Did the OP ask the bike shop for an explanation? We can speculate all day long here. But the bike shop knows why they want the full price and knows the 100% absolute correct answer.

I find that just asking questions like that usually results in a "happy to explain" honest answer. I don't always like the answer...but I rarely have trouble getting the answer. And sometimes when an answer I don't like is explained to me clearly I understand why a store is doing what they are doing, even if I still want them to do something else.

Plus if you just talk with the shop owner and convince him that you're a serious buyer he might cut you a break on the 100% thing.

Or he may legitimately not have the cash or credit line on hand to do the purchase on his own. I have to think a bike shop in Yellowknife is running on a pretty thin profit margin this time of year.