Contacting an Unresponsive Bidder

It's on your shoulders to go to whatever lengths possible to contact the high bidder in your eBay auctions. This should start with the standard post-auction email, of course. If the buyer hasn't responded within three days, resend your original email with an "URGENT" added to the subject line. You should also amend the message to give the buyer a deadline (two days is good) for his response.

Tip

In some instances, you may have more luck trying to contact a member via phone or snail mail than via email. To obtain a member's real-world contact information, click the Advanced Search link to the right of the eBay toolbar; when the Find Items page appears, click the Find Contact Information link in the left-hand column. When the Find Contact Information page appears, enter the user's ID and the item number of the auction in question. eBay will then email you the bidder's contact info.

If another two days go by without a response, send a new message informing the buyer that if you don't receive a response within two days, you'll be forced to cancel his high bid and report him to eBay.

If a full week goes by and you still haven't heard from the buyer, you can assume the worst. Which means it's time to let eBay know about the bum.