iBook Sale Turns Violent

August 16, 2005 11:38 AM

Apple iBook sale in Richmond, VA, turned violent today when people began to fight over the $50, four-year-old used machines on sale by Henrico County School System. One woman urinated on herself instead of losing her place in line. Others were shoved to the ground, and one man tried to drive his car into the crowd.

"I took my [metal folding] chair here and I threw it over my shoulder and I went, 'Bam,"' the 20-year-old said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to the screen of his new iBook, as he tapped away on the keyboard at a testing station. "They were getting in front of me and I was there a lot earlier than them, so I thought that it was just," he said.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow (109 comments total)

Why would they sell them for $50 each when they're worth considerably more than that? That just seems stupid.

And its okay to physically assault people if there's a really good deal involved? The guy with the chair should be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. And he should not be allowed to watch pro wrestling anymore.
posted by fenriq at 11:42 AM on August 16, 2005

You know, I've been hearing about this ibook sale for three months now, so it's not really surprising to hear it got ugly. On every coupon and deal website/forum online, people were clammoring for those ibooks (in order to sell them for a quick profit on ebay I would guess).
posted by mathowie at 11:44 AM on August 16, 2005

Apple fans, man.
posted by jonmc at 11:44 AM on August 16, 2005

The downtrodden are now bypassing the Statue of Liberty for consumables I guess.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 11:47 AM on August 16, 2005

Yeah, yeah, but have you used an iBook? They are pretty sweet machines.
posted by Rothko at 11:47 AM on August 16, 2005

We own one, Rothko. Dosen't mean I'm ready to piss myself and beat up my neighbor for one.
posted by jonmc at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2005

I want one but I am not sure I'd piss all over myself in public to get one.
posted by Emperor Yamamoto's Eggs at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2005

people like cheap shit, that's not surprising -- didn't somebody post here a story about a stampede for cheap DVD players? but the terified look in the poor security guard's eyes is really something (CNN link)


Why would they sell them for $50 each when they're worth considerably more than that?

I agree, but they're 4 years old, right? that's the first G3 700Mhz generation of iBooks -- how much do they cost on eBay?
posted by matteo at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2005

Dosen't mean I'm ready to piss myself and beat up my neighbor for one.

you only say that because you own one already, Giovanni
posted by matteo at 11:50 AM on August 16, 2005

One woman urinated on herself instead of losing her place in line.

Sounds like someone should have bought herself a Stadium Gal!
posted by brain_drain at 11:51 AM on August 16, 2005

Welcome to America, where even animals strive to be on the internets!
posted by HuronBob at 11:53 AM on August 16, 2005

you only say that because you own one already, Giovanni

Not to mention, it's 4-years old and used. But I suppose I could piss on someone else and beat up someone else neighbor for a gift.

I'm a giver.
posted by jonmc at 11:54 AM on August 16, 2005

Dude, I work in Henrico County (the West End, other side of Richmond). It's freaking sad.

I heard the reports of the stampede on my way into the office.

I used to wonder what it would take to get people to behave more like the animals they are. I guess it was a $50 laptop.
A 3 year old one at that. The saddest part is these are not 700mhz machines. These are 500mhz G3 iBooks. I have one that I bought second hand 2 years ago for $400. It's really only worth about $250 now.

But anyway.

Police in riot gear showed up around 11AM to address the crowd control situation.
posted by daq at 11:56 AM on August 16, 2005

We own one, Rothko. Dosen't mean I'm ready to piss myself and beat up my neighbor for one.

I was joking.
posted by Rothko at 11:57 AM on August 16, 2005

Another good reason not to switch to Dell.
posted by jalexei at 11:57 AM on August 16, 2005

Mmmm.... chicks pissing on themselves. Now that's hot.
posted by Moral Animal at 12:00 PM on August 16, 2005

matteo: I agree, but they're 4 years old, right? that's the first G3 700Mhz generation of iBooks -- how much do they cost on eBay?

Looks like they are worth around $500. Pretty good deal, not worth the hassle though, obviously.

