If someone has a twitter handle I want...
 

And they don't appear to be using it, (zero tweets in 4 years) what is the best way to go about trying to get it from them?

You can contact Twitter. They may deactivate the other user's name if they are truly "inactive" thus making it available for you to set up. Twitter wants active users.

https://support.twitter.com/articles...account-policy

Glad yahoo doesn't work like twitter.

However....from that page:
""What if I have a request for a username from an account that looks inactive, but I don't have a registered trademark?

We do not accept requests for usernames that seem inactive. If a username you would like is being used by an account that seems inactive, you should consider selecting an available variation for your use on Twitter. In general, adding numbers, underscores, or abbreviations can help you come up with a great available username.""

It isn't a registered trademark, but it is a name I trade under that I intend to register. I suspect it is owned by the same person that sold me the domain, the dates are similar and the amount of effort put into both is similar (zero)

I'll see if I can contact them first. If not I'll reg the trademark and get it then.

email twitter

too bad there is no way to contact someone privately on twitter. i've had several names i'd like to buy but i don't want to tweet them that.

Can you not contact the person you bought the domain from & ask them? if it is theirs, they would gladly hand it to you :thumbsup

Hmm, does not sound like a real issue, instead of tweeting that you want to buy, tweet that you have a business proposition or something else. Exchange contacts (or ask him to follow you so that you could private message him).