I'm in a weird spot too...as a buyer...
(I'm not sure this is the direction that the OP wanted the thread to head in)
but mine is a cheap issue...
I bought a shaft that was described as a JOSS, with black collar, straight, and 13mm.
It was straight, it was 13mm, but it IS NOT a JOSS...it's junk, aftermarket crap.
I didn't say anything to the seller...because I travel a lot...and I don't have time to deal with it...but at the end of the day, I'm screwed out of my money...I'll most likely throw the shaft away.
For me personally I prefer to buy & sell in person. The WFS section here is a good place to display something for sale and then sell locally. I have had an excellent transaction with Jamie Wernsman on a Kikel Cue which in turn led me to order and receive a new Kikel Cue recently. The new Kikel came directly from Dave and that transaction as well as the one with Jamie were flawless in every way. Escrow may just be the only way I'd get involved in a deal through the AZ community at this particular time. JMO!
I also wonder how I can see the same cue year after year, and year after year it is UNHIT. WTF would you buy the cue and not play with it. 12 owners and NO ONE hit a ball. Come on, really.