Sales of the iPad 2 have been brisk, to say the least, and it is becoming a challenge to find an iPad 2 in stock almost anywhere. It hasn’t helped matters that parts suppliers in Japan are still shut down after the devastating earthquake, though production is beginning to trickle out again in some plants. Just a few months after their release, hearing those magical words, “yes we have the iPad 2 in stock” is a rather rare occurrence. Even if you get that answer from the clerk at Best Buy or the Apple Store, the information given can be notoriously inaccurate as many frustrated shoppers will readily attest to.

If an iPad 2 is what you are after, here are 6 tips for finding an iPad 2 in stock at a local retailer or an online seller.

1. Be Persistent: Expect plenty of “no” responses. It’s like being in sales, only in reverse. You’ve got to keep plugging along no matter how many negative responses you receive. That “yes” might be one more phone call or one more website search away!

2. Have your Credit Card at the Ready: If you find an iPad 2 in stock, snap it up. They’re going so fast in some places that by the time you drive 20 minutes to the Apple Store they could be gone. Some stores will sell you an iPad over the phone with verified payment. Make sure your credit card as room on it to handle the cost of the iPad. If you find it online but have to wait a day for a payment to hit your credit card to clear credit space, it could be too late. No, it probably will be too late.

3. Pre-order One Online: There is typically a 4-6 week wait when you do this, but it may be possible to cancel your order if you find one earlier. It’s a decent “insurance” option while you continue to look.

4. Track iPad 2 Shipments like a Stalker: There are various websites that link to the inventory of retailers and in some cases show expected arrival dates for hotly anticipated shipments of products like the iPad 2. Hearing that a shipment is on the way isn’t as good as hearing that the they have the iPad 2 in stock, but it’s a step in the right direction. Among the retailers that can be stalked…uh, we mean tracked…are Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Radio Shack.

5. Be Flexible in the Model: Do you really only want the 16GB WiFi iPad 2 but have the means to grab a 64GB model if it becomes available, or vice versa? It may be hard to pass up an iPad 2 in stock simply because it isn’t the model you prefer.

6. Keep your Eyes on the Auction Sites: Vendors on eBay may show the iPad 2 in stock, but they go quickly so you’ve got to check frequently and be prepared to act fast when you find one. That’s where having credit room on the plastic is an absolute must.

Conclusion
Persistence and an organized strategy of pursuit will pay-off! Use these 6 tips for finding an iPad 2 in stock and you may have one in your hand sooner than you expect!