Whilst I agree with you on the buying, hold it, feel it, try it, I have gone against that rule & gone on gut instinct. Don't really know why, but it seamed the right thing to do at the time.
I bought two guitars from Thomann Musikhaus, Treppendorf, in Germany.
Both have arrived very well packed with no damage, prices have been better than those given on the uk market. Very little re-tuning has been required, and very satisfied with the service given.