Here are 3 easy ways to find and buy AirPods, even when Apple says there are none available

Apple's truly wireless earbuds, called AirPods, are one of the hottest new gadgets right now.

Despite being available for a few months now - they were supposed to release in October, but got delayed to December - finding AirPods is still incredibly tough. Unless you're extremely lucky, you will not be able to walk into an Apple store and find AirPods.

Even if you ask store employees, like I did, they'll point you towards Apple's website, which says AirPods won't be widely available for at least another month. As of March 3, Apple says AirPods won't ship until April 21.

But here's what Apple doesn't broadcast: Apple stores actually do receive routine shipments of AirPods on a semi-regular basis, albeit in small quantities. And there is a way to ensure you can find, buy, and pick up a pair of AirPods as soon as they become available at a nearby Apple store, which is way faster than waiting for Apple to ship them to your door.

After trying this method myself, I was able to find and buy a pair of AirPods in less than a day. Here's how it works: