Reserving Order of the Phoenix ... when?

[nera at rconnect.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 18423

Having never been in on the wait for the appointed day on which the 
newest edition of Harry Potter had been released, I am interested in 
just how this event unfolds.

How soon before the release date can one reserve a copy? I know from 
the experience of the two Comic Books, that no money can exchange 
hands, and no sales records can be on the register for the book until 
the appointed time on the appointed day. I had to trust the shop 
keepers to take my money, and put it in an envelope with my name and 
address on it and send me the books when they were allowed to ring it 
up. It was an hour trip and I begged them not to make me do it again.

So, anyway ... do you put your name on a list for the book? Then 
what? You show up at the store and IF your name is on the list, you 
get first chance at buying the book? How much time does the store 
give you to claim your book before they take your name off of the 
list and sell it to someone else with cash in hand?

Has anyone had their name on the list and when they got there, 
decided they wanted two or three copies? If so, what happened? Does 
JKR always do the midnight thing?  I know it was a huge deal with 
book four ... was it also with book three or not?

Thanks.
Just curious how this is going to go when she gets the information 
out that the book is finished.
Doreen