It works like that here in New Zealand. We have a banking system that doesn't suck so for the past 20 years we've had a buying/selling marketplace that deals primarily in bank deposits. Overnight clearance and no fees. No PayPal shenanigans either.

Most buying/selling is done on a site called Trade Me, which is like eBay but much better. All items are sold via auction so most of the time buyers are paying market rate. Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on how niche the item is or how flooded the market is. The only way to snag deals is to keep a close eye out for new listings with low 'Buy Now' prices and then jump on them. He who sees it first and is first to hit that button is the 'winner winner chicken dinner'.

The only downside to this system is that no personal details can change hands so prospective pinball buyers can't see the game before they buy it. Trade Me's policy is that once an item sells the buyer has the opportunity to pull out of the deal if they view the item (or view more detailed photos remotely) and it isn't to their satisfaction.

Not 100% ideal but a way better system than the toxic ratrace that is Craigslist. Seems like CL does a good job of harming relationships between people in the hobby, as witnessed by every thread like this.

In NZ we typically joke around at regular guys who ask for lowball buy-now prices to be added to an auction. But hey, can't mock too much because occasionally it pays off. That's about as toxic as it gets on the used market over here.