1. join paypal.
2. fund your paypal account with your best credit card. big purchase, call your credit card first, confirm their 'fraud' coverage. They keep a record of that inquiry in their system.
3. ask questions, get answers in writing, within the system you are using, i.e. eBay, PayPal, Reverb ... so you have a record of buyer's answers/assurances to you.
4. get an invoice from seller to you via Paypal, for the item, i.e. the invoice is for 'goods and services' which are covered by paypal protoection (sending money to friends or family is not protected).
5. you may need to pay seller the 'extra' cost of paypal, i.e. +3%, but it is worth it for protection, I offer that up front when I want something and seller is reluctant .... once I split the 3% with seller.
6. insurance: seller buys insurance on your behalf, however, any claim will need to be documented by you/shipper's regional office, then returned to seller's shipper who has to verify the damage.
IOW, insurance is wise, but not quick or sure, Canada UPS sold my seller insurance, he put the word 'vintage' in the description. Claim: they said not covered, they do not insure 'antiques'. So, he lost, had to refund me out of his funds, luckily he did, took a while,
I had to start with PayPal, then start credit card's 14 day clock for a fraud claim, then credit card would make a claim to PayPal and PayPal would threaten to close sellers PayPal account. Told him that, he refunded me.