up for them.

And you would look like a dork ;)
 
6 am doesn't sound too unreasonable.

I remember once I lined up for a product launch. Then when they opened the doors everyone ran in, pushed and shoved etc. so there was no purpose to waiting in line :p
 
I showed up in line at 5am. I think our stores opened up at 9am in the states on April 3rd (right?). It was cool bc the only people in line were gadget freaks, so at least we had some middle ground to talk about during the 4 hour wait
 
and.sleepless said:
Whats your location though?

But, I think lining up before the store opens is a good idea, because I think its better to be certain than regretting that you didn't get one. But I wouldn't line up at 5 am, because I doubt that many people will be lining up for them.

And you would look like a dork ;)
Click to expand...

I was initially thinking an hour before (so 7am) but when I called the Apple Store earlier today to see if I could get an idea, the guy told me that the line-up an hour before the Apple Store initially opened was all the way through the Sears in the mall and out to the outside of the mall. So that got me a little freaked.

As long as I get an iPad on Friday I'm cool with looking like a dork :p cause an hour or two extra wait is worth it so that I have something to entertain me when I'm gone June 14-18. We're going to be in Rigaud, Quebec for a team meeting - and from what I've been told, it's essentially in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do (unless you want to go to a greasy nudie bar every night). So the iPad will be my connection to the outside world and entertainment system all those nights. Since I fried my iPod, I don't even have an mp3 player I could bring with me to amuse me. Which is why I wanna make sure I have something for that trip or else I'm gonna be bored out of my mind.

I'm glad at least it sounds like 6am should be a pretty decent time to guarantee an iPad. I don't really mind the two hour wait as I'll just read a book or something. Also, my workplace is a 5 minute walk from the mall so I plan on hopping over to work right after.
 
All my fellow Canadians get to bring home their iPad and enjoy it. I get not even one day and then off to Chicago for a wedding.:mad: Wait they have Chicago style deep dish, I'm happy again :D.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
That was at the Pentagon City store, which was also one of the first DC area stores to sellout of the 3G -- some 3 hours after starting sales.
Click to expand...

That's also something else I wanted to know - how long after the stores opened did most of the models sell out.

Chupa Chupa - were all the models available when you purchased yours? Or were some sold out?

I feel like the demand the weekend the iPad came out in the U.S. was big but from my viewpoint, it's grown exponentially since, especially in countries like Canada where we've been waiting and hearing about it for an extra month and a half without being able to get our hands on one - either the WiFi or the 3G. Which is why I'm still thinking waiting in line beforehand wouldn't be a bad precaution for me to take.
 
I'm in Toronto, probably will get to the Eaton Centre Apple store around 5:30ish.

Edit: I've been in Apple lineups before and generally they keep track of everybody, making sure people don't butt in line or anything. They always let the people lined up in the store first.
 
jcphoenix said:
In any case, I'm really excited about the iPad - I'm planning on seeing 30 or so films at the Toronto Film Fest this year in September and this will be perfect for the dozens of hours I'll be in line during those two weeks.
Click to expand...

To pad you can't have an iPad while you are in the line.

In se texas, my local best buy sold out of both wifi and 3G before they went on sale.

Definitely wait for the 3G...so if that means getting earlier, then go for it. Having been with an iPad for over 6 weeks now, 3G for the last two weeks, I wouldn't want to go a second with out one.
 
jcphoenix said:
Chupa Chupa - were all the models available when you purchased yours? Or were some sold out?

I feel like the demand the weekend the iPad came out in the U.S. was big but from my viewpoint, it's grown exponentially since, especially in countries like Canada where we've been waiting and hearing about it for an extra month and a half without being able to get our hands on one - either the WiFi or the 3G. Which is why I'm still thinking waiting in line beforehand wouldn't be a bad precaution for me to take.
Click to expand...

1) 16GB was sold out, but they didn't get many in.
2) Remember the 3G went on sale weeks after the WiFi model. Awareness and demand for the iPad was high by the time the 3G shipped, not to mention the cottage eBay market that opened up.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
1) 16GB was sold out, but they didn't get many in.
2) Remember the 3G went on sale weeks after the WiFi model. Awareness and demand for the iPad was high by the time the 3G shipped, not to mention the cottage eBay market that opened up.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply. Hmm, that's true, but I'm just worried we're going to be getting the brunt of the WiFi and 3G lineups combined. But either way, these responses make me feel a lot more at ease, it seems like 6am is a more than safe time to get there.

lokerd - I assume you're talking about the iPad line-up and not the TIFF line-ups? Cause I was thinking the exact same thing which just goes to show how exactly where the iPad would come in handy. Also will be invaluable at work to access my home e-mail - which IT blocks for inexplicable reasons.

Since I went to university in Toronto, I also go back and forth between Ottawa and Toronto a fair amount to visit my old roommates, etc so the iPad is a nice alternative to a laptop for me (and I've never owned a laptop so the iPad hits that perfect sweet spot to pair up with my iMac). I debated back and forth between the WiFi and the 3G but I decided that there'll be certain times when I would really regret not getting the 3G, especially since it seems I will be travelling a lot in the next few months.
 
