Alamo Aztek Estate Sales

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my dispute Please enter your reason(s) for rejecting the business response below Regards, [redacted] In his response [redacted] states that he did not “appreciate the fabrications” in it, and didn’t like “the attacks on my integrity as a business person”He is the one who has made many fabricationsIn the interest of saving space, I will only address some of them below My husband [redacted] , had full permission from my sister and myself to discuss the estate sale with MattWhen he called [redacted] a couple of weeks after the sale, [redacted] told him he would consider refunding $of the set up charge and get back to him the next dayHe did notAfter leaving several voicemails for [redacted] over the next few days with no response, he left the “nasty” voicemailDuring their conversation [redacted] never mentioned needing “authorization” to talk to him The home is over square feet, not less than We were never told before, during or after the estate sale that we were “in breach of contract”This is just a smoke screen to cover for how inadequately it was handled All items were NOT put out for sale and priced, and pricing sheets did NOT cover all items without price tags Upon returning to the house the day after the sale, the burglar alarm was NOT set and the back door was NOT lockedDon’t know who all the “employee witnesses” were When we settled up with [redacted] the day before, the day he supposedly locked everything up and set the alarm, only one of his employees was present! Speaking of employees present, [redacted] said that there would be enough employees at the house during the sale to make sure nothing was stolenWhen he alone was setting up for the sale, he also told us that his employees were worn out from a previous sale, and gave most of them the week offIt would appear that the second of these contradictory statements is the accurate one When the realtor listing the house visited the second day of the sale, neither [redacted] nor his co-owner wife were presentThere was just one employee there As [redacted] says in his response to the complaint, “It clearly states on page of our contract that the seller is not to be present during the selling hours of the event ” Obviously, there’s a good reason for this: Wouldn’t want the seller to see when he/she is being takenTo be accurate, the contract states, “We ask that the seller please not be present during the selling hours of the event because of the emotional attachment & sentimentality, and will please not interfere with the setup of the sale, conduct of the sale, or the negotiation with potential buyers.” Although not included in my complaint, [redacted] mentions the water to the toilet in the main bathroom being turned offIt was--by someone with Alamo Aztek Estate SalesAnd, in the process the valve was damaged The majority of the furniture was NOT soldComplete dining and living room sets remained as well as three large bookcases The “vintage” chandelier did NOT have any missing pieces The “vintage” Emerson analog clock radio that he priced for $20, and says could realize $ on eBay, is currently selling there for $ Finally, his accusation that we are trying to have the estate sale done for free is totally falseWe just don’t like being ripped off, and that is exactly what happened!

I received the complaint from the [redacted] family and my response is stated below.I would first like to point out that [redacted] and [redacted] are both the executors of their mother’s estate, and the only legal persons authorized to make decisions concerning this This fact will be called into play further in the letter.The estate sale total was with items being sold Our commission percentage is 35% which is the industry standard Our commission percentage total was plus our set up costs made our pay with the [redacted] s receiving which they neglected to mention Let me first explain that we have set up costs for a reason With the costs of advertising, transportation, supplies, employee pay, and research time, we as a company spend close to a thousand dollars up front of our own money, before any single client’s items are sold As a company we have decided to split these costs roughly in half as a benefit to our clients to make the fees easier There are other estate companies that charge thousands just to walk through the door Bottom line our rates are more fair than the competition.When I first met [redacted] and [redacted] I explained to them that their estate consisted mainly of Mid Century French and Italian provincial items which were niche market type items and only appealed to a certain type of collector and that their furniture was where the majority of their money was That is how we advertised the sale to draw those buyers in I would also like to point out that typical estate sales, houses that are square footage or less generally do between 5-7k of total sales which we did hit that general number I also explained that fact to them.I would also like to point out that from day one, they were not ready for us to begin work It clearly states on page of our contract that the seller is not to be present during the selling hours of the event and will not interfere with the set up of the sale When our crew arrived the first day the family