is the same deal elsewhere? or if you back out of this deal, is there a chance that you'd wait for 1 1/2 weeks before finding the same deal from someone else?

If it's only a 2 week maximum wait, then I'd say wait it out and give him a chance to make it happen. Like it was mentioned above - What's the rush?

Sure, I agree with you - it would have been nice to know who his shipper was before all of this - but on the flip side, shouldn't that have been one of your first questions while inquiring?