It's a matter of trust. Check the seller's history and reputation on their profile. If still unsure, you could ask for references to previous buyers.
This is a good point. A seller can get screwed by an unscrupulous buyer using PP buyer protection.
Oof that’s a good scam to get a “real” tracking number. Glad that you got it sorted, and getting an actual person at Paypal is not easy. But at least you got the right outcome.
Getting a real person at PayPal and at eBay are both a lot easier now than they used to be. Typically the wait is less than 5 minutes. 15 years ago, it was a completely different story, with the path to contact a real human deliberately hidden, and grossly insufficient staff resulting in hold times as long as two hours. Those days it was a nightmare to try to seek arbitration, and they would place a considerable burden on the buyer, requiring them to get appraisals, repair estimates, etc. from third parties such as repair shops to support their case. It's a LOT different from that now. You can initiate a help chat and take it to a live agent chat or phone call in minutes.
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style. 
Yes. In brown, too. Damn. Too small for you though, Marc. What a jacket, a great break from all these black jackets we see.
