Okay, going against the grain here, but it seems pretty obvious to me that if this is the type of service you require, you need to either buy an instrument from Mim or choose a model that already has individual photos on the website in question.
If you tell us the uke and the seller, we could give a better answer. Both have an effect on how things work. As you suggested, having ukes in boxes piled in a store room can make it a challenge to get the box, unpack the uke, take a picture, and then put it back. There's also the issue of unpacking and repacking - depending one the uke. Will the buyer want a uke that has obviously been unpacked and repacked?
Since the ukes get a setup, not being unpacked would be a red flag.
I think I know the dealer in question here based on what you're looking for. I think, just my personal opinion, that this dealer is getting to the point of thinking they are doing their customers a service by selling their instruments to them.
You are absolutely not asking too much to see more pictures of the instrument. Also, price point shouldn't be an issue here either because if they decide to sell this brand at this price point, they should be willing to answer the questions and requests from potential customers. To see how the business/customer relationship should really work, contact MIM's Ukes.
Jim
That was my thought, too. They will be unpacked and repacked, because even without a setup, the seller would hopefully be checking to make sure that the ukulele hasn't been damaged before shipping it.
I think most ukes are set up when ordered then shipped out
Haha, HMS is very responsive in person and on the phone but, yeah, email ain't their thing.
I suspect I know which seller is being referenced, and while some people have good luck in contacting them and working with them, I haven't. I've given up on them. But maybe I'm thinking of the wrong place.
It would be nice to know for sure, rather than casting a shadow on several sellers.
IMO, if a business is not going to answer, don't put a contact form on your website, and don't list email as a way to contact you.
State that you'll only respond in person or to phone calls.
If you're an internet business, at least in part, people expect to be able to contact you through a contact form or email and get a response, especially with time differences that can make it very difficult to contact some businesses during the hours that they accept calls. And even then, I found that phone calls during business hours don't necessarily work, either. Sure, businesses can be busy with in person customers, or on another call, but if a message is left, someone should be returning the call.
Since the ukes get a setup, not being unpacked would be a red flag.
Normally you do the setup after the customer puts the money in your hand. Otherwise you'd waste time doing setups twice. The customer might require special strings, saddle upgrade, higher or lower action, pickup, etc.
Its reasonable for the shop to balance the needs of all of the customers of the shop.
Which is what seems to be happening in this case.
The shop gives everyone gets the same opportunity, if you don't take your opportunity when your turn comes up, you go to the back of the queue. That is how a shop is fair to all of the customers. Sometimes the shop will be busy and wont have a lot of time for each customer, sometimes there will be only one customer and the shop will have all day to help the single customer. That is business.
If you want to buy a ukulele that has such high demand that it has almost sold out, you need to buy it while it is in stock. If you dilly dally and vacillate there wont be any left to buy. You can focus on what is reasonable or you can focus on getting the ukulele.
The other customers of this mystery shop for this mystery ukulele are probably very pleased that they have had an opportunity to buy the last of the stock of this ukulele, they wont think it is unreasonable to get some service themselves. They are now probably waiting on delivery or already have their new uke and are playing it all day. And they know it wont look the same in 10 years because the wood will age and change colour anyway.