The answer is pretty simple in my opinion: don't buy a machine unless you have inspected it yourself.
Or have gotten someone you respect and is impartial to inspect it for you.
That way there are no surprises.
And as MartyJ said, there are plenty of people interstate who are both competent and willing to inspect machines.
As far as I am concerned anyone can sell a machine on here after they have been around for a while; a template might help with descrip-tions but in the end if you inspect the machine yourself there is no problem.