What time will Apple Retail Stores allow in-store pickups on March 16?

[RonHC]

I recall last year, the store opened around 4pm or 5pm for those waiting to get the iPad 2.
Now that Apple has added the option to pre-order, does anyone know the time the retail stores will begin to sell the iPad 3?

I tried checking the website but its under heavy traffic

 

[mikepas]

I called my local Apple store about an hour ago to ask this very same question. The guy there said the manager had been on a conference call for a while at that point with folks higher on the food chain about this and as of right now no decision had been made.

Last year the iPad 2 launch was my first time waiting in line for an Apple product at one of their stores and I had a blast and was really looking forward to it again this year so I hope it's the 5pm option again. Otherwise the mall the Apple store is located in doesn't allow people inside before 5am which would mean getting to the mall sometime around 3am-4am just to make sure I'm close to the door!

 

[eclipseblur954]

when the store opens