A lot of people were wondering why I looked like someone had seriously annoyed me on the photo I tweeted from the Apple Store.
Well, firstly I rarely tend to smile in photos — if I do, I feel I look like an Estate Agent. Second, I was mildly irritated.
I didn’t bother with the queue. I walked straight into the Apple Store via the main entrance to have a look around.
Then I asked a chap where I bought one. He explained that I needed to join the queue, gesturing to the side entrance of the Regent Street Store. There were a few security folk in high-vis vests standing about, along with some Apple Store folk. Metal barriers were in place.
But there was no queue.
“You need to queue up and get a ticket, sir,” the chap explained.
“There isn’t a queue?” I said.
(There was a small one inside the store but not outside)
We both turned to stare at the queue-less door.
The chap continued:
“Er yes but there’s a process and some people have queued up.”
“Can’t I just walk over there and get a ticket from that guy standing at the side entrance?” I asked. ”
“No, you need to go outside then come in that door,” the chap replied, indicating with his palm.
I thought I’d get some clarity.
“So you want me to go OUTSIDE to come in again?”
“Yes sir.”
And that’s what I did.
This is how it goes with Apple isn’t it. You’re either IN or you’re out. There’s no half measures.
So I walked out, around two security barriers and immediately back in again.
An beaming Apple lady began to ask me what model I wanted. I cut in half way with the spec.
“Oh, you’re organised!” she said, passing me to another guy who gave me a ticket for the 32GB “4G” version.
(Laughable isn’t it, buying a 4G iPad in the UK)
And so I queued for about 10 minutes and then got the iPad and walked out.
I should probably have just ordered online. A lot of folk were getting a ton of value out of the experience, interacting excitedly with the cheery Apple staff.
I can’t fault the experience. It’s Apple and beyond the door/queue thing, it was perfect 😉
Hi Ewan – so now you went and purchased a new iPad, what happened to pushing for a lease deal such as the O2 iPhone Lease scheme? Were you able to leverage a lease deal from any of the Telco Providers?
Nope. Not at all, sadly. O2 — who lease the iPhone — said they have no plans to lease iPads unfortunately. Quite an arse, frankly. And the telcos? Unless you do a 24 month contract the iPad is THE SAME PRICE as buying at the Apple Store!
Wow, so many hoops…merely to be granted the privilege of paying hundreds of quid.
For a ‘4G’ device.
Just one question: If Apple staffers explained that ‘New iPad’ buyers are required to roll over and beg before queueing, would you have done so immediately or thought about it for a moment, before complying in full? 😉
I think I’d have drawn the line at that… !
I bought mine quite easily, with less faff. There’s always a queue at apple stores, delivery means waiting in for me… so I went on the pc world website when I got to work, reserved the version I wanted, nipped to the store to pick it up at lunch. In and out in 2mins max, no queueing…. did this with the iPad 1 too. Currys and argos also do similar… none are as “shiny” as an apple store, but I love the speed and ease of reserve & collect systems.
Good thinking!
Had John Lewis deliver mine to the local Waitrose. Popped in to pick it up with some nice cheese and wine too.
Good thinking!
Good news, that. 🙂
I did have to think for a second though 😉