Darn, sorry I was late to this thread, but glad it worked out!
I was just at the Adorama store 2 days ago--live around the corner, and bought the 505 light cover their, for a gift. (Got the last one.) Bought a 505 at the Datavis store on 5th Ave last year. Often go to J&R and know they have Readers. And just bought my 300 at the SonyStyle store. But... haven't been to B&H. So maybe I wouldn't have been that much help anyway.
(You really called all those stores from France?
)