No probs about not getting this head (although gutted about missing that price!), since I've sourced myself a different one closer to home for £250... collecting that this afternoon.
At the end even if I could have "won" it for it £50 opening bid, if he was never going to sell that low, it'd have never been mine for any price lower than the one in his mind! So no point getting myself worked up about it. I was never going to really get a head for £106... end of story.
No way I'd buy the one off "his mate" either.
I'm not a vindictive sort, so not sure how I'll handle the feedback and cancel request, other than to wait and see if replies again before I do anything more. Give him a chance to justify himself. I think his silence on the matter might speak as loudly as his "I disposed of it already" comment.
Although I'm not vindictive, I do think it fair that others are warned of his shenanigans though... since it isn't playing fair.
The irony is I'd actually put £320 up on his auction too, so if others had bid, I'd have happily paid more... but there you go. Looks like I had a lucky escape dealing with a potential liar!
Thanks for the comments guys... it means a lot to know I'm not just being ultra suspicious, and others read the situation exactly the same as me.
Mike