Come to Papa, iPhone!

I’ve been awake since about 5.10am – I got up extra early so I could head over to the Optus store in Rundle Mall and join the rest of the iPhone tragics. The last time I did this was two years ago, when iPhone 3G was released. I enjoyed the camaraderie with other queuers so I thought rather than waiting for a couple of weeks or ordering it online, I would sacrifice a little bit of sleep. It wasn’t a bitterly cold morning, thankfully!

I took the 6.15am bus from South Road and stopped at King William Street across the Mall – I saw three people queuing at the store near the Beehive Corner, but I walked on as I wanted to queue in front of the main store near the Pulteney Street end. By then, there was a wee bit of rain that came down – but it stopped as soon as I passed Gawler Place. There were a group of people in front of the Vodafone store and near the 3 store also. I recognised a colleague from the University queuing there as well.

I was rather surprised to see some unlit gas heaters outside of the store and that there were only about six people waiting outside. Looking at some empty water bottles outside, I had a sinking feeling that the store had been opened since midnight last night and that I might be too late. Some customers were already attended to inside the store as well. I waited for about half an hour before I was processed – I was informed that the store was indeed opened at midnight last night and that all of the 32GB iPhone 4 had been sold out so early in the night. 🙁 I wanted to get a 32GB iPhone 4 because I thought it would give me ample storage for my music and apps. I decided to queue on as I thought I had never filled up my 16GB  iPhone 3G anyway – I can always take out the songs that I don’t listen anymore.

When it was time for me to be processed, unfortunately the staff couldn’t pass my details through the system because I had an outstanding bill. Argh. The website was down so she couldn’t process the payment and the customer service was still closed, so I couldn’t do any payment over the phone either. At the end, I managed to pay my outstanding bill through the front counter and get me signed up for another 24-month contract! So yeah, I’m a happy owner of a new iPhone 4! Happy indeed! More reports are out that say that the death-grip issue with the antenna is highly exaggerated and over publicised. The store gave me the bumper band anyway, just in case and I have got myself a clear iPhone case just to protect it against scratches and smudges. Unfortunately I can’t use it as yet, as I need to fully charge the battery and stick in my micro-SIM which I’m still waiting.

Nevertheless, I’m a happy chappy!!! Woohooo!! 😎 😀