Apple stores issue 'golden tickets' for iPhone 3G buyers

I waited in line for 2 hours at the apple store. I was given a card for the phone I wanted so I knew I would get my phone. I met a lot of very nice and interesting people on line and the wait went very quickly. I am glad I waited because the phone is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I love all it can do and will be getting the phone for my other family members once their contracts with their providers is finished.

I just got mine today in Grand Rapids Michigan (Woodland Mall store) and i didn't even have to wait. I just walked in and was out of their in 15 minutes.

Think how awesome it would be if you could just buy one and take it home to activate it. Of course, that could never happen.

I love this idea. As I waited in line at 3 a.m., we all speculated on some kind of deli-counter system that would allow us to "take a number" and then go about our lives (or back to bed) to await our turn.

New system might help to move line a little faster but being able to leave and come back at your "convenience" is a mute point. If you leave and come back, you have to get at the end of the line, which will be longer when you come back. If there are still phones available.

What they aren't saying is that on Sunday, they don't start selling phones at 8am. So if you show up at 8 to get in line, expect to wait until after 11 to buy one! Bull***t.

This worked great for me last Friday. The store was supposed to open at 8 but something to do with mall regs, whatever, they were unable to do so. The manager came out, tickets in hand, and most of us left. I returned later in the day and was in and out in 10 minutes tops with a new 16 gigger.

Not a bad option, but I can barely stand one trip to the mall...let alone two....id rather wait in line and get it over with.

Besides, nearly everyone in that iPhone line is quite friendly and will let you take a bathroom/food break if you need to step out of line for a moment....

Even though it went against everything I believed in (i.e. waiting in a line for an iPhone/gadget), I got to play with one at the Apple Store in Chicago over the weekend. I was enamored. Even though I had the 1st gen iPhone, the GPS, the 3G availability in my area, and especially the 16GB (or, 14.07GB) capacity sucked me in.

The next day I waited in line for a total of 1 hour 20 minutes total, walking out with a white 16GB iPhone 3G. I'm such a hypocrite. I loved my 1st gen iPhone, and told anyone who would ask if I'd get the new one "No WAY! The one I have now has everything I want or need!" Feh. Me=FAIL.

Oh well. It's been worth it. GPS got me out of a traffic jam downtown, and 3G *is* nice to have. I found the N. Michigan Ave. store staff helpful, patient, and accommodating. They nearly ran out of the 8GB black when I was in line. They did hand me a ticket, no problems at all. The whole process was fast, easy, and enjoyable (once I got inside...hotter than Hades waiting outside in the sun). Even struck up conversations with other customers & an Apple employee who were enjoyable.

I didn't have to wait in line because I work for Apple, so I got to jump the line.

Maw maw maw blah blah blah.

But really, for those who have been trying to get their hand on an iPhone, the ticket system is the best way. Once you get a ticket, you get a phone that day.

Good luck to those still searching and waiting, your iPhone is waiting for you!

I paid a homeless man $10 to stand in line for me. After I shopped around for a bit, I relieved him of his position in line and waited a total of 10 minutes or so to enter the store and purchase the phone. ^_^ Win!