How do people know when Apple stores have shipments?

I live in NYC also and I think it may be the luck of the draw. With the launch of the IPad I, Apple provided information on the availability of what was in stock at any given Apple store. No such luck this time.

Good luck on your journey in obtaining one.

So far there has been no real information.

It appears that Apple stores receive shipments some time in the afternoon. They hold them for the next morning. The local stores are opening every morning at 9:00a (an hour early), and they have had a few each morning. I was off last week, so I went 3 days just to see. Not a single ATT iPad2 showed up any of the times I was there. So I've given up. I ordered one online which is expected to ship the first week in April.

I figure that I am unlikely to find one in a store earlier than that.

Inventory is received then sold the next day is the story. You have to show up early (in this case, I should have been at the store before 4am, instead of 5am). But it doesn't seem to be many and it doesn't seem to matter where you are.

I spent 3 hours this morning, #41 in line at LA's flagship store and their weekend inventory was some number less than 40 units - most people purchased two, so I was never in contention. This morning was Wi-Fi and Verizon 3G; there were no other choices. Unless you've got the patience of a saint, ordering online right now is about the only safe bet. I'm not angry but I'm starting to think the reason sales numbers weren't released last week might have been due to the possibility they could show a shortage existed before they went on sale - I hope not. I don't believe we can blame Japan - timing just isn't right to go with that idea. Hopefully, I'll see my Wi-Fi on April 27th when its scheduled to arrive. Glad I like my original iPad as much as I do; the wait won't hurt as bad.

Same here - I'm in NY - called the Apple Store in the Westchester on Thursday - told me the store would be opening an hour earlier (9 a.m) on Friday and to come a little earlier. So I got there 8:30 ( I knew I was probably too late but figured WTH), and I was told people were there at 6 a.m. (had no idea the mall even let people in that early), they only had 20, and were sold out in a few minutes.

I came home and ordered online. Ship date is April 25, but like you, I have the original iPad and can wait. However, I'm a bit worried that the shipping date will change after reading the headlines about the disaster in Japan possibly causing delays with the iPad shipments.