Apple fans lining up for the iPhone X upset at tactics used by queuers

A SIGN placed outside the front of the queue at Sydney’s Apple Store has outraged people who have spent days lining up.

DEDICATED Apple fanatic Marcus Barsoum is no stranger to queuing outside the company’s flagship store.

He has been one of the first people to secure Apple’s latest devices since the iPhone 6 in 2014.

His efforts for the iPhone X, which will go on sale Friday, have been no different. Mr Barsoum has been camping outside Sydney’s George Street Apple Store since Sunday.

But, he said, this year is different, with empty milk crates and chairs littering the footpath instead of fellow human fans as people try to game the system.

At the front of the queue is a message board left by Dave Lee, the first person in line.

“We are building the worlds [sic] longest line, to secure your free spot join our Facebook group. We are making the iPhone great again,” was the message posted on the board.

After joining the group, members are met with regulations they are required follow to ensure they do not lose their position.

“Everyone in the line is expected to check the line and post a picture or video daily or your position will be replaced by the person behind,” the group explains.

The sign at the front of the Apple Store. Picture: Marcus Barsoum.

Mr Barsoum said he had never seen anything like this before and wasn’t impressed.

“It’s a unique way of lining up this time round,” he told news.com.au. “Some people who are in front of the line get their seat minded the whole week.”

Mr Barsoum said he is about eighth in line, with Dave Lee and another man named Kyle alternating between night and day shift. Others in front of him are also subbing each other out.

“I’m annoyed a little bit because I sat here on Monday — a 35-degree day — and got heatstroke which knocked me out for two days,” he said.

Despite his grievances with how other people have approached the ritual, Mr Barsoum said at least they are more consistent than those behind him.

“We’re eighth or ninth and then behind us is like a zoo, people come and go,” he said.

Mr Barsoum said there is currently around 50 people lined up for the iPhone X, but the majority of the line are crates and empty seats that the council has threatened to take away this afternoon. It’s unclear who dobbed in the crates and seats to the council.

A spokeswoman from the City of Sydney said the council had an obligation to ensure footpaths are accessible for everyone, and had give the Apple Store special permission to put up barricades outside the George St store between 5am and 6pm tomorrow.

“Our rangers are working with Apple store management to arrange the immediate removal of unattended chairs and milkcrates that have been left outside their George Street store,” the council told news.com.au in a statement.

Over the past three days, City of Sydney rangers have taken away 12 chairs and six milk creates and placed them in a council depot, the spokeswoman said.

The line, which stretches around the corner, is often just empty seats. Picture: Marcus Barsoum.

Last month Apple sent a press release saying walk-in customers “are encouraged to arrive early” to have a chance of purchasing the iPhone X at their local Apple Store.

These comments contradicted a 2015 memo circulated to staff by Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts, who told staff to encourage customers to buy and order products online.

“The days of waiting in line and crossing fingers for a product are over for our customers,” the memo read, The Verge reported.

“This is a significant change in mindset, and we need your help to make it happen. Tell your customers we have more availability online, and show them how easy it is to order. You’ll make their day.”

The directive to line up early for the iPhone X coincides with rumours Apple is only expected to have three million units available worldwide for its launch weekend.

It’s the latest in a seemingly endless onslaught of production delay rumours that have dogged the iPhone X. Manufacturers are reportedly struggling to produce components for the iPhone X’s new face recognition technology.

Will you be getting the iPhone X? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.

Originally published as Apple fans lining up for the iPhone X upset at tactics used by queuers