Filed under: Retail, Cult of Mac, Apple
Line to get into the new Apple store .45 miles long
That's right, at the height of the opening madness this blogger, using only Gmaps Pedometer, estimated the line to be .45 miles long. Waiting in a line that long for the privilege of getting into a store, and perhaps getting a free t-shirt? I suppose there are worse things to do with an afternoon (though if the line were that long a Suburban Station I'm not sure I would have waited).
So, fess up, how long would you wait in line to get into an Apple Store?
[via Gothamist]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John in Tokyo said 7:10AM on 5-21-2006
I am not one for waiting in lines either, but to witness such a line can be shocking. When the Tokyo Ginza Apple store opened a couple years ago, the line stretched about 1 mile in the rain! Here is the link to the "the longest line" that rainy day in Tokyo:
http://homepage.mac.com/hsk/applejapan.html
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John in Tokyo said 7:16AM on 5-21-2006
If the above link does not wor, try this one for "the longest line" video
http://homepage.mac.com/masanorif/iMovieTheater23.html
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Rory said 7:25AM on 5-21-2006
I get annoyed when I have to wait longer than 2 minutes for a train ticket, so waiting in line for something as trivial as a store opening would likely drive me insane.
Besides, I could think of something better to do with a day than participating in another Apple ego masturbation session.
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Marvo said 7:40AM on 5-21-2006
The day the Ala Moana Apple Store opened, I woke up late and got there an hour before the store opened. The line was probably 200 yards long. I decided a free t-shirt wasn't worth it. Although, I've waited in longer lines for rides at amusement parks.
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Shane said 8:17AM on 5-21-2006
I was one of the first 50 people in line when the Kansas City store opened and I think I waited about an hour and a half.
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Richard said 8:33AM on 5-21-2006
I waited for nearly 4 hours to get into the BullRing Apple Store in Birmingham, England. Spent most of the time on the phone to friends who all thought I was mad. Then with one hour to go all the Apple staff started coming out and playing games and cheering and it ended up being like a party. I don't regret it for a minute.
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John said 8:34AM on 5-21-2006
Yesterday afternoon, the line was about half that length, and the wait was only 15-20 minutes. I didn't mind.
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Dan Bruno said 10:24AM on 5-21-2006
I don't even like waiting to be seated at a restaurant for more than 15 minutes. I'll check out Apple Fifth Avenue after it cools off a bit.
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Nickdrj said 10:54AM on 5-21-2006
That's nothing, I waited for a bus in midtown manhattan yesterday for an hour only to have it smell like piss. Those at the apple store have it good.
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Sir Not Appearing in this Blog said 11:32AM on 5-21-2006
Wait in line to go into a simple store? I don't care how cool the architecture is, I'm not waiting in line to get in there.
I am also reminded of an anecdote I heard once:
A drill instructor was giving some new recruits hell. He put them through a gruelling series of tasks. After a 20-mile march with full pack, he got in one boy's face.
"I bet you're wishing I was dead so you could come and take a piss on my grave!"
The young man straightened up and shouted, "Sir! No sir! When I get out of the army I'm never gonna stand in another line again, sir!"
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Brent said 11:45AM on 5-21-2006
As long as it took to get a MacBook Pro to stop whining?
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Mike said 11:50AM on 5-21-2006
Some of you guys will think I'm crazy...but I waited in line 3.5 hours and I was at the end most part of that line to get in. With all of the excitement, the glowing of the Apple in that cube, I could't think of a better place. Then once you're inside....it was all worth it, that place is amazing and beautifully designed from the G5 vent holes in the ceiling where the speakers are places behind. To the larger version of the G4 rivits that hold the glass staircase together. Not to mention the thrill of seeing Steve Jobs in person. All in all I couldn't think of a better place to be at that moment in time.
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Bryan said 5:05PM on 5-21-2006
I thought having a gadget small enough to take anywhere like the iPod nano would make waiting fly by. I haven't had a video iPod yet but filling it with movies won't be cheap or will take long with Hand Break for my DVD's. I think these methods have to be combined with being with someone who shares your passion. Even a small wait deserves some choice on how to pass the time.
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Reg said 8:17PM on 5-21-2006
Nope, I think the only way I'd wait that long is if I was guaranteed a free MacBook for my trouble!
On the other hand, if it was a nice day and I had some friends there to chat with, and we had nothing better to do, maybe I would. It's no worse than seeing a bad movie movie together, and doesn't cost anything.
Anyway, many people spend whole days on the weekend playing their Xbox, which is not a very productive way of spending the time either. At least here people are getting some fresh air and being sociable.
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Jeremy said 11:29PM on 5-21-2006
I arrived on-site there after 10pm on Friday night, and as soon as I saw the line I knew I was going to look at the thing, take some pictures, and not even think about going into the store. I mean, it'll still be the same store in a couple of weeks, and you'll be able to just walk on in. I truly don't understand why anyone would stand on that line, let alone actually travel any distance to do so. It's a STORE, for crying out loud!
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James Graber said 1:17AM on 5-22-2006
I waited in the line for about 3 hours before I got into the store. I was seriously considering bailing but, the atmosphere was very cool. My girlfriend and I met some people in line and enjoyed the evening in NY. The payoff came once we were inside the store. Aside from a free t-shirt, the store was like a party. Best of all we got to meet Spike Lee and John Legend and saw Kanye West. Definitely worth the wait if only for a few stories.
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Zeke said 9:01AM on 5-22-2006
If I can't just walk in I won't bother. I walked by the 5th Ave store after work Friday and I could not believe the fanboys and girls waiting in line for what? To be "among the first"? Really ridiculous.
Love the Mac, love the ipod, have better things to do with my time. hehe
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dvddesign said 3:37PM on 5-22-2006
Kanye West.
Well that there just described why people would stand in line. If Kanye was there for any other reason than shopping, it would be expected. Dragging out a celebrity to an opening is a no brainer because it promises stuff like this.
But if Kanye was there to shop... oh lord, I'm not starting on that one. After seeing the Sopranos from 3 weeks ago, however fictionalized that was, knowing that celebrities get that crap given to them for free is sickening. I don't care what they do with it. None of them are worthy of millions of dollars of free crap. They're just people, not gods, not saviors, not important people. They're just recognizable and they can read from a piece of paper.
Give that crap to doctors, lawyers, and people who work in charity.
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