That's always the case with Bitcoin, be it an ounce of $foo on SilkRoad or a moneyclip from Finland.

However, if you're ordering from someone who is/has a "real" company, registered within the confines of (say, European) mercantile law, you're really no worse off than when ordering and paying in advance with Euros or Dollars.

That being said, I can understand your need for escrow. I myself have never used it, I have *always* demanded my customer send the BTC first and there hasn't been a single one who hasn't received his goods in full and on time.

When you're not doing "meet-me-at-the-7/11-at-10-past-9pm" deals, you shouldn't *need* escrow. That (for one instance) is what #bitcoin-otc is for (this is me).