Despite the apparent disappointment with Apple’s new iPhone, Apple sold a record two million units of the device in pre orders. The shipping time on Apple’s online store has slipped to “2-3 weeks,” which means your only way of buying the iPhone 5 on day one is to queue up at a physical store.

Most of Apple’s launches are characterised by long queues, often involving people waiting for hours and in some cases even days outside an Apple Store. Given the unbalanced dynamics between the demand and the supply of the iPhone 5, we list out all the places you could buy an iPhone 5 on launch day.

Apple Store

Apple’s own flagship retail stores are, of course, the best choice to buy any Apple product, but the stores typically attract a huge crowd of buyers, which means that if you’re not early enough, iPhone stock might run out while you’re still in line.

Apple Stores typically open at 8am on launch day, with eager buyers queuing up hours or even days before launch in front of stores located in popular locations.

Here’s a list of suggestions that might help you while camping out in line for an iPhone 5:

• Find an Apple Store that isn’t very popular, so that the crowd is minimal.
• Carry along a portable chair, some snacks, fully charged iPhones, Android devices and/or iPads, and even portable chargers if you’re planning to stay in line for more than a few hours.
• Try to get along with you a friend so that your place will be saved when you need to take a break and vice versa.
• Also carry along your Social Security number, a government-issued ID card, your carrier  as well as your Apple account credentials to complete your purchase.

Carriers

Since the iPhone’s recently expanded its list of carrier partners to include Verizon, Sprint and a number of other regional operators, the demand for the iPhone has distributed across all these networks. This means that compared to earlier launches, there should theoretically be less rush at carrier retail outlets, although, in practice, that’s highly dependent on the popularity and location of the store and the carrier.

Do note that regional carriers like Cricket and C Spire begin selling the iPhone 5 a week after launch.

We’d advise you to check in with your carrier about iPhone 5 stock beforehand, so that you don’t return disappointed.

Walmart

For the first time, Walmart is offering iPhone pre-orders, although its pre-order procedure is a bit complicated than Apple’s. For one thing, it requires you to go to one of their physical stores and pay up an amount of $25, which would later be settled in the final purchase amount. Moreover, your iPhone 5 won’t be shipped at your doorstep, but you’d be required to take another trip to a Walmart store to pick it up.

There’s an upside to the complicated process, though. Due to the efforts involved, there’s a good chance that you’d find iPhone 5 stock available at Walmart easily. As a bonus, Walmart’s selling the iPhone 5 at a marginally discounted price, starting at $189.97, and it also hands over a complimentary $4.99 VUDU movie credit along with the purchase. To find a Walmart store near you, head over to Walmart’s website.

Best Buy

Best Buy will also be selling the iPhone 5, and just like Walmart it is taking pre-orders for the device in-store and not online. You’re required to buy a Best Buy gift card to confirm your pre-order, although it doesn’t guarantee that you’d be able to buy the device on launch day. According to GottaBeMobile, certain Best Buy would be low on iPhone 5 inventory in the initial few days following the launch. So in case you choose to buy from Best Buy, be sure to enquire about iPhone 5 stock on launch day.

RadioShack

RadioShack would also be selling the iPhone through its network of 4,700 stores across the U.S., although details about in-store reservations are sparse. Be sure to enquire about the availability of the iPhone 5 on launch day at your nearest store.

Target

While there doesn’t seem to be any information about the iPhone 5 on Target’s website, CNET notes that the retail store is accepting in-store reservations for the device, although availability on launch day might be an issue.

Unconventional Options

If you’re too eager to get your hands on the iPhone 5 on launch day, and you can’t waste your time standing in line, services like TaskRabbit would make someone else queue up in front of a store on your behalf. People are offering similar services on Craigslist as well, as CNET notes. TaskRabbit prices their service at $55, noting that the maximum waiting time would be 4 hours. The price on Craigslist varies, with one poster offering his services for $40, and if you add an extra $30 he’d be willing to stand in line all through the night. You’d of course have to swap places once your hired rep gets in front of the queue.

Many Craigslist posters are also selling the iPhone 5, presumably the ones who’ve managed to pre-order. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could even try this option out.

Did we miss out any of the options you have in mind to secure an iPhone 5 for yourself on launch day? Share it in the comments.

While you wait for September 21st to arrive, you could explore various options available to you to sell your older iPhone.