Lark Mason Associates

Auction closed on 6/15. My card wasn’t charged until 6/28. I figured I would receive the product in a day or two after my card was charged (we are both in TX) but not a word.

I sent an email to Lark Mason and their reply was that they are busy and then were out for holiday. They promised my order would ship no later than Monday - today is Thursday. I sent a follow up email on Monday and Tuesday but no reply. I did tell them that if I don’t have the product by Saturday (a week after they promised and almost a month after the auction ended) I am going to dispute the charge.

My product total was $338 and consisted of shoes and jewelry). Plus the buyers premium which is 20% (added $84) which is higher than any other auction site I have ever purchased from but I figured it would go hand in hand with the products they were auctioning so I was ok with it. The shipping is $96 and they are only a few hours away from me.

I have been made aware that other people who also purchased from this same auction have not received their product either - they spent thousands.

Doing business with iGavel or Lark Mason has been a less than favorable experience. Their buyers terms and conditions are lengthy with penalties and such. Perhaps I should deduct a premium for my time wasted?

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted] , and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because: First of all, thank Revdex.com's work with my caseAs a customer I have all rights to protect myselfI just asked a refund, but [redacted] refusedHow can I send the item to him when he refused to refund?As a veteran appraiser and auctioneer, [redacted] has more knowledge than meI trusted his dating on the itemHe dated it as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795)I kept the item as an authentic piece for almost two yearsLast month I want to sell itI contacted [redacted] and [redacted] housesThe experts from the [redacted] examined the item carefully and told me that the piece is modern reproduction.I just have two questionsDid [redacted] date the item as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795)? Now other independent experts dated it as a modern pieceWhat will [redacted] do?Before I made the payment in May 2013, I did ask if [redacted] could guarantee his datingIt was absolutely in the days! I got an email from [redacted] ( [redacted] ***'s wife), saying: " [redacted] guarantee his dating"I wonder what and where is the guarantee? As a customer I did nothing wrongMaybe I just made a mistake that I trusted [redacted] ***, trusted his dating and trusted his guarantee [redacted] is an Antique Roadshow starHe has many years experiences in appraising Chinese artI trusted him and bought many pieces from his auction platformMaybe my English is poorBut my case is very simpleI bought a so called "Qianlong" piece from [redacted] ***I found it is not authenticI try to get a refund [redacted] refusedI have to seek helps from other organizations, like Revdex.comI hope [redacted] can provide a solution for my case, not just questioning me In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above Sincerely, [redacted] ***

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted] , and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because: [Your Answer Here] Lark Mason Associates has a lawyer to handle my caseI had to find a lawyer to communicate with themI'd like to close my complaint although it has not been resolvedI really appreciate Revdex.com's work on my complaintSincerely yours [redacted] *** In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above Sincerely, [redacted] ***

RE: Case number ***
In reference to the most
recent response received from *** *** *** to the Revdex.com, we have the following
reply:
We have no further comments
concerning *** ***, nor his claims, nor his statements as these are being
handled by our counsel.
We thank the Revdex.com for offering
a forum to resolve this and other issues,
*** ***
May **,

To Whom it May Concern: We are a fine art auction company established in 2003. Our business receives consignments, from companies and individuals, that we represent on an online bidding...

platform and the objects offered for sale are exhibited for personal inspection at our gallery in [redacted]. Bidding is over a two-week period and viewing is available at that time. We offer a conditional guarantee that if an item is not as described it may be returned for a refund within 45 days after the end of the auction sale (though for the purposes of this response, the return time policy in 2013 was 45 business days equating to approximately 2 months). From the time of the exhibition to the end of the guarantee period, buyers in 2013 had 10 weeks to examine any object and make sure it was as described. Users of the auction site are made aware when they register to bid that there are conditions of sale that are applicable for all bidders who wish to bid in our auctions. Our conditions of sale are prominently noted for all bidders on the site and is part of our registration process. We advise bidders not to participate in our auctions if they do not want to adhere to our conditions of sale, including our terms of guarantee. Our revenue is based on a commission from each sale. The proceeds of each item sold are paid to the consignor at the end of the 45 day guarantee period. We encourage clients to examine items before purchasing and to contact us within the 45 day guarantee period so the sale can be cancelled before payment is made to the consignor. The complainant is a long-time experienced client of our firm having purchased eighteen items over an eight year period beginning in 2006, and was aware of our policy and had asked our staff about our policy prior to the purchase of the object for which he issued this complaint. In an auction that occurred between April ** and May *, 2013 the client purchased an object at auction that had at the time received numerous other bids from other bidders and was on view in our exhibition gallery. Because we received no indication of any problem with the item we paid our consignor and considered the sale a successful transaction. Two years after the end of this sale the complainant sent (though we did not receive it ) an email to us stating that he wished to return the item for a full refund because he had shown it to auction houses who said it was a modern reproduction. He sent this email on March [redacted] but we did not receive it until he sent it to us in another email on March [redacted]. Before we could respond to the complainant, the complainant sent another email threatening legal action. We responded within two hours of receiving his email confirming what the object was and outlined our return policy that was published on the auction site under which his purchase terms were made and asked him to contact us by telephone. On April [redacted] the complainant contacted us by email stating he could provide experts who would verify that the item was not authentic and threatened legal action “[redacted]” We responded asking for written names and statements from his experts and advised him to return it to our ** offices. No written reply with expert names has been received from him nor did he send the object to us. On April * at 9:27pm we received this email in part: "[redacted]" .... On April *, 2015 at 11:35pm the complainant sent the following email in part: “[redacted]" SUMMARY We responded quickly to each email and after stating our corporate policy and terms of guarantee that he agreed to prior to bidding, asked him to return the item to our offices in [redacted]. Some of his comments in the emails are troubling and suggest he may take or has taken retaliatory actions over social media. He did not respond with the names and information about the individuals who questioned the authenticity of the item. Further, he responded with legal threats and has posted at least one [redacted] comment and we suspect other digital comments similar to that provided to Revdex.com. At this point we do not even know if the complainant owns the object in question. We do not know the status of the object and whether it is in the same condition as when purchased from our company. We have not seen the object since the sale two years previously. After learning from the complainant of the many individuals he had contacted we believe the object will be nearly impossible to sell, regardless of whether it is authentic because his comments to his ‘friends’ cast doubt on the authenticity of the item. We are concerned whether these written or spoken comments and the [redacted] or other online posts have damaged our reputation within the Asian art collecting community and inhibited our ability to sell this item or other items or receive items on consignment.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