MeFi types often seem to underrepresented the value of 'cheap shit', it is kind of strange. Disposable income or something I guess.
posted by Chuckles at 12:00 PM on August 16, 2005

underrepresented. I have to pay more attention to that spell check... underappreciat, sheesh.
posted by Chuckles at 12:03 PM on August 16, 2005

The Slideshow of the stampede is amazing. Mass Hysteria in less than 30 seconds.
posted by stratastar at 12:04 PM on August 16, 2005

MeFi types often seem to underrepresented the value of 'cheap shit', it is kind of strange.

Something tells me that if you went inside our homes, you'd realize that we buy cheap shit like everyone else. We just don't talk about it.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 12:05 PM on August 16, 2005

They seem to be going for about $350 on eBay...

I just gave mine to my parents a couple years ago, though...

"Thanks. Now we're even on the whole 'raising me' thing."

Or something.

I like monkeys.
posted by chasing at 12:05 PM on August 16, 2005

I'm right down the road. The husband actually went to try and get one at the appointed time, but called me with a man-on-the-scene report and he sounded like the Hindenberg guy - "Oh the humanity" - he turned around, and came back. A few things: One, it would have been safer to let people camp out for spaces in line. Two, there was a lot of profit motive, not computer-user motive involved. Three, the county limited the sale to residents after receiving inquiries from all over the country. Dag, I was just waiting for this story to go national. Great. I'd like to stress the poor planning and crowd control aspect of the whole situation. When you need a buck, this seemed like a very attractive way to try and make one.
posted by rainbaby at 12:08 PM on August 16, 2005

Holy fuck.
posted by chunking express at 12:09 PM on August 16, 2005

If they were the 800 MHz G4 Powerbooks, (for $50) I might lay a little smackdown, but a 500 MHz iBook? no thanks. iBooks are pieces of crap. Half the damn thing is held together with electric tape and clasps.
posted by Debaser626 at 12:12 PM on August 16, 2005

Also the link about the women peeing herself doesn't actually mention a women peeing herself. Where did you read that? Why wouldn't the school just sell them for say, the market value. Or would that be too simple.
posted by chunking express at 12:14 PM on August 16, 2005

from CNN (the last link)

Blandine Alexander, 33, said one woman standing in front of her was so desperate to retain her place in line that she urinated on herself.
posted by Debaser626 at 12:15 PM on August 16, 2005

I still don't get why the county is selling them for $50. Wouldn't it have been easier and more profitable for the county to just list them on E-bay?
posted by rdr at 12:18 PM on August 16, 2005

Isn't someone going to make a crack about Red State family values? Oh, the humanity.
posted by psmealey at 12:19 PM on August 16, 2005

Surely someone has photoshopped together a "Think Different" ad based on this by now?
posted by gimonca at 12:20 PM on August 16, 2005

The county explained the pricing as similar to a surplus sale of four year old as-is vehicles.

First, students were given the option to buy them. Then, lower schools took what they could use. The remainder, they figured, should be sold to county residents who paid county taxes, instead of listing them on E-bay.

Oops.
posted by rainbaby at 12:23 PM on August 16, 2005

I'd piss myself for a hamburger.

Glad she got a lousy, cheap laptop out of the deal.
posted by wakko at 12:25 PM on August 16, 2005

That slide show is horrifying. And exactly rdr, wtf? Why didn't somebody from the county go outside, and instead of saying "Ok let's move the sale up", go "Um, been postponed, sorry"

Just waiting for the lawsuit..
posted by cavalier at 12:26 PM on August 16, 2005

For a brief second (thanks to spacing out while skimming the post), I thought it said a woman has pissed on a laptop to mark it as hers. Kinda like the ol' "I licked this ice cream / candy bar / hamburger, it's mine now!" trick.

Boy, am I glad I only imagined that.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 12:30 PM on August 16, 2005

Back in December 1982, I was watching TV with an Iranian friend who shook his head sadly and remarked, "In other countries, people riot for freedom, or for food. In yours, they riot for Cabbage Patch Dolls."
posted by alumshubby at 12:32 PM on August 16, 2005

It's like xmas hysteria... only, well, for profit, and old computers. Yay us.
posted by edgeways at 12:33 PM on August 16, 2005

Why would they sell them for $50 each when they're worth considerably more than that?

