SHOULD NON-PAYING BIDDERS be allowed to leave negative feedback?

The questions are:

(1)-Should NPB's be allowed to leave negative feedbacks?

Yes, certainly. I've been both a bidder and a seller on eBay for several years and have seen what can happen at both ends. I've seen capricious negative feedback left by sellers who didn't respond to repeated e-mails from the buyers, and I've seen the same kind of feedback from buyers who were dissatisfied that the item didn't reach them in three days or less. Let those who read the feedback make the judgement.

(2)-Does anyone have any suggestions on what can be done?

EBay will eventually take measures against chronic NPB's as you call them, but you can make it easier by filling out the proper complaint form irrespective of how lengthy it is. If you don't, and the NPB goes on his merry way with no sanctions from eBay, you have only yourself to blame. I also remind you that buyers have the right to refuse winning bids by persons with significant negative feedback. Put a statement to that effect in with your item description to give yourself that protection, and make a habit of checking the feedback of every winner.

Incidentally, I've only had one non-paying buyer out of all the hundreds of items I've sold.

to answer your questions:

(1) yes i beleieve the npb should leave a negative feedback, How do we (other buyers) no they are truly no paying buys?

(2) i agree with above reply...you should go to the fullest of measures to bring justice to a "real" npb.

1.) yes. they may have a legitimate reason for not paying. Even though 99% of the time it's BS and they just use it to leave a retalitory negative.

2.) eBay should remove feedback by users they've kicked off eBay.

Sellers that dont leave negs just to keep their feedback pristine aren't doing anyone any favors except themselves.

Right now too many sellers dont leave the negatives they should because they are afraid of getting a negative in return. That sucks. It lets the bad guys bid again on other unsuspecting sellers auctions. If everyone left negs like they should they'd get kicked off eBay sooner and the problem would be solved.

I agree with almost everything that jayolson wrote but I'd modify "2.) eBay should remove feedback by users they've kicked off eBay" just a little bit. I'd suggest that eBay take off *negative* feedback by users they've removed. Removing all feedback would penalize those buyers or sellers who apparently got it right.

It is not difficult for EBAY's Safe Harbor to determine that
A. a bidder did not pay for an item.
B. The seller left the appropriate negative feedback
C. The bidder left a negative feedback as retaliation.

When this occurs the negative feedback by the bidder against the seller should be removed, and the bidder should recieve a warning.

Three non-paying bids can remove a bidder from EBAY. I, as a seller, will always leave negative feedback for a non-paying bidder. I wait for almost thirty days before I do this, and I send multiple e-mail reminders. I leave a polite feedback, simply stating "This buyer did not respond to e-mails, and did not close this transaction". This keeps a flame war from beginning.

Yellow Dog Designs makes an excellent point. While sometimes it's necessary to leave negative feedback for a buyer or seller, there's absolutely no reason to be impolite or worse in doing so. YDD's description of a reasonable, mature approach to this sensitive subject should be made required reading for all eBayers, sellers and buyers alike.