Asking someone to ship an item before you pay is pretty crappy. Something that both buyers and sellers should be aware of is that Paypal has buyer protections built in. If a purchase arrives and does not meet expectations, there are methods of recouping your funds. Conversely, sellers need to be vigilant about protecting themselves with proper packaging, pictorial evidence, and shipment tracking. This all works out better if we remember the golden rule: "Don't be a dick."