How Long Should I Wait in Line?

andddlay · 05/30/2009, 02:41 PM

Just as the title asks, how long should I wait in a line for the Pre?

Just like most (if not all) of you, I want the Pre on launch day. If I must, I'll go to Sprint at 12am for an 8am opening. But is that necessary? Do you think that the lines will be that insane? The lack of advertising makes me think 12am is waaaaaaaay too early.

Or should I go to Best Buy? Will their lines be more or less insane?

On a side note, does Best Buy do the Buy Back plan (Sprint buys some Sprint phones back - like my Treo 700p will be $35 at Sprint)?

Please tell me your thoughts.

Thank you.

Tonylmiller · 05/30/2009, 02:42 PM

Nah, plenty will be available. No need to panic. Just go get one whenever you want.

mecca · 05/30/2009, 02:44 PM

Yeh, go whenever you want (preferably the afternoon) so I can go in the morning and buy mine. LOL

Carioca_FL · 05/30/2009, 02:44 PM

If you're that worried:

1- Scout out in advance the Sprint store locations closest to you
2- Route it so that you could drive from the closest first to the farthest last
3- The night before, drive around. If you notice any lines at that point, you're too late.

Gerorne · 05/30/2009, 02:47 PM

I don't really know what to expect. Definitely depends on where you live. I regularly stay up pretty late anyway, so I'll probably do a drive by myself late/night early morning to see if anyone's out there. I was thankful I did way back when, during the PS2 launch. But I'm also going to do some calling around next week so see who has it in stock, and how many they have. If your store has 3 of them, yes, start camping out at midnight. If your store has 300, maybe not.

clevelandrocker · 05/30/2009, 02:47 PM

I'll get to the closest store about a half hour before they open. If more than a few people are waiting, I'm gone...maybe try one or two more to see if it's any better. REFUSE TO WAIT IN A SLOW LINE

tripsbacks · 05/30/2009, 02:48 PM

The big store in my area is expecting around 50 plus units. I would not expect more than 6 or 7 people in line when they open. Of course, it's better to be early because you never know how long each person will take with their questions and activation process. So even if you are third in line you could actually be waiting an hour before they get to you. I'll be there when they open because I have a lot of extra stuff to do later on that day.

Xyg · 05/30/2009, 02:55 PM

You should start now.

clevelandrocker · 05/30/2009, 02:57 PM

Stores in the Cleveland area told me they won't know how many phones they have until Sat. morning. That sounds untrue?

linh.nguyen · 05/30/2009, 02:58 PM

Anyone know if they'll limit the number of phones? I'm buying two.. but that's because I'm taking my entire family plan over (4 lines, the other 2 will be lotus')

jhoff80 · 05/30/2009, 02:59 PM

I'm dependent on public transportation myself, so as long as my store opens at 8am (I hope it doesn't, but I haven't called them yet) apparently I'll be leaving at 6:44am and arriving at 7:20am, which to me seems like it will be plenty of time.

djdisturbed · 05/30/2009, 03:02 PM

Hopefully the lines wont be too long around here (small town and the college kids are gone home so there is not much buzz about it here) Luckly I'm on 2 list. I'm first on the local best Buy list (out of 3 on the list) and the mobile manager said that even if they don't have an official list, when people line up they will just give them a numbered ticket, and i get the first one even if i'm not in line b/c i have been into the strore every other day to check on the availability and if they have a demo, so he knows how bad i want one (and he knows that my treo 700p is about to give out so he knows i realy need a new phone) and I'm on the list for one of the local sprint stores, but i don't know how many people are on it. The guy at best buy is upset though b/c he needs a new phone and would realy like to get a pre, He knows that he can't get one on the first day, BUT he hates the fact that he has to wait till the end of aug. to get one.

andddlay · 05/30/2009, 03:17 PM

Thank you all for your responses. I will definitely call a bunch of Best Buy/Sprint stores to see how many they will have.

clevelandrocker · 05/30/2009, 03:27 PM

It's likely the stores won't know how many.

djdisturbed · 05/30/2009, 03:32 PM

yeah, the stores near me said they wont know how many untill after tuesday of next week

hopalee · 05/30/2009, 03:32 PM

Whether they know or not; from my experience (and a lot of others' if you read other posts) they aren't talking. And I wouldn't count on lists either. IMO

Carioca_FL · 05/30/2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevelandrocker

Stores in the Cleveland area told me they won't know how many phones they have until Sat. morning. That sounds untrue?

A little bit. If the past is any indication, stores will start getting their Pres through next week, up until Friday. I guess by Friday afternoon, the stores will be able to have a much better idea of their stock.

Which is why, at this point now, I don't believe any inventory numbers the stores say -they just don't know.

peestandingup · 05/30/2009, 03:50 PM

Dude, 12am is waaaay too early. Hell, I was in line for the Wii launch & that line didnt get jumping till about 5am. And this was in the DC area.

Just keep driving by the stores every 30 min & scout them out. When it starts forming a line, park & go wait. No need to jump in line & out of your car until its necessary. If public transportation, then thats another story.

patchs · 05/30/2009, 04:15 PM

I plan on getting there at 6 a.m. I will call the store late next week and if they think they're not getting many Pres, I will get there earlier.

