It's funny because this is how guitars and musical instruments were sold probably up to the 90s when all you had were small stores. You'd go to a shop, play a few, find the one that fit you best and buy the same one you just played. And this is still very much typically the case when you go to smaller, local stores. If they have three Gibson Les Paul's in your price range and you're intent on buying one, you'll still play all three and take home your favorite. They're not going into the back to pull out an unplayed one for you. In a way, that would be seen as a bait and switch.an-electric-heart wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 11:36 pm That's funny. Where I live (in New Zealand), there's no stock "out the back", there's the one on display that gets touched and played by customers... And that's it. This whole concept you speak of is alien to me.
But when it comes to big box and online retailers, the expectation is the exact opposite. That's in large part because their floor models get abused and will typically be sold at discounts to free up space for be models. So people want new or floor models at a discount. I don't blame folks but it's funny because the mom and pop shop is expected to work that way. They also won't let a grubby teenager with Dorito strained fingers play a 4k guitar like GC would. Selling b-stock as new is never cool though.
