I try not to use Paypal for the reasons stated here. I get my MO's from the bank not the post office. The bank doesn't charge me anything for the MO and it's as easy to track and handle as a personal check. It takes the post office about 6 months to handle a problem with a money order.

If I buy a knife through a personal transaction I provide a personal contact #, an address (not a PO Box), an email address (not just a PM on a forum). I require the same from the seller. If its a legimate sale they won't mind providing this information.

This doesn't guarantee you won't get ripped off but it does help.