IMO the only reason to actually go to a local gc is to physically try something out, but it's worth it to me if they have what I want, which is, uh, rare.
That's just about my mindset as well. What might encourage a visit is some online research first, then perhaps a heads-up phone call. The GC website actually said the closest GC that had what I wanted in store was in NE Massachusetts, but a phone call to my local GC revealed that they had something else that was on my wishlist that I'd not researched.
The local GC rep was pleasant enough, but didn't pursue any direct sale. The rep simply said, "This is what we have, if you need any help, just ask."
I don't know if this is the preferred sales method GC is using now, but I kinda liked the no-pressure/no hassle approach. For those who found it difficult to flag down a sales rep when they needed help, yeah, something at your GC isn't providing enough assistance.
Whatever the results, I walked out with a new Epi Modern and case for my Epi Sheraton trade-in plus cash, plus a free 6-pack of jazz picks. Although I usually sell my gear on eBay whenever something new comes in, this was one time where I didn't wish to bother with eBay and took a loss of purchased value.
I didn't plan on buying a new Epi, though the Epi has its own features that were enough for me to want to take it home. What GC had in stock wasn't exactly what my visit was for, though the visit's purpose was to trade-in my Sheraton for something else. What that was, though, was something I didn't expect it to be.