A while back when I first started my Chanel journey, at one of the boutiques, the SA said she could only guarantee me a particular bag if I paid for it before it even came. I told her I wanted to see the bag first before deciding. She said she'd let me know when the bag arrived. In the end, that bag was all bought-up before it even arrived to the boutique. I remember I was so disappointed with this process, because, like you, I want to see the bag before I buy it. I was advised after that, that because of Chanel's popularity, paying first was the only way to go. Since then, I have learned from my own experience that it really depends on the boutique and maybe even the SA. I don't like pressure sales.