there is a seller who says I can give him an offer to stop the auction. if we decide on an amount an

[greenhel]

here is a seller who says I can give him an offer to stop the auction. he is a recent lister (no history). if we decide on an amount and I pay, then get something less than/nothing shipped, what guarantee does ebay give me?

[karl*katz]

This seller is suggesting that you conduct a transaction outside of eBay.

You will have no eBay protection at all.

What he could do is end the listing early and relist as a fixed price buy it now.