I always try not to leave anyone hanging, including here on Fluther. On Fluther, I’m mildly annoyed when someone asks a question and there’s absolutely no response or feedback from the OP whatsoever. No comment, not even a GA. It’s like they asked the question and then disappeared. I, for one, like to know if my answer was useful to them.
On sites like Craigslist, if I’m a buyer, I’ll let the seller know if I’m no longer interested or if I’ve bought elsewhere. If I’m a seller, I’ll tell the buyer if I’ve already sold the item. I put myself in their shoes. I’d like to know.
Recently, I interviewed property managers. After I made my choice, I let the others know that I had chosen someone else. Instead of getting angry, every single one of them wrote back thanking me for telling them and not leaving them hanging. And it didn’t take much effort. Just a simple note saying, “Thank you for your time, but I decided to go with someone else. I wish you well.”