how to buy with confidence...? PayPal?

Its still a crap shoot, but your odds are far better as we all "know" each other in various posts and past banter. Low post count, like 5 would not be considered, but look at some of us who have thousands and decades of visibility. And then there is the popular "airing of grievences" posts that NO member wants to be a part of. That gets ugly and keeps most of us in line. I have had 1 scrape in 10+ years and even that one wasn't bad and was rectified completely in short order...