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Kangal's Avatar
Posts: 1,789 | Thanked: 1,699 times | Joined on Mar 2010
#12
Just my latest update: (my iSheep experience)

I sat my medical exams last weekend on Saturday (full day exam). The iPad2 had already launched the day before, here down-under.

I got up early next day (7am is too early for Sunday, lol). I skipped brekky and took a train.

I got on an express train and stupidly started walking in the wrong direction of George St. I later realized (comon I was starving + no tea/coffee), so I turned around to get there early.

Time of arrival; roughly 8:40am ... I would've been there 30mins earlier had I walked the right way. When I arrived the magical Apple store had a not-so-magical line. Around and around and around the corners I kept going...there would've been at least 200 people ahead of me.

150-200people this was a blessing! I talked to some of the people in line, one of who was a dentist looking to buy 2x 3G models with 64GB. Whatever, I was just there for the 32GB (black) wifi for Johnny. Well it was cold (lucky I grabbed a jacket), it rained (lucky I had my umbrella) and it was boring (lucky I had my phone).

The queue I was in doubled in size in the next 40mins. The store opened at 10am-sharp, on time. The line moved so slow. After about 1hr 20mins, they announced they had run out of the 3G models (32 + 64GB). Bummer... the dentist left. Now the wait just got unbearable. I was so hungry, glad I had some water in my bottle which suppressed it for a little while.

Now the line went along further and I was slowly but surely nearing the entrance. The majority of the people in the front of the line were of Asian decent. Since I grew among these types of people, I am quite good at differentiating them (their sex/age/nation/region) -no joke. And the majority of these people were definitely visitors (non-Australian asian).

And for more proof, they flaunted their passports as photo id and paid in cash. The person behind me was also an asian lady who likewise wasn't an Australian citizen and she was always trying to cut me. But I would always just try to regain my place it was almost comical. She had a daughter who like me was also bored, tired, probably hungry. I gave her a chewing gum I found in my bag --her eyes lit up brightly it was truly magical (unlike this nonsense).

Other things happened over the course of time; people taking photo's (me posing), people yelling at the line (me smiling), people getting hypnotized (me smiling). Well now I'm at the entrance, the building across (bakery?) caught fire. There was tremendous amount of smoke... I was like oh no great. Well it covered the busy city intersection with smoke for about 10 minutes and died out ... guess they cotrolled it before the Fire Dept was alerted.

Got right in, now just in the queue inside the store. Some guy came toting a demo iPad2 with the smartcover and encouraging us to buy it. I had a good look and asked him about the scratches on the back = he said the staff are clumsy. I think not, just prone to scratches. The front also traps lint and leaves the banding. He didn't comment. Wait the line's moved on, look over those people behind me decided to cut through.

I'm always the calm-collected one, the one that stridles quiety and lets people take advantage of since I'm already so blessed by God. Not this time, I walked over and gently tapped on the ladies' shoulder. Excuse me I was infront ... she knew what I meant but pretended not to know, so I stood beside her.

The store owner was in front of the line welcoming people (like a greeter at Walmart). He was a caucasion fella, big (to say the least) and totted his gold rings and iphone 4. I said hello and started chatting with him. And asked him where he was from (thinking Texas). He was suprised, indeed he was Texan and then another worker came and he told him to take me to the floor above instead of just making the purchase down where everyone did.

This guy was about 23 and Phillipino from my understanding, told me to take a seat and hold onto the iPad. He went and grabbed the HDMI connector I asked him about (turned out to be $45, wat a ripoff!). He was ok, very talkative. I sort of wanted to get out and grab breakfast but I thought it would look rude to cut the convo short. Anyways he asked me many random questions (mostly personal) which I didn't hesitate to answer. Then he asked me for medical advice!

I'm not a dr yet, ethically I cannot... but I gave him some insight, but I told him I wasn't fully qualified so if he was planning anything that he should consult a real dr first. Oh and he was Phillipino and half Chilean to my suprise (my best mates are Chil'e). Anyways after another 15-20minutes in the store I finally got out.

It was a total of 3.5 hours and I just blew ~$750, where $100 was my own money on top of the iPhone 4 I sold. For this stinking-lightweight-unibody aluminium-greatIPS-fingerfriendly-sgx543mp2-thing. Well, I went straight to Subway and devoured a footshort in 60 seconds-flat. Hopped on the train. I taunted my housemates (na na nanana) ... cause they are iFanboys! (I think I even caused the couple to an argument- the wifey wants it but the iFan hubby doesn't want to pay for it... lol).

The next day Monday, I carefully opened the packaging of the HDMI connector and slipped in a (capactative) stylus I bought $5 on eBay. I then bubble-wrapped it doubletime. Then I put it into a cereal box (it was the only one it fitted properly). And finally an mX newspaper with awkward content on top. Then straight through postage (registered and insurance).

I let mum/brothers of the package, and I told Johnny this present is specifically for him (mum has my old laptop, and my selfish older brother can get his own). Well my Johnny skipped school (sports day) on Wednesday and got the package. He thanked me the next day, barely. I txt'ed him there is $20 hidden and I will tell him if he Skype's me. That afternoon he did *rollseyes*

It was my iTunes credit (for activation) years ago from the iPhone 3G I had/borrowed. Now I'm waiting to see him on Skype again, perhaps through the iphone app...

And now, anyone care to state the moral of this adventure??
 

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