If you don't want to wait in line today to be among the first consumers to buy the new iPhone 4S, go online. And the best place on the Web to purchase the popular phone is, not surprisingly, Apple.com, according to an independent study by STELLAService.
STELLAService evaluated return and warranty policies and customer service at five retailers -- Apple.com, BestBuy.com, VerizonWireless.com, ATT.com and Sprint.com -- and found that Apple.com outperformed the others hands down, says STELLAService co-founder and CEO Jordy Leiser. Another reason to go straight to the source: You can be sure you're not getting scammed (fakes already are on sale on eBay UK, according to PCWorld.com). See the complete survey results.
Just be aware that when you buy online, you'll probably have to wait a few weeks to receive your phone. On the plus side, you're waiting in the comfort of your home, not a long line on a street corner with no guarantee you'll even get an iPhone 4S after giving up hours of your day.
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Or if you can stand to own something that's not the newest, shiniest model, you can get a great deal on a new, but older-version, iPhone. You can buy an iPhone 4 now starting at $99 -- $100 less than the cheapest iPhone 4S. You can get an iPhone 3G (8GB) for FREE when you sign up for a two-year AT&T contract.
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