Offer the Item(s) to a Reserve Bidder

If you are unable to contact the winning bidder, even after sending a confirmation email, then you can offer the item to the reserve bidder if there was more than one bidder.

If there were no other bidders, we recommend that you resubmit your auction.

The reserve bidder is the second highest bidder, but this bidder is not obligated to purchase your item. We suggest allowing three days before moving on to the reserve bidder.

To get the email address of the reserve bidder:

1. Click "My Auctions" from any page of Yahoo! Auctions, and then select the "Closed/Sold" option.
2. Select your auction and scroll to the bottom of the auction item page. You will see the winner's Yahoo! ID and email address along with the Reserve Bidders List.

To contact and rate a reserve bidder, access the auction through "My Auctions," then click "Remove" next to the winner's name. The reserve bidder is then promoted to the Winners List.

When you remove your auction winner from the Winners List, a notification email is sent to the highest bidder on your Reserve Bidders List, giving them the choice of accepting or turning down the winning position on the auction. If they choose to accept the winning position, you are then allowed to leave feedback about them.

Find out more about Yahoo! Auctions Ratings.

More Tips for Sellers and Buyers

Tips for Sellers

Sellers, please consider the following when dealing with non-paying bidders.

• Contact the bidder and try to resolve the dispute directly. Your bidder may have a legitimate reason for not responding right away.

Tips for Bidders

Please consider the following suggestions to help avoid disputes or misunderstandings:

• Be cautious. Check a seller's rating and past transaction comments before placing a bid.
• Contact the seller and request payment instructions as soon as an auction closes. Be sure to include your shipping address. Keep paper copies of all email correspondence between you and the seller.
• Send payment as soon as possible and always keep proof of payment. If you send a check, the seller may have to wait a couple of days for the check to clear before sending the item. If you and the seller both use PayPal, you can send payment immediately by email.