If I HAVE to leave negative feedback for a buyer, I usually say "Non-paying bidder".
I listed my hubby's old phone for sale a 0 feedback buyer won, after a few days anwsered an email saying they weren't interested. Relisted the phone, a 0 feedbacker won and after a few days anwsered an email with some lame excuse about her paycheck not being direct deposited.
They both deserve the negative feedback but the softie in me thinks I should acknowledge that they responded to my emails somehow, since ususally the non-paying bidders don't acknowledge my communications at all.
Any tips ?

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Amanda
Mommy to Zack & Emily

What I really want to type is ' Warning!!! Deadbeat didn't pay'
You had to pay listing fees for this and spend your valuable time on it. I would leave the negative feedback.
If they didn't have the money or want it, they shouldn't have bid on it! You may also want to say they need to have 20 positive feedbacks to bid. It won't weed them all out but it will get rid of the people who don't know how ebay works. It isn't fair to newbies but you gotta think about yourself too.

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I'm on the fence on that, because things happen to all of us, especially the ones living from paycheck to paycheck. Things do come up, and sometimes an emergency is a bit more important than paying for that ebay item you thought you could pay for. A bit of understanding goes a long way, and its good for your karma bank too Just because emergencies happen doesn't mean they are a "deadbeat". That's a bit harsh.

At the same time, protecting yourself isn't an option, so if it keeps happening to you (it's never happened to me personally, and I've sold tons of stuff on ebay), I'd just block people without feedback, and I wouldn't feel bad about it. I don't think I'd leave the negative feedback, though, except for maybe "nonpaying bidder", like you said. We all fall on hard times, and we all probably wished people were a bit more understanding when we do.