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.
this is a good rule of thumb its about the same as I use when bidding/buying on ebay, I would add if your really interested in a particular item ask questions of the seller, most honest sellers will get right back to you, and if there is any problems you can reference the emails you have recieved in your dispute.
I bid on a kit a while back and asked the seller if it was complete he had replied that he thought it was, well after recieving it it was a disaster missing nearly half the parts,after comunicating this he issued me a full refund including my shipping when I offered to return the box he said to keep it and was sorry he sold me the item,I left him a positive feedback, since he went out of his way to make good on the deal.
I should also add I have purchased on RCU and sold items as well, it always pays to ask questions of a seller if it seems like there might be a problem, its as simple as, why are you selling the item in the first place.