I worked in Henrico County classrooms for the past 2 years and saw some seriously abused computers. I'd say $50 is probably right. These laptops can't have much more left in them.
posted by john m at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2005

Enjoy your defective logic boards, crazed rioters!
posted by cirocco at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2005

Ah, Richmond.
posted by selfnoise at 12:34 PM on August 16, 2005

For a brief second (thanks to spacing out while skimming the post), I thought it said a woman has pissed on a laptop to mark it as hers

I can only imagine the E-Bay ad for that.

"Lemon iBook for sale..."
posted by jonmc at 12:35 PM on August 16, 2005

"BLANDine." Dang, now that's a name. People like this make me ashamed to be human.
posted by keswick at 12:35 PM on August 16, 2005

If any company out there could make a sub-$100 laptop they'd be golden.
posted by geoff. at 12:36 PM on August 16, 2005

That kid with the chair sure doesn't play into that violent video-gamer argument. He sure as hell didn't get a gaming machine...that paragraph read like the Onion

Why do I wish the school opted to sell these machines to students of limited means who'd shown real progress in their schoolwork? You could even tie it into performance on those tests, to make it impartial. The price seems unnaturally low. Why not a raffle, even?
posted by Busithoth at 12:37 PM on August 16, 2005

As a specie, we rule, obviously.

First link, first slide show:

- Image #19 is scary. Apple fans 1, stroller 0.
- That dude on image #14 is wearing a helmet, he obviously came prepared.
posted by NewBornHippy at 12:37 PM on August 16, 2005

" If any company out there could make a sub-$100 laptop they'd be golden."

I don't know if you'd want to be golden in... quite that way.
posted by selfnoise at 12:37 PM on August 16, 2005

Sounds like the line-pisser got a pretty good deal:

New drawers and slacks:
$30.00

Dramatically discounted iBook:
$50.00

Endless press coverage about her
psychotic Apple devotion:
priceless.
posted by Jazznoisehere at 12:37 PM on August 16, 2005

"In other countries, people riot for freedom, or for food. In yours, they riot for Cabbage Patch Dolls."

Why does your Iranian friend hate America? huh? Are we going to have to bring his countrymen some freedom? (and/or Cabbage Patch Dolls) /sarcasm
posted by mr.curmudgeon at 12:39 PM on August 16, 2005

"In other countries, people riot for freedom, or for food. In yours, they riot for Cabbage Patch Dolls."

Are you implying, Mr. Shubby, that Americans are sick with the consumerist flu? Feh! I'll quote Randy Newman when I say, "Doesn't matter if you're white, black, or brown/You won't get nowhere putting down/The old Red, White, and Blue."

America? Fuck. Yeah.
posted by ford and the prefects at 12:40 PM on August 16, 2005

perhaps there is some wisdom here, the public wants all these laptop that the school doesn't want. IIRC they are switching over to PCs now.

Im sure they are gonna love them (sarcasm)
posted by MrLint at 12:43 PM on August 16, 2005

I can't belive they sold four to one person (with her kids). Crazy.

In other news my mom just got a 900Mhz pentium III desktop with 128 megs of ram for $64 at the ISU computer surplus sale they have every week.

The deal these guys got wasn't even all that good, and I suppose most people thought they'd just flip 'em on ebay for a couple hundred dollars. If people were out there giving away $300 cash to the first 1k who showed people, you can bet there'd be a lot of people out there.
posted by delmoi at 12:43 PM on August 16, 2005

"In other countries, people riot for freedom, or for food... or to kidnap embassy employees, or to install an Islamic theocracy...
posted by gwint at 12:48 PM on August 16, 2005

> Surely someone has photoshopped together a "Think Different" ad based on this by now?

As you wish:

posted by brownpau at 12:48 PM on August 16, 2005

For a brief second (thanks to spacing out while skimming the post), I thought it said a woman has pissed on a laptop to mark it as hers.

