I'm betting it is a serial# issue as stated. Perhaps the serial# was not logged into the system or someone with dyslexia entered it in wrong. It may not have shown up 'in stock' when scanned or shown 'sold' yet it was sitting on the counter. The serial# on the box may not have matched the gun itself, etc. So many possible options to cause a red flag. I'm willing to bet it is a clerical error of some kind and will be resolved. Some times there are clerical errors.
100% what happened, as far as I can tell and from taking to multiple managers at Bass Pro and Cabela's.
Piecing together what they are saying, because it's corporate policy (assuming) to deny fault hahaha.
Basically, the printed bar codes on the side of the case do not match the gun. They are missing an extra "0" somewhere in the number. Since Cabela's and Bass Pro run off the same computer with the same scanning system, corporate shut down sales until they get new bar code stickers. And because it is a big corporation, they will put a hold until every lawyer looks at it.
It's a non issue at a small shop, because they can do stuff differently for their ATF Book. But since it's a big box store, my Beretta is in purgatory.
So somewhere between the distributor to the shelves, someone messed up on their keyboard.
But I'm really glad I didn't call the ATF, FBI, BBB, USPS, or even the PMS due to a clerical error. Thanks for looking out for me fellas, but some of ya have your foil hats a little too tight haha. Love y'all!