Faithful phone fanatics spent a night at the mall
By Robert Frank
Hundreds of West Islanders waited in line for hours at the
Pointe Claire Apple store to be among the first to buy the new iPhone 5, sight
unseen, Sept. 21.
Pointe Claire Apple store to be among the first to buy the new iPhone 5, sight
unseen, Sept. 21.
Seated at the front of the queue were Centennial College
student William Abuassi and Kuper Academy student Gabriel Simard of
Beaconsfield, and Villa Maria student Christina Chalimboa.
student William Abuassi and Kuper Academy student Gabriel Simard of
Beaconsfield, and Villa Maria student Christina Chalimboa.
“We were here all night,” enthused a bleary-eyed Simard.
The trio arrived at 7 p.m., the night before. Equipped with
folding chairs and backpacks, they spent the entire night at the mall.
folding chairs and backpacks, they spent the entire night at the mall.
“We needed to be first,” said the Apple devotee.
Simard explained that every year he lines up to purchase the
latest iPhone and sells his old one.
latest iPhone and sells his old one.
“Maybe we don’t need to, but it’s fun,” he said.
Shorter wait elsewhere
Clients who opted to buy the new iPhone 5 at other Fairview
cellular stores were spared the long wait at the Apple store.
cellular stores were spared the long wait at the Apple store.
At La Cabane télephonique, three staff were on hand to serve
the four clients who were in line when the store opened.
the four clients who were in line when the store opened.
Dollard des Ormeaux resident Érick Sauvé, who arrived at
7:30 a.m., purchased the first two new iPhones, one of them for his fiancé.
7:30 a.m., purchased the first two new iPhones, one of them for his fiancé.
“We have a lot of existing customers and we take care of
them,” said store manager Alan Lovell.
them,” said store manager Alan Lovell.
Registering the phones consumed the most time. Rogers’
systems went down at 8:17 a.m., keeping eager customers waiting in stores.
systems went down at 8:17 a.m., keeping eager customers waiting in stores.
“We’ll probably sell about 100 or so iPhone 5 today,”
anticipated Jeffrey Awwad at the Rogers boutique. “The first client arrived
here today at 5 a.m. Some people reserved their iPhone 5 online and are picking
it up here. Others are new activations and upgrades.”
anticipated Jeffrey Awwad at the Rogers boutique. “The first client arrived
here today at 5 a.m. Some people reserved their iPhone 5 online and are picking
it up here. Others are new activations and upgrades.”
The Virgin Mobile boutique was sold out of iPhone 5 within
an hour, and the Fido and Best Buy Mobile kiosks also did a brisk business in
the new smartphone.
an hour, and the Fido and Best Buy Mobile kiosks also did a brisk business in
the new smartphone.
Dollard des Ormeaux resident (left) Érick Sauvé bought the first two
iPhone 5 from manager Alan Lovell (right) at Fairview’s La Cabane téléphonique,
Sept. 21, avoiding long lines at the Pointe Claire Apple store.
iPhone 5 from manager Alan Lovell (right) at Fairview’s La Cabane téléphonique,
Sept. 21, avoiding long lines at the Pointe Claire Apple store.
Pointe Claire Apple store staff offered muffin
bits to West Islanders who spent all night at the Fairview mall to be among the
first to buy the new iPhone 5, Sept. 21. Beaconsfield resident William Abuassi
(seen between the trays) spent the night there, to be first in line.
bits to West Islanders who spent all night at the Fairview mall to be among the
first to buy the new iPhone 5, Sept. 21. Beaconsfield resident William Abuassi
(seen between the trays) spent the night there, to be first in line.
(Left to right) Bleary-eyed West Island youths
Christina Chalimboa (Villa Maria), Gabriel Simard (Kuper Academy) and William
Abuassi (Centennial College) of Beaconsfield, camped out in front of the Pointe
Claire Apple store to be the first to buy the new iPhone 5, Sept. 21.
Christina Chalimboa (Villa Maria), Gabriel Simard (Kuper Academy) and William
Abuassi (Centennial College) of Beaconsfield, camped out in front of the Pointe
Claire Apple store to be the first to buy the new iPhone 5, Sept. 21.
