I think most of the shops do this to keep from having a machine that has been on the floor for too long. If used for too long then it has to become a demo. personally I think once it has been opened and put on the floor it is a DEMO. I bought a Elna 740 Excellence, was going to buy the Janome 7700 but all they had was a floor model, as I called it, they told me I could have it, I said no I want one out of the box, so I took the Elna, same machine, I will not buy one off the floor unless it is sold to me as a demo and has same guarantee as new one. I bought my HV Diamond as a demo and saved $3000.00 dollars. It had same guarantee as one out of the box.