Funny, that's how my girlfriend claimed me.
posted by mkultra at 12:53 PM on August 16, 2005

Bah, it would have been funnier with Garamond.
posted by Rothko at 12:55 PM on August 16, 2005

The deal these guys got wasn't even all that good, and I suppose most people thought they'd just flip 'em on ebay for a couple hundred dollars. If people were out there giving away $300 cash to the first 1k who showed people, you can bet there'd be a lot of people out there.

delmoi - yes, that's it exactly.
posted by rainbaby at 12:59 PM on August 16, 2005

Easter Egg Slide 12: "Excuse me ma'am, do you come here often?"

Slide 14, in addition to the guy with the helmet, the redhead who looks like she is telling the scrum to get the F out of her way...
posted by Ogre Lawless at 12:59 PM on August 16, 2005

Did they make enough money to offset the property damage and medical expenses?

Maybe next time they don't host a free-for-all to get rid of the extra machines? Nah, that wouldn't be any fun at all.
posted by fenriq at 1:01 PM on August 16, 2005

Not surprised. Mindless Mac users.
posted by eyeballkid at 1:02 PM on August 16, 2005

The only way this could have been any more an American phenomenon would be if WalMart were somehow involved.
posted by leftcoastbob at 1:05 PM on August 16, 2005

If I ever run across Mehrdad again, I'll be sure to mention your rejoinders to him. What we were seeing on the news was, in fact, a mob at a US shopping mall going ape over Cabbage Patch Dolls, so I wasn't motivated to argue the point.
posted by alumshubby at 1:05 PM on August 16, 2005

Someone sooner or later will link to this.
posted by chasing at 1:08 PM on August 16, 2005

I thought we agreed, no more Apple posts?
posted by Rothko at 1:09 PM on August 16, 2005

eyeballkid, actually, you'd be more likely to be correct if you said Mindless Mac wannabes since they didn't have the Macs at the point the stampeding started. But its good to know that not everyone's moved beyond the OS Holy Wars yet.
posted by fenriq at 1:15 PM on August 16, 2005

There are a whole lot of people sitting at home right now with their $50 Apple computers thinking "Okay, I got it. Now what?"

It's just insane bargain mania, these are the same people who buy 20 packs of biscuits just because they are on sale.
posted by fire&wings at 1:16 PM on August 16, 2005

Driving around Richmond with an Apple sticker on my car is gonna feel so stupid for the next few weeks.
posted by junkbox at 1:17 PM on August 16, 2005

Betcha nobody yould have stampeded (or maybe even not show up) for $50.00 Dells...
posted by spunpup at 1:18 PM on August 16, 2005

Obviously, us Apple users would rather fight than switch!
posted by TedW at 1:18 PM on August 16, 2005

Shouldn't have invited those Wal-Mart security guards.
posted by dilettante at 1:23 PM on August 16, 2005

gwint, I think overthrowing the Shah would qualify as a good reason to riot. Trying to get a doll, a computer, or some other piece of junk consumer good would qualify as not so good.
posted by chunking express at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2005

what, no shootings? richmond is getting soft these days.
posted by geeky at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2005

What's interesting is that in 3 weeks, it'll be the twice yearly gathering of the NASCAR crowd at the location of today's "riot".

Fill most of 'em with cheap beer, put 'em in bleachers and you STILL won't get the kind of riot you had there today over the adorable little overpriced and underpowered white laptop.
posted by Jazznoisehere at 1:41 PM on August 16, 2005

gimonca writes "Surely someone has photoshopped together a 'Think Different' ad based on this by now?"

Piss Different?
posted by matteo at 1:42 PM on August 16, 2005

I'm waiting for the anonymous AskMeFi question, "How do I remove urine from my iBook?"
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:48 PM on August 16, 2005

Can I just remind everyone that this was in Henrico County? We Richmonders are just as appalled. Well, I'm appalled at least.

I got an advance warning from a friend with an SO in the school system, and at the time, it sounded like a cool thing to do. Once it started getting national press and they moved it to the raceway, I knew it was time to disavow any desire to attend the event.

