I had this exact reason given to me regularly by Boots for different diabetic supplies. Once they even told me my insulin wasn't available to them because of a manufacturing fault. Always I'd come home and phone the company who made the item and each and every time they said they had plenty of stock and what I'd been told was wrong. They in turn would contact Boots and, hey presto, usually by the next day my stuff was ready. The pharmacy always said they only repeated what their suppliers told them. It's for that reason I stopped using them and found a small independent chemist who has never had a problem getting supplies for me. If I were you I'd phone Bayer and check with them if there is a problem with supply of the strips. Bill