Things do not seem to be going well over at e-bodies.org

[Cuda Hunter]

stealing? was the buyer beware? while I'm not blaming the buyer(s), keeping themselves protected and following the rules goes a long way to save time and money.

Same thing was happening here (for onlys). People stealing, claiming they had parts but didn't. I watched it here and over there and on a few other non affiliate sites.
Now that we have somewhere between 20-40 Million ILLEGALS that have come into America (2020-2024) there will be more and more theft, just like this.
Yes, buyer beware. That especially applies to the for only sites.
Over on ebodies.org there have been VERY few of that type of thing over the many years because members are often times connected and can find out about another member through friends or the hobby. It apparently just took the amount of scammers to be increased throughout America for the site to be found.
The mods/admins/censorshipWatchers, whatever, do a fine job over here with kicking people off that are scammers and such. Just takes a report or two and it seems folks are gone pretty quick. But that is difficult (Assuming) with the amount of members on all the for only sites . Lots of cocoon accounts.
I have encountered several of the thieves over the years. The only sites, due to the "more classified activity" are more difficult to control what is up for sale and how it is handled. So the site posts rules. And we are all supposed to follow those rules laid out for us. That is very difficult for many Americans.

 

[pschlosser]

And we are all supposed to follow those rules laid out for us. That is very difficult for many Americans.

I follow the rules (unless no one is looking, ha ha)
This may be a diminishing issue. The newer generation (of owners, would-be restorers, etc) don't seem to care if a part is NOS, or whatever the claim, just that it solves their needs, and most of those parts, can be had with secure payments from well established websites... even epay.

but in my experience, when I take a risk, a poorly justifiable one, I have been bured. And as I look back, I can see I was the one to blame.

sellers suggesting they only take payment methods with NO BUYER PROTECTION are a red flag. methods like Money Order, Gift Card, Cash, and some other payment systems, such as PayPal Friend and Family, are ones to evade. Even personal checks can be cashed at liquor stores with little ID and no recourse.

The irony is, when you push back on the seller payment method you don't like, they may say, "Oh, yea, I'm just trying to avoid paying taxes on this" or "I don't want the government in my business" and the irony is, they disclose dishonesty at the same time they are asking you to trust them!

So, have compassion on those poor simple-minded thangs and sellers. Allow them to flounder. It is OUR responsibility to protect and keep ourselves safe. Lest Darwin intervenes.