I'm curious to see how good the laptops are. As someone told me, "these are the laptops that the high schoolers didn't want." Also, word from the school system IT department is that they're all pretty gutted and useless anyway.
posted by patgas at 1:51 PM on August 16, 2005

This was no Cabbage Patch Kid fiasco. This was a lot of poor people trying to get computers. Sure, we all have computers, so it's easy to laugh at the computerless.

Do you think half these people knew or cared if they were 500mhz or not Gfucking4s or whatever? They were $50. For some people, still, owning a computer means a slightly better life.
posted by hellbient at 2:15 PM on August 16, 2005

I mean, it was an iBook. Perhaps they had read the frequent "what laptop should I get" questions in askmefi and took it to heart. I wouldn't fight to get an iBook, but I'd fight to keep mine.

Back in December 1982, I was watching TV with an Iranian friend who shook his head sadly and remarked, "In other countries, people riot for freedom, or for food. In yours, they riot for Cabbage Patch Dolls."
posted by alumshubby

Yeah, they don't riot outside the U.S. unless it's for something important, like soccer.
posted by justgary at 2:15 PM on August 16, 2005

I'm a Richmonder, born and bred. (Spent the first 16 years of my life in Henrico County.)

Never have I been so ashamed of my fellow citizens as now. Good god.
posted by armage at 2:19 PM on August 16, 2005

Look here ma, I got me one of them computer dealies...Hell me and ol Jethro there was going to the race track just to see if they was working on cars or something and next thing you knowed we was a fightin' and a scrapin to beat the band. I got aholt of this here thing and buyed it. Not sure what we is gonna do with it, but I rekon I can trade it for a mower or mebbe a pair o boots that aint so beat up...
posted by damnitkage at 2:20 PM on August 16, 2005

you're hilarious, damnitkage.
Richmond is a great town, you should visit it sometime.
Best people in the world.
posted by hellbient at 2:24 PM on August 16, 2005

Seconded, hellbient. If this had been anywhere else, the results would have been the same -- people want cheap stuff, no matter how crappy it might actually be.
posted by armage at 2:29 PM on August 16, 2005

A good number of Slashdot's responses are (Score:5, Funny).
"Stuff that matters", indeed.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:43 PM on August 16, 2005

But its good to know that not everyone's moved beyond the OS Holy Wars yet.

I assume, since you took my bait, you're still knee deep in OS Holy War action.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:53 PM on August 16, 2005

Here are some videos of the local TV news coverage.

I have to admit to laughing pretty hard, especially at the 7:25 AM one where the grandmother says she was kicking people in the balls.

And the cashing in begins here.
posted by MegoSteve at 2:57 PM on August 16, 2005

Dear Americans,

When you look at something strange from some other overseas-type country & think: 'Wow, those people are a bit backward', have a good long look at this. A reeeeeally long look. That's you that is. Big, fat fucking America. Stomping on babies for cheap computerware.

But it's not you. Just like it's not the whole of the UK getting on some 'soccer riot' or the whole of the Middle East demonstrating against the US, or everyone being some suicide bombing, freedom hating lunatic.

And so on...

justgary: It's called football you fuckend.
posted by i_cola at 4:10 PM on August 16, 2005

And what hellbient said.
posted by i_cola at 4:11 PM on August 16, 2005

OK, lesson learned... make sure you go to the bathroom BEFORE you get to the $50 computer riot.
posted by cusack at 4:22 PM on August 16, 2005

eyeballkid, nope not fighting anymore, but I am veteran and want to stop the carnage before we lose another generation. Can't we all just get along?
posted by fenriq at 4:24 PM on August 16, 2005

Apple fans, man.

Profiteers, man.

The saddest part is these are not 700mhz machines.

Your perspective seems a bit skewed.

Though brief, I enjoyed the time I lived in Richmond. Except for that "stop selling beer at midnight and no liquor after 9 pm" bullshit.
posted by mrgrimm at 5:29 PM on August 16, 2005

The first auction I've seen of these laptops, here.
via
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:57 PM on August 16, 2005

brownpau gets the gold star, nice work sir.
posted by nola at 5:58 PM on August 16, 2005

i_cola, I think you're trying to say something profound but maybe you should put down the crack pipe and try again. And I'll call football soccer if I damn well please, you fuckwit.
posted by zardoz at 6:02 PM on August 16, 2005

Seize: Though it is one of the laptops from the school district, it wasn't one of those sold today. The auction started almost a week ago.
posted by MegoSteve at 6:30 PM on August 16, 2005

Oops. My fault. Though that could explain why it looks to be in such good condition.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 6:32 PM on August 16, 2005

But it's not you.

