Considering how backed-up online orders for Apple’s new iPad have gotten, there have got to be plenty of interested consumers all ready to head down to an Apple Store on launch day and try their luck first hand. We’ve known that Apple intends to make its new batch of tablets available this Friday, March 16, but lacked specifics on how sales would begin. We had heard rumors of early openings, but lacked any sort of corroboration. That arrives today, with a leaked poster showing Apple preparing to start sales of the new iPad at 8 a.m. this Friday.

Granted, there are those Apple Stores that already open before eight in the morning, but many normally don’t get started until nine or ten. While we don’t know the details of where the leaked poster originates from, it would be very out of character for Apple to open stores early in one area and not another, so we’re likely looking at nationwide early openings.

In addition to the Apple Store, the new iPad will also be available at select retailer partners and from carrier stores. Prices for the new iPad start at $500 for the 16GB WiFi model, and climb as high as $830 for the 64GB LTE edition.

Source: 9 to 5 Mac