iPhone5 Mania at 5am

What in the world was I doing?  In the first place, I was never really sure that there was a 5AM.  I had heard about it; some of my friends told me that their alarms set for it, but I didn’t really believe them.  But, having lost my i-Phone4S to WW and having had to deal with the ancient technology of the iPhone3G for four weeks, I found myself on the way to the nearest Apple retail store at 5AM to get in line for the newly released iPhone5. 

As I swung out of my driveway, at 4:56AM, three cars surprised me by passing me.  I was sure they were on their way to get their own iPhone5, and would somehow end up in front of me on line and get the last available phone.  I was patently aware that I had left the house without having coffee, but now that there were others out there, I had no time to stop.  It was amazing to me that anyone else was on the road.

I don’t like crowds and I don’t like lines.  I had never waited on line for concert tickets, and had taken advantage of previous “pre-orders”, or just waited to buy other Apple products I own.  People who camped out for days to be the first in line to buy something mystified me.  I had watched with disdain all the newscasts showing customers setting up tents, sitting in the rain and camping out for days in order to ensure that they were the first to be able to buy what was being sold.  Yet, here I was, lawn chair in trunk, at the UNGODLY hour of 5AM, driving 45 minutes to buy a phone.  I was sure I would be the oldest person a line of geeks and nerds and techie teenagers.  I wasn’t even sure the mall would be open for the line to form outside the store, but I was prepared to wait the hours until the 8am release.

At 5:45am, the line stretched from the front of the Apple store, across the top floor of the mall, and down the other side of the walkway.  I set up my chair, sat down, took out my book and started to read.  The two men in front of me on line, Bob and John, were talking to a dark haired, chubby woman named Betty, who wore black tights and a black chiffon ballet skirt that resembled a jester’s collar.  “I work there,” she announced nodding toward the Apple store, “but I’m on line for my parents.  They will be coming in a few minutes, but I’m only buying one phone, honest.”   Right.  As they talked, it became clear that this odd looking girl had a deep knowledge of Apple products.  She assured us that the supply of phones would not run out before our end of the line, which is what every one of us was worried about. Why else would we be there at 6AM? (Another hour that I see as little as possible of) I got up to start counting where I was on line, and Bob told me we were about 43 people back.  Not bad.

I became aware that the line had filled in considerably behind me when Barry, behind me, asked the security guard if there was anyplace open to get coffee.  He offered to buy me coffee if I would save his place.  I would have done anything for coffee at that point, and, even thou no one actually challenged me, I fiercely protected his spot on the floor next to me while he was gone, thus earning the precious black liquid.  Barry has been on line for every release of every Apple product that has come out.  He is a retiree who has a consulting company for financial planners that he works at two days a week and is selling his home in Westchester to move to Connecticut to be closer to his married kids.  Bob and John are developers who write programs for apps and invent other software and games.  They drove in from Pennsylvania because there are no Apple stores near them and they didn’t want to wait on the New York City lines.  Evalyn, behind Barry, was there to get the phone for her son’s birthday, today.  He thinks she is on her way to the city for work. OK, so, where are the geeks and nerds? These were all nice, normal, friendly people.  As I looked down the line, I calculated the average age of the crazy iPhone5 fanatics to be 50.  There were a lot of us old people on the line.

Sipping my coffee, I returned to my book.  “Would you like a bottle of water?”  I looked up to find an Apple Specialist offering bottles of water to the crowd.  The line was peppered with them; Specialists who would be selling us our phones in an hour, mingling with the crowd, giving out refreshment and answering questions.  There were questions about the new phone, which they had seen, but not been allowed to purchase unless they were waiting on line like Betty, questions about servers, iPads, MacBook Pros, programming, and a myriad of other topics.  Before they go on the floor to sell, staffers are given a full month of training on every Apple product ever released.

I was beginning to be impressed with the level of consideration for me, the customer, when the coffee cart appeared.  OK, so, now I’m very impressed.  Coffee and tea for a line of geeks, nerds, techie teens and old people, was a service that didn’t need to be provided, but added a level of respect that I had not expected.  I was now standing, my book forgotten, conversing with intelligent people about subjects that ranged from computers to children. I wasn’t on a line…I was at a party!

Suddenly, the line was moving…it was 7:57.  Folding my chair into its carrying case, I was moving closer to the front of the store when applause broke out.  The 30 (or more) Specialists in the store had opened the doors, and were applauding the customers who were waiting on line.  We were important!  We were big shots!  The applause continued for a full minute as the first, then second and third on line walked into the store, each greeted by their own personal Apple Specialist who would stay with them until they had selected their product and were satisfied that their phone was set up, and they knew and could use all the new features.  By 8:16, I was next in line to go in the store.  A Specialist took my lawn chair, promising to guard it, and I was greeted by Joan, my own personal shopper!  By 8:30, I had selected my phone, had my number and contacts transferred over.  I was on my way to the tech table to learn all the new features when I got my first text message.  My husband, who had pre-ordered his new iPhone5 from the phone company, and was promised delivery on the release date (today) had been notified that his phone would not arrive until Monday. 

Let them all laugh at me! I have my phone in hand, I met some fun people and I had a great experience.  Maybe, if the Rolling Stones come to the Garden, I’ll try to get some tickets…I guess learning that there is a 5AM wasn’t so bad after all.