No wonder nothing sells: wire transfer only

How about sending half the payment thru Zelle as a buyer, and the other half when the buyer received the product.

I was faced with exactly this issue when buying a Holbo turntable from Slovenia.  (I live upside-down on the other side of the world).

The choice was an up-front direct bank transfer, or a premium for PayPal.  In the end I trusted Holbo and went the direct transfer route, partly because it was easier than setting up a PayPal transaction.  Holbo shipped as soon as my funds were cleared, and delivery was fast and smooth.

Normally I prefer to us a credit card, together with PayPal if the vendor supports this option.

Europeans sometimes do ask for extra if you want to use paypal, usually 3%-5%.

I've spent 5 figures through Zelle. Was just fine. 

When I joined Agon, there was NO PayPal. And the risk had to be laid out one way or another. At the same time, you were allowed to directly contact a seller, and talk to them on the phone. I believe that discussion between the buyer and the seller goes along way in reducing risk. Some of the benefits of USAM.

I often sell my gear using friends and family… Although I give the buyer the option of paying the extra fee fees. I have excellent feedback, and most people have been quite comfortable with it.