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slope-nz,
In general terms, damages for breach of contract are equal to how much it would take to make you whole. In your situation, the damages would be the difference between (i) the price the seller promised and (ii) what you paid or would have paid if you bought from someone else, in good faith.
For example, your winning bid was $100 and the seller backs out (breach of contract). You buy the part from someone else for $130. Your damages would be $30 (130-100).
You may want to consider how much more you would have to pay to buy the part elsewhere (your "damages") to see how much trouble this is worth.
Was the seller a business or individual? Reason I ask is that most states have a consumer protection act that protects consumers against businesses (not individuals). These acts typically provide for payment of legal fees if the consumer wins. Thus, while a business may not care about having to pay $100 damages to a consumer, they will care about having to pay the consumer's legal expenses at $$$ per hour.
You could also call your Attorney General's office for help.
Sorry to hear about the trouble.
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