Seller has 1 feedback, for a $6 wooden box. This may have been a great deal for someone, or a $390 loss. I don't know that I would have wanted to gamble on it.
As discussed previously on the board, Ebay is now heavily weighted in favor of the buyer. I think risk especially when paying by paypal, is minimal, even from unknown sellers.
Yes. Save yourself the hours on the phone with PayPal. I have learned that if you don't get your package, even if its international, then PayPal reimburses in ten business days. The seller needs to provide proof of shipment. I think it would get sticky if the seller sent you say, an empty box, or it had a blender and no berliner in there, but you could dispute this too. Paypal makes its safe to send money to strangers this way.
That was an amazing machine! Even with the shipping it was undoubtably still a great deal. The Lithuanian Seller location could be an issue but probably not. Over the last 10 years on eBay I have won multiple auctions for items that were located in: Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. All transactione went smoothly. You might want to check (for future reference) about eBay's reimbursement policy for buyers who get ripped-off. I have had a few small items ($10 to $25) that eBay reimbursed me for when the sellers took the money and ran. That policy should also apply to overseas sales. It should because the seller was also approved by eBay just like you were.
It's not that I'm better than you. I'm just different from you in a way that's better. - Russel Brand
Shipping from overseas is also a big time rip-off. Even Canada has become over the top when it comes to shipping charges. Case in point: I bounght a super nice Pathé cylinder phonograph on EBay last year that was located in the UK. The price was within reason for this machine, BUT the shipping charge with insurance was $185.00 and this was not a very heavy package, although it was very well packed by my friend over the big river. I now stay totally away from EBay UK, or EBay France.