I'll also be lining up at the Apple store and I'm going to try and be there for 6:00 am as well. Mostly because I want to guarentee myself a 16GB Wi-Fi
model... which I imagine will be a popular model as it's the lowest price point.

It's pretty much the only game in town for getting and iPad in our nation's capital - I bet it's going to be a mad house. O_O

I am kicking myself a little for not ordering it online and getting to sleep in tomorrow in my cosy cosy bed, but who knows - it might be fun meeting other big Mac nerds. :)

See you there, my fellow Ottawans! :)
 
jennyvier said:
I'll also be lining up at the Apple store and I'm going to try and be there for 6:00 am as well. Mostly because I want to guarentee myself a 16GB Wi-Fi
model... which I imagine will be a popular model as it's the lowest price point.

It's pretty much the only game in town for getting and iPad in our nation's capital - I bet it's going to be a mad house. O_O

I am kicking myself a little for not ordering it online and getting to sleep in tomorrow in my cosy cosy bed, but who knows - it might be fun meeting other big Mac nerds. :)

See you there, my fellow Ottawans! :)
Click to expand...

I was at Future Shop bank street today at 1130 and FEDEX was delivering some boxes clearly from apple. The guy in the apple section told me that they will have 20 for sale starting tomm but no apple accessories.
I preordered 2 and they should show up tomm.. - Good luck on the camping ... I learned my lesson waiting for a 3g Iphone... Waited 4hrs to find out they had 4 phones for sale...Went home and ordered from Fido... had it within 2 days... Preorder best way to go...

:apple:
 
Is anybody in Calgary lining up?
I don't really want to go line up per se... but I work tomorrow, and I'd like to be able to get one before I go to work. They'll likely be sold out by the time get there in the evening.
 
Worthy.Of.Ed said:
Is anybody in Calgary lining up?
I don't really want to go line up per se... but I work tomorrow, and I'd like to be able to get one before I go to work. They'll likely be sold out by the time get there in the evening.
Click to expand...

I was at Market Mall at 8:00 pm. The Apple Store was still hopping and the Mall cops were setting up a line up area. It was very long. They must be expecting quite a line. So far, there was nobody in line. That will likely change before 8:00 a.m. when the Apple Store opens.

Good Luck. :D
 
I picked up my 2 32GB 3G's, 2 hours after 5pm launch day last month in Syracuse NY. I made it a "family" trip to NY city to visit family. Needless to say everyone was happy and I got my iPad. It was funny, because some friends were running around NY city and New Jersey trying to find iPads, and most Apple stores were sold out of 16 and 32 GB models. :) Oh, and getting the 250 MB data package from AT&T, made the drive back to Ottawa a pleasure.

Anyway, where ever and whenever you buy it, you won't be disappointed.
 
^ I hope I am as lucky as you.

I personally will not camp overnight for anything. Im just going to press my luck tomorrow. If its there i'll get one, if not so be it.

No one on this board from Toronto?

I plan on going down to Fairview Mall to test my luck
 
I feel so lucky when reading you guys' stories about the lines. We were in and out of our local Best Buy in 5 minutes the day of the launch.
 
how come the micro sim card costs 10 dollars at bestbuy/futureshop and only 0.20 cents at the apple online store.
 
jcphoenix said:
I debated back and forth between the WiFi and the 3G but I decided that there'll be certain times when I would really regret not getting the 3G, especially since it seems I will be travelling a lot in the next few months.
Click to expand...

I am going to try to go with the 250mb plan next month. Monitoring my usage right now I just barely need more than 250mb...but that may be moderated in future months as the iPad becomes more useful off line. But, I am still very glad to have the 3g. On the other hand, I have already been disappointed in not having a 3g signal when I really wanted one. Like, yesterday while my wife was fishing. :)
 
lokerd said:
I am going to try to go with the 250mb plan next month. Monitoring my usage right now I just barely need more than 250mb...but that may be moderated in future months as the iPad becomes more useful off line. But, I am still very glad to have the 3g. On the other hand, I have already been disappointed in not having a 3g signal when I really wanted one. Like, yesterday while my wife was fishing. :)
Click to expand...

I don't know if there's something wrong or if the sites I go to just have a ridiculous amount of data but I just surfed maybe 6 or 7 sites and the data downloaded says "7.8 mb" :/. In fact, I tested it - it was at 6.6 mb - then I went to www.joblo.com/forums, the Misc section, and then the thread on the ipad - and checked my data downloaded and it was already 1.2mb more. Which seems odd to me. I went for the 250mb plan to start so I'm a little concerned. Nonetheless though, I don't regret getting the 3G. It'll be invaluable in the coming months.

Oh and I lined up around 6:15am, there were about 30 people in front of me. It still was kind of slow until maybe 7:00am, and then the line was extended around the corner and beyond where I could see. I think it was fairly long though cause I got into the store around 8:10am, stayed for about 25 minutes to activate 3G, etc and when I left, the line was still all the way around the corner as far as I could see.

I also got blindsided by some news guy who wanted to take my picture with the iPad on the way out. Ugh. Hopefully he'll use one of the other photos he took, I don't think I was too forthcoming in my comments lol.

Now I'm just dying to get home or somewhere where I have a WiFi connection so I can get some apps without killing my 250mb 3G limit.
 
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