I phone day = Longest Day Ever

Yesterday was the launch of the new 3G I-phone and it was the longest day ever. The press came out about the new phone while I was in training so my entire time with the company has been all about getting ready for this new phone. Last year when he first I-phone came out there was a line around the building the first day, but they didn't sell out until late in the afternoon. They had more the very next day, and most stores didn't sell out again until they pulled all of the original I-phones in preparation for the release of the 3G I-phone.

There was a lot of speculation about how the new phone would be received and what we could expect on launch day. A lot of people were saying that it would not be as big of a deal since the phone was not brand new anymore. Other people thought that it would be slammed and crazy. I had a feeling that it would be insane, the new phone is half the price, it supports corporate email and it is much faster. The original I-phone changed the cell phone market completely, everyone else is playing catch up.

The day of the launch everyone in the store was scheduled for 12 hours, we had to be there at 7AM and the store would open at 8. That morning was when we rally found out exactly how we would handle the activations in the system. When I pulled up the line was halfway around the building. They gave us 120 to sell on the first day, I am still pretty new and was having a lot of problems with the system. We sold out of the phone at 11:30 or so. I did a decent amount of business but it would have been a lot more if I wasn't slow. It was very well organized in the store and we had people in place to help us run phones and accessories so we didn't have to leave our stations.

I guess the most shocking thing about yesterday is along the back of the building where people would line up when the line got long enough someone decided to take a shit on the sidewalk. When we got there in the morning there were people lined up in front and behind the pile. I was surprised at this, I mean who does that? I don't like to drop the kids of any place other than my home throne, let alone a PUBLIC sidewalk. One of the other people in the store had to clean it up, I am not sure if I would have been able to do it.

Last year on the second day there was no line, today I was supposed to be there at 10AM. I got a call from the assistant manager at 9:30 and he let me know there was a line and he wanted me to come in early. We had 60 phones to sell today so we sold out very quickly again. Once again I was having all kinds of system problems so I didn't get as much done as many people did. I did about 1/4 of the business that I needed to do in these two days. I kind of wish every day was I-phone day.

I am also EXHAUSTED, as I write this I am fighting to keep my eyes open. I went to bed way too late last night and I haven't been sleeping so well. I haven't played much poker this week, but I did have a variance swing. Still in the green but have definitely not as good as I was doing before. We will see what happens, nothing else I can do.

My brother is also in town from Seattle. Melissa has never met him before, so I hope that we can get together and have dinner or something so she can meet him.

That is all for now, until later.