I don't want ya'll to think I am an old fart ( will be 47 next month) but back in the old days (1970's) I managed a tobacco shop. Back then,most all cigar and pipe orders were seasonal. That is cause people just don't spend as much money during the summer. The holidays are when all shops are at full inventory. That is when they make most of their money. It is almost impossible to keep the humidor and shop full all the time. You can imagine the money a retailer has in inventory if he has a full humidor. Plays hell on the cash flow . Back in the old days, when someone wanted a particular cigar, and we weren't placing an order from that wholesaler (hard to meet the minimum order) the standard reply was "those are hard to get right now". I can't say for sure, but I suspect the same thing happens today. I went in my local store here the other day and was suprised to find nothing but crap on the shelves, not a premium smoke in the place. Course they said they had a large order due in.
You can probably expect to see your local store full of the good stuff just in time for Christmas, and expect high prices as well. Seems the prices always go up a little when the amatuers are shopping.