As you say, I think an unknown customer might be expected to put down a deposit on a deal like that. They took the wait and see approach. It's quite possible that it would have sold out before they ordered it anyway though. I really like my LBS, and they know me very well, but I still have to bug them about things like this if I'm serious. They are very busy and I'm not a huge profit center.

I used to have bike shop worker discount withdrawals after I got a real job. Making so much more money and seasonal security got me over it.