ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr
I personally wouldn't expect a shop to take a rest out of the package and set it up on a bow just so I could look at it. Would be nice if they had one set up that way, but most just use flipper rests for demo bows.
I suppose if this was a shop you did a lot of business with and were serious about getting one, or you were buying a new bow as well I could see them doing it. But if you were just some dude walking in off the street goofing around I wouldn't expect it to happen.
I'm not really saying you are asking too much, I'm just saying personally I wouldn't expect it. I will be honest I have never asked a shop in my area to do this. If there are shops that will do this that is fantastic and I applaud them.
Paul
I'm completely with Paul on this one. They should be willing to take it out of the packaging and demonstrate how it functions and explain its strengths and weaknesses. The only thing setting a rest up on a bow for you does is what exactly? You can't see it function when you shoot it anyway. If they don't take the time to get the rest tuned for the bow/arrow/archer then it doesn't shoot well, you call it a piece of junk and then they'restuck with a "used" rest (because you're probably the same guy that would complain if they tried to sell it for "new" price now that it's been shot). Kudos to the shop that'll take the time to do this type of thing but I can't blame the ones who don't; profit on a $100 rest is only about $30, if they spend an hour trying to sell one they're going backwards.
Now if you bought the rest a good shop should take the time to make sure it is properly installed and tuned for you and your bow, to me that's where the customer service should really kick in at a decent proshop. It's got to be a two way street, if the shop can't make a profit, they aren't going to stay in business and you're not going to have one to utilize, but they've got to earn your business through good customer service. Just be reasonable in your expectations.