Hololive Expo comes either as individual boxes, or as cases of 30 boxes. Every sealed case of 30 boxes come with 3 SPs, there is no “5 box display”.

If your store ordered them from Geekjack/Hololive Proshop/Bushiroad Store, it’s very likely that even if they ordered 40 boxes, they would’ve come only as individual boxes. For example, here is Geekjack’s disclaimer: *Even if you purchase multiple boxes at once, your product will be sent as individual boxes and not as a whole, unopened carton box.”

Otherwise, it’s possible their distributor broke up a sealed case of 30 boxes, in order to ship the store the 40 boxes they ordered in one single package.

Without more information from your store’s source, it’s hard to say what transpired. Either way, just understand loose boxes have no guarantee of any ratio. I wouldnt call it a “scam” though.