DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have sold many items locally through ads placed online. Most buyers I’ve dealt with are nice, polite people.

However, there are a few who seem interested, or even excited, about buying an item — exchanging several back-and-forth emails with me — but when it’s time to meet for the sale, all communication goes dead.

I’m inclined to write to them, as I find this behavior discourteous, but don’t know quite what to say. What would be appropriate and civil? I realize they may never read my response, but at least I’ll have the satisfaction of expressing my reaction to their behavior.

GENTLE READER: It will be worse if they do read your response. Trust Miss Manners when she says that telling customers that they have bad manners, even if accurate, is both improper and bad for business.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.