Encore. I passed.
Believe me, I know how you feel and it is very frustrating. But don't give up! I got my first bag after being told no bags were available. I walked the store, selecting the equivalent of a car's worth of stuff, then asked again. Miracle-- a bag was suddenly available. I should have been angry, but I could have spent the same amount buying a bag through a re-seller at 100% mark-up, for just a bag. At least I got the bag I wanted, and the benefit of all the other items I wanted too. I considered it a club initiation fee. My case is extreme. I know people who spend much less, but do it over a longer period of time, establishing a relationship with a store. I was too impatient for all that
Even in Vegas, I had to spend a lot before they opened the vault to me. This week I was offered another 30 from one of the stores I shop regularly. As I was deciding whether I wanted the bag, there was another woman gushing over her croc offering, all while a third woman was around a corner from us complaining because the store told her they had no bags in stock. You have to find humor in it.
I believe the bigger stores have bags. It's not about availability. It's about whether they are going to sell that bag to you, on that particular day. I also think its about getting a good SA, in a bigger store. Because I travel all over the world, I used to shop a variety of stores. Now, I try to keep my shopping to 2-3 bigger stores. I also buy across all categories, not because I feel I have to, but because I want to.
Good luck!