Just as rumored, Apple has restored the in-store pickup tool for the iPhone 5s in its online store. The Personal Pickup service was originally enabled for the iPhone 5s one week ago, but Apple yanked it away a day later without explanation. The tool allows consumers to select the iPhone 5s model that they're hunting for and, after entering a zip code, they can then check to see if any nearby Apple Stores have any stock of that particular model. Shoppers can then pay for the device online and pick it up in-store.

Apple's iPhone 5s has been extremely hard to come by since its launch weekend, which saw it combine with the iPhone 5c to sell more than 9 million units. Many carriers and retailers are telling buyers that their iPhone 5s orders won't be filled until sometime in October or later, but Apple's in-store pickup tool could help folks snag a 5s quite a bit earlier, so long as they're patient and are able to check the stock at their local stores on a regular basis. Having a little luck mixed in there as well probably wouldn't hurt.

Via GigaOM, Apple Store