As we all know, the iPad is set to launch this Saturday, April 3rd. The 3rd is also the day that online pre-orders are to be shipped out. Apple is notorious for placing shipping blocks on their products to avoid users receiving things early (in other words, the shipper won't deliver the product until after the block has passed). Sometimes it works, and other times a few mistakenly get delivered to eager customers (who, in turn, post YouTube unboxing videos). Looks like Apple might have a new plan this time around.
According to BGR, the iPad is slated to land in the United States tomorrow and Thursday, and if they were under a normal shipping schedule, the first shipments would go out sometime around April 1st (Thursday). But the devices haven't passed through customs clearance yet, as US Customs hasn't received the necessary clearance papers. The prevailing thought here is that Apple deliberately withheld the papers to control the shipments until the delivery date.
Sneaky, Apple. Very sneaky.
Via BGR