Even as a "Power Seller" and someone who has run tens of thousands of
dollars through eBay, I find _all_ their features too much hassle to
use outside of the basic auction routine.  Thus I do not use escrow,
safe harbor, etc.

I have on occasion tried to alert eBay to "problems", and in their
early first year found them very cooperative.  But now that they are
so large in terms of volume, I find that it is nearly impossible to
communicate with them.  If one is tempted to buy a very high ticket
item, I would say do so only if you completely trust the other person.

I have purchased many items over $1000 and one music box at $5000
simply by mailing a check.  But I felt good about the sellers.

Don Winter