Since I moved to France about 3 years ago, I have bought 7 skis without trying them first. However, this is not something I recommend at all.
If you have narrow hips like me, you will almost always be disappointed when you find that nearly all skis are designed for super wide hips. After all, it makes sense: I just had to pad the cockpit. That wasn't pleasant, but it's actually rather easy (even if it adds more than a pound of pads and glue).
If you have wider hips, you have to be very careful: if you future ski is pinching you, you will simply not paddle.
It's that simple.
So, if you have wide hips, and if you are unable to try a ski, you are way better off going to a more stable ski that's a tiny bit slower that you can try for FIT, rather that even thinking about a ski you cannot try and may or may not fit into.
Ludovic
(Brittany, France)