In Pasadena homeless people were transported from downtown to wait in line for iPhone vouchers. The situation escalated and also signals that Apple should change the way it sells it precious iPhone models on the first day of sales.
On Thursday night, I walked by the Pasadena Apple Store. I saw several people who were poorly dressed disembark from a white van at around 8:20pm. They didn't look like typical iPhone fans. They were behaving poorly. They also pushed some genuine iPhone buyers back further in the line.
Today, two line squatters were arrested after getting into a fist fight. A third man was held for a mental health hold. Some homeless line holders didn't get paid.
The Apple store paid two Pasadena Police officers to help them deal with the line problems.
An iPhone racketeer transported the estimated 70-80 homeless people from Skid row to wait in line, over night to be the first to get iPhone vouchers at 6:00 am. They were supposed to be paid $20 for each voucher or $40 for two vouchers. They were supplied with food and cigarettes.
The man who organized the deal told CBS News that he sells the iPhones for $1000 each overseas. He was only allowed to buy a few bags of iPhones before the store stopped sales. He was arrested and let go because he wasn't doing anything illegal.
As someone who saw the people in line, it was obvious to everyone that they could not afford to buy iPhones. Maybe Apple should change the rules and only allow two iPhones per person. That's it, no vouchers can be transferred to another the person.
In fact, maybe they should scan line waiters fingerprints with it fingerprint Touch ID and only let the person with the matching fingerprints buy the iPhone 5S.
Apple products hold so much value that people have lost parts of their fingers to iPad thefts. Apple wake up and smell the frenzy. People were punching people because they didn't get paid for your vouchers.
Heck, if people are going to fork over $650 for an unlocked iPhone, maybe you should provide them with hors d'oeurves and portable toilets while they wait in line...
Better, yet with all the profits that Apple makes for a typical iPhone sale which can be around $300, donate some of those profits to the homeless shelters in downtown Los Angeles, to help the people who have absolutely no way to ever afford an iPhone 5S with or without a contract.
Read other iPhone 5S/5c news.