I wasn't referring to folks like you nor was I talking about mail order. You purchased what was offered. Maybe our (yours and mine) Wallyworld doesn't have any but somebody's did and the person(s) in question bought everything they had.
I used to get my caps at Sportsman's because they were the only store that carried Remington at a decent price (Cabela’s was $2 more). They never stocked more than ten tins. Being in retail most of my life, that sounds about right. Both stores have told me they haven't had caps in two years. So, either there aren’t any available which I doubt or they’re just not stocking them. By the way, the only time I ever took all they had was when they gave me a 10% off coupon for giving a Seminar on Muzzleloaders. I bought the nine packs knowing they’d be getting more in the next week. Of course, this was 10 years ago when supplies were good!
My point was that the manufacturers seem to be catching up on production but when a “Big Box” store does get them in, someone buys all they have perpetuating the shortage.
Walt