I've spent a fair bit of money on eBay on this and that -- though
never photo equipment, so far.

I look for sellers who not only have good ratings, but who have sold
similar items in the past.  This is to avoid scammers who sell lots
of little things, rack up some good ratings, and then pull a scam
with a big-ticket item.

I've never been burned.  So I think that if you do your homework and
avoid "too good to be true" deals, you can do very well on eBay.

Good luck.

Regards,

I have left feedback in more than 1,400 eBay transactions, decided
against it in a dozen more. I think I lost money in fewer than ten.
Losses were due almost exclusively to my failure to read before
clicking. Total loss would be less than a hundred dollars, but the pain
was from feeling the fool. Total expenditures over six years, close to
thirty thousand dollars, two thousand of that on photo equipment in the
past three months.

The useful techniques are common sense: buy with intellect, not emotion;
keep your eyes open and your purse closed unless you are certain; don't
hesitate to ask questions of the sellers; bid only when all the terms
are satisfactory to you; recognize the likelihood of loss, but don't
obsess over it; remember you are pretty much on your own (eBay and
PayPal and your credit card company might render assistance, but don't
count on it); always give the benefit of the doubt (late deliveries are
probably oversights, not wilful - I sent an email "I hope I gave you the
right address, my item hasn't arrived yet" or some such on the few
occasions it was necessary )(like last week - he said PayPal failed to
notify him of a payment I sent, but he has the responsibility to monitor
that); if you have questions about anything eBay, the answers can be
found in the knowledge of the denizens of alt.marketing.online.ebay.

Never, ever, pay for anything by Western Union, the scammers' greatest
ally.

You will find feedback ratings are useful, and you may want to evaluate
them with this in mind: 97% positive sounds pretty good, until you
notice that means your chances of experiencing a transaction that makes
you want to give a negative is three in a hundred. There is almost
certainly another seller of the same item who has 100% positive
feedback. Of course if you are like me and you set your sights on that
stuffed naked mole rat, you're sure there is none other like it, you'll
throw caution (and money) to the winds.

Back in the day people didn't know the value of many of the
clean-the-closet items they put up for bid. Over time almost all values
have become known to anyone who really wants to know them. The
transition has reached the point where a majority of offers on eBay are
just like the ones at your neighborhood store: the difference is
probably in convenience, not price or uniqueness. It's a rare occurrence
when a genuine bargain is available on eBay and nowhere else. As opposed
to the way it used to be, when you could keep a sharp eye out and make a
genuine "find" on the basis of your alertness and knowledge. That kind
of thing is remotely possible, but usually more trouble than it is
worth, these days.

Any road, it's a challenge, and can be fun and rewarding. Don't let it
scare you, but don't let it roll over you, either.

Only new item I bought from Ebay was a cheesy zoom I bought for my brother
from Cameta Camera. They do have a pretty good rep. The lens I got was not
available anywhere else. I got what I ordered, and it was as described.
Other than that, I would not buy new from EBay. I do buy used equipment
there however.

If you actually research the prices for what you're getting, you almost
always buy cheaper from a regular dealer. For instance, Cameta is selling a
20d kit (18-55) with a 1GB Lexar card a few other cheapy items for $1599 on
EBay. Adorama sells the same kit for $1429. I doubt the flash card, a small
case and card reader are worth $170. I know you can get the flash for under
$100. At best, your not saving anything, and you have to screw with EBay.
Not really worth it.

All of my camera gear was bought on ebay, from a 300D with lens (new, in
shrink-wrapped box, UK sourced and guaranteed by Canon.) on which I saved
over ?100. I have five lenses, angle finder, RC 1, CF cards, spare
batteries, LCD protectors all bought at significantly lower prices. I have
also bought two cars, both excellent.
I have sold Mamiya RB and Olympus OM cameras and lenses, getting better
prices than I would have got in exchange deals.

In all but two cases purchases were delivered next day by Special Delivery.
The other two were delivered inside a week from Japan.
I buy other goods from China, Japan, USA, Holland and Canada. I also sell
surplus gear.

I have had two problems in 270 deals.
One was a mis-described flash gun. I got a full refund.
One was a student who cashed my cheque but didn't send the goods. I used the
dispute service, without paying an arbitration fee, and got my money back.

Most ebayers are great people. If I eventually have a problem and lose out
... so what? I am quids in and can stand an eventual loss. But I don't
really expect it to happen.

(As an aside, why did I go from RB large format & OM to a plastic Canon?
I'm getting older and the weight of the 300D compared with the 20D swung
it.)

I don't know anyone who has used the escrow service. I do know someone
who bought a special type remote control unit that was posted as having
the using instructions to show how to setup the control unit. When he
received the remote control there were no using instructions. Without
the using instruction, the control can't be used. Contact with the
seller was useless.