iphone in Denver

Yep, that’s right… I jumped on the iphone band wagon and went down to 1001 16th street right on the 16th street mall to get myself an iphone. I hadn’t made up my mind 100%, maybe 95%, that I would be getting one but once I got there I could not resist. It was just so exciting and fun, like being a kid again waiting for the first release of a favorite movie.

When I got there I at first got all excited. Unable to get going until 6 pm I was worried how late I might be. Stores were opening at 6 pm across each time zone and across the country and I was well aware that the volume of hype was great. But I thought to myself… “maybe everyone is thinking there will be alot of hype and won’t go” and “it is alot to pay for a phone”. One of the two and probably a few others items might have been occurring.

On arrival I first saw a HUGE mob of folks right in front of the store. Instantly I began to rethink the idea of waiting for a phone. But instead a concert at Rock Bottom Brewery was creating the crowds and, dare I believe it, there were no people in front of the cingular store but only within it. I made a beeline to the door and with a hearty tug… found out that the door was locked. This, it turns out, is the secure exit door and within the hallway inside was a line of roughly 60 to 80 people. I decided I could wait.

So the waiting begins, and so does the chatting. “Which phone are you getting, the 4GB or the 8GB?” seems to be the most pressing questions. Of course everyone was seeking out the 8GB because, as would be expected, only the enthusiastic were willing to wait in such a line and take part in such an event with excitement. But we were also doing the math in our head… if everyone is going for the 8GB does that mean those of us later in line will have only the option of the 4GB. With clever marketing and hype build up all of our questions to the outside host, who did a terrific job of keeping us all posted on status, never actually let us on as to whether there were enough phones for all of those in line. “It looks good” was the continued reply. When asked if, even if she knew, she could share with us the exact inventory the answer was “probably not”. Apparently the boxes all came in with a top secret status. The packaging, the volumes, the amounts were never fully shared. We heard there were about 30 some 4GB phones shipped and more (but was it many more) 8GB phones.

The line would continue to creep forward, inch by inch, with many holding a skeptical eye as to whether the inventory would hold. Near me I was surrounded by an urban planner who was excited and hoping her friends would forgive her for being late, a local downtown worker who ended up jumping out of line early because he had to get back to work by 7pm, and a computer programming dude waiting with hope. We hoped, as a downtown store, that many phones were delivered. We hoped, for a launch, that they wouldn’t run out. We hoped, since they were open until 10 pm, the would have at least enough to keep selling until that time. I noted there really was an honor system with folks holding the place for others as they used the “facilities” or those who made sure no friends cut in line. The rule was one person, one phone… no exceptions.
We got slowly closer and closer to the front. Hopes went up and I could tell with a few their nerves did too. No one wants to be the last one AFTER they run out. Then the bad news hits. Someone in Pueblo actually stabbed someone over a phone. The details were sketchy and the store person did not know if it was an employee or a customer who got stabbed. Either way, the few folks who seemed shocked that people were waiting in a line for a silly old phone started to get me thinking. Why would anyone have such a reaction over a phone. I mean, get excited, have fun, laugh with your fellow apple fans and enjoy it. But the moment it becomes stress filled with anger call it quits and go home. Those folks need to be ordering online (from inside someplace with bars or rubber walls).

Finally less than two hours later our little posse made it to the front. The tall dude guarding the door let folks in, one by one, as someone left. He got the fun job. Everyone who got to go in seemed to look like a kid heading to the Christmas tree first thing Christmas Morning.

And of course we rooted each other on with our positive energy that the phones would still be there. And they were.. in fact here is Sylvia the Urban Planner getting her brand new iphone. Well worth the wait we hope. Either way, the experience of getting it was a blast… something you can only experience by being there. Like the first debut of a movie or opening day at a ski mountain, sometimes the experience is a huge part of it.

When my turn finally came I grabbed my phone, which sits here charging as I type, and did what we cursed all those in front of us for doing which was to pick out accessories slowing everyone else down. But I tried to be quick, and with a smile the Cingular rep handed me over the prize along with the warnings of what to do should the phone be D.O.A. (lets hope not). Whatever else, I have to think that his day has been quite a bit longer.

Anyone out there who has already got their phone working let me know what you think. I’ll keep you posted once this one gets a good overnight charge because now my Friday night can kick off.

cool

 Loading ...

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites