Same here with a guitar shop 90 mins from me, had 2 basses I wanted to buy, about £5k, asked for a £1k non refundable deposit to hold them. I explained I was happy to pay a deposit, would drive straight to him and if they were as described would buy them both and if not I’d like the money back. He point blank refused and needless to say I didn’t travel up. They were still for sale 2 months later…