There is some good deals to be had on E-Bay but there's also alot of crap to sift through too. Last year in Chicago, a theft ring of people that were ripping off their employers (Home Depot) got busted after someone that had purchased a BNIB Makita compound miter saw dirt- cheap and had the police show up at their door when thet registered the warranty. Home Depot had tracked the missing serial numbers to the warranty registrations and the buyers ended up fingering the thieves that stole the merchandise from the stores.
I have also read alot of stories of identity theft and PayPal scams being perpetrated on E-Bay.
What I have done is found legitamate stores (like archery shops) that had links from e-bay that I bought direct from istead of going through e-bay.
I also have friends that have sold junk (we're talking old avocado green formica countertops and black wrought iron railings) and have gotten hundreds of dollars for them!
What's the saying-one mans junk is another mans treasure