When buying through Agon a buyer should always-

All forums have trolls, I've found several in here. Typical one is that guy thats asks 10,000 questions with no intention of buying.
The real problem is the new user id, make sure you correspond with them before accepting 'make offer', or your listing just may get tied up 72 hours before you can re-list not to mention the hassle of contacting our busy Audiogon mods because buyer had no intention of buying.
As far as payment goes, if you havent been an Augon member for a year with good feedback, forget paypal, I will insist on a Postal money order. Insist they can show they're an upstanding audiogon/ebay member before considering paypal. I have had folks email/phone me from states away wanting to purchase something I had on Craigs, they had no problem with money orders. Don't get sukked into a flimflam.
I urge everyone to use this common sense. I realize they're probaly a few more lil exploits in here too, I try not to let my guard down.

Rule of thumb for any forum, be wary. They're alot of good apples in here but rest assured they're a few bad ones. I havent been here long but I have run across a couple.
Paypal and new user ID can be exploited, always insist that they have been a member with good feedback before committing to a transaction via paypal.
The new user can also exploit your sale, he commits and you agree but he had no intention of buying, he just tied up your listing for 72 hrs before you can relist and get your fees credited back.
Exploits, I see that the Augon Mods are dealing with it as best they can without jumping to conclusions as to is doing it. All in given time they'll figure it out.
I insist on postal money orders if it's a new user ID unless they can show me other credentials that carry the same weight as Augon feedback.
It's the internet, I'm a french model too. *grinz

oops, sorry for double post. Thought the Mods didnt like my 'troll' term so I reworded it a lil. I wanted everyone to realize the exploit I went through. Cheers :)

Why is receiving a cert check or money order safer than PayPal? I thought that PayPal was safer....

Wcheng...your feedback is excellent and a transaction with you would be comfortable. My post is all about the new user(most times an exploit), or the user that constantly complains about everything he buys. It's all about the feedback, the tell tale of who one is dealing with.
My feedback here is still new, but my ebay is flawless since 2006. I'm an honest guy, they're quite a few out there not. Hence, the postal money order or certified check and the transaction only good once the bank confirms it's validity. Ebay has an option to limit who buys from you due to their feedback, Augon will eventually incorporate it into their system.