eBay is unsafe when one has to buy expensive products, especially from foreign countries. This is breaking eBay's business model. What if we could use a trusted third party entity that would check that the product matches the description and that the money is there to allow the transaction ? This would have a cost, but for expensive products it would be worth to pay a commission shared by both ends for such a guarantee. Requesting to use such a third party relay could also be a proof of honesty.
I guess it could be possible to build such a relay network by using small shops (i.e. press) for a small side income.
Would This Fly ?
"Using Escrow.com can help keep buyers and sellers safe from fraud. When you use Escrow.com, they collect the money from the buyer and hold it until the buyer and seller agree that the terms of the sale have been met. Once both parties are satisfied, Escrow.com sends the payment to the seller. Escrow.com is licensed and regulated company, and the only escrow service that can be used for eBay transactions. "