Most sellers send you your purchase after you pay for it. Avoid sellers with less than 50 sales or with negative feedback (read the comments first). PayPal has a dispute process so that if you pay for an item and don't get it or it isn't as described or it's a fake or damaged, you can lodge a claim to get your money back. It's just better and easier all round if you buy from decent sellers and your item arrives no problem. So, choose who you buy from with care.

That is why paypal and ebay are there for. If the seller was to take your money and not ship the item (which goes against they rules in the first place) they would most likely open up a claim but only after a certain amount of days has gone by. If you have the receipt as proof that you bought the item (they should have this on file too) then you would be able to get your money back if the seller does not respond to sending your item. However usually ebay sellers (the ones I have dealt with anyways) have been pretty good about shipping right away so I am sure you will be fine. Good luck in your buying.

No if you have payed them the money and they haven't give you the product you can just contact paypal and they will make a claim and give you your money back. There is no way you can get scammed on eBay

This is why you only buy from people who have an excellent feedback record and a lot of previous sales. Do that, and you probably won't get scammed.

(I have not gotten anything yet and this is a hypithetical question)

Lets say i was to buy a shoe off of ebay and i got it for around a hundred dallors and i won the bidding and payed the money with pay pal as well as met the reserve. Is there any way the seller can not give me the shoe but take my money still ?

just wondering because im just thinking about getting some stuff off of ebay and dont want my money took by some douchebag on the internet.

Helpful responses appreciated.