I just went through something similar. $3K component. Seller says no PayPal and is vague about the reason. Doesn't respond when I ask if I can pay him by credit card. Seems like a good guy though — I talk to him over the phone. He's got fine feedback but mostly on a different site. IF that's even him. Hmm.
We decide to both sign up with escrow.com but the process is so tragically convoluted and the fees so hefty that we mutually decide to go with COD instead.
He ships the component and sends me the tracking number and the package just sits and sits in the UPS system, not moving for eight days. Maybe it's the cold and ice, he says (he lives in the South).
Fast-forward to yesterday. The box finally arrives, a full week late, but I can't take possession because, contrary to what we'd discussed, seller has apparently indicated to UPS he needs a money order or cashier's check. I only have a personal check. But here's where it gets REALLY strange: someone (seller? UPS clerk?) seems to have transposed the numbers, and instead of $3,000, the COD amount is $250.91 — which is the price of packing plus shipping plus insurance. What? I can get a three thousand dollar product for less than a tenth of the price?! It looks like if anyone is going to screw someone else over, here's my chance (not that I would!). I call the seller and he seems as confused as I am. After some thinking, and with the seller's blessing, I drive to my bank and get a money order for $250.91. On my way back, I happen to see the UPS driver, and give him the money order in exchange for the package. Now I owe the seller a hair under $2,750. We agree that I'll just mail him a personal check. (!!)
OK, on to the package. Whatever is inside is double-boxed and super well packed. I peel off layers and layers of bubble wrap while my daughter video-records the whole thing so I'll have a record if something isn't right. Briefly I wonder if the seller has shipped me some bubble-wrapped bricks. And then I finally open the product box and ...
None of what I see has been touched since it left the factory. The component is pristine, per seller's description. The protective cling film is still on the unit and the remote. There's a bill of sale from a legit U.S. dealer, made out to seller. I plug in the component, set it up, and everything works flawlessly. Whew.
All's well that ends well. Seller even sent ME a check for $100 last week because the shipping costs (which I was covering) were so high and he felt that helping me pay them was "the right thing to do." Like I said: good guy.
Despite the happy ending, this transaction definitely caused more nail-biting and aggravation than I signed up for. And I for damn sure wish that everyone who sells and buys audio just used PayPal! :-
