What do you think of the practice of bringing a violin or bow you are interested in buying to a shop that comes from another shop?

Generally it's not a good idea to bring instruments from another shop. Sometimes there are circumstances where it cannot be avoided, such as not wanting to leave the instruments in a car, etc.

If someone has instruments shipped in from out of state, it is a good idea to try them at home and at the lesson, rather than at another violin shop.

Regarding your question about mail order....

I agree that it is in poor taste to try something at the local shop and then buy it on line. Most players value their local shop and will try to support it. I have seen some teachers make a list of items and send the student all over town to pick up several things. I have to wonder if it cost more in gas than just to buy it all in one place. Hmmm

I can't speak for all violin shops but in our shop we do charge more for strings than our mail order competitors do. However, we will gladly exchange the string if it is defective and will also install the string. Yesterday I put a set of strings on for a customer at our shop. I noticed that the instrument needed some attention. While installing the strings, I moved the bridge to the right place, drilled new string holes in the pegs, which it desperately needed and lubricated the fine tuners so that they would turn smoothly again. Can you get that kind of service from mail order?

Another case in point, we had a customer in to replace a broken string. I noticed that the nut was too low and the strings were buzzing on the fingerboard. Who knows how long this would have gone unnoticed. I guess the teacher wasn't aware of it. We replaced the nut and the instrument plays like a dream. I wonder how motivated the student would be if the violin continued to buzz when played.

If you value your local shop then please support it. Keep in mind that most shops cannot buy strings in the quantity that the on line/mail order companies do. In many cases the violin shop suppliers charge the local dealer more money for strings than the on line companies sell them for. This, I believe, is a very sore point among many dealers. Just try to get the kind of service on line that your local shop can provide to you.