PicDude <piclist@mit.edu> wrote:

> I am about to purchase an item on Ebay, but have a reason to distrust
> the seller.  I intend to pay with Paypal, but not sure that I have any
> easy protection in case of probelms.  I would like to know if there are
> any safe 3rd party brokerage services that I can use for a small fee to
> protect me if the item isn't as described.

    The easiest advice, of course, is: If you don't trust the seller,
    don't buy from him. 

    If you have no choice, though, what you're looking for is an escrow
    -- either a commercial escrow service like escrow.com, or a
    knowledgeable friend geographically near the seller. 

    If you go with a commercial service, use escrow.com; they're
    recommended by Ebay.  DON'T use another escrow service unless you
    have some way to know FOR CERTAIN that they're legitimate.  Details
    of the escrow process are available at: 

        https://www.escrow.com/solutions/escrow/process.asp

    I've used escrow.com a couple of times; it's pretty painless.  You
    may even be able to convince your seller to split the escrow fee
    with you. 

    -Andy

=== Andrew Warren - fastfwd@ix.netcom.com

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