MethodShop: iPhone Line Forms Already at Apple's 5th Ave Store

5/22/2008

iPhone Line Forms Already at Apple's 5th Ave Store

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This morning I had to go buy another copy of OS X Leopard (my original copy got scratched). As I walked closer to the Apple Store on 5th Avenue I was somewhat surprised to see a line of about 50 people waiting in line. The 3G iPhone announcement isn't rumored to happen until June 9th right? Are these people going to wait in line for over 2 weeks or do they know something we don't?

I asked the security guard by the Cube what was going on and he said it was for the iPhone. He wouldn't say if it was for the 3G iPhone or for old iPhone leftover inventory That's all he knew and he very was annoyed at me for asking him about the iPhone line. I'm doubt I was the first person to ask.

Still confused I walked downstairs and bought my copy of Leopard. Before I left the Apple Store, I asked Jessica, my cashier, if the people outside were waiting for the new 3G iPhone. She cryptically said "They are waiting to buy an iPhone. We will sell them whatever phones we have in stock." She was kind of pissed off too.

For some reason the majority of people waiting in line were Asian. I was later informed by a friend that to get around iPhone per-person quantity restrictions, you can pay people (usually from Chinatown I guess?) to buy you extra iPhones and even hold your place in line.

The line is most likely for people looking to get their hands on the current iPhone and ship it overseas, but I wonder how many of these people will still be in line on June 9th.

More Pictures: Lines Form Weeks Before Rumored iPhone 3G Announcement

methodshop

Labels: apple, gadgets, iphone

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permanent link | 10:46 AM

| MethodShop.com

this is insane!

[*] posted by Anonymous> : May 22, 2008 4:21 PM

for the love of GOD!

[*] posted by Anonymous> : May 22, 2008 4:22 PM

I take it that you wanted me to see the 3G iPhone and how it could possibly become your new work cell. I'll get one when they charge you for services like a regular phone and not hit you with random roaming charges. I don't want a $800 phone bill just because my phone was in my pocket while I was in Canada.

I was thinking of get the iPod touch, but want to wait till after the fall to see if they come out with abigger model.

[*] posted by winston j.> : May 22, 2008 4:39 PM

I’ll bet they are being paid to snap up dwindling supplies of iPhone 1.0 to be sent overseas. As long as Apple places restrictions on the number of iPhones people can buy (currently 5) and there are not yet official channels, there’ll be demand for grey market iPhones.

[*] posted by LK> : May 22, 2008 6:23 PM

Wow! My God. This is what’s happening to us

[*] posted by Anonymous> : May 22, 2008 6:38 PM

No f*ing way!

[*] posted by david-iV> : May 22, 2008 6:44 PM

LK has it right. I walked by earlier today and asked someone (in Mandarin) in line. They're waiting to buy any available iPhones (v.1) that the store gets in stock to sell overseas. They don't even know/care about the 3G iPhone yet, because the current iPhones are still going for a premium in China.

[*] posted by Anonymous> : May 22, 2008 6:57 PM

Nice scoop!

(Freaks!!!)

[*] posted by henry> : May 22, 2008 7:14 PM

Um, don't these people, have you know, jobs to go to?

[*] posted by Rob> : May 22, 2008 9:04 PM

Cool
I think I will buy the 3g iphone

[*] posted by bill> : May 23, 2008 12:03 PM

we can guess where most of those iPhones are headed: Straight to China, where there's a thriving market for black-market iPhones. Get them while you can, folks, because after iPhone 2.0 launches, it will be at least a few weeks before hackers are able to jailbreak the new model and start shipping it overseas to the few countries not covered by Apple's world-domination plan.

[*] posted by Tweney> : May 23, 2008 12:04 PM

I’ll bet they are being paid to snap up dwindling supplies of iPhone 1.0 to be sent overseas

[*] posted by admin> : May 23, 2008 12:11 PM

We all know that iPhone 2.0 could be the greatest mobile phone that would have been invented by any mobile co yet, but this is crazy :)

[*] posted by gyanin> : May 23, 2008 12:15 PM

Dude, nice pickup in WIRED gadgets blog!!!
that rules.

[*] posted by -dave> : May 23, 2008 12:50 PM

can't wait for the new iPhone. i wonder if any of those "asians" would want to buy my current iPhone so i can get the new one!

[*] posted by holidaymat> : May 23, 2008 12:59 PM

I'm in Canada and they would standing there for a long time. Be interesting to fidn out what they are getting paid by the hour or day.

[*] posted by Foster> : May 24, 2008 5:35 PM

iPhone Line Forms Already at Apple's 5th Ave Store