RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
And our last word in business today is: Why wait?
American consumers will likely go to great lengths - and stand in lines of great lengths - to get the iPhone 5, which goes on sale today.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
People are lining up in front of Apple stores already. But this is a market economy, after all, and time is money, which explains why some people are paying others to stand in line for them.
IAN DEBORHA: I'm getting paid $55 for four hours.
INSKEEP: Fifty-five dollars. We reached Ian Deborha(ph) while he was standing in line early this morning in San Francisco.
MONTAGNE: He brought a down sleeping bag and snacks, and is apparently underequipped compared to some people in line.
DEBORHA: Some other guys I see have camp stoves and stuff, have been here a bit longer. They've probably been here since last night. They've been making Ramen.
INSKEEP: Sounds tasty. Mr. Deborha says he's done this before when he was buying an iPhone 4, but this is the first time he's being paid for his patience.
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MONTAGNE: And that's the business news on MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.