I quite often buy stuff in the UK and have it sent the mother in laws or similar. Often I will send a polite mail beforehand if theres time asking them if they can just post it direct but if time is short or they are nervous I get it shipped to kent and either pick it up when someones on holiday or organize a big parcel every blue moon or grab my stuff when I go the UK in the van to collect something even bigger.
Theres nothing really I cant buy locally on ebay uk, except its also on average 4-5 times the price, or the economics wouldnt work. Ive got to give someone a bell soon to organize a machine table collection. Seller is fine, moneys as good as everyone elses!
So really Im glad not only did you not get scammed, but also that your here posting you didnt after all the naysayers who usually warn people about sending abroad because there be dragones or something.