First of all, thank Revdex.com's work with my case. As a customer I have all rights to protect myself. I just asked a refund, but [redacted] refused. How can I send the item to him when he refused to refund?As a veteran appraiser and auctioneer, [redacted] has more knowledge than me. I trusted his dating on the item. He dated it as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795). I kept the item as an authentic piece for almost two years. Last month I want to sell it. I contacted [redacted] and [redacted] houses. The experts from the [redacted] examined the item carefully and told me that the piece is modern reproduction.I just have two questions.1. Did [redacted] date the item as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795)? Now other independent experts dated it as a modern piece. What will [redacted] do?2. Before I made the payment in May 2013, I did ask if [redacted] could guarantee his dating. It was absolutely in the 45 days! I got an email from [redacted]'s wife), saying: "[redacted] guarantee his dating". I wonder what and where is the guarantee? As a customer I did nothing wrong. Maybe I just made a mistake that I trusted [redacted], trusted his dating and trusted his guarantee. [redacted] is an Antique Roadshow star. He has many years experiences in appraising Chinese art. I trusted him and bought many pieces from his auction platform. Maybe my English is poor. But my case is very simple. I bought a so called "Qianlong" piece from [redacted]. I found it is not authentic. I try to get a refund. [redacted] refused. I have to seek helps from other organizations, like Revdex.com. I hope [redacted] can provide a solution for my case, not just questioning me.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]
Lark Mason Associates has a lawyer to handle my case. I had to find a lawyer to communicate with them. I'd like to close my complaint although it has not been resolved. I really appreciate Revdex.com's work on my complaint. Sincerely yours[redacted] 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Review: I got a Blue and White ewer from [redacted] (Lark Mason's online auction website) in May 2013. According to the lot description, the ewer is a “Chinese Porcelain Underglaze Blue Ming-Style Ewer, Qianlong Mark and Period (1735 A. D.- 1796 A.D.)” and the estimate was US$30,000 to US$40,000. I won the bid at US$51,375. Recently I am considering selling it. I contacted [redacted] in [redacted] and [redacted] in [redacted], the world famous auction houses in Chinese art. Unfortunately the third-party experts from both auction houses appraised the ewer as a modern reproduction.

Actually after won the bid and before made the payment, I had asked [redacted] (employee of Lark Mason) via emails about the genuine of the ewer. [redacted] said “[redacted] (Lark Mason's [redacted]) guarantees his dating”. So I made the payment.

As an online auction, the lot description is very important to buyers. The buyers generally don’t have chance to attend the onsite preview and they can only depend on lot description and appraisals from auction houses. I bought the ewer as a Qianlong piece, but none of third-party experts appraised the ewer as a Qianlong piece. I emailed [redacted] and [redacted] for a refund. But they refused to do that.Desired Settlement: Get a refund for my payment

Business

Response:

