Ebay is like any other transaction. Be CAREFUL...buy from someone with lots of + feedback and from a listing that gives you a comfortable feeling. I've bought hundreds and hundreds of items off of ebay and sold many as well. I've only been burned once and was for a $10 item that was misrepresented. Most of my ebay purchases come from the US, Guam even..from single parts, to aircraft floats from California, to complete flying aircraft out of Texas. I've even gambled and bought aircraft engines out of Uganda without getting taken to the cleaners.
BUT...you may very well be better off buying local as Rich pointed out..