I will not pick up an ugly bass. Supposing someone caught it on camera? I'd lose all my street-cred! I want to look awesome playing bass, it helps.
So looks first, then feel. Play it unplugged for a while so you're not distracted by the sound of that £2k+ rig you plugged in to.
Lastly the trivial stuff like sound, the missus' anger level, and actually being able to pay for the thing. The bass I mean.
At this point you may have reduced your options to one or two examples. Pick one at random, pay, go home.
Return it the next day, apologise for your mistake and bring home the one you really wanted, now that sense is no longer a factor.
Easy!