I've bought and sold several items on audiogon over a period of years- not in the last two years, though. At the time, i knew the market pretty well, jumped on pieces that were well described and at a good price when from sellers with uniformly positive feedback, and carefully described and priced pieces i no longer needed. Never found phone communication necessary, but would have provided a phone number, or telephoned, if so requested by what sounded like a serious buyer. Never had any problem.