As customers streamed out of Verizon Wireless in Gilroy carrying
the hottest new item to hit store shelves, an employee’s voice
echoed through a bullhorn.
”
Congratulations on your NEW iPhone 4!
”
With today being the official release of Apple’s iPhone 4 in
Verizon retail locations approximately 24 people from Gilroy and
surrounding areas such as Morgan Hill and even San Jose stood early
vigil outside the Gilroy branch at 6965 Camino Arroyo.
As customers streamed out of Verizon Wireless in Gilroy carrying the hottest new item to hit store shelves, an employee’s voice echoed through a bullhorn.
“Congratulations on your NEW iPhone 4!”
With today being the official release of Apple’s iPhone 4 in Verizon retail locations – AT&T having been the sole carrier up until now – approximately 24 people from Gilroy and surrounding areas such as Morgan Hill and even San Jose stood early vigil outside the Gilroy branch at 6965 Camino Arroyo.
Normal hours begin at 10 a.m., but the store opened its doors three hours earlier at 7 a.m. to accompany the influx of eager iPhone seekers who’ve been waiting for Apple to branch out from the AT&T parent tree.
“I woke up at about 3 a.m. and got there around 3:35 a.m.,” said Rudy Tovar, 30, who lives in Gilroy and was the first person in line.
Tovar, who ordered the iPhone 4 for himself when Verizon briefly opened up online ordering to existing Verizon customers two weeks ago, wanted to get his 64-year-old father a more sophisticated cellular device.
“He’ll probably be a little lost,” Tovar joked. “It’s about time he upgraded a little bit. He has an old flip phone.”
According to Tovar, who hung out in the cold and joked with the security guard to pass the time, people began showing up around 4:30 a.m.
Assistant Store Manager Yolanda Lopez said she wasn’t allowed to reveal how many new iPhone’s she had in stock, but the store was visibly geared with all the trappings: Security guards on alert, every single employee on the clock and a bevy of red, black and white balloons flying outside to commemorate the occasion.
Lopez said employees, however, aren’t allowed to satiate any personal tech cravings.
“All the phones we have in stock are only for customers,” she affirmed.
Prior to the event, the store’s voicemail was tailored in preparation for the big day.
“If you’re calling for information about the iPhone 4, please press one,” it said. “iPhone 4 enthusiasm has been overwhelming.”
Richie Martinez, 18, the pitcher for Live Oak High School’s baseball team in Morgan Hill, was the second person in line. His friend and teammate, Joey Cosentino, 18, is Live Oak’s catcher.
The two said they came to Gilroy since the Verizon branch in Morgan Hill isn’t selling the iPhone 4.
“I’m going to wait another month,” said Cosentino, who was third in line but didn’t purchase anything. “I don’t want to pay full price and drain my bank account.”
Martinez, on the other hand, had exhausted his own upgrade, but was able to use his mother’s upgrade to purchase the iPhone 4 for $350.
Without it, he said a brand new iPhone 4 costs $750.
“I was expecting more people, but it was a decent line,” said Martinez, who was heading off to an 8 a.m. psychology class and joked he would probably be tempted to play with his new phone during school.
Despite the patience it took for the iPhone to finally come to Verizon, Tovar said he was glad he held his ground.
“I almost switched to AT&T because I was tired of waiting,” he said. “Luckily, I waited.”
