I usually do all my shopping thru AMPEX, but my last 3 purchases have been with liberty coin galleries, Signal hill and Huntington Beach, Ca there not nearly as big but I find there premiums lower on both e-bay and there online retail store, just got this today with a big surprise due in on Thursday.
Buying from reputable sellers is the best protection for you. Unknown seller's from bidding sites - not so much. Odds of something slipping through are slim but this also underscores my position of leaving the product in the sellers packaging. Once the packing is removed you are on your own as far as making a claim of defective product.