eBay buying is the only situation where I've broken my rule about trying before buying. I bought a lovely black 1984 Yamaha SGB1000 to go with the one I bought new in '84. I got it for a good price, with a hardshell case, and I'm very happy with it. I also bought a low-dollar, supposedly beat-up, Yamaha RBX350 bass which arrived in better shape than the description led me to expect, again with a hardshell case. Another happy transaction. I've had a couple of motorcycle parts 'disappear in the mail', but in nearly 100 deals totalling several thousand dollars, I'd say I've come out well ahead. And I've even bought a car on eBay!

Check a seller's feedback profile to see how previous buyers fared out. Most people take good care of their reputations by being straight with their customers.

BTW: You'll note that both of the guitars I've bought on eBay were Yamahas. Some things are so consistently good that you can stick your neck out a bit. On the other hand, I shudder every time I contemplate the risks that Axl_Rose exposes himself to! I've had too many scary conversations with too many guitar techs to [u]ever[/u] buy a Gibson I haven't personally inspected. Maybe if you're very familiar with the kind of gear you're looking at, you can ask the right questions. If you're not sure, don't bid.