How do you tradE?
I have done a few trades. I usually talk to them on the phone too and ever time, we have shipped the items the same day as each other and sent tracking numbers to each other. It has worked well ever time. No reason you should have him ship to you first or you to him first. It is different than a money transaction.
Same applies as anything else. Get lots of pictures from the other person, ask specific questions, get a general feeling of what you are getting and if you are unsure, ask for a detailed picture that he has to go take to make sure what you are getting is genuine. Then agree on a date of shipping, for both of you and ship it! If you have a bad feeling get out of it before your ship date. Otherwise, ship your product the same day he does and spend a few days hoping the product is as specified, the same thing he will be doing. If you don't want to stress over it, don't. If you are too stressed, don't trade stuff.