had not finished removing the items they were keeping and we had to work around them It was breach of contract It also says in our contract that the seller is to have all items removed before we start work, which they did not do It also states on page of our contract that if any item has been removed after the contract has been signed but prior to the live sale commission percentage is still enforced and collected They removed items that were in the selling area of the sale after we had set up We were also nice enough not to charge commission percentage for it.I would also like to point out that [redacted] had items in her house that she wanted to sell as well as keeping one of the tables in the sale It cost us time to move the items It cost us fuel to drive the items to the destination It cost us payroll We were nice enough to move all of these items and did not charge them or ask for reimbursement We went above and beyond the call of duty.During the set of the sale we do price the majority of our items with price tags We also have printed pricing sheets which are hung in the area detailing bulk items These items include linens, kitchen items, books and multimedia, office supplies, Christmas items, and apparel These pricing sheets do adequately cover the items that are being sold and we do use them at every sale This is to explain why not every single item didn’t have a price tag The day the sale was finished, we did indeed pay [redacted] and her husband After the funds were collected we did our final preparations and removed our gear After all the gear was packed and loaded we set the burglar alarm, made our security check to make sure all doors and windows were locked, and turned off the air conditioning I have employee witnesses to attest to this fact.Approximately two weeks later I received a phone call from ***’s husband with the complaints I told him I would discuss it with the other owner and get back to him The next day I called [redacted] since she is the only one legally authorized to discuss these in an effort to resolve these issues She said she was busy and would call me the next day She never did I also mentioned that I was not authorized to talk to her brother in law due to confidentiality unless she gave me permission to do so She said she would talk to him A week later after I had gone to sleep he left a nasty voicemail I don’t appreciate that at all.Now to address the complaints:There were multiple tables utilized in the kitchen area where all the items were on display When we broke our gear down I had our employees return the items to the cabinets so they would not have the risk of being damaged just being left on the floor They had mentioned that they were going to view what’s left so we were being courteous to make sure none of the items got damaged All the items were cleaned before they were put on display You can only do so much with kitchen items as some had been damaged by the dishwasher from previous uses All the furniture was polished as well and we sold the majority of the furniture in the estate The air conditioning was turned off each night after we had finished work as well as the burglar alarm being set I have multiple employees to attest to this fact I don’t appreciate the fabrications stating that we did not do this and ***’s husband even saying that we turned the plumbing off to one of the toilets in the restroomWe are estate liquidators not plumbers, why on earth would we do that The pricing of the items: the chandelier was a vintage item not antique and it was also not complete After the sale each day I would report to the client the totals and any other pertinent information My instructions for the last day were to get half price or better for the items A chandelier that is missing parts is not a hot ticket item Emerson analog radios do consistently realize $on Ebay and we typically get $ for them at our sales Emerson analog radios are vintage The fogged over measuring cup was a vintage Pyrex from the 60’s, yes it did have some wear and tear but it was a fair price There are two other facts concerning pricing which was also addressed in our estate sale packet that was given to [redacted] and *** Fact 1, items are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them bottom line Fact 2, You can have the neatest things in the world and they still won’t sellMy company adhered to our contract the entire sale even when [redacted] and [redacted] didn’t We are a professional company who conducts business to the highest standards in the industry As a company integrity is one of our core values All items were put out for sale with the adequate equipment and pricing to sell it Our company gave every effort to sell the items in the estate I attempted to reach out to [redacted] to resolve these issues without a return phone call We even did extra work for them for free We did nothing wrong I also don’t like the attacks on my integrity as a business person We don’t work for free and that is exactly what we feel they are trying to accomplish by this

I received the
complaint from the [redacted] family and my response is stated below.I would first like to point out that [redacted] and [redacted] are both
the executors of their mother’s estate, and the only legal persons authorized
to make decisions concerning this. ...

