1) Buyer meets seller but afraid to do the deal for the lack of reputation on both sides. (the age old conundrum - who will send first?)
2) They meet an escrow person, someone who's not likely to run with the amount transacted.
3) Buyer sends coins to escrow, escrow confirms acceptance.
4) Seller sends item to buyer, giving tracking numbers to buyer and escrow person.
5a) Buyer confirms acceptance, escrow sends coins to seller.
5b) Buyer states item lost/damaged, escrow mediates the transaction based on evidence of both sides and decides who to send coins to.