diff between 1 & 2 is that u can be sure (almost) that what u buy is original if u choose 1.

No.3 is different from other 2 as u have to pay full price... no discount!!... no additional gifts etc

But should admit sometimes 2 offer higher price than 1 & 3 , but u could het lower prices as well..

Advice : Buy from HK - through a frind visiting there or use taobao.. HK price is much lower than chinese price... 

Taobao is tricky as u need to have the ability to make sure that the shop sells original.... better ask for invoice and also that the box should not be opened.. then once u receive.. u can get it registered in Apple online and then pay!

Apple. Useless everything-is-proprietary-Steve-Jobs-still-owns-you bricks. Buy a real phone that belongs to you.

Taobao is a bit dicey. Most every person I have met has said the same thing, even with the rating system.

I bought a phone there one time and even though it was as good as they said, they didn't mention it was like a display model. It might function as good as new, but the appearance was not such as for it to pass as gift-quality, which was what I needed. So, I had to present a gift to someone important and the phone and packaging were what we call in my country 'seconds'.  

If you can, I, like so many others, advise taking a little trip to the official Apple store over in Central, HK.

go to walmart. the "authorized resellers" may not actually be authorized resellers. this is china