This
fact will be called into play further in the letter.The estate sale total was 5353.50 with 725 items being
sold.  Our commission percentage is 35%
which is the industry standard.  Our
commission percentage total was 1873.72 plus our 400.00 set up costs made our
pay 2273.72 with the [redacted]s receiving 3079.78 which they neglected
to mention.  Let me first explain that we have set up costs for a
reason.  With the costs of advertising,
transportation, supplies, employee pay, and research time, we as a company
spend close to a thousand dollars up front of our own money, before any single
client’s items are sold.  As a company we
have decided to split these costs roughly in half as a benefit to our clients
to make the fees easier.  There are other
estate companies that charge thousands just to walk through the door.  Bottom line our rates are more fair than the
competition.When I first met [redacted] and [redacted] I explained to them that
their estate consisted mainly of Mid Century French and Italian provincial
items which were niche market type items and only appealed to a certain type of
collector and that their furniture was where the majority of their money
was.  That is how we advertised the sale
to draw those buyers in.  I would also
like to point out that typical estate sales, houses that are square footage
2000 or less generally do between 5-7k of total sales which we did hit that
general number.  I also explained that
fact to them.I would also like to point out that from day one, they were
not ready for us to begin work.  It
clearly states on page 2 of our contract that the seller is not to be present
during the selling hours of the event and will not interfere with the set up of
the sale.  When our crew arrived the
first day the family had not finished removing the items they were keeping and
we had to work around them.  It was
breach of contract.  It also says in our
contract that the seller is to have all items removed before we start work,
which they did not do.  It also states on
page 3 of our contract that if any item has been removed after the contract has
been signed but prior to the live sale commission percentage is still enforced
and collected.  They removed items that
were in the selling area of the sale after we had set up.  We were also nice enough not to charge
commission percentage for it.I would also like to point out that [redacted] had items in her
house that she wanted to sell as well as keeping one of the tables in the
sale.  It cost us time to move the
items.  It cost us fuel to drive the
items to the destination.  It cost us
payroll.  We were nice enough to move all
of these items and did not charge them or ask for reimbursement.  We went above and beyond the call of duty.During the set of the sale we do price the majority of our
items with price tags.  We also have
printed pricing sheets which are hung in the area detailing bulk items.  These items include linens, kitchen items,
books and multimedia, office supplies, Christmas items, and apparel.  These pricing sheets do adequately cover the
items that are being sold and we do use them at every sale.  This is to explain why not every single item
didn’t have a price tag.  The day the sale was finished, we did indeed pay [redacted] and
her husband.  After the funds were
collected we did our final preparations and removed our gear.  After all the gear was packed and loaded we
set the burglar alarm, made our security check to make sure all doors and
windows were locked, and turned off the air conditioning.  I have employee witnesses to attest to this
fact.Approximately two weeks later I received a phone call from
[redacted]’s husband with the complaints.  I
told him I would discuss it with the other owner and get back to him.  The next day I called [redacted] since she is the
only one legally authorized to discuss these in an effort to resolve these
issues.  She said she was busy and would
call me the next day.  She never did.  I also mentioned that I was not authorized to
talk to her brother in law due to confidentiality unless she gave me permission
to do so.  She said she would talk to
him.   A week later after I had gone to
sleep he left a nasty voicemail.  I don’t
appreciate that at all.Now to address the complaints:There were multiple tables utilized in the kitchen area
where all the items were on display. 
When we broke our gear down I had our employees return the items to the
cabinets so they would not have the risk of being damaged just being left on
the floor.  They had mentioned that they
were going to view what’s left so we were being courteous to make sure none of
the items got damaged.  All the items were cleaned before they were put on
display.  You can only do so much with
kitchen items as some had been damaged by the dishwasher from previous
uses.  All the furniture was polished as
well and we sold the majority of the furniture in the estate.  The air conditioning was turned off each night after we had
finished work as well as the burglar alarm being set.  I have multiple employees to attest to this
fact.  I don’t appreciate the
fabrications stating that we did not do this and [redacted]’s husband even saying
that we turned the plumbing off to one of the toilets in the restroom. We are
estate liquidators not plumbers, why on earth would we do that.  The pricing of the items: the chandelier was a vintage item
not antique and it was also not complete. 
