I think buyers need to be aware, very aware, of the dangers of buying from sellers like this.
1. He hasn't stated that he's drop-shipping. Big no-no.
2. Drop-shipping and asking for pre-payment is foolish in my opinion. If I discovered that I'd paid in full for something that wasn't even in the seller's possession, I'd immediately contact my card provider. Forget about PayPal's slow 1-2 month "investigation".
3. This whole drop-shipping concept needs to be re-evaluated, again in my opinion. I think eBay not only needs to change its policy concerning drop-shipping, but to enforce it without exception. No special bikkies for "special sellers". No trading out of a financial mudpool.
Suggestion: by all means pay 10% of the purchase price up-front from a registered business, on the understanding that this amount is refundable if the item doesn't arrive. Do not pay the full amount until it's in stock and ready to be sent.
I don't mind paying the full amount on something from a b&m store whom I trust, if it's a costly item and needs to be specially ordered in, as long as my consumer rights are protected fully. But on eBay, it's like falling through the rabbit-hole and ending up in Blunderland.