I learned yesterday that Best Buy would be having midnight openings at select stores in conjunction with the release of Iron Man on DVD. I had originally planned to go tomorrow morning at 10AM when the store opened, but then I thought about it some more. I've never had an urge to go to any sort of midnight promotion; not even for Madden, a game I have religiously bought on release day five out of the past six years. No lining up for a video game console, nor have I ever wanted to camp out for movie tickets. The combination of long lines and late nights do not appeal to me one bit.
However, I am interested in what the fuss is all about. Certainly, things can be said about how you'd be able to spend some time in line with people who share the same passion with you (or at the very least want to make a quick buck on eBay). I've heard stories that often at such events there are drawings for prizes or freebie giveaways. On the flip side of the coin, the media has also reported drive by shootings and brawls. Despite that, I decided to check the list of stores that would have such a midnight opening and what do you know -- the Best Buy in Bellevue is one of the twenty stores around the country that would be hosting a midnight release.
Due to a multitude of factors, I have decided to take the plunge and head out in my mum's car in fifteen minutes to head down I-90 East: I don't have any early obligations tomorrow; it might cut into my bedtime a little bit, but I think I can be back in time to be in bed by 12:30; for the first time that I can remember, it is actually cheaper to buy a title at Best Buy than it is at Amazon.com; while I never buy a title when it's first released (usually waiting until it hits the sub $15 mark), this is Iron Man!; and lastly, long lines be damned -- I seriously doubt there would be more than fifteen people at this thing. Worst case scenario, it might make for a good story to tell. A nerdy one, but a story nonetheless. This will be my first and [probably] last midnight release. Updates upcoming!
However, I am interested in what the fuss is all about. Certainly, things can be said about how you'd be able to spend some time in line with people who share the same passion with you (or at the very least want to make a quick buck on eBay). I've heard stories that often at such events there are drawings for prizes or freebie giveaways. On the flip side of the coin, the media has also reported drive by shootings and brawls. Despite that, I decided to check the list of stores that would have such a midnight opening and what do you know -- the Best Buy in Bellevue is one of the twenty stores around the country that would be hosting a midnight release.
Due to a multitude of factors, I have decided to take the plunge and head out in my mum's car in fifteen minutes to head down I-90 East: I don't have any early obligations tomorrow; it might cut into my bedtime a little bit, but I think I can be back in time to be in bed by 12:30; for the first time that I can remember, it is actually cheaper to buy a title at Best Buy than it is at Amazon.com; while I never buy a title when it's first released (usually waiting until it hits the sub $15 mark), this is Iron Man!; and lastly, long lines be damned -- I seriously doubt there would be more than fifteen people at this thing. Worst case scenario, it might make for a good story to tell. A nerdy one, but a story nonetheless. This will be my first and [probably] last midnight release. Updates upcoming!
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11:44PM
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11:48PM
A fifth person might have just pulled up in a red sports-type car... bonus! 5th and 6th. Two Best Buy employees are now out here checking up on us. Apparently, there will be some swag!
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11:56PM
Nine people... going strong. A female employee seems to be dancing inside... we're chatting Seahawks out here.
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Tuesday Sept. 30th, 12:13 AM
All done! I walked out with:
1x Blu-Ray copy of Iron Man [$25.99 + tax]
1x T-Shirt [free]
1x Lithograph [free]
2x poster tubes (designed to look like Stark Industries missiles) [free]
1x Sideshow Collectibles Gift Card [free] (dollar amount unknown)
Some of these are definetely going to wind up on eBay. 17 total people by my count, meaning most people got extras of the free swag. If I'm lucky i'll be in bed by 12:30, ready to wake up and watch Iron Man tomorrow morning.
[Updated 10/1/08 with photo from real camera]
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12:33 AM
Final Thoughts
Home at last; thought I'd write up something up. Tricky bastards... the price tag on the DVD says $29.99 but the Sunday ad, website price, and stickers on the shelves in the store say $25.99. Guess what it rang up on the register? $29.99 of course. I pointed it out, but I'm sure that more than a few people will get tricked by these tactics. Another strike against Best Buy for me; that's two. All said and done though, by the time I'm done eBaying I should have gotten this movie for free (if no profit).
I was planning on selling off the two poster tubes, but upon further inspection and thought, I might hold off on that. They are plastic tubes with what looks like a shoulder strap. And while I won't have many posters to move around, my upcoming occupation within the world of GIS might have me lugging some maps around from time to time. Wouldn't it be pimping to show up with a rugged Stark Industries carrying tube? You be the judge, but I say yes.
Some of the people I was in line with were talking about previous midnight releases they had been to, and mentioned that the midnight release for the third Matrix movie wrapped around the store in Southcenter. "Really?" I asked (not surprised by the number of people, but rather that there was a. a midnight release for that movie and b. a number of people that lined up for that movie). I imagine a similar thing will happen for the Dark Knight when it hits home video in December (unlike tonight's seemingly paltry turnout), which makes me glad that tonight will be my only midnight opening. Not very productive, slightly exciting, but nothing I would recommend for anyone to try -- especially for something you can get the next day at a reasonable hour.
I really wish there were some hardcore fanatics wearing full costumes...
---------
11:48PM
A fifth person might have just pulled up in a red sports-type car... bonus! 5th and 6th. Two Best Buy employees are now out here checking up on us. Apparently, there will be some swag!
---------
11:56PM
Nine people... going strong. A female employee seems to be dancing inside... we're chatting Seahawks out here.
---------
Tuesday Sept. 30th, 12:13 AM
All done! I walked out with:
1x Blu-Ray copy of Iron Man [$25.99 + tax]
1x T-Shirt [free]
1x Lithograph [free]
2x poster tubes (designed to look like Stark Industries missiles) [free]
1x Sideshow Collectibles Gift Card [free] (dollar amount unknown)
Some of these are definetely going to wind up on eBay. 17 total people by my count, meaning most people got extras of the free swag. If I'm lucky i'll be in bed by 12:30, ready to wake up and watch Iron Man tomorrow morning.
[Updated 10/1/08 with photo from real camera]
---------
12:33 AM
Final Thoughts
Home at last; thought I'd write up something up. Tricky bastards... the price tag on the DVD says $29.99 but the Sunday ad, website price, and stickers on the shelves in the store say $25.99. Guess what it rang up on the register? $29.99 of course. I pointed it out, but I'm sure that more than a few people will get tricked by these tactics. Another strike against Best Buy for me; that's two. All said and done though, by the time I'm done eBaying I should have gotten this movie for free (if no profit).
I was planning on selling off the two poster tubes, but upon further inspection and thought, I might hold off on that. They are plastic tubes with what looks like a shoulder strap. And while I won't have many posters to move around, my upcoming occupation within the world of GIS might have me lugging some maps around from time to time. Wouldn't it be pimping to show up with a rugged Stark Industries carrying tube? You be the judge, but I say yes.
Some of the people I was in line with were talking about previous midnight releases they had been to, and mentioned that the midnight release for the third Matrix movie wrapped around the store in Southcenter. "Really?" I asked (not surprised by the number of people, but rather that there was a. a midnight release for that movie and b. a number of people that lined up for that movie). I imagine a similar thing will happen for the Dark Knight when it hits home video in December (unlike tonight's seemingly paltry turnout), which makes me glad that tonight will be my only midnight opening. Not very productive, slightly exciting, but nothing I would recommend for anyone to try -- especially for something you can get the next day at a reasonable hour.
I really wish there were some hardcore fanatics wearing full costumes...
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