Depending on what you’re looking for, there’s lots of official Olympic gear for sale at locations without line-ups. For example, the London Drugs on Granville @ West Georgia is awash with mascots, knapsacks and other souvenirs, Staples on Burrard @ Melville has mascots, Canada Post locations have postcards and stamps, Sleep Country Canada on Granville Street near Robson has umbrellas, mascots and hats and Sears has some of the clothing line.
(note: you can also take a picture inside a Bobsled at Sleep Country Canada without the line up you'd have to wait in at VAG)