Do Not Touch Signs – Here's What You're Missing

We know they can look a little unwelcoming at first glance — and we've seen the comments. So let's clear a few things up.

Why do the signs exist?

✅ Insurance — Specialist music retail insurance is notoriously difficult to obtain, largely because of the high value of stock held on the premises. Our insurers require us to take reasonable precautions. That's non-negotiable. We can not operate without proper insurance cover.

✅ Safety — We use locking instrument hangers. They're there to stop a £1,000+ guitar from accidentally crashing to the floor. They're not always intuitive to release, and we've seen instruments knocked into neighbouring stock when customers try to remove them unaided.

✅ Protecting you — If a customer accidentally damages an instrument, we are legally entitled to ask them to pay for it. We really don't want to be in that position. Neither do you.

Now here's the bit our critics seem to miss…

👉 Read the next line on the sign. It says: "Please ask for assistance."

That means one of our team will come over, safely remove the instrument from the hanger, tune it where needed, and hand it to you — so you can play it to your heart's content. We take full responsibility for getting it down safely. You take full responsibility for enjoying it.

We do not ban customers from trying instruments. That would be absurd. We have a shop precisely so that you can come in, pick something up, and make sure it's right for you before you buy. Experienced musicians know there's no substitute for that.

A word to our critics…

All of those commenting negatively have, interestingly, never actually set foot in our shop — and if they ever did visit, we'd almost certainly recognise them from their profile picture. So their criticism is based on assumption rather than experience.

A quick note for those who think they're posting anonymously: the admins of a business page can still see exactly who you are, even when you post anonymously. Just so you know.

Negative, abusive, or misleading comments are deleted, users are blocked, and where appropriate, actions are reported. We make no apology for that — we have a responsibility to maintain a respectful space for our genuine community.

Why visit a shop at all?

Here's the thing: you simply cannot try before you buy online. You can read specs, watch videos, and read reviews — but you cannot feel the weight of a guitar in your hands, hear how a violin projects in a room, or know whether an instrument truly suits you until you play it. No two instruments of the same model are ever the same - there are always differences. It is always wise to try before you buy and buy the one you try. That's exactly why experienced musicians choose to buy from a physical shop. And that's exactly why we exist.

You are genuinely, warmly welcome. Come in, ask for help, and try as many instruments as you like. That's what we're here for.

See you soon. 🎵

📍 17 High Street, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9DS
📞 01507 838 448
🌐 www.musicbits.co.uk