I purchased an item from someone with relatively low feedback and 2 negatives.
I was asked to send payment after which my item would be shipped.
Here is my question and I have asked it before.
Why is the onus put on the buyer to pay first?
Compare my feedback of 658 total transactions and NOT one negative or neutral.
If you had the option of buying an item from either of the 2 ebayer's mentioned above, which one would you do business with?

Yeah, sure, I'll get the same replies as last time. The purchaser always pays before the product is shipped.
Great, I agree, that works when you are dealing with a reliable business. This however is the real world and I'm dealing with an individual NOT a company that I might have no recourse against.
What would you do if your $3.00 item isn't shipped? Sue? Hardly.

This whole ebay thing is a sham, people are afraid to leave negative feedback because they might receive the same.

Mike, I agree and recently sent an ebayer a letter similar to what you mention. I said " You don't want to leave me feedback, don't, you won't get any either. I refuse to be held hostage".

For the sake of repeating myself, When I send my payment and it is received by the seller, I EXPECT FEEDBACK.
My portion of the transaction has been completed. PERIOD