I have noticed that since RCU came on the scene, I have not purchased my RC equipemt through E-bay. If I need something in a pinch and I cant find it on RCU. I will then buy retail. Only Time I've used E-bay is if its has buy it now or if not I bid a very low price, and usually dont win the e-bay auction. On the e-bay auctions Im either snipped at the end or vary rarly win the item. Some times I will find on e-bay a seller will try and sell something for a like new price and its in like new condition.
I have never been ripped off on RCU by a seller, and I've been ripped off more than once on E-bay (that is where the seller never ships) I was only ripped off on RCU when I sold a TX to someone and they claimed they never received the TX (they claimed they got the shipping box and some of its contience but no TX) and I had to refund the money to the buyer through Pay Pal.
All in all I feel RCU to be the safest on line place to buy my RC equipment. I think that her on RCU it's more of a one on one transaction, where I've seen on E-bay they have the shadow bidders I call them (people who jack up the bid, just so the seller gets his money out of the item sold. sometimes its crap when you get it and sometimes its in like new condition.
Well thats my thoughts on E-bay buying as compaired to buying on RCU. Hope this helps
NEDYOB