After the sale each day I would report to the client the totals and any
other pertinent information.  My
instructions for the last day were to get half price or better for the
items.  A chandelier that is missing
parts is not a hot ticket item.  Emerson
analog radios do consistently realize $60 on Ebay and we typically get $20.00
for them at our sales.  Emerson analog
radios are vintage.  The fogged over
measuring cup was a vintage Pyrex from the 60’s, yes it did have some wear and
tear but it was a fair price.  There are two other facts concerning pricing which was also addressed
in our estate sale packet that was given to [redacted] and [redacted].  Fact 1, items are only worth what someone is
willing to pay for them bottom line. 
Fact 2, You can have the neatest things in the world and they still
won’t sell. My company adhered to our contract the entire sale even when
[redacted] and [redacted] didn’t.  We are a
professional company who conducts business to the highest standards in the
industry.  As a company integrity is one
of our core values.  All items were put
out for sale with the adequate equipment and pricing to sell it.  Our company gave every effort to sell the
items in the estate.   I attempted to reach out to [redacted] to resolve
these issues without a return phone call. 
We even did extra work for them for free.   We did nothing wrong.   I also don’t like the attacks on my
integrity as a business person.   We
don’t work for free and that is exactly what we feel they are trying to
accomplish by this.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my dispute.
Please enter your reason(s) for rejecting the business response below.
Regards,
[redacted]
In his
response[redacted] states that he did not “appreciate the fabrications” in it,
and didn’t like “the attacks on my integrity as a business person”. He is the
one who has made many fabrications. In the interest of saving space, I will only
address some of them below.
My husband[redacted], had full permission from my sister and myself to discuss the estate
sale with Matt. When he called [redacted] a couple of weeks after the sale, [redacted] told
him he would consider refunding $200 of the set up charge and get back to him
the next day. He did not. After leaving several voicemails for [redacted] over the
next few days with no response, he left the “nasty” voicemail. During their
conversation [redacted] never mentioned needing “authorization” to talk to him.
The home is
over 2100 square feet, not less than 2000.
We were never
told before, during or after the estate sale that we were “in breach of
contract”. This is just a smoke screen to cover for how inadequately it was
handled.
All items
were NOT put out for sale and priced, and pricing sheets did NOT cover all
items without price tags.
Upon
returning to the house the day after the sale, the burglar alarm was NOT set
and the back door was NOT locked. Don’t know who all the “employee witnesses” were.
When we settled up with [redacted] the day before, the day he supposedly locked
everything up and set the alarm, only one of his employees was present!
Speaking of
employees present, [redacted] said that there would be enough employees at the house during
the sale to make sure nothing was stolen. When he alone was setting up for the
sale, he also told us that his employees were worn out from a previous sale, and
gave most of them the week off. It would appear that the second of these contradictory
statements is the accurate one.  When the
realtor listing the house visited the second day of the sale, neither [redacted] nor
his co-owner wife were present. There was just one employee there.
As [redacted] says
in his response to the complaint, “It clearly states on page 2 of our contract
that the seller is not to be present during the selling hours of the event…” Obviously,
there’s a good reason for this: Wouldn’t want the seller to see when he/she is
being taken. To be accurate, the contract states, “We ask that the seller
please not be present during the selling hours of the event because of the
emotional attachment & sentimentality, and will please not interfere with
the setup of the sale, conduct of the sale, or the negotiation with potential
buyers.”
Although not included in my complaint, [redacted] mentions the water to the
toilet in the main bathroom being turned off. It was--by someone with Alamo
Aztek Estate Sales. And, in the process the valve was damaged.
The majority of the furniture was NOT sold. Complete dining and living
room sets remained as well as three large bookcases.
The “vintage”
chandelier did NOT have any missing pieces.
The “vintage”
Emerson analog clock radio that he priced for $20, and says could realize $60
on eBay, is currently selling there for $4.99.
Finally, his accusation
that we are trying to have the estate sale done for free is totally false. We
just don’t like being ripped off, and that is exactly what happened!