Hi--- The way it is usually done here and in Shutterbug is for the buyer
to send a M.O. or cashiers check for the agreed on sum, and the seller sends
the item upon receipt. I have done this many times, though it is scary
the first few times. It guarantees nothing, but is reasuring, to talk by
phone with the seller. My experience has been: 50% of time item is accurately
described, 40% of time the description is sufficiently accurate to keep
the item, about 10% of the time the item is much worse than expected.
With all of this, 90% of the time the transaction is easy, and returns
and refunds are made without problems, if that is the result. Out-and-out
cheating has happened to me 4 times in about a dozen years and much trading -
not a bad average. An alternative method used some of the time (especially
when there is uncertainty) is "cash (M.O. or C.C. are usually accepted, also)
only" UPS COD - it is somewhat more secure, but cannot guarantee complete
security.