...Paypal also has some built in protections which I have yet to use so I am unsure how well they work.
Speaking form experience. Paypal safety precautions are great (their customer service is lacking however). I bid and on an ebay action for a mickey mouse TV and DVD player. all I received was the DVD player. when I contacted the seller they told me that the description said DVD player only. It was changed. I contacted Paypal and they said to send the item back to the seller. Once they received it (with post office confirmation) Paypal refunded my money.