That is a great question:

1. Swap in person

2. Deal only with people you know

3. Send an invoice with the amount due as the amount of what you are trading is worth and put that item they owe you in trade as payment due

Just a few thoughts but nothing is certain I suppose

Manny

You purchase your item through paypal, he does the same thing. Both parties pay the same amount, because it is an even trade. Something goes wrong then you have paypal on your side. You will have to pay paypals fee but that is your insurance policy.

Or Manny has best suggestion, trade in person. Of course that easier said that done.

You can also request their ebay user name and hope they give it. Keep all correspondence. If they don't come through, out them here!

If it's with a forum member I advise exercising patience in the event of "slow to ship". I just scuttled a deal with a VDF member through impatience on my part....so that's kind of on my mind here. Have faith in people, is my advice to myself...:)

Ebay is a whole nuther kettle of fish...

Mitch

There is only one way really... Know who you are dealing with! I don't do 'first time swaps' with strangers, period. If I don't -know- the person, no deal. That, or use a trusted intermediary, someone local to where the trade is.

John