Reasonable not to be offered a trial on a cart?


Hi everyone. This query is in respect of a cart but applies to any audio component really.
In this day and age it's getting harder to maintain a relationship with a single dealer. I realise this means that approaching a distributor/dealer for the first time means they have no way of knowing whether I'm a timewaster. Often I'll pick up on the buzz of a favoured component, seek it out, and if poss secure a home demo. There's only been a handful of items I've not gone on to purchase.
I have my eye (ear?) on a particular high end cart (I won't reveal it's identity for the time being). However the UK dealer, while happy to audition it in his system, will not consider making it available for home demo, claiming this would be expensive and impractical (understandable considering he is 200 miles from me).
But this I find perplexing-he claims even if it is run in, it won't sound good ie components NEVER sound good listened for the first time in an installation.
Now, I do understand a one off listen of a new component in an alien system may be disorientating, and the cart could hardly be left with me, but surely in the Golden Age of audio, home demos were used as the last stage in clinching a deal to buy the component.
Or am I incorrect, maybe carts never were available for demo.
Any thoughts on the dealer's reticence, and his assertion that all components are likely not to sound of their best when first installed in a system.
spiritofmusic
Br, Happy Xmas to you and all at A'gon. Quite agree with everyone's reasons for cart home demo reticence. But now I've found a dealer with the cart I'm interested in to accommodate home demo, I'm a very happy boy. Thanx for everyone's input.
Wanted to update this older thread. I think in todays market the idea of a home audition and a cartridge in particular has probably changed. I was lucky enough to have my dealer allow a home audition on my deck prior to committing to a purchase. Essentially, this confidence in me as a customer sealed the deal for me. The deal was that i could listen to the cartridge at home for a week before committing. This allowed me to allay any possible concerns I had with the purchase. While I understand that this is a very tough deal for most dealers, and maybe impossible right now, perhaps it is a thing that we will in fact see more of in the future...here's hoping! 
How things go. I did get that home demo which led to a nice sale for the dealer. Subsequently I ended up buying his bespoke LPS for the cart, and his SET amps. All in all, everyone happy.
The reason is that you get your free demo from the dealer to make sure how it works in your system, but they you're buying elsewhere cheaper (from grey market dealers online). 
I could do that after demoing the cart at the dealer as well. Demo at home wouldn't add to temptation to source more cheaply.
The US dealer/distrib of one of the current hot new thing carts got into a real lather when he discovered a top audiophile hadn't bought thru him.
Me? I don't agree w that audiophile, although I get the temptation. If I saw the mark up was overly greedy (which it is on this line), I wouldn't look at the cart in the first place.
This was a simple case of paying for the dealer's time and effort to swing by, install a cart already on demo in the store, and try and get a sale.
Imho, really not asking too much.