History repeats

The Herald reported a couple of weeks ago:

Andrew Collins had a special reason to queue outside the Yoobee computer store in Newmarket from 5.30am yesterday to buy the latest iPad model.

Before his 40-year-old sister Clare died on Tuesday, she made him promise her to buy the new version of the tablet computer for her two sons, aged 10 and 12.

That is so very sad. I know Andrew – he was the Head Prefect at Rongotai College when I was there, and a mate of my brother’s.

It was an emotional day for Mr Collins, who lives in Australia. He was the first person in the queue, waiting in the rainy conditions all day for the 5pm launch of the upgraded model.

“Even if I was 10th in the queue it wouldn’t have mattered, but to come out the door with the first one and hear the crowd cheering was very uplifting,” said the 46-year-old.

“And especially for the reason I’m getting them today.”

He had made friends with his neighbours in the queue and they had a place-holding system worked out for food and toilet breaks.

Why I call this history repeats, is because this is not the first time Andrew has done a queue and dash for a new product. In 1982, microwave ovens started to become commercially available, and the James Smith store in Wellington had a huge sale, including a microwave for only $199. Back then they cost well over $1,000 or so.

Anyway my brother and I camped overnight to be first in the queue, and then were joined by Andrew for the dash when the door opened. It all went according to plan, and we got the microwave.

What I haven’t mentioned is that Andrew at the time was the NZ Under 20 sprint champion 🙂

Wasn’t quite cheating, just sensible use of friends.

So always been grateful to Andrew for that effort. The news story jogged my memory.

Just like I don’t know how I coped before the Internet, I don’t know how I’d cope without a microwave over! We owe a lot to technology.