MSRP is $5995, somebody has one in stock and offers to sell it for $5500 so the distributor is actually selling it AT A DISCOUNT in time for you to have it for Xmas. You want a better deal but can't get it when you want it and are offended... pretty much sums up the situation ?

The distributor that has it in stock means he has unloaded it from a delivery trailer and stacked it in storage (and paid for that space), he has paid for the pin in advance (so his cash is tied up in merchandise not earning interest in some sort of investment) now he must arrange for a shipper and see that is gets shipped out (perhaps paying dock helpers to move it). He wants to be be compensated for his time/efforts. If you want something he doesn't have in stock I'm sure he will accept a lower price based on lower efforts.

The other distributors don't have it in stock, have no time or energy invested and will place an order to have it shipped directly to you when available. They will be compensated proportionately for their efforts.

You feel screwed because YOU imposed a deadline on yourself and it will cost you ... did you miss any good deals on Black Friday? are you pissed because they don't offer the same deal all year? Walmart sells tens of thousands of a product(s) at $6 so they can afford a lower margin you can't compare that to a small business like a pin distributor so don't try.