I requested some prices for a GE 201SA and M250R2 at the electric supply store, and it turns out that they are now discontinued!
It turns out that they aren't discontinued.
And if you want an AEL 125, they also said that they couldn't get the prices because you need an "engineering license".

sad.... but am learning to live with this...

What, you really need an "engineering license" to buy a street light fitting? Over here you can walk into a electrical wholesaler and buy whatever you want whether you are an electrician or not.

I requested some prices for a GE 201SA and M250R2 at the electric supply store, and it turns out that they are now discontinued!
And if you want an AEL 125, they also said that they couldn't get the prices because you need an "engineering license".

"Engineering license? " What is that? I eventually want to order a 150w PSMH 125, but it sounds like I won't be able to. Before that I want to get a Type II 100w PSMH cooper NEMA. I created a graybar account for reasons unrelated to lighting (networking equipment) and so I might try to find out if they were being truthful about the engineering license. Also, what configuration were you planning for the 125?

Also, what configuration were you planning for the 125?

I was trying to order the 125 25S XH 120 R4DG LC option.

I was trying to order the 125 25S XH 120 R4DG LC option.

Why  don't you order PSMH instead of HPS? HPS 125's show up on eBay all the time.

You need an "engineering license" did you ask for a "free engineering samples" or is that there polite yet confusing way of saying they couldn't care about selling one single light, I'd email AEL and ask them for the engineering license application, and when they ask why, in that confused way, explain to them that one of there dealers refused to get you a quote on there products, and this is a good time to ask if you can get an engineering sample, since your only looking for one to evaluate before buying more, the worst they can say is no, and also ask which dealer doesn't have a problem selling there products, they will tell you..   

If I still can't get any lights from the electric supply, I might try to buy it directly from AEL.

I'm 95% sure these are not discontinued. There's nothing that I could see on G.E.'s website to support this. Both the 201SA and M250R2 are still listed. I think the electrical supply house you went to simply doesn't want to deal with you so they were telling you whatever they could to get you out of there. This is common in wholesale distribution because places like that deal mostly with contractors who buy in bulk. I work in wholesale distribution selling irrigation supplies and we have done the same thing. A homeowner calls in and wants to order one of a specific item and we simply tell them sorry we can't get those.

I'll believe that these fixtures are discontinued when G.E. removes them from the website or releases something stating they're discontinued.

@wattMaster,
I highly doubt you will be able to purchase anything direct from AEL. You will have to go through a distributor. Very few manufacturers sell direct to consumers.

They may be discountinued but still sold from an existing stock at some big distributor's warehouses, with GE still listing it on the website for reference

Does anyone have any other tips to get past this confusing license requirement?

Try going to another electrical supply house. I have never heard of needing a license to buy lights. In the past I have ordered lights from AEL with no problem. It is possible that this could be a new policy, however I feel the same about this as them telling you those lights were discontinued. Nothing more than a reason to get you to leave. It eats up a lot of their time when an enthusiast like you or me goes in there requesting quotes on one light. The profit in selling one light isn't worth their time when they deal with contractors and cities who order by the pallet or truckload. Most of the time I've dealt with nice people at supply houses. A few times they wouldn't give me the time of day though. I almost want to go to Graybar and get a quote on a special order G.E. And AEL light to see if I get the same response.

Today, I went to the electric supply place to find out why this is happening, and the reason I needed an engineering license is because they tried to get the prices through the city. So now they're going to ask AEL directly, so hopefully it will work out this time.

Why would you need engineering license anyway (and any more so vs. ordering a yard blaster ?)

Why would you need engineering license anyway (and any more so vs. ordering a yard blaster ?)

The city wanted a license because they only want professional contractors to have these lights.