iPads were set to go on sale at 5 PM. I left work at 3:30 and got to the Palisades Mall at 4:45. The line was already a mile long. If I had known just how insane it was going to be, I would have left work early. Maybe even taken a half day!
Here’s a video:
There was no way I was going to stand in that line! Even if I did, there’s probably no chance the store has enough to go around. I headed to the other side of the mall to check out the AT&T store, as well as Best Buy.
No such luck.
The AT&T store didn’t even have any in stock. It was a ghost town. Best Buy already had about 100 people on line. They were all holding tickets, so I went to the Customer Service Desk and asked them what was going on. They said they were handing out coupons for what they had in stock. Once the coupons were gone, they’d be sold out for the night. I asked them what they had left. To my disappointment, all they had left were a few white 64G 3G/Verizon models. No joy. I had my heart set on a black 32G WiFi.
With the mall a bust, I figured I’d run down to Tyce’s Corner in Jersey and check out the Appel Store there. It’s only a 20 minute ride. I figured since the Apple Store was outside in a strip mall that the lines wouldn’t be as crazy.
Wrong. The line wrapped all the way around the building.
This is me at the back of the line. You can’t even see all the other people in front of the building.
I hopped on line, but about 20 minutes later an Apple Store employee came out and told us that if we were still on line at this point, we most likely would not be getting an iPad tonight. A whole slew of people promptly exited the line. With the line that much shorter, I figured my chances had just gone up and that I’d just stay where I was. After all, my chances of getting one here was probably still better than back at the Palisades Mall.
I stood on line for about another 30 minutes when another Apple Store employee came out and told us at 6:45 that they were officially sold out for the night. Boooo!!!!
I headed back home, but since I pass the mall on the way, I figured I’d see how the line was doing back at the Apple Store. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that the line was still there, although half the size that it as 2 hours ago. By now it was about 7:15 PM. Rather than sit at home and definitely not get an iPad, I figured I’d hop on line, cross my fingers, and hope for the best.
The line moved at a pretty decent pace. About half an hour passed before the employees started giving us the bad news. First there was the “no more 16 and 32s WiFis left” announcement. Shortly followed by the “no more 3G/Verizons” left. By the time I got to the front of the line, all they had left were 64G black WiFis.
Sounds like I’m about to spend $100 more than I planned to. So be it. I’m getting an iPad tonight.
At 8:00 my turn had come to enter the store and place my order. They promptly handed me the goods for which I traded 700 clams. I flew out of the store like it was on fire. I couldn't wait to get home and introduce my new toy to iTunes.
But first, the obligatory unboxing ceremony....
All I need is a case. I was going to buy a DODOCase for my first iPad, but couldn’t justify spending another $60 since my wife already bought me the stock Apple case.
