I am blessed to have some very good shops in my area. They take the time to show you several different bows if you want, and set them up to fit you. Not just pull one off the rack and let you shoot it with 2 inches too much draw and more draw weight than you need or can handle.

I have one near me in Jackson MI that carries a lot of bows. They have a ton of inventory from most major companies like Mathews, Bowtech, Hoyt, Darton and others. I have went in and told them up front I was not buying anything, just looking around and I might get something 6 months down the road or so, but for now I was just comparing different bows. They spent well over an hour letting me shoot several bows ranging from $300 to over a thousand, even though I told them I was not going to spend any where near that. And I have done this on several occasions over the years. I ended up getting my Mighty Might there.

We have another shop near me in Swanton Ohio were I took my girlfriend to get her bow. They tend to have target models in stock which is why I took her there. They let her shoot a few different bows comparing them to her cheaper Alpine. Took the time to explain the differences to her, correct her form and let her try some different releases. After we decided what we wanted to buy ( Rintec target bow) he let her pick out what she wanted on it and explained the differences in sights, rests and releases. Then when he set it up he showed her what he was doing and why. After that they spent about an hour or more with her letting her shoot it giving her lessons on form and how to use her new back tension release.

There was another place here where I got my first darton. This little old man had an archery/bait shop and I went in to look at bows. He showed me a few and offered to let me shoot a few, but I declined because I had shot one at gander mountain and bounced the arrow off the wall to my side. He assured me this wouldn't happen with him showing me how to shoot it. He said I if I got a bow from him he would teach me how to shoot and I if I wasn't satisfied he would give me my money back. He held true to his word and spent a whole Sunday afternoon showing me how to shoot behind his shop. I was drilling a 3 inch circle at 30 yards before I left. I was impressed. After that every time me or me and one of my buddies would go in there for something, not only would he let us shoot different bows if we asked but he would ASK US if we wanted to shoot them. It was not uncommon to go in there and have him say " Guys, I got this new bow, or gizmo you have to check out! If you have a minute lets go out back and fling some arrows through it.".

You just can't beat service like that. Unfortunately he passed away. The new guy seems pretty cool as well though, but I don't make it out there very often anymore.

I have been in some shops like you are talking about though. Especially some guns shops. They just don't seem to care if they sell anything or not.

Paul