My locals don't get much DLX- usually 1 graphic from each brand and they're gone quickly with long wait times hence I often have to mail order.
Has anyone actually had the balls to ask a shop for a specific number like "send me a III of IV if you have em"? I seem to always get I if I mail order and the difference between I and IV is quite noticeable.
Some of the bigger places I know have lots of stock, or who show current quantities of boards are good for asking for the specific numbers, but I try not to be painful about it.
Usually just a quick message asking what number I to IV is on top of these boards in stock - then usually get a reply quickly enough within a day or so and I always make sure to order ASAP just so they don't get pissed for answering questions that they don't get any reply or sale from.
Some other places I have never heard back, but it is not a worry either way.
I got quite a few I and II on good sales recently, so have been parking on the kicks and turning them all into IV boards, which works nicely. Yes I have flattened some a little more than I would have liked, but I would rather have a board that is a little too flat than too steep, so never have problems skating them anyway.
Before that, I wouldn't buy a board I didn't know the number on top first (and only ever IV stamps), most from going in to stores on my travels, but quite a few from places as per the start of this reply, who had more than one or two in stock.
Also I just remembered to add, not that it might have any bearing on anywhere else, but it seemed that anything with an aqua top was going to be flatter overall even in I than anything else including IV in orange or some other colour top ply. Having about five or more now with aqua tops and they were all so very flat. Some yellow tops I have now too also seem a bit flatter than other colour top ply, but I would not know if they went into more mellow molds for that run of boards or if there was anything else to note with them.
All are 8.38 sized boards too, which in general come out a bit more mellow than some other shapes, but from having so many come through my hands, it is a curious thing to see.