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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,738 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
552 Posts |
I find myself in a pretty sad situation after bidding online with the above company. I assumed a candid photo and description but it was wishful thinking and for that I accept my misplaced faith. A group of 23 coins with 1804 Bank Dollar (5 Shillings) was presented....only one side of the coin was shown, the coin was mentioned and the live auctioneer said how lovely it was. Paid £334.45p and drove to Liverpool to pick up the coins. The coins in question, the only valuable coin there had a massive capital letter H gouged into the obverse....defacing and thus ruining the coin and it's value. So I complained and said that as they offered online bidders unable to view needed a candid description......long and short of it is they have all the coins and all my money......refused refund........ Having told one of my more experienced collectors he said they are well known for dealing in coins and would have been well aware that a defaced coin would have little value so only showing the non defaced side was deliberate.......before critics attack me I appreciate that condition reports and examination of the coins would have been prudent......but a degree of honesty would as well.  Edited by marbury518
11/05/2016 06:32 am
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
1358 Posts |
Thanks for the warning and sharing the experience. At least I know where not to make a bid in the future. So far my experience was that ebay and similar sites are just stocked with rubbish, while (online) auction houses here in Europe have at least some degree of integrity. Your story shows that awareness should be kept here as well. There's absolutely no reason to attack you, I'd say. I don't know if there's more you can do about this? Does the UK have an Ombudsman or similar where you can file a complaint? To me, this almost seems like fraud, actually. The best you can do is spread the word and make this backfire on them. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
552 Posts |
There is consumer law which stipulates that goods must me in a condition or state that is 'reasonable' in terms of expectation given the money paid. Clearly this is not the case.....they made no attempt to persuade me to take the coins with me and were only interested in refusing my refund. Another error was paying cash instead of a credit card. I have written to them and said they have 7 days to reply.........clearly having the coins and my money is not viable long term......their buyer premium was also something crazy like 28% and this is not disclosed on their websites buyer info.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
That is a shocking story. In Austria when I go to pick up coins I have won in Auction I am shown the coins before I am handed the account to pay. I wonder if there is a police complaint to be made here?
Do they belong to a professional Body?
Edited by austrokiwi
11/05/2016 08:26 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
552 Posts |
Doesn't look like they belong to anything..........according to their website.........
Edited by marbury518
11/05/2016 2:51 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1351 Posts |
If the bank dollar was OK surely they wouldn't sell it in a lot with a load of tat.Alarm bells? An auctioneer to avoid.I would be livid but there again I would never bid on a coin that I couldn't see both sides of.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
I would suggest you ring Spink Auctions tell them your tale and ask them where you can go to for assistance. As a reputable auction house Spink should be able to tell you what you rights are and how to have them inforced. Alternately contact the local rep for the Numismatic dealers association and ask them where you can go for assistance. As a preventative I would also suggest you contact sixbid auctions( lead player is Kuenker) warn them about your experience. This will likely ensure that auction house will not be able to join sixbid.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
552 Posts |
Thank you austrokiwi.........I will get on to it tomorrow............Best, Marbury
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
709 Posts |
Re the suggestion of a police complaint, this is probably not your strongest line of approach. To prove a fraud you have to show a degree of dishonesty. Was there a deliberate misrepresentation, or is it more a case of a clever omission? If the police consider this to be a civil dispute, they will have no power to intervene.
I suggest you contact your local Trading Standards office for advice. There are consumer laws about properly and fairly representing goods. Any person who deals in coins would know about how the damage you described affects the value.
I suspect you are more likely to get payback this way. Hope you succeed. Let us know how you get on.
If anyone from the auction house is reading this, to you I say that I have never heard of your company before today. Now that I have heard of you for the first time, I do not hold a neutral opinion about your customer service, and I am just one of many coin buyers who visit this site
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
552 Posts |
I have messaged the administrator about this thread but not received a reply although some days ago now.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,738 |
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Posted 11/05/2016 06:57 am
