Just a quick note. Calling the bank to verify the cashier's check is not a good safeguard. A well versed scam is to obtain a real cashier's check for an amount and then use printing software to make clones. Send them out to several different people, each one will verify that the information on the check is good. Scam guy will then instruct each of the victims to either refund the excess shipping charges, or say something ominous (sickness, injury etc.) has happened and they need their refund immediately. Since they already verified the cashier's check, the victim sends (often wires via western union) the money and the thief prospers. The scammer then goes to the bank with the real cashier's check and converts it back to cash. This is a scam that can stay afloat only for a few days, so the thief will always pressure the victim to move quickly.
As an aside, when people on these forums complain that banks are being tougher about permanent addresses and the like, this is one reason why. The "Know you customer" laws that banks now have to follow were intended to thwart terrorism, but it has also cut down on a lot of fraud.
Finally, anyone buying a large ticket item, sight unseen and then sending a third party (not themselves) to just pick it up with no inspection etc. is waving a bright red flag in front of an angry Brahma Bull. Good way to get yourself gored.
