John;
I am not saying that you have to pay a deposit but it is the norm with large aircraft and slowly becoming the same with smaller. If you don't wish to pay a deposit, simply tell them you are not going to. My advice was for those who are in a position of having to pay a deposit and showing them how to protect their money from the scammers.
I did say in my previous, that the refundable deposit is based upon satisfactory inspection. That means that the deposit never leaves the escrow account until the inspection has been satisfactory.
Even on large a/c, what usually happens is that the deposit and purchase funds are paid directly after the inspection if both parties still wish to proceed.
A deposit, no matter how big or small is nothing more than an expression of "good faith" which there is very little of anymore.
But if you do wish to conduct business buyer to seller direct, have at 'er!
carholme