What's more interesting is why do people do that just with Apple phones?

Samsung seems to get their phones out and about without the same kind of theater and is matching Apple sale for sale these days.

It's like people waiting in line to see the latest Star Wars film, but a crappy movie about Blue Forest Indians riding Dragons outsells it.

>It's like people waiting in line to see the latest Star Wars film, but a crappy movie about Blue Forest Indians riding Dragons outsells it.

Samsung phones are "Star Wars" and the iPhone is "a crappy movie about Blue Forest Indians riding Dragons"?

That surely puts your "overheard at my company/neighbor's trailer" BS in perspective.

I guess my analogy must have been confusing, since you assumed that the "line waiting" referred to Samsung phones...which it clearly does not since nobody waits in line for Samsung phones.

Nope: http://www.asymco.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Screen-Shot...

I was interviewed at the launch of the 5S, the interviewer noted that Samsung runs commercials making fun of people waiting in line for the latest Apple whatever. I noted that Samsung WISHED they had people waiting in line for their products.

Looks like around 9 million, if you assume 1 phone per person. One way Apple does it is by having good marketing, but I think the more important way they do it is by having consistently excellent consumer satisfaction ratings for their mobile products.