ORIGINAL: Dr1Driver
Knock on (balsa) wood, I've never been burned on eBay. I follow a few criteria.
1. If it's too good to be true - it is.
2. Know what you want is worth on the open market.
3. Don't be suckered into a last minute bidding war - know your top offer and stick to it.
4. Don't buy from people with low feedback numbers or too many neutral or negative replies.
5. Make sure there is a reasonable return policy.
6. Look for good, detailed pictures of the real item for sale, not ''file photos'', etc.
Spot on good advice! But I will go a little further. Only buy kits if the CONTENTS are well photographed. I have bought a box of balsa wood sheeting some one "called" a kit. It was OK because the 1/16" sheet balsa was worth ..almost ...what I paid. The lesson was priceless!
This applies to any online purchases, I only use Paypal too.
I like to buy the OOP kits sometimes. I have a Topflight Holy Smoke kit NIB that is waiting to be built.
This can be a fun part of the hobby just as always BE CAREFUL.