Buzzin’ Around NYC W/ Adam: How I Got My iPhone 4
Me
Every New Yorker, at one time or another, has stood in a ridiculous line for something, be it for concert tickets, taking a tourist friend to the Empire State Building or wating for a spinach-artichoke slice of pizza at Artichoke on East 14th. Today, I stood on the most ridiculous line of all: the line for the just-released iPhone 4 at the Apple Store in Chelsea.
I didn’t plan to do this. But last night, around 11:30 pm, I discovered my beloved iPhone 3G had its screen bashed in. Luckily for me, Apple’s day for the iPhone 4 rollout was just hours away.
Now, knowing the general insanity of New Yorkers when it comes to obtaining the next new hot gadget, and seeing the news reports of people camping out, I knew I had to get there early. I figured 4:00am, 3 hours before the store opened, would get me a decent spot in line.
I arrived to find people laying on blankets on the sidewalk. Still, it didn’t look so bad. The guys around me and I established a friendly rapport. Looking ahead, I figured the most I’d wait after the doors opened was about two hours.
But then the “reservations” started arriving. People smart enough to sign up on Apple’s website to wait in a shorter, swifter line. One of the staff working the crowd assured us that both the reservations line and ours would feed into the store simultaneously. Instead, 30 of them went in for every 5 of us. Every half hour or so. I felt like a snail riding a two legged turtle. (I think that’s a Dan Rather quote)
As the sun came up and the meat delivery trucks passing by became outnumbered by pedestrians headed to work, it became unbearably muggy and hot. The cheerful staff handed out bottles of smart water. I couldn’t tell if it was dehydration or sleep deprivation, but I was slowly losing my mind. I sat on the ground and pretended to make a motave cocktail with a napkin and my water bottle. I dreamed of firebombing a passing woman who told us that we should line up like this for something important like voting, or something like that. I felt like an exhibit at the zoo, with everybody snapping camera phone pictures of us in line and videotaping us for either tv or some strange line fetish porn. I called my office to take a vacation day.
At 9:00, the staff brought out doughnut holes. This made me happy. At 10, they brought out, ironically, apples. They also gave out umbrellas to shade us from the increasingly malicious sun. Of course, I didn’t get one. My clothes clung to me like Heidi Klum’s bathing suit in that pre-Seal Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Except her curves were a lot more flattering than mine.
A guy attempted to cut in line, but a guy near me reported him. They let the kid sweat it out until he reached the front. Only then did they tell him, “no phone for you.” Ouch. Well, good to know Apple takes a hardline stance against cheaters.
I finally entered the store at 11am, and got my phone a half hour later. At least there was air conditioning in the store, and a hot Israeli chick with her high beams on, if you know what that means.
I’m typing this entry on the phone right now and I have to say, I feel like a very cool guy. But that might just be the lingering hallucinations from no sleep and little food.
What did I learn?
Don’t break your phone.
If you’re going to stand in line at the Apple store, make a reservation. And even if you do, show up early.
Apple’s apples are pretty good. Fuji I think.
Never stand in a line that long again. Just do what the hot Israeli chick did. Don’t wear a bra and offer to buy a guy’s spot. They call that Israeli intelligence.
Tags:apple store, Chelsea, iPhone 4, long lines
24. June 2010 at 5:08 pm :
I was wondering what it was like standing on the crazy Apple lines for the iPhone 4.. I’m going to be one of the poor saps waiting for weeks to get mine. AT least you have a flash on your camara!
26. June 2010 at 12:00 pm :
Thursday night, after working with a client, I walked across the street to best buy on e 86th, at 845, before close, to inquire about iPhone availability. There were 8 people in line. A salesman told me to wait. 30 minutes later, I was the last one to buy an iPhone!
2. July 2010 at 1:56 pm :
My phone was dying too so I’d thankfully pre-ordered. The difference between pre-ordered and the general queue was insane. I still did watch the sunrise over Central Park (or that particular corner at least) curled up in the fetal position on cement. Ah what we will do for technology.