To Whom it May Concern: We are a fine art auction company established in 2003. Our business receives consignments, from companies and individuals, that we represent on an online bidding platform and the objects offered for sale are exhibited for personal inspection at our gallery in [redacted]. Bidding is over a two-week period and viewing is available at that time. We offer a conditional guarantee that if an item is not as described it may be returned for a refund within 45 days after the end of the auction sale (though for the purposes of this response, the return time policy in 2013 was 45 business days equating to approximately 2 months). From the time of the exhibition to the end of the guarantee period, buyers in 2013 had 10 weeks to examine any object and make sure it was as described. Users of the auction site are made aware when they register to bid that there are conditions of sale that are applicable for all bidders who wish to bid in our auctions. Our conditions of sale are prominently noted for all bidders on the site and is part of our registration process. We advise bidders not to participate in our auctions if they do not want to adhere to our conditions of sale, including our terms of guarantee. Our revenue is based on a commission from each sale. The proceeds of each item sold are paid to the consignor at the end of the 45 day guarantee period. We encourage clients to examine items before purchasing and to contact us within the 45 day guarantee period so the sale can be cancelled before payment is made to the consignor. The complainant is a long-time experienced client of our firm having purchased eighteen items over an eight year period beginning in 2006, and was aware of our policy and had asked our staff about our policy prior to the purchase of the object for which he issued this complaint. In an auction that occurred between April ** and May *, 2013 the client purchased an object at auction that had at the time received numerous other bids from other bidders and was on view in our exhibition gallery. Because we received no indication of any problem with the item we paid our consignor and considered the sale a successful transaction. Two years after the end of this sale the complainant sent (though we did not receive it ) an email to us stating that he wished to return the item for a full refund because he had shown it to auction houses who said it was a modern reproduction. He sent this email on March [redacted] but we did not receive it until he sent it to us in another email on March [redacted]. Before we could respond to the complainant, the complainant sent another email threatening legal action. We responded within two hours of receiving his email confirming what the object was and outlined our return policy that was published on the auction site under which his purchase terms were made and asked him to contact us by telephone. On April [redacted] the complainant contacted us by email stating he could provide experts who would verify that the item was not authentic and threatened legal action “[redacted]” We responded asking for written names and statements from his experts and advised him to return it to our ** offices. No written reply with expert names has been received from him nor did he send the object to us. On April * at 9:27pm we received this email in part: "[redacted]" .... On April *, 2015 at 11:35pm the complainant sent the following email in part: “[redacted]" SUMMARY We responded quickly to each email and after stating our corporate policy and terms of guarantee that he agreed to prior to bidding, asked him to return the item to our offices in [redacted]. Some of his comments in the emails are troubling and suggest he may take or has taken retaliatory actions over social media. He did not respond with the names and information about the individuals who questioned the authenticity of the item. Further, he responded with legal threats and has posted at least one [redacted] comment and we suspect other digital comments similar to that provided to Revdex.com. At this point we do not even know if the complainant owns the object in question. We do not know the status of the object and whether it is in the same condition as when purchased from our company. We have not seen the object since the sale two years previously. After learning from the complainant of the many individuals he had contacted we believe the object will be nearly impossible to sell, regardless of whether it is authentic because his comments to his ‘friends’ cast doubt on the authenticity of the item. We are concerned whether these written or spoken comments and the [redacted] or other online posts have damaged our reputation within the Asian art collecting community and inhibited our ability to sell this item or other items or receive items on consignment.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

First of all, thank Revdex.com's work with my case. As a customer I have all rights to protect myself. I just asked a refund, but [redacted] refused. How can I send the item to him when he refused to refund?As a veteran appraiser and auctioneer, [redacted] has more knowledge than me. I trusted his dating on the item. He dated it as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795). I kept the item as an authentic piece for almost two years. Last month I want to sell it. I contacted [redacted] and [redacted] houses. The experts from the [redacted] examined the item carefully and told me that the piece is modern reproduction.I just have two questions.1. Did [redacted] date the item as Qianlong period (AD 1736-1795)? Now other independent experts dated it as a modern piece. What will [redacted] do?2. Before I made the payment in May 2013, I did ask if [redacted] could guarantee his dating. It was absolutely in the 45 days! I got an email from [redacted]'s wife), saying: "[redacted] guarantee his dating". I wonder what and where is the guarantee? As a customer I did nothing wrong. Maybe I just made a mistake that I trusted [redacted], trusted his dating and trusted his guarantee. [redacted] is an Antique Roadshow star. He has many years experiences in appraising Chinese art. I trusted him and bought many pieces from his auction platform. Maybe my English is poor. But my case is very simple. I bought a so called "Qianlong" piece from [redacted]. I found it is not authentic. I try to get a refund. [redacted] refused. I have to seek helps from other organizations, like Revdex.com. I hope [redacted] can provide a solution for my case, not just questioning me.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

RE: Case number [redacted]

In reference to the most

recent response received from [redacted] to the Revdex.com, we have the following

reply:

We have no further comments

concerning [redacted], nor his claims, nor his statements as these are being

handled by our counsel.

We thank the Revdex.com for offering

a forum to resolve this and other issues,

[redacted] May **, 2015

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

Lark Mason Associates has a lawyer to handle my case. I had to find a lawyer to communicate with them. I'd like to close my complaint although it has not been resolved. I really appreciate Revdex.com's work on my complaint. Sincerely yours[redacted]

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,