Why the hell are shotguns seasonal?

I recently called a gun shop to inquire about the availability of a shotgun and was promptly told to "check back after Christmas". Last time I checked a Christmas I wasn't getting another firearm for. This is the third time I've been told this at a gun shop and I only called today because I accidentally ran into a guy I know who recently bought the shotgun I was inquiring about and said he just bought it on Saturday. He said the gun shop had about 10 of them. Why the hell are they seasonal?