"If you ain't 'gone buy it...

[timeroo]

There's a shop here run by an old Italian guy and if he doesn't think you have the money to buy something, he won't let you try it. When I was younger, he had a strat I was dying to buy. I saved up for months, walked into the shop with $1300 in my pocket and asked him if I could try it. His response was "maybe you should try something in your price range, I don't need you scratching the expensive stuff". I showed him my wad of cash and walked right back out the door. Now that I am making good money and the shop is near my work and when I go in there he asks me to try everything and I respond with "oh I dunno about that, it's probably way to expensive for me".

 

[misterspockyall]

I think it's a hard life for a Brick and Mortar gear shop. In the 90s we had a ton of small shops where you could try some pretty nice gear. Now we have a Guitar Center, and that's about it. On one hand, I see not wanting to let every jerk-off come put their grubby hands on your fretboards. On the other, it's the only damn way I'm spending the premium/tax to buy it in person.

I'd love to run a store, but with today's internet pricing, there's no way in hell. I'd lose my ass. But I'd have to think your customer service better be on point, or you have next to no advantages over an internet dealer who can have an item on your doorstep in less than a week.