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You go and do something like this... and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!

or, "My iPhone fifth avenue story"


While the following is partly my fault, I felt I should share this experience with you guys:

I wake up at 730 yesterday morning, hop in a cab with my friend, and off we go to the apple store at Fifth Ave.  We arrive and there are at least four news vans, cameras, interviewers, and most of all a few thousand people waiting in line.  We start walking, searching for the end of the line.  We walk an avenue from 5th to Madison along 58th street, head uptown up Madison, then left on 59th.  We get in line about 30 people deep from the corner of 59th and Madison.  Needless to say, we had a long way to go. 815am.

As we stand in line, apple employees in bright orange walk up and down the sidewalks handing out service information as well as what you need to complete your iphone purchase.  They are adamant about the eligibility for upgrade for current at&t users, which I thought was necessary but still courteous of them.  Scantily clad girls pranced from each customer in waiting handing out advertisements for apps. (including one that allows you to send actual postcards to your family and friends from your iphone. pretty sweet)

It's 1115 and we are almost in the door.  Apple employees have been cheering as each customer comes out with his/her new iphone.  I am giddy with excitement and we are allowed in the store.  We walk down the spiral glass staircase only to be directed to another snaking line.  It takes us another 45 min. to get through, when we are pointed to an individual employee who sets up your iphone and sends you on your way. 

My helper is obviously very tired, it seems everyone in the store had been working tirelessly since before the store opened.  I choose my 16gb black iphone and he sends someone to the stockroom to get one.  Just then, I see my friend walking over, no iphone in sight.  "I'm not the primary account holder, so I can't get one."  To which I reply, as a question to my helper, "You have to be the primary account holder to buy an iphone?" "Unfortunately yes, you do!"  W.T.F. (yes, I am still not financially independent, perhaps other students have a similar situation)

I had just stood in line for a good four hours, while countless employees told me everything I needed to know about getting an iphone.  All except this little tiny clause.  I check the pamphlets they handed out, and in no tiny print does it ever explain this.  My helper said there was nothing he could do, as this was mostly at&t's fault, and he had no control.  He says to try the at&t stores, where I could call the primary account holder (mommy) and get permission, lol.  However, my helper gave me 30 bucks off mobileMe without even getting an iphone, which I was quite surprised by.  We were headed to the nearest at&t store.

After five stores, we gave up.  All sold out.  I call my friend who works at the apple store in Albuquerque and she tells me there is no way of knowing that you are NOT the primary account holder, as long as you have the required info (SSN#, etc.)

I head back to the fifth ave. store, where there is still a huge line, fearing I may have to wait in line again, I walk to the barricaded entrance.  I explained my situation and an employee says, "Oh I'm so sorry, come inside and I will set you up right away."  He relays my arrival to a concierge waiting at the bottom of the staircase, who takes me to a free employee, allowing me to skip the second line in the actual store.

I make no mention of the primary account holder, and all is golden.  John (my helper, who's real name wasn't even John, they ran out of nametags for employees so they gave him a random one, lol.) was extremely friendly and helpful and I was out of there in ten minutes, iPhone in hand.

In the course of about seven hours, I rode a rollercoaster of emotion.  I was furious at apple for not disclosing that clause, but then quite taken aback at how quickly and professionally they corrected the situation.  Job well done, apple!