Buyer protection question

Simple.

By reading the feedback in the seller's file here on Audiogon. Also check on Ebay for the seller's user name and e-mail address. Often sellers here are also listed at Ebay.

If ANYTHING seems out of place, request clarification and if you're uncomfortable at all, don't buy. Always ask personal information including telephone numbers and addresses. Use wire transfers because they are bank to bank and both sides know exactly who they're doing business with.

Anyone who won't give a phone number and a verifiable address is flaky at best.

Lastly, call the seller. If you're within two hundred miles and it's a big ticket, Pick it up and pay cash.
Very few people don't like cash!

And when you have tons of positive feedback insist on hard payment up front and always keep your word.

Patent,

I just read Ligi's input and took the time to look up the feedback on Gary1 and Ligi. Ligi who will only buy COD has one posative and no negatives, Gary1 who has good experience as both a buyer and a seller and pays in advance and expects payment in advance has seventeen positives and no negatives and I only buy and sell prepaid have thirty-seven positives.

It is custom to prepay. There have been too many couterfeit money orders, bank checks and the like. Know your seller and pay in advance. I don't trust escrow arrangements. It still leaves the power in the unknown. I've delivered a unit and payment is not in hand. Yeah, I know. What if the unit isn't delivered? That's what history and verification is for. Do your homework before payment, just like buying anywhere.