I strongly urge anyone who is buying on eBay to use an escrow service. eBay recommends one of them --iEscrow-- right on the site. Complete information about iEscrow can be found at <http://www.iescrow.com/ebay/> eBay also urges you to be familar with their Safe Harbor program <http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/index.html>, which is designed to minimize fraud. AMong the blurbs there is this: ------- While the vast majority of eBay transactions are trouble-free, rest assured that when fraud happens, insurance coverage can help. Here's how fraud is defined on eBay: 1. Paying for an item and never receiving it or 2. Receiving an item that is less than what is described -- such as winning a solid gold necklace at auction but receiving a copper one instead. If you feel you need to use your insurance coverage, here are the steps to take: 1. First, try to communicate with your seller directly. Many problems are just simple misunderstandings. To contact this person, fill out The Registered User Information Request page. 2. Review the Insurance Eligibility Checklist and Claims Process to understand how you qualify for insurance. 3. If you still suspect fraud and have gone through Steps 1 and 2, file a Fraud Report. ----- The escrow service will act as intermediary, receiving your funds ) and holding them until you receive the merchandise and have the opportunity to inspect it. You can use a card, if you wish, but the service fee is less if you send some form of a check or money order. If you like what you received, you let them know and they send the funds to the seller. If you don't, you return the unit to the seller and he lets them know when he has received it back, then the service returns your money to you. In the case of a dispute, at least the seller doesn't have the money either and the two of you will have to work out an agreement. There is a small service fee, and both seller and buyer must agree to use the escrow service. The buyer pays the service fee, but it's worth it to save being robbed. My opinion is that reputable sellers will not hesitate to do so. If they are in such a hurry to get their money, that's the first warning sign. Their unwillingness to go through an escrow service is an equally-bad omen, in my view. The services are absolutely trustworthy, and, in fact, have federal laws watching over them. Barring this, or perhaps in addition to it, I would be prepared to take pictures of the item as it sits in the box in which it was delivered, and again when it's out of its box. You might also have someone witness your opening of the box. C.O.D. --which is another way I have bought-- when allowed can work somewhat. The UPS guy will wait while you at least open the box and and give a preliminary inspection to ascertain (1) it is what you ordered and (2) is not damaged externally. However, once the UPS guy moves on that COD money is on its way. Sometimes the seller acepts a personal or company check, which can be stopped if you find the unit doesn't work. Sometimes the seller demands a bank check...I'm not sure if those can be stopped or not. Richard Huggins ----------------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
