This year I bought Tron Pro from a Pinsider based on the photos. It arrived perfectly as expected. I also bought my LOTR and NGG from a fellow on rec.pinball before Pinside was really around and those also arrived as expected.
As a Canadian we generally have to buy our pins used from people in the US. Wiring down several thousand to a person you have never met can be a little scary at times (everytime 
) as you never know if this is your turn to get burned. Thankfully I have not yet (with pins). All you can do is try to look for references, learn a bit about the person's history in the hobby and I like to have a 1 on 1 phone with the seller as well. If you spider senses ever tingle... walk away. Maybe you lost out on a good deal but the alternative would be worse.
Sadly there are people that will outright scam you (I was scammed on a motorcycle crank from a guy in Ohio years ago) and others that will not be forthcoming with the defects or issues with machines. Leap of faith!
mittens
