How is YOUR Local Bookstore Handling Friday Night's CROWD?? About This Page:

[stonewall]

How is your bookstore planning on handling the crush of people queuing up to pick up thier copies of the last HP book on Friday night? Our Borders is going to begin handing out wristbands at 9AM on Friday morning and the number on it will reserve your place in line when the fun begins in the evening. That may sound silly, but it is a lot better than waiting in an endless line, snaking it's way through Travel, Religion and Women's Studies! It always moves quicker than one would expect, and there is never any complaining, indeed, there is a sense of comerarerie among the hundreds of people yawning and trying to lean on whatever is handy. I'll be there and DD will be picking her's up at camp!

[Jennifer2003]

I think our B&N will do it like last time, with numbers (wristbands). I arrived about 11:45 and was home by 12:30...it was really quick and they had like 10 cashiers and each cashier had a helper.

Can't wait!

[Belle*]

Our B&N is handing out wristbands for people with reserved copies starting at 6:00 pm, the festivities (games, face painting, etc) start at 8:00 pm and we line up a little before midnight! I'm going at 6 to get my wristband and going back at about 11:30.

[wvugrrrl]

I had originally reserved 2 copies at B&N, until I realized the hoops I would have to jump through in order to pick it up. (Wristbands from 10 am-2pm Friday, festivities beginning at 9 pm, then you have to be there by 11 to stand in line). I just want my books. I'm not interested in contests, prizes, costumes, etc. And I loved the disclaimer that they post on the reservation receipt - "Due to limited capacity indoors, and the large crowds we're expecting, anyone arriving later than 11 may run the risk of being asked to wait outside until the store begins to empty out." Of course, the festivities are scheduled until 1 AM...so methinks that chances of emptying out are slim! And, just because you don't have a wristband doesn't mean you can't get in line to buy the book - they will be having two separate lines - one for people with wristbands, and one for those without. The man who reserved my copies for me said that for every 4 wristband people they allow to go, they'll send 1 non-banded person through.
Also, I was planning on picking up my copy and DBF's at the same time (hence the 2 reservations), but again, the man told me they're limiting one copy per person that night, so while I was allowed to reserve 2, we would both have to be there to pick them up.
I just gave up, and when I found out yesterday that I'm being sent by my radio station to work a live HP remote at Kroger from 10 pm-12 am, I was much happier.
Who'da thunk that a grocery store would carry HP? Not I, but I'm certainly happier about it than all that nonsense going on at B&N.

[poohmaine]

Our local Wal-Mart (the only place in my town with HP books, we have no bookstores) is supposed to start handing out wristbands at 8:00 p.m. Our Wal-Mart is not known for its organization skills, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

[jimmymac]

We have crowd control here in NYC down to a science. We have enough bookstores that it won't be a problem

[RobDVC]

B&N is distributing wristbands to reservations beginning at 6, and allowing people to line up after the store's regular closing time. Two lines will be formed: One for reserved, one for walk-ups.

[RobinKay6573]

Wristbands? Lines of people? Wow....I didn't realize HP was THAT big a deal. This will be the first HP book I actually thought about buying. I was just going to go to Barns & Noble on Sunday and pick one up. I have to work on Saturday night so there is no way I can wait in line at the store. Hopefully I everyone that reads it real fast can keep "The END" to themselves or I will have to walk around with my hands on my ears going "LA LA LA LA LA" real loud until I am able to get my hands on a copy of the book.

[elbug10]

Our local B&N is doing the wristbands too, where you have to go get one early and then return later. I don't remember them doing that last time, although I did have to reserve a copy and had a number (250, I think). I have to work from 1-9 on Friday, AND our B&N is all the way on the other side of town. So sadly, I'm resigned to waiting until Saturday to get mine. I'm not working on Saturday, but my friend has said she'll get a copy for me. So I won't get my HP7 until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, but I figure I've waited this long to read it, what's a few more hours?

[magic mickey]

I think I will just go to Walmart on Saturday and pick one up. Last time they had so many of them and they were much cheaper than the book store.