It depends what you consider necessary and how much you know about IT. The changes being made are to modernise the "backend" so that new and better features can be loaded over time. Unfortunately this is causing bugs and issues over the transition period due to trademe adopting th "rewire the ship while their still flying it" process rather than build it off production and then release it when complete

Paying within 24 hours is the perfect buyer in my eyes.

Well as you couldnt wait, I'll provide.  Intrade sellers - will be happy because it means the buyers who dont want to pay the fee will buy from them instead of casual sellers where there is no fee - if the overall cost is cheaper. Casual sellers - may or may not be happy. They may lose sales due to the buyer not wanting to buy from them, but then again might be happy that they are paying considerable less in fees overall. Due to this, they may reduce their price which might counter the extra fee. They also maybe happy that the person getting the most advange of PING (non cash & buyer protec...

Not sure how cash = bank deposit from a TradeMe payment option is concerned. Trademe is referring to handing over actual money when you go to collect something on pick up ("cash on pick up"). However I do find the "policy" from trademe confusing/contradictory. On one hand, they state that using bank deposits is against their policy and if you use this you "may" have action taken against your account. On they other hand, they say that people can pay for postage using bank deposits IF the postage amount was not included in the original auction.

Some don't read the prices correctly, some try to get out of paying the extra and for some it's because different courier companies treat some addresses as rural and some not. Either way, don't send it until they have paid the full amount

No idea where they were based - as with most scams, what they appeared to be, and what they actually are could be, and probably are completely different. Im just glad I used ping and got my money back as they looked quite legitimate.  

Andrew Of all my trades, Ive only had 1 trader that argued black and blue that they werent rural. I sent them the outcome of the rural checker website mentioned above and they still didnt agree. So I just gave them the choice of choosing a different address that was non rural, pay the rd fee or i cancel the trade. They eventually gave me a non rural address. Now - this is my experience.  im just telling you my experience. Its just different from you I've been on the community forum for years and Callum and flossy63 have helped me with great advice, as they have many others.  

No, signature is not required. You're responsibility is to get it delivered to the buyer and NZ post has provided you with the evidence this has happened - so you have fulfilled your duties. The item has either been stolen (this is the buyers issue assuming nz post has followed their obligations re where to leave), someone in the household has taken it or it is a scam. Ive had people in the past try to say it wasnt delivered and demanded a refund only to provide them with photo evidence from the courier and then they go all silent

I wouldnt refund. I'd also be tempted to ask them to lodge a claim with NZ post for compensation for the lost item. Knowing full well that nz post wont (as they dont with anything sent with stamps), but it sends a very strong message where the liability sits now, and that it is not with you

There are definitely ways traders could abuse this, however I have at times asked a question and then on second thought didnt need to or had a change of mind  - so for this purpose it saves the seller time needing to reply. In terms of the proof argument, you can still receive emails with the question being asked, or the answer to the question so as long you keep these then you have the proof if needed. I think like most things, there are some genuine benefits for those honest ones, but also open to abuse for others