There was a lot of heartache expressed on another "Dick's" thread, regarding someone who dealt with a Big Box Store, and felt like they came away gipped (which I'm sure they did).
Let you in on a little secret:
Do you remember the story about the Scorpion and the Frog crossing the pond? The Scorpion did what he did, because he's a scorpion.
I'm sorry for you that the big Scorpion Big Box Store didn't honor the conversations you had with their part-time employee (who is now gone). But this is a good lesson for you on what IS a contract, and what ISN'T a contract.
There is probably somebody at a Gun Club who is willing to help out a group like yours. But no - we had to run off to the "Big Box Store" to get the cheapest price, didn't we?
American Big Box Stores are not Mom-and-Pop apple pie institutions. They are a dog-eat-dog business.
Trapshooting costs money. When I was a kid, I spent 15 minutes pulling a reloader handle on a Mec 600JR. for every round of trap I shot. I quickly learned that it took longer to load the shells than it did to shoot them. I kept doing it because I loved it. With my limited finances at the time, I learned I was going to have to make a real commitment if I was going to keep at it. I guess that sort of thing sounds archaic to the "X-Box 360 Generation."
If Scorpion Big Box Stores are your only option for getting shells at a price you can afford, maybe you need to reconsider. Generations of Trapshooters grew up learning the sport off of money earned from mowing yards, sacking groceries, and (gasp) loading traps, without Adult Organizers to put it all on a plate for them. In the last couple decades, we've gotten away from that, and maybe that's the real problem with this sport.
In any case, I believe that other thread was nothing but whining by "Little League Parents." I for one will not support it in any way. You took a ride on the Scorpion and got what you got. It may sound hard to believe, but "the kids" will survive this. Some of them may even learn to pull a reloader handle, and keep shooting trap anyway. Life can be tough like that.
Or, you can be a real Role Model for Youth by taking Big Don's advice on that thread, hiring a lawyer and clogging up the courts with your (non-existent) case. Now that will be a character-builder for the kids.
Do yourself a favor if you're in this situation: talk to one of the people like Shooting Coach tries to point you towards, before running off to the Big Box store. They may be able to help you if you just talk to them. There are businesses out there that have the interests of shooters at heart. And yes, they need to make a profit to survive. Is it so horrible for "the kids" to learn this lesson?
Everything in life is getting more expensive. If the only way to give the kids what you want is sell your soul to the Big Box, maybe you need to re-evaluate your recreational priorities.