For the most part I have had no problem with most of the deals I have done. The one very bad exception happened just recently when I bought what I thought was a fairly solid 68 Malibu. It is only a 307, bench seat, column shift car, but I have always loved these bodies as it was a 69 SS Chevelle that first got me into cars as a kid. I bought the car from pictures and description only and I was supposedly dealing with the owner and his wife whom he said actually owned the car. They seemed like very honest people from the phone conversations and e-mails we had. He said it had some typical chevelle rust and there was some indication of body filler, but other wise a very solid and restorable car. After paying the $2,900 for the car and then an additional $600 for shipping, what I received was a rusted out hulk that barely runs. (He stated it fires right up and runs great. Said they were using it for a parts delivery car). There's no way they were driving this car. The right front wheel bearing is practically falling out, the carb is junk, and the motor smokes badly. The car is pretty rotten underneath and the body is actually sinking over the frame. The body mounts are actually coming up through the floor into the interior. What a piece-O-crap. Did he offer any excuses for the condition or offer to refund even part of the purchase price? Of course not.
Oh well, that's the risk you take when you buy sight unseen. I really have no one to blame but myself I guess.