How safe is PayPal?

As a buyer, as long as it is only linked to your credit card it’s
as safe as a credit card if not more so.  If you fund your purchase
via a connection to your checking account you don’t have that
level of protection.  Expect PayPal to always act in its own interest.

If you are getting screwed and have a VISA on your side, you will always have a fall back because VISA will just take the money
from PayPal and return it to you if it is justified. 

If PayPal can get the money back from whoever is messing with
you, you are likely OK still, but if you used a checking account and
PayPal can’t get the money back they will try and make you eat the
loss rather do so themselves.