Why Wait in Line When You Can Buy Online? iPad 2 Fans Answer

Published
By Beth Pinsker, dealnews Editorial Director

There were hundreds of stores selling the iPad 2 and iPad 2 Accessories on its release day last Friday, but still thousands lined up around the country at Apple stores to get their hands on the new gadget the very first day. Why? Instead of sitting for hours in the cold, the rain or the hot sun, they could have just ordered online. For the iPad 2, online ordering actually started 11 hours before stores opened, and if you got a purchase through by 4 am, you only had to wait a week for shipping.

But that's not good enough for some people, and that goes for other Apple products, concert tickets, Black Friday deals and other must-haves that turn otherwise normal consumers into dedicated campers.

We wanted to know what was behind this urge to wait, so we headed down to the Apple Store in SoHo New York, where there were several Best Buys within walking distance, not to mention Verizon and AT&T stores with no lines. Still there were about a thousand people circling a city block. Here's what they said about staking (out) their claim:

What do you think? Would you ever wait in a line like this?


Beth Pinsker is dealnews' Editorial Director. She was most recently the Editor of WalletPop.com and has been a life-long bargain hunter. Follow her on Twitter — @bethpinsker. You can also sign up for an email alert for all dealnews features.
DealNews may be compensated by companies mentioned in this article. Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of publication (unless otherwise specified).

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32 comments
jtiberiusk
It's because of dealnews that I don't have to suffer through that craziness anymore.
March 23, 2011
jpb4919
Ipad2 is great, but I'll wait...
March 22, 2011
willitara
I simply cannot imagine anything so important that I would wait in line so long. It would have to be something that I couldn't get online or at a later time. I love new gadgets but I tend to wait until they aren't in so much demand.
March 22, 2011
gijoe
Order online and get it in one week, who wants to stand and wait. Your friends bragging rights will be old news in 1 week when you get yours in mail, without breaking a sweat.
March 22, 2011
skremsky
On line is the only way to shop for me.
March 22, 2011
Bat65
I love dealnews!
March 21, 2011
mydealnewsft
Is it cheaper ?
March 21, 2011
mydealnewsft
This is a hype and the success of advertisement from Apple company
March 21, 2011
theheckers
I don't wait for much. I'd order online.
March 21, 2011
PrachiSaxena
I think this is more of hype....
March 21, 2011
Keiichi
Tried but no luck. Guess not surprising. Took a gamble hoping people who had iPad wouldn't line up for iPad 2.
March 21, 2011
Delilahv17
I would rather order online than wait hours at the store!
March 21, 2011
4kids
who has time and money these days ?. By the time you buy ipad2, ipad3 will be out.
March 21, 2011
notnuts
I don't wait in line for anything but buying groceries. I LOVE being able to shop online any time, day or night, no hassles, no parking issues, no rude store clerks, no expensive gas burned. Having the stuff delivered right to my door is the best. Love shopping DealNews!
March 21, 2011
RICHARDFLORES2100
Wow! I can't be mad at the people for waiting.I wait on black Friday...
March 21, 2011
srpanini
Winning an iPad2 would be cool.
March 21, 2011
jpb4919
No patients here. I couldn't wait more than 30 minutes.
March 21, 2011
OldTownTreadles
I also would like the iPad2, I've never had anything Apple, so you could consider it my entry level ummm, tablet? I wouldn't drive all the way to an Apple store to get one, but I have relatives who have done this, even going early on the first day of sale. I'll be happy with the one DealNews ships to me.
March 21, 2011
phoenixchu
I want an iPad 2, it is really cool. And I love dealnews, it has been helping me all the time
March 21, 2011
itrickyou
Bleeding edge means you really have to BLEED!
March 21, 2011
zippy573
waiting in line? unless i was first, no way!
March 21, 2011
chip1
Great to win from dealnews!
March 21, 2011
ohioflyer
For commercial products definitely not if the wait is over 30 minutes... probably not if it's over 10. I'll normally wait a few days and buy when it's more readily available.
March 21, 2011
vince8181
I love dealnews. I hate wait in line. If I have a chance to buy online, I'd like to do that.
March 21, 2011
choumadg
Because iPad 2 is not avarible in Mexico.
March 21, 2011
Stefennell
Why wait in line when you can order online? Waiting one week more for the iPad 2 to be conveniently shipped and delivered to your home makes much more sense to me.
March 21, 2011
Matthew
Why not simply win one from dealnews?
March 21, 2011
elbeelf
Why wait in line...buy online and avoid the hassels
March 21, 2011
soulfliesfree
Wow I would never wait in line like that online is where its at!
March 21, 2011
hgtran
Take $3000 go home, place an online order, pocket over $2000, ditch the hassle. win win win.
March 16, 2011
minjae
same here..even for a couple hundred
March 16, 2011
bigmike
Wow...$3,000? I would have left in a heart beat.
March 16, 2011