Another option might be to contact independent booksellers in the area your parents are visiting. Kobo announced a contract with Independent Booksellers.
http://bookweb.org/index.html
Chances are, if any of these smaller bookstores get the models on 1 October, they're more likely to be willing to hold one for your folks than a big box store would be. You might contact a few in the area they'll be and ask if they expect to get them on the 1st and if they'd be willing to reserve one for a visitor to the area.