You said This is why I always pay by credit card. My next step (as a buyer) would be to notify my credit card company and get my money back under the online guarantee, notify ebay under the fraud alert provisions, and then I would leave negative feedback for non-performance

I hope a package from me never gets lost in the mail! As a buyer MY next step would be to notify the seller and seek a resolution what was fair to both of us. I would not slam-dunk him until a LAST resort.