On several sites that sell whistles they list virtually everything except the common low priced whistles as out of stock. Is there a shortage of high end whistles? Is there an online whistle store in the US that carries a variety of upper level whistles and has them in stock? 
Docās shop carries some whistles http://shop.irishflutestore.com/Irish-Whistles_c4.htm
Iām not sure about this one thoughā¦
the rest of 'em look okay
ā¦ thatās a really good one, Dennyā¦ the straps go around your ears and ya gotta blow really, really hardā¦
be well,
jim
I donāt think that it will catch onā¦
YMMV 
Iāve been thinking about this all afternoon, and Iāve gone back and forth, but Iām pretty sure thatās not a whistle. Iām open to being persuaded, though.
The original button box (mid 19th century) was called a Flutina. Since the whistle obviously represents a higher plane of evolution than the flute, itās only natural that the modern button box depicted should be referred to accordingly as a Whistloon - or whistle for short. Q.E.D.
Maybe itās a post-Christmas thing. Iām sure there are a whole bunch of folk who will sell you a common low priced whistle at an inflated price if itād make you feel better 
Flutes are predatory. They are attracted to the shriller tones of whistles, which they can hear up to a distance of several hundred miles. These smaller, weaker creatures are clearly representative of the decadence of an āend raceā of beings, and one which evolution (aided by the predation of whistles by flutes) will naturally, in time, weed out. The fact that shortages are now appearing in stocks of whistles, whilst flutes continue unperturbed is perhaps an early indication of the eventual dominance of the naturally superior species.
Why not buy direct from the maker if youāre after a good whistle?
Iāve noticed the same. Most of my recent purchases have been direct from the maker or from Big Whistle in the UK (great shop to deal with).
I have bought directly from whistle makers in past. Some of whistemakers I looked at online are back-ordered. But I donāt know for sure what I want so I wanted to compare features and prices by looking at several whistles. Of all the whistles I have purchased, I like my Burke aluminum narrow bore D best. But I was thinking about purchasing a less expensive plastic whistle with similiar playing characteristics. Actually, my wife wants it. She doesnāt play but is toying with the idea of starting. 
Thatās easyā¦ get her a Bluebird from Jerry Freeman. Even if she decides that playing the whistle isnāt for her, youāll still be glad you did. You could pay a lot more for a lot less, and the Bluebird will be as beginner-friendly as a Burke is.