international buyer,

Escrow (escrow.com) will work for many, though not all, international transactions. Email them and ask if they can do it from your buyer's country.

In general, foreign or domestic, this is the best fool and fraud proof way to do business over the internet for a buyer and has advantages for a seller as well. There is a cost that you and your buyer will need to negotiate (between $25 to $40).

If you want to do a straight wire transfer, I don't have any experience with this, but since you are not going to ship until you get confirmation that actual funds were received, I don't see a downside for you.

Bank wire transfers are easy. (Did one yesterday).
Western union.
Paypal.
Bank deposit.
Gold.

I have had a number of international transactions, and have used Paypal for all of them. Some people have issues with Paypal, but I have found it to be pretty much hassle free. YMMV.

Please don't just say DON'T sell overseas. Don't tell me there's only honest people in the US...

For example, for extra protection with Paypal wait for money to be deposited in your bank account before shipping. Bank transfer is also safe, you just have to wait for funds and you can trace back who sent it. A seller makes the rules.
Whatever the method WAIT for money to clear in your bank account before shipping, cashiers check included!

As for shipping, even with insurances, there's always a risk, overseas or not.

You can check a prior thread I authored last week regarding PayPal.

I would say the ONLY way to ensure you are 100% safe is to ask the buyer to send the money to you via Western Union. When you see the Nigerian scam artists using Western Union as a means to rip people off, it is sort of a backwards positive endorsment for the safest way to collect money.

I have sold to international buyers in the past and have been 100% happy, in those cases I accepted PayPal with the stipulation that the sale was FINAL. However, I just recently was involved in a PayPal chargeback fiasco from a US buyer which has made me change my stance on PayPal for ANYTHING over $200, domestic or Foreign.

Be safe, accept Western Union only.