iPhone 5 lines in my town

Yesterday was the launch of Apple's new iPhone 5. It is a pretty good upgrade for someone still using any iPhone prior to and including the "4" and I was all set to wait several months to upgrade after asking for Apple Store Bucks for Christmas this year.

After my friend sent me a copy of his email order confirmation from VzW I found it amusing he would be waiting until they (one white/one black) arrived on October 15th!

So, after a quick stop at our favorite coffee house in town we stopped in at the VzW store. There were 4 people outside the store (around 11am) and one fat dude wearing the standard black VzW polo short holding a clipboard and taking names for what he referred to as the "limited access" for customers wanting to buy the new device. We just wanted to see the display unit but they wanted us to wait in line! We laughed at the fat dude and went our separate ways.

I went home for lunch and did a little math. A friend wants to purchase my old iPhone 4 for $100, I'll get a $50 discount to renew since I was eligible for a "new every two" and the new "5" costs $200. Hook, Mouth, Done.

I headed back to VzW, this time at lunch, expecting to see a large crowd during the work break on a Friday. The humble line of "limited access" folks was gone. I walked right in and was served immediately. $60 later, iPhone 5. I didn't even have to pay the $30 activation fee!

I sent an SMS image of my hand on the new "5" to my friend (now waiting until the 15th for his) and he cancelled his order and ran to the VzW store to get two there "today." I sometimes really like sub-suburban life. No line/no waiting.

Sack lunch all next week and coffee at home.