Is Ebay Still Safe?

Ok... Harmony and Silvertone guys & gals.... (er... that would be YOU Rob).... if you don't want to buy from Hollywood Vintage Room...where do you get the Silvertone? Well... they did have a Silvertone (in black) last time I stopped by there... but the price is higher (because they check everything and you are basically buying from someone as honest as your local Pastor)... so WHERE to buy a vintage guitar... other than the higher-end stuff (that I just got swizzled on by a pirate). Is EBay still safe...? YES and NO (don't you love those answers?). As I said, I bought a 'totally original 1986 PRS with sweet switch'... that ended up being a 'totally home job that could short out with radio shack 15cent switch'....not that radio shack doesn't make nice parts!). The feedback on this schnook was high numbers, and all 100% good. He communicated well...and shipped on time too. If you shop on EBay (and I do)... they (EBay) are basically the MAYOR/ CONSTABLE of pirate-town... trying to keep everyone honest... you can guess the rest... so if you venture there... take your pistols... and don't fall asleep. Honestly though... I think Rob knows this... if the guitar you are buying is $320, and you intend on playing the heck out of it... you go into town knowing you might get a little taken. If the transaction is guaranteed through EBay (buyer protection).. THAT REALLY HELPS... to the tune of either $200 or $2000 dollars... (read their rules on that)... so that could make it all ok for the moment, if you are wary. So... my final word is... YES... trade on EBay... BUT... the seller must have enough BUYER PROTECTION offered to cover the purchase price, also they must have 100 percent positive feedback (or a reason why it isn't that makes da*n good sense... but due to bad feedback... there might not be any buyer protection now). They should also have 100 or more feedbacks for a Harmony purchase/ Silvertone/ less than $500 value purchase.. and more than 250 feedbacks for a purchase of up to $3000. THESE ARE THE HARD-AND-FAST rules I USE myself. If you are buying an EVH Frankenstrat, for $15,950.00... you WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH COVERAGE.. so ONLY buy if you can pick up in PERSON.