buyer and seller protection
 

Whats the best way to carry out transactions in this forum to ensure both parties the buyer and the seller get what is agreed upon?

What do you mean? Can you explain more in detail?

COD: Collection on Delivery
 

PayPal

you don't deal with members who just joined with 2 posts trying to sell obscure items. Also, run a search on their posts and threads started. You will learn a LOT about what kinda people they are. Gluck.

I agree with this statement 100%.

pics of the actual item. I can't believe thats not required for selling something here.

I would say pictures of items.
Name,Address, and Phone Number, Verified PayPal Account.
That's about the best you can do.

whats the advantage of paypal over cod?

COD you get the item at the same time you pay. Cash on Delivery.

Paypal you can pay, but still may never see the product. *cough spawn cough*

But if they are verified paypal, you get all there info, which make it harder to hide.

plus if you do a fraud claim on paypal and you win, you get your money back. Ive had this happen to me before and i got all my money back.

sounds like cod is the way to go to me, can inspect the item before paying for it and refuse the item if its damaged.

Sometimes what gets delivered is different from the pics. :)