Catriona, I hadn't thought about it from a seller's perspective. Certainly buying on eBay -- where you can't view and test ride -- is a leap of faith, and worthy of a certain level of buyer protection. But not so with Craigslist. If a buyer has regrets, well, that's really their own fault... for the most part.

Paypal ended up being what was most convenient the day I purchased. The asking price was more cash than I ever carry, and banks were closed, so it provided some assurance for the seller that the money was real. It was only later that I appreciated the buyer protection. And, like I said, I think my situation was an outlier.