I avoid both Paypal and eBay like the plague for the same reason you've experienced. In my case the means through with Paypal allowed me to be scammed was a car I sold on eBay. The car got picked up, but no money was ever released to the seller (me).
Message
RE: Reintroducing myself/ Sound Doctorin'
2013-12-27 by <manggold@...>