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Personal Checks
One should be extremely comfortable with someone before accepting a personal check. You can call the check writer's bank, and verify that there are enough funds in that particular account (have the check in hand when calling).  This determines the availability of funds at that moment only, NOT necessarily by the time the check clears.  After depositing a personal check, your bank may still withdraw the deposit for several days after. You should learn the exact policy of your bank, regarding the clearing of out of state personal checks.

Certified or Cashier's checks
In theory, a certified check is being guaranteed by the bank that issued it.  The funds are withdrawn from the buyer's account before issuing the check. However, some certified checks can be cancelled by the account holder. Most of the above mentioned steps can be applied to both certified and personal checks. 

Money Orders
There are many companies that issue money orders, including the Post Office.  Money orders are generally safe vehicles of payment, but even they can be faked with modern home computers.  Each issuer's money order will be different, so it is unlikely that you would know what a "real" one should look like.  Postal (US) money orders are the closest to a standard that one could learn about how a real one looks and feels. 

Wire transfers
This is the scariest but safest method of payment other than an escrow service.  It is scary because you will need to divulge your bank account number to the buyer.  The account number itself is not very useful to a criminal, but if your social security number (or your PIN for that account) is also acquired, then your account is susceptible.  However, a wire transfer that clears into your account is virtually guaranteed funds, and large sums of money are transferred in this manner very day.  One strategy is to establish a separate account specifically for receiving wire transfers, and withdraw the funds often. International transactions are especially well suited for wire transfers.  Check with your bank about wire transfer procedures and multiple accounts.

Credit Cards
Some sellers can accept credit card payment, in which case the buyer is very well protected.  Fraudulent charges are certainly possible, but most banks will refund all but $50 if you can prove a charge was fraudulent.  However, these protections apply only if the seller is directly authorized to accept payment (as opposed to credit card payment via a third party as below). Credit card information should be exchanged ONLY via phone or fax.  Do NOT email credit card numbers.

PayPal
This is an independent service that allows electronic payment between two parties.  Buyers can pay even private parties with a credit card, but they are NOT afforded the same protection when purchasing from a merchant who can accept credit cards.  However, this service can be useful for a majority of private party transactions. PayPal does NOT guarantee anything about your transaction, but we feel it reduces the chances of fraud.  More about PayPal

Escrow Services
Unless you are extremely comfortable with your trading partner, you should consider the use of an "escrow service".  These third party services, such as Escrow.com, guarantee a safe transaction for both parties. The buyer sends payment to the escrow company instead of the seller.  The payment is cleared and held in escrow until the seller has delivered the item.  Once the buyer receives and inspects the item, the escrow company will release the funds to the seller.  However, even this method has some potential problems, such as a buyer claiming the item was not as described, and requesting a return.   Generally speaking, if a seller will accept escrow, then the buyer should definitely consider the option.

Summary
Payment methods vary dramatically in the level of safety, and some methods are not as safe as they might appear.  One should use great care in evaluating each situation, and assume the worst when considering the options.  It is up to each member to evaluate the risk vs. cost of each method, for every transaction.