iSwoon for iPhone 4S, Thanks to Apple Store at 3rd Street Promenade

Screenshot/Apple

Normally, I never wait in lines. I especially shun the idea of waiting in a line for a piece of technology when you can simply order it online. But yesterday I awoke with a surprising sense of purpose. I was going to get up, get out and get that iPhone 4S no matter how many calls and stops it took. Shockingly, I made zero calls, one stop and am admiring my shiny new essential as I type.

My one stop was at the Apple store located along Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. I'd read tweets claiming the store promised they had ordered ample supplies to last the entire day and that there were only 80 people in line. Only 80 people, aye? I arrived at the store at 10:45am, my heart dropping when I noticed the line had vanished. Sold out?! Negative. "The line's right over there," said a helpful Apple employee, pointing me towards a feasible line of cattle hopeful consumers.

Confined between two metal fences, iPhone enthusiasts remained content and at peace thanks to the brilliant crowd control efforts of the store. Buyers stood in the cattle line until the head herder granted groups of ten entrance to the store. With the California sun and dwindling heat wave in mind, upbeat employees handed out giant black umbrellas and free bottled water to thankful consumers. I graciously accepted an umbrella and managed to accidentally whack only a few innocent bystanders with my sun shield.

The most impressive organizational and crowd control method was the iPhone ticket. Each phone in stock was represented by a ticket. An Apple employee walked along the line asking three important questions: What carrier? What color? What size? I exhaled as my AT&T Black 16GB iPhone 4S ticket was placed in my hand. Anxiety revolving around whether or not they would sell out ceased, and all was well with the world.

iPhone 4S ticket. Photo by Lauren Lloyd.

The wait was peaceful until Boy Killjoy announced that the server had gone down. He assured us that the techies were on it, but a few disgruntled cattle couldn't resist grumbling.

Once inside, my group of ten was directed to the right wall of the store. One by one, Apple employees shook our hands and led us to the promised land. In total, after waiting and overspending, I exited the store with my purchase in just an hour and a half.

While I'm not sure if all Apple stores in L.A. succeeded in managing yesterday's release, the Promenade location was truly impressive. Over-enthusiasts had indeed arrived before sunrise for the coveted phones, but after arriving two hours and 45 minutes after the 8am opening, only about 30 people stood in my way.

Siri, the voice-activated intelligent assistant, and I are already bffs. When I asked her this morning, "How are you, Siri?" She replied, "I am well." I then admitted, "I love you, Siri," to which she answered, "That's nice. Can we get back to work now?" iPhoners, you will love this new device.