No, honestly, it really is. We're horrible to the bone.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:32 PM on August 16, 2005

Three die in Saudi shop stampede

Saudis killing each other to get into a Swedish store for $150 vouchers. People of every nationality love killer deals.
posted by breath at 7:34 PM on August 16, 2005

Good thing they weren't selling used ipods or they would have had to bring in drone planes.
posted by mecran01 at 8:47 PM on August 16, 2005

justgary: It's called football you fuckend.

No, I prefer soccer. Sweet, sweet soccer. Come on, you can say it. It's easy!
posted by justgary at 8:53 PM on August 16, 2005

At least one person from Fatwallet.com was driving more than 6 hours for this sale...
posted by VulcanMike at 9:13 PM on August 16, 2005

Somebody at Slashdot had a good theory. Perhaps the iBooks went for only $50 because the person who cut the new deal with Dell didn't want to make it look like they bought new computers when they had perfectly good ones (for student purposes, at least) already on hand. Which, if they sold them for $350, they would have had to admit. I wouldn't be surprised if there were kickbacks involved in there somewhere, too.
posted by fungible at 9:14 PM on August 16, 2005

Damnitkage, I'll bet if I posted someting similar to what you wrote, but using ebonics, I'd get blasted. I was really tempted when I read some of the names of the people involved - "Starletta?"
posted by Liosliath at 9:22 PM on August 16, 2005

The whole world plays football, but only the americans play it with a rugby ball.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 3:15 AM on August 17, 2005

Another reason to dislike Richmond. Thanks.

Anyway, the school district, if it wanted to do something good, should have donated (or sold) them to local nonprofits that need them.
posted by pracowity at 4:24 AM on August 17, 2005

pracowity, if you're going to dislike anyone for this, dislike people in Henrico. You can disparage the City of Richmond for the Performing Arts Center fiasco, or Chesterfield County for banning a Wiccan from giving the invocation for a Board of Supervisors meeting instead.
posted by armage at 6:15 AM on August 17, 2005

Dear god I'm glad I left that city.
posted by machaus at 6:33 AM on August 17, 2005

Good and Bad Behavior at the iBook debaucle (both witnessed/experienced and reported).

posted by shimmerglimpse at 7:16 AM on August 17, 2005

This resulted in a "what computer would you piss yourself for" thread on a mailing list I'm on.

iBook G3, post-school-abuse? No way. Cray Y/MP? Hell yeah, as long as I could change and shower afterwards.
posted by mrbill at 9:16 AM on August 17, 2005

This must be a popular topic. I was thinking that first link took forever to load... But then I looked at the link and realized the problem: It's just a slow newsday.com.
posted by Snowflake at 11:38 AM on August 17, 2005

iBook Pee Lady vs. Dog Poo Girl.
who'd win?
posted by hellbient at 11:41 AM on August 17, 2005

What a bunch of retarded losers. Someone should have firebombed 'em all. No consumer product -- and especially no used and abused consumer product -- is worth that sort of panic and passion. Gahd.

Some days, it's just embarassing to belong to the human race.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:15 PM on August 17, 2005

Perhaps the iBooks went for only $50 because the person who cut the new deal with Dell didn't want to make it look like they bought new computers when they had perfectly good ones (for student purposes, at least) already on hand.

I think the decision to price them at $50 was a numbers game. Henrico County bought the used laptops from Apple for $1 each. Their new deal with Dell put the school $59,000 overbudget. 1000 used laptops * $50 each = $50,000 to help make up for being over budget. Why not price them higher? Maybe they were afraid $100/ laptop would make them look greedy and there would be less demand.
posted by geeky at 3:05 PM on August 17, 2005