CompuServe Messages

I am sure Marc will provide a more thorough reply but in circumstances similar to those you describe I have used Federal Express COD cash only where for an additional $5.00 they will accept only cash or a certified check for the merchandise in the amount you specify and return the proceeds to you within 24 hours. UPS COD, on the other hand, processes the COD proceeds themselves and can take as long as two weeks to get back to you with your money. I too have faced this problem and am interested in other solutions. Right now I am engaged in an extensive swap of computer gear for audio gear and although we will ship to each other cross-continent at the same time I am afraid it pretty much depends on blind faith. As a final footnote, I have in fact personally encountered several attempted rip-offs, where the other party had given a completely phony university connection, was using an accomodation address, and intended to pay with a rubber check; the cash-or-certified check requirement gets around that ploy.