Q: iPad and GPS

Yes, if it is a cellular model.

And no, if you bought a wifi only model.

If you bought the iPad WiFi+Cellular, it has a GPS chip inside and can be used with a Cellular Data Plan. Some providers allow an additional SIM on the same contract as your iPhone, others don't, you'd need to check with your network.

If you only bought the iPad WiFi, it doesn't have a GPS Chip but as long as it is connected to WiFi it can still use what's termed "Assisted GPS" to report it's location using the WiFi Network Location which is governed by the network's IP address and provider automatically, it's not something you need to configure!

Dependant on if your network allows Cellular Data Tethering, you can also tether the iPad to your iPhone to use the iPhone's Cellular Network and GPS location info directly. To do this, go to Settings > General > Network > WiFi Hotspot on the iPhone and turn the Hotspot on. Then connect the iPad to the WiFi Network being broadcast from the iPhone (Network name & password are displayed on the Hotspot screen on the iPhone). If the network doesn't allow tethering, the WiFi Hotspot option simply won't appear in the settings page.

You can either type in the serial number (Settings > General > About > Serial Number, also at the bottom on the back of the iPad) in on this page : https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

Or look the model number up on this page (the model number is on the back of the iPad just above the serial number, format 'Annnn') : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5452

If it turns out that it's not a cellular -

Apple has a two week return policy on its products, including ipads from the day you received it (you said you went to Apple store on line.) And that includes if you've opened it. I'm sure if you're a day or so over, and are replaceing it with a cellular, they'll be flexible.

If you had to check cellular to get it, that sounds as if you're in a different country. Check the prices on the site and and see which matches your on-line receipt.

If you can take it to an Apple store it will be quicker. But act within the two week return policy if you can.

Hope this helps.

The personal hotspot feature on your iPhone is available through your carrier (you mentioned Verizon and AT&T above so I assume you're in the US).  This feature is not free, you have to have a plan to enable this feature with US carriers.  I find it less expensive to enable cellular right on the iPad on an as-needed basis since I don't need it every month, whereas a hotspot feature seems to be charged each month whether you use it or not.

However, a hotspot may not be necessary depending on what type of iPad you bought, and how you intend to use it.  If you bought a cellular iPad, you don't have to activate cellular to receive GPS, it will do that anyway as long as it is not in airplane mode.  The problem is, GPS is not that useful without an internet connection on your iPad since the activities that involve location also involve getting data from the internet.  Thus an iPhone hotspot would solve that issue.

But even without an internet connection there are map applications where you can pre-load the maps and points of interest onto the iPad, so there's no need to be online.  I use Navigon without any internet connection, even used it in Europe with absolutely no internet and the points of interest and turn-by-turn navigation were spot-on.