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Why You Should Buy the iPhone 5S Online

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In just a few short hours, Apple and various carriers in the United States will start taking iPhone 5S orders. Early tomorrow morning, Apple Stores, carrier stores and retailers will open their doors and allow iPhone 5S buyers in to look at their wares. Many iPhone 5S buyers are likely trying to decide which route to go. Well, here’s some advice from a seasoned smartphone shopped: Buy the iPhone 5S online if you can.

Earlier this month, Apple announced that it would be releasing both the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C on September 20th. The company announced that it would begin taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5C on September 13th though it declined to offer a pre-order for the iPhone 5S, sending prospective buyers into a bit of a frenzy.

Read: 9 iPhone 5S Release Date Tips.

The iPhone 5S release date supplies look low at Apple Stores and at carriers.

The iPhone 5S release date supplies look low at Apple Stores and at carriers.

You see, this is abnormal for an Apple launch. Those who buy Apple products are accustomed to being able to take advantage of a pre-order ahead of a release date. Not only does it give buyers peace of mind, but it also gives them the ability to ensure that their device will arrive on the day that the product is released in stores.

For whatever reason, be it supply issues, a desire to heard people into physical retail locations, or something else entirely, Apple didn’t announce pre-orders for the iPhone 5S, instead, announcing that it would begin taking orders on September 20th, which just so happens to be tomorrow.

So, instead, Apple, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Best Buy, RadioShack, Walmart and others will start taking iPhone 5S orders tomorrow. And from the looks of things, tomorrow could be a disaster. iPhone 5S stock in general is said to be low and we’re hearing that some colors, particularly the gold iPhone 5S, could be in short supply when the iPhone goes on sale tomorrow.

I can’t predict the future but I think tomorrow is going to go pretty badly for some iPhone 5S buyers. How do I know this? Well, like many of you, I’ve tried to order Apple products in the past. I’ve stayed up well past my bed time to order the iPhone. I’ve spent way too much time screaming at websites to confirm my order. I’ve dealt with the frustration, the madness, the ridiculousness of it all. And I have a feeling tomorrow could be even worse than it has been in years past.

That’s not going to stop me and it’s not going to stop millions of others. Except you won’t find me down at my local Apple Store or Verizon retailer. No, I’ll be online and anyone who wants an iPhone 5S in the near future would be wise to skip the stores and do the same.

Why You Should Buy the iPhone 5S Online

The Lines

Ordering the iPhone online is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Apple and its carriers typically have site issues but believe me, I would rather be sitting in the comfort of my own home, my own computer chair, dealing with ordering issues instead of dealing with them after having waited in the cold for five, six, seven hours outside of an Apple Store, carrier store or retailer.

Lines are typically shorter at Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

Lines are typically shorter at Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. But they are lines nonetheless.

Even with site issues, I’ve always been able to put in an order for a new device. Last year, sites were slammed with activity for the iPhone 5, but because I was ready with all of my information and because I knew exactly which iPhone 5 I wanted, I was able to order quickly and efficiently when the time came. And then I went to bed, knowing that an iPhone 5 was on the way.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are some cool people waiting outside the Apple Store, but ordering online sounds a whole lot better than standing in line with strangers for several hours, not knowing if I’ll even get an iPhone. To me, ordering online is the safer, more comfortable play and it’s one that I advise you to consider.

In-Store Annoyances

Once you get into the actual store, it’s going to be chaos. People everywhere, sales people trying to sell you on every accessory known to man. You don’t need that screen protector but heck, you’re so tired from waking up early that you may just wind up spending the money anyway. It’s just too much to deal with, too much of a hassle.

Compare that to the sweet, sweet silence of the night, ordering the device from a laptop or home computer, from your computer chair or laptop. It’s night and day.

You Don’t Need it Tomorrow

No matter what you tell yourself, you don’t need the iPhone 5S tomorrow. You can wait a few days, trust me. Many of you were expecting to pre-order the iPhone 5S which means that you were expecting to wait. You can wait. And because you can wait, means you can skip going down to a retail store.

The iPhone 5 scratches easily, and the iPhone 5S may as well.

You don’t need the new iPhone 5S tomorrow. You can wait.

The benefit of going to a physical location tomorrow is so that you can get instant gratification that you don’t actually need. It’ll feel great to get that new iPhone 5S tomorrow, but it will feel good getting it next week when your online order arrives on your doorstep.

Online orders come with speedy shipping so if you’re prepared tonight like I am, you’ll get the iPhone 5S sometime next week. Those that aren’t prepared will likely be dealing with lengthy delays. And even then, you can probably wait a few weeks for your iPhone 5S to arrive.

Order online.

More Options Available

If you’ve never gone down to a retail store to buy an iPhone, then you probably don’t know that they typically have limited stock available. They also sell out of the popular choices extremely quick. So, those that are looking to buy a 16GB gold iPhone 5S tomorrow at a flagship Apple Store better be one of the first people in line, otherwise you’re probably going to have to settle for something else.

The iPhone 5s release date will likely come with disappointment and shortages.

The iPhone 5s release date will likely come with disappointment and shortages.

Online, destiny is in your hands. If you’re prepared and quick to the draw, you’ll get the pick of the litter. No lines to deal with, no uncertainty, no uneven stock to deal with. Last year, I was able to get the black 32GB iPhone 5S without any difficulties. This year, I’ll be snagging a 32GB iPhone 5S in gray or gold, and I’ll likely wake up to some poor souls complaining about how they tried to get one of those at a store but failed.

They could have upped their chances, if, they had just ordered online.

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. ukandroid

    09/19/2013 at 3:47 pm

    Of course the 5S will be in short supply – only around 5% of the fingerprint readers being made actually work reliably and so Apple is only getting around 95% less than they thought they would. This is almost certainly the same reason why the 5S was not available for pre-order.

    As to ordering online, there is an added advantage here in the UK – namely “the distance selling regulations”. This law allows you to return any item bought by mail order/online back for a full refund for any reason within a reasonable time (7-10 days). You might not like the colour or the way it works. If you buy in a store you can only get a replacement for faulty goods and you have no right to a refund or even a credit note for returned goods. No wonder online sales are booming for all kinds of goods.

  2. jason

    09/19/2013 at 5:06 pm

    Definitely ordering mine online, i just dont have the energy to go camping out for a few hours. Patience!

    • Ashley Huebel

      09/19/2013 at 6:19 pm

      Which is better ordering from your carrier website or apple’s?

  3. Greg Meyers

    09/19/2013 at 5:17 pm

    Sweet! You had a 5S last year!

  4. Na9er

    09/19/2013 at 8:03 pm

    When does exactly the orders start? I don’t mind staying till midnight just to place my order :)

  5. susanarredondoSusan

    09/19/2013 at 9:24 pm

    I pre ordered my 5s last Friday from Target and they are anticipating that it will be in tomorrow as that is what Apple has told them but as the employee told me “Apple can do whatever they want”

    • Just

      09/19/2013 at 10:33 pm

      So, you preordered your iPhone5s <—-emphasis on that letter.???

      • Rickf

        09/19/2013 at 10:43 pm

        He ordered the 5c.. The 5s was not available for preorder until the 20th…

        • Ldubs

          09/20/2013 at 6:49 am

          You could essentially pre-order them from Target. You put down a deposit and they reserve one for you.

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    09/19/2013 at 10:54 pm

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