I think the stores release all the bulbs at the same time, regardless of planting time, because they are dormant all at the same time. The Oct. bulbs may just sit there until they are ready. That's what they would do normally.

Some of the stores in the south are run by out of region buyers, that order stock without regard to the best time to actually plant. I would like to think I am a knowledgeable plant and I have gotten so frustrated when bulbs with a 45 day chilling requirement don't arrive until too late to refrigerate, much less plant on time. They can be used for forcing once, then composting.

@glennlab Wow? I had no idea.

I remember ordering from catalogs and buying from local stores like Aubuchon back in the day.
If they had done that they'd have lost their customer base.

@RavenCT The problem in the Houston/Dallas markets was the huge number of northern immigrants that did not understand that just because it grew in Michigan, didn't mean it would grow in Texas, so stores would stock when the demand came in even if it was the wrong time of the year. Daffodils and Tulips need to go into the refrigerator 45 days prior to planting in early December Mine are already coming up where I forgot to dump the planter. They won't bloom this year, but they need to fully sprout so I can compost them properly.

@glennlab Depending on the bulb, refrigeration now will probably get you the blooms for March/April. So good advice!