With the aftermath of iPhone's phenomenal success, Apple found its Apple Stores too crowded with curious onlookers to ogle the iPhone and the newer iPods. Apple's solution? Charge a US$ 5 entrance fee to gain access into Apple Stores.

Aside from the entrance fee, Apple also had Apple "Muscleheads" guarding the entrance. Apple's vice president of retail outlets, Vince Sciopano, explains the move:

Part of the move was to limit crowds to keep the stores safe, but also we wanted to keep the right kind of people in the stores. By 'right kind of people' I mean true Apple customers with money, willing to pay just to look at our newest wares.

Shades of elitism? Nevertheless, reaction in Canoga Park, California's Apple Store was quite positive. One customer, Alexander Hu, said, "I don't mind paying $5 to get into the store, if it keeps out the iPhone gawkers and Windows lusers who want to drool over the new Macs."

However, some customers criticized Apple's new store policy, saying that the move might make Apple look like "elite snobs".

Sciopano's reply to the criticism? "That's exactly the case."