Need to preorder to buy iPhone instore?

[Pact89]

Hey everyone

I will be coming to the US for a year in mid August and would like to buy an iPhone in New York. To buy an iPhone online, you currently need to wait 3 weeks for shipping. If I want to buy the iPhone instore, do I have to preorder as well or are there iPhones available for pickup in the Apple stores without preordering? If I do indeed have to preorder, where can I do this?

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[SpaceKitty]

There is a long long waiting to list to go on.

 

[brown.eyed.girl]

I think you're better off ordering. From calling Apple, AT&T, Best Buy and RadioShacks in Chicago, I've gotten the impression that unless you're very persistent and have a lot of time (i.e. going in every day to Best Buy or AT&T or Radio Shack in the hopes that a shipment has come in), the best options are putting yourself on the Priority List at an Apple store, or ordering online. And the Priority Lists seem really long. Plus, at least according to the Chicago Apple store, you have to come in-person to get your name on the list - can't call it in.

 

[bowlerman625]

I agree, ordering is the best option by far.