KRYER1 · 05/30/2009, 05:06 PM

The early bird catches the worm... But in our case ill be the pre

05/30/2009, 02:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
andddlay Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 142 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 156 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	How Long Should I Wait in Line? Just as the title asks, how long should I wait in a line for the Pre? Just like most (if not all) of you, I want the Pre on launch day. If I must, I'll go to Sprint at 12am for an 8am opening. But is that necessary? Do you think that the lines will be that insane? The lack of advertising makes me think 12am is waaaaaaaay too early. Or should I go to Best Buy? Will their lines be more or less insane? On a side note, does Best Buy do the Buy Back plan (Sprint buys some Sprint phones back - like my Treo 700p will be $35 at Sprint)? Please tell me your thoughts. Thank you.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tonylmiller Homebrew Developer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 2,417 Likes Received: 4 Thanks: 7 Thanked 140 Times in 42 Posts	Nah, plenty will be available. No need to panic. Just go get one whenever you want. __________________ NiceGPSuperior1 is a free GPS program, now with the ability to save your map! Get more info here. It's free! If you like this app and want to encourage development, you can donate from the web page link. NiceDrudgeReader is a fast, simple reader for The Drudge Report. It is only $0.99, so check it out, too! More info here. Search for "Nice" in the app catalog to see all my apps.
	Liked by Thanked By: andddlay

05/30/2009, 02:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
mecca Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Manhattan, NYC Posts: 105 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 2 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Yeh, go whenever you want (preferably the afternoon) so I can go in the morning and buy mine. LOL
	Liked by Thanked By: andddlay

05/30/2009, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Carioca_FL Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 1,046 Likes Received: 25 Thanks: 85 Thanked 98 Times in 71 Posts	If you're that worried: 1- Scout out in advance the Sprint store locations closest to you 2- Route it so that you could drive from the closest first to the farthest last 3- The night before, drive around. If you notice any lines at that point, you're too late.
	Liked by Thanked by andddlay, cary328is

05/30/2009, 02:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gerorne Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 508 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 67 Thanked 37 Times in 14 Posts	I don't really know what to expect. Definitely depends on where you live. I regularly stay up pretty late anyway, so I'll probably do a drive by myself late/night early morning to see if anyone's out there. I was thankful I did way back when, during the PS2 launch. But I'm also going to do some calling around next week so see who has it in stock, and how many they have. If your store has 3 of them, yes, start camping out at midnight. If your store has 300, maybe not. __________________ Vx --> M515 --> T\|T3 --> T\|T5 --> Treo 650 --> Centro --> Dinc Smart Jones - a smartphone webcomic
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
clevelandrocker Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts	I'll get to the closest store about a half hour before they open. If more than a few people are waiting, I'm gone...maybe try one or two more to see if it's any better. REFUSE TO WAIT IN A SLOW LINE
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
tripsbacks Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nederland TX Posts: 341 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 24 Thanked 24 Times in 20 Posts	The big store in my area is expecting around 50 plus units. I would not expect more than 6 or 7 people in line when they open. Of course, it's better to be early because you never know how long each person will take with their questions and activation process. So even if you are third in line you could actually be waiting an hour before they get to you. I'll be there when they open because I have a lot of extra stuff to do later on that day.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Xyg Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,112 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 16 Thanked 213 Times in 129 Posts	You should start now.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
clevelandrocker Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts	Stores in the Cleveland area told me they won't know how many phones they have until Sat. morning. That sounds untrue?
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
linh.nguyen Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 296 Likes Received: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	Anyone know if they'll limit the number of phones? I'm buying two.. but that's because I'm taking my entire family plan over (4 lines, the other 2 will be lotus')
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 02:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
jhoff80 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Boston-area Posts: 6,973 Likes Received: 116 Thanks: 418 Thanked 1,252 Times in 710 Posts	I'm dependent on public transportation myself, so as long as my store opens at 8am (I hope it doesn't, but I haven't called them yet) apparently I'll be leaving at 6:44am and arriving at 7:20am, which to me seems like it will be plenty of time.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
djdisturbed Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 228 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 188 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts	Hopefully the lines wont be too long around here (small town and the college kids are gone home so there is not much buzz about it here) Luckly I'm on 2 list. I'm first on the local best Buy list (out of 3 on the list) and the mobile manager said that even if they don't have an official list, when people line up they will just give them a numbered ticket, and i get the first one even if i'm not in line b/c i have been into the strore every other day to check on the availability and if they have a demo, so he knows how bad i want one (and he knows that my treo 700p is about to give out so he knows i realy need a new phone) and I'm on the list for one of the local sprint stores, but i don't know how many people are on it. The guy at best buy is upset though b/c he needs a new phone and would realy like to get a pre, He knows that he can't get one on the first day, BUT he hates the fact that he has to wait till the end of aug. to get one.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
andddlay Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 142 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 156 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you all for your responses. I will definitely call a bunch of Best Buy/Sprint stores to see how many they will have.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
clevelandrocker Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts	It's likely the stores won't know how many.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
djdisturbed Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 228 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 188 Thanked 19 Times in 13 Posts	yeah, the stores near me said they wont know how many untill after tuesday of next week
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
hopalee Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 131 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 29 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Whether they know or not; from my experience (and a lot of others' if you read other posts) they aren't talking. And I wouldn't count on lists either. IMO
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 03:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
peestandingup Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 275 Likes Received: 2 Thanks: 5 Thanked 101 Times in 31 Posts	Dude, 12am is waaaay too early. Hell, I was in line for the Wii launch & that line didnt get jumping till about 5am. And this was in the DC area. Just keep driving by the stores every 30 min & scout them out. When it starts forming a line, park & go wait. No need to jump in line & out of your car until its necessary. If public transportation, then thats another story.
	Liked by Thanked By: andddlay

05/30/2009, 04:15 PM	#19 (permalink)
patchs Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,210 Likes Received: 6 Thanks: 79 Thanked 80 Times in 53 Posts	I plan on getting there at 6 a.m. I will call the store late next week and if they think they're not getting many Pres, I will get there earlier.
	Liked by

05/30/2009, 05:06 PM	#20 (permalink)
KRYER1 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The early bird catches the worm... But in our case ill be the pre
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