> I hate to sound so "hardened", but dealing over the Internet and
> through email really does not tell you if the other person at the
> other end is honest. ...

My only answer is: Travel to the seller.

I once wanted to buy a player piano in Germany [listed] at eBay.  When
I told the guy that I would come and check out the instrument before
even placing the first bid (after all, Art Reblitz' check list for
a player piano covers a few _pages_ in small print - and some of the
items _have_ to be tried out!), he told me that "this is not what you
do when buying over eBay".

Well..., it might have been a nice piece (I'll never know ;-).  I didn't
even bother to write him back.

In my opinion, if travelling "is not worth it", then the item itself
is not worth it.

Regards

Harald M. Mueller