I've read a lot of these posts and it affirms my belief in eBay. If it isn't in the condition they've stated it to be, I get my money back with free return shipping (via a claim most times). I'm able to buy it or haggle at the price I want and walk away knowing another will be up soon.
Honesty is paramount in almost everything. The seller wants top dollar for their stuff, and every buyer wants DollarTree prices. Haggle and protect yourself. I never send payment any other way other than Paypal for a fee unless I know them personally. Most other payment methods of payment don't protect for a transaction involving merchandise.
Lastly, I apply one rule when I'm buying most of my gear and looking for a deal; if I don't like it, I try to sell it and recover as much as I can and minimize my losses.