I had a similar experience while shopping for a torch type lamp in Wal-Mart. They didn't have a display model for this particular lamp, and the box did not say what the shade was made of. Anyway in this situation I felt comfortable opening a product since no one would assist me, and there is no display available. As soon as I started to, this old crabby man in a blue vest starts yelling down the aisle, and accusing me of opening other lamps nearby, saying he can't get them back in the box.
So I said "OK Sir, can you show me where the display model is". He looks around and says, "there isn't one, but it's a lamp what more do you need to know..." I asked him if the shade was metal or plastic. He looks at the box for a minute or two and concludes it doesn't matter either way. Well since I was getting no where this jerk, I took the product to the Customer Service desk. I reported how he treated me, and they apologized. They gladly opened the box for me. It was metal and I purchased it right there.