So I have never bought or sold any cards outside of ebay and am a little nervous about trying it out. I have a few cards I am interested in and wanted to try finding them in the buying/trading section on here, but was wondering what the process is normally and the safety precautions taken. Does the Buyer normally pay prior to shipping or pay upon receiving or is it decided among the two traders? Also since there is no ebay protection is it unsafe as a buyer to purchase something and have the possibility of not being able to charge back successfully? Or as the seller can the buyer charge back on the sale after receiving the card and screw over the seller? Have most of you had good experience trading or buying outside of ebay? I am just kind of looking for what the normal process is and if it is safe from scamming as long as you do it correctly. (For the most part)
I wouldn’t be worried about doing a deal on E4. This is a great community with so many respected sellers
If you’re buying an item, you will pay first. PayPal goods and services payment will have your back
Doing a deal on E4 is your best bet outside of eBay and local pickup. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the seller. If you’re looking to get something pretty common, I’m sure there are a ton of big name sellers on here who can help. Just post what you want with the price in buy/trade thread
Each case is different. Create a thread here stating who the seller is, what’s the dollar amount, and is it international or domestic. You’ll get proper guidance, based on the answers to those questions, from the community.
Seconding what everyone else has already said, I’ve had no issues buying and trading here!
No issues after buying from and trading with many members on here.
I felt the exact same way when first purchasing outside eBay. The same when making my first $1000 purchase. The same with my first big purchase too. I think it’s natural to be apprehensive about something you haven’t done before. I even feel comfortable buying expensive items through family and friends to trusted sellers. Who would have thought I would have felt comfortable sending thousands to someone this way on this forum even though I’ve never met them.
With such a great community here, you will soon find that it’s a great place to gain knowledge and can be trusted and anything suspect would be quickly clamped down on. Also, if you pay by goods and services you will be 100% protected as a buyer. The same as eBay.
I remember a few years back buying some cards off a member here and received a free item worth a decent amount of money even though it was my first purchase off of him. That’s the type of gesture that makes me realise that we’re part of a great community here and not just a place to buy/sell.
Ps. Thanks @teraz 
I’ve found this a very interesting and useful thread. Thanks very much. I myself am very keen on purchasing a base unlimited booster box but I’ve been deciding myself between putting up a WTB thread here (as I’ve never purchased here) vs just purchasing one from eBay. Am well aware that by purchasing from eBay, sometimes…you may have issues with the actual item, the buyer or the shipping too.
With something that expensive honestly you might be better off here in the WTB thread. Everyone here understands the value and care that should be taken when shipping things. This is going to sound stupid and cheesy, but you can tell everything you get from a trade off of here was packed with love. I got a card from eBay once literally wadded up and shoved into a bubble mailer.
By now I traded and sold and also bought from many members without issues.
I have bought stuff from members on here, even doing bankwire so technically even less protection than buying through Paypal, but less fees for both parties. I don’t think there are any scammers on E4, atleast the active members, so you don’t have to worry about that.
I’d like to think that scammers on E4 get sniffed out instantly. 
Every member I dealt with here, was an absolute pleasure.
I would trust anyone on efour but I have never pulled off a deal before. I think my wants are too specific sometimes. Always easier to trade if you have a variety of wants or it could take a while.
I have never had a problem buying from people here.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Gives me confidence trading/buying on here 