[twodear]

In general, my experience with buying on-line (mostly from ebay) has been pretty good.

The most expensive thing I've ever tried to buy on ebay was a set of garden chairs like resorts use - ordered from a company in California. They were advertising free postage (in my case that is significant). With the order in hand they baulked with the result that I was given a full refund.

I even made a purchase once using Western Union which has become a BIG no-no. That one worked out okay though.

Of the hundreds of things I've bought via ebay (joined over a decade ago), the only purchase that failed to show up was a collection of 1920's Popular Science magazines from Boston Ma.

I've had problems with Paypal - my account was hacked twice with the result that a total of $1200 went missing - Paypal made good both times. Based on that track record I've learned to keep my Paypal account empty (sales proceeds end up getting spent fairly quickly, then Paypal debits my credit card beyond that). At the end of the day I'd rather use Paypal than my credit card for on-line purchases. I've used Paypal to pay for movie tickets and airfare.

The most expensive thing I've ever sold (I've sold more than I've bought) was a restored '42 HD WLA motorbike for $14000. A buyer in Japan wound up with that, paid up front and he organised an agency to come to the house to begin its overseas journey. The next most $$$$ was a left hand side sidecar for a '44 Indian Chief that went to Texas. The oddest thing I've ever sold was a Rat Fink felt hat that I'd bought from Ed Roth at a car show in the early 80's. Listed it for $5 and bidding went crazy. It sold for $167 and went to France...go figure.