B & H Antique Auction

Review: I listed 38 collectable plates with this company and they sold them at a very low price. About 4 when for $2 and the other 34 were sold in a lot for $10. When I questioned the prices, I was told that these items did not do well at auction. They did not say collectable plates were not good auction items when I asked if they handled them. They did not say they would put them in a lot to sell. They would not tell me any details when I called the day after the auction. I did not know how they were sold until I got the check. These plates sell for over $20 on ebay and I feel as professionals they should have known they when they said they could sell the plates.I feel there was not a fair disclosure of information from this company.Desired Settlement: I would like a fair price for my 38 plates that should have brought at least $20 each.

Business

Response:

Thank you for the phone call. As to this complaint I would like to reiterate what I stated during our call. Ms. [redacted] contacted our company by email inquiring as to whether or not we could sell her collector plates and other items. My wife responded back that we could auction them and we would sell them without reserve, and all would be sold. She brought them in after that and signed a contract for us to sell them to the highest bidder. We, in fact, did exactly that. They were sold to the highest bidders. She is mistaken that 4 were sold for $2, actually 13 were sold for $2 apiece. We tried to get at least a $.50 to $1 bid on each of the 25 remaining plates, but there was no interest in them until we grouped them together, and then they sold together for $10. We have our terms posted on our website www.bhantiqueauction.com stating that the auctioneer reserves the right to combine or divide lots at his discretion. These terms are also on signage posted at our business. I would also like to respond to her claims that these plates are on Ebay for $20. I did a search myself and found several of the exact plates that she had, and hundreds more others, posted on Ebay and asking $.49 to $.99 starting bid, however after several days online there are absolutely no bids, even at the $.49 asking price. I question why she did not go ahead and sell them on Ebay if she thought they were selling so well there. Ms [redacted] did not ask what price I would expect for her plates nor did she mention seeing any on Ebay at $20, I would have directed her immediately to follow that path if that had been conveyed to me. I believe the price we did get on the plates was a good price (and higher than the Ebay bids I found) as others we have sold in the past were only bid on after being grouped together. I’m sorry she is unaware that there are thousands, or maybe millions of collector plates on the market and that drives the price down based on supply and demand. Attached please find a copy of our contract and email correspondence. Please note our correct address below. Thank you Steve BurkeB & H Auction

I listed 38 collectable plates with this company and they sold them at a very low price. About 4 when for $2 and the other 34 were sold in a lot for $10. When I questioned the prices, I was told that these items did not do well at auction. They did not say collectable plates were not good auction items when I asked if they handled them. They did not say they would put them in a lot to sell. They would not tell me any details when I called the day after the auction. I did not know how they were sold until I got the check. These plates sell for over $20 on ebay and I feel as professionals they should have known they when they said they could sell the plates.I feel there was not a fair disclosure of information from this company.