No matter how you slice it there has to be trust. I just think it should be on both ends. What is to prevent a person from receiving my check and cashing it and then refuse to send the item or say he did send when he didn't?

I knew of the $7000 person. I had never spoken or dealt with him. He is on the board often.

The $3000 person is never on the board and I never heard of him. He told me is is friends with people I know. He is a club member (at least he provided a club number). That is good enough for me.

In a chip/money deal, who should send first and why?? In either instance a person can get screwed.

When a fellow member does not sent the merchandise until receing the money to me shows that the person has his doubts about you. If the seller was dealing with his children, siblings or parents who the seller wait? I don't think so.