I've spent the better part of a week camping. Camping for consoles. During that week, I made new friends, missed out on getting a PS3, scored a Wii and developed a deep, deep hatred for Target. This is my story (the PS3 part anyway).I showed up at Target on Wednesday afternoon and joined a small line forming outside the electronics entrance to the store. I was definitely getting a 60-gig PS3! High-fives all around. That's about the time a Target Manager showed with a Target rent-a-cop and asked us to leave, telling us that no one was allowed to camp until Thursday at 3:00 p.m. And that was it, we were booted. Certainly not trusting that people would just patiently wait unitl 3:00 p.m. the next day, I returned at midnight. A camp had been established. Tents had been erected and an unofficial line list had been started. I was number 9. Again, I was definitely getting a PS3!
Two managers showed up at 6 am.
Manager: You boys need to leave.
Me: Why? Other Targets aren't kicking people out. They're taking care of their customers.
Manager: It's individual store discretion.
Me: Right. Well, I would be concerned with liability and safety issues.
Manager: *silence*
Me: Besides, we have a list.
Manager: There are no lists. You can wait in your cars. Clear out the tents and remove yourselves or we'll call the cops on you boys (yes, he said "boys" again.)
Me: That would be a mistake. Do you know who I am? I'm Chris F'ing Grant! Managing Editor of Joystiq.com!
Ok, I didn't say that last part, but the line was dispersed... and there was a free-for-all at 3 p.m. for one of a very few, very sacred PS3 spots. I didn't get one. Yet!
Thanks Target!
