Glycerine:
I mainly posted my post for people living out of the country. Toygeek and JimmyPSHayes
are correct.
Diamond Distributors puts out a book called “Previews” which is what almost every comic shop orders there stock from. If a comic shop owner has an account set up with diamond they can order just one issue of whatever comic you like from the catalog.
The only thing I can figure is the comic shop owner you are talking about has been burned before and is afraid to order something for you for fear you won't pick it up…..or he/she is too lazy to set up an order form for something that has not been offered in the catalog yet.
Your best bet is to watch previews and wait till it's offered and then go in to order it and pay in advance.
You can check out the catalog here:
http://www.diamondcomics.com/