This is a common practice. I have both bought and sold physical coins, and bitcoin miners using escrow. In all cases, everyone involved wanted the shipment to be sent directly to the buyer by the seller. As an escrow agent, I had facilitated the sale of physical goods, and all parties had always wanted the goods to be sent directly from the seller to the buyer.
How does that protect the buyer if the seller sends a fake? Or how that it protect the seller if the buyer claims he received a fake?
The seller, ideally should have posted (or provided) pictures of what they are selling. So there should be a baseline amount of evidence that the item in question exists.
In the event of a dispute, it will be up to the buyer and seller to provide as much evidence as they can to prove they are in the "right" and that the other party is in the "wrong". This may include providing video evidence of packing the box the item is being shipped in (or in the case of the buyer, of opening the box the item was shipped in). Other evidence may include photos of the item that is claimed to have been received.
I have a special folder in my PM inbox for templates for escrow agreements that I used years ago when I would act as an escrow agent. Below is one template that I would use, and both parties would need to agree to these terms:
Alright, please consider this the escrow agreement:
BTC/fiat trade:
BTC buyer:
Seller:
Exchange rate: $
Payment method:
Fiat amount being traded:
Special conditions:
Amount seller should send to the escrow address:
Amount buyer will receive upon the release of escrow:
Escrow Address:
Escrow fee: 1%
Buyer, once you see a transaction for the above amount confirmed on the blockhain, you are clear to send fiat to the seller.
Seller, once you have receive the fiat, and any special conditions, at listed above have been meet, you should confirm your authorization to release escrow to the buyer.
In the event that either party become non-response for 72 hours, then the other party has the right to have escrow released in their favor within 24 hours of their request, less the escrow fee.
In the Event of a dispute, then I will attempt to mediate it to ensure a fair resolution, however if I am unable to be very certain that I am making the correct decision, then I will consult the moderators, and community via the scam accusations section.
Regards
QS