I bought two ipad3s on launch day.
One was at walmart at midnight (walmart was open 24 hours). I went into walmart earlier that day and asked when they would start selling the new iPads. Walmart was convenient because we could wait in line in the electronics department and the employees could count boxes and told people what was left as they got in line.
The other ipad i got at target when it opened at 8 am. Both stores sold out within minutes.
The only downside to both these stores was lack of selection. Each had only two models, the base 16gig wi-fi, and the top end 64gig cellular for AT&T. Both stores had 5 of each type and limited each customer to one ipad per person.
At least two other people were at both stores buying iPads to ship back to family or friends in china. I know because I asked them. Both of them bought the high end models at both stores.
By the way, I returned the ipad unopened, for a full refund, to walmart shortly after my target purchase because I needed only the one and I get a 5% discount at target.
I had planned to camp out at target, but a creepy white panel van circled the lot several times and then parked in a secluded and dark part of the lot. So, I went home and came back an hour before target opened. I was the first in line, but a line formed quickly thereafter.
