[prusaw]

I've bought lots of guitars from ebay and this forum, as well. Almost all of the experiences have been good ones. While there still is some risk, the advantage is that, if you're patient, you can get prices and selections that far outdo most local options (especially in the pacific NW). That said, I almost solely deal with Taylors (which seem to have excellent quality and consistency amongst their many models), I never buy unless I feel I can sell easily at or above what the purchase price is, I always communicate with the seller before sending the money (preferrably by phone) and I try to make use of the protections offered by paypal and ebay. So far, things have worked out great...