There were still long lines of iPhone 3G buyers at Apple’s stores the day after the product’s debut, even though the serious server glitches that created lengthy purchase delays on Friday had been fixed. Field surveys of San Francisco area Apple stores in mid-afternoon found at least 20 to 30 persons constantly in line to buy an iPhone, translating to a waiting time of 45 minute to one hour. At some stores, there was a 20-minute waiting line even for visitors who just wanted to browse. Once inside the store, iPhone buyers still experienced an extended purchase experience, mostly because of the requirement to register for an AT&T service plan before leaving the store.At the Corte Madera store, there was a line of 35 persons at 3:30 p.m. The next person who emerged from the store with an iPhone said they had spent three hours and 45 minutes at the store to make their purchase. The person at the head of the line said they had waited two hours to reach the front, and she still needed to endure the purchase process.
Over the next 90 minutes the line moved into the store very slowly, perhaps one every five minutes. The line remained constant at about 35 over the next hour, but then it dipped to about 20 constantly. Employees handed out bottled water to those in line, including those in a separate line who just wanted to browse or buy other products.
Timings of three people who went into the store showed that the purchase duration varied greatly: one person spent just 15 minutes inside before emerging with an iPhone, while the others took 34 minutes and 57 minutes.
At Chesnut Street in San Francisco, there was another line of 26 persons, with a waiting time of one hour. Once inside, the average buying time was 26 minutes. There was no line for those who wanted to visit for non-iPhone products.
At the end of the second day of sales, Apple’s on-line report of stores with stock of iPhone G3 models showed that 54 stores were sold out completely. Another 52 stores reported they were out of stock of at least one of the three iPhone models.
The Corte Madera scene was captured by Marin County artist Audrey Hulburd showing employees thanking those in the waiting lines (click image for larger view).
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
We purchased two iPhones at the Brentwood (northern CA) AT&T store and we were in and out in about 1 hour. The manager was really doing a good job with the line and provided cold bottled water. Once inside, it was quick to update our existing plan.
I went to the Apple Store in Ardmore on Saturday and it took me over 4 hours to purchase an iPhone 3G. Once I was with an Apple employee inside the store I was in and out in under 10 minutes.
My experience in central New Jersey was the same as the previous commenter. Spent 3 hours on a line that never had less than around 75 folks on it. When I left the store about 3 hours and 15 minutes after arriving at the mall, the end of the line was in the same spot as when I started.
Once inside the store, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to register 2 new iPhones on our family plan, buy a few accessories and get out.
Went to the Old Orchard (Skokie, IL) store yesterday. The line was about 2 1/2 hours long. The manager came out early on and took a count, asked us what model we wanted, and told us there would be stock. After an hour and a half, another employee came out and said that only white 16GB phones would be available and the black was sold out. Some guys got very angry and the manager came out and then told them there may not even be enough 16GB models period. Many people were very pissed. The manager tried to double-talk his way out of it but didn’t do too good a job.
Then, one of the guys who really complained a lot was taken out of line and waited on the side. Just after we went into the store, the manager took that guy into the store and sold him a phone. Some of us were in front of this guy in line, but because he whined the manager took care of him.
Not a very pleasant experience for any of us. Very disappointed with Apple retail.
Thought I would drop into the Millenia Mall in Orlando to pick up an iPhone around 5;30 pm on Sunday (thinking the crowds would be past) and was shocked to see a waiting line of over thirty people waiting outside the store.
They were not letting anyone in who was not buying an iPhone. They must be selling a shit load of them. Any guess as to how many they will have sold the first weekend?
A lot of pissed off and disgruntled Apple Employees so I hear.
Maybe later.
In Bellevue, WA, yesterday early the line was described to me as 5-6 hours to Nirvana. Walked by early today and heard 3-4 hours, and the employee wasn’t positive there was enough stock on hand for even the people already in line.
As I’m still learning iPhone 2.0, maybe I’ll wait a week to get the 3G, even if my wife has to wait a week to get my old original iPhone (and she’s getting pushy).