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James Auctioneers London - bad experience

  1. Norfolk Oct 30, 2015

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    This is an online auction outfit based in England. I have had a very bad experience with them after buying something and being sent something different to that illustrated. I will be seeking legal redress. Wondered if anyone else on here has had dealings with them?
     
  2. WatchVaultNYC Oct 30, 2015

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    Maybe you should tell us your story?
     
    devnull and Geo! like this.
  3. abrod520 Oct 30, 2015

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    I know it's pithy and stupid but: ::popcorn:: :D
     
    nightowl likes this.
  4. Spacefruit Prolific Speedmaster Hoarder Oct 30, 2015

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    Well they cannot keep a website up to date
     
  5. tpatta Happily spending my daughter’s inheritance Oct 30, 2015

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    Waiting for the full story please. :whistling::whistling:
     
  6. Norfolk Nov 3, 2015

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    Sorry for delay - baby duties!

    I won an online auction for a model car, several hundred pounds in price. The photo in the listing showed a mint example, as new, staight from the box. I recieved one which could only be described as heavily playworn, broken, scratched, missing parts like mirrors, wipers, dented roof, old glue holding in a broken screen. A child had clearly had some fun - as if my baby had got her hands on it!

    I took some photos, screen grabs of the auction listing, emailed them immediately on receipt and expected the auction house to say," Oh yes, sorry, we sent the wrong model". Instead I got "It must have got broken in transit, you bid on a model and that is what you have, read our terms and conditions etc". I have a feedback over 4000 on Ebay and have been collecting models and watches for 15 years and I have never had an experience like this. They were rude, dismissive, agressive, unhelpful and implied I was lying and that the model was damaged in transit and I had not taken additional insurance out.

    Several emails and letters later I am now going down the legal route. It is not about the money but the principle of the thing - this company were just so bad in dealing with a genuine issue and clearly had either sent out the wrong model, listed the wrong model. or what is worse, been deliberately deceptive in sending out a worthless item and passing it off in a listing as a perfect example.

    I note their site also sells watches so wanted to warn others of my experience and see if anyone else had a similar one. I think you would not be too happy if you bought a watch shown as new and a worn one turned up!

    I have referred the company to Trading Standards as their terms and conditions are in clear breach of the Consumer Proection Act 2015. I also reported them to various associations acting for auction houses. Surprisingly they were not a member of any, the last membership lapsing in August 2015. I pointed out their website still showed membership and it was hastily amended a few hours later.

    Not a good experience.
     
  7. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Nov 3, 2015

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    This sounds like a company in financial difficulties to me. So even if you win, your judgment may not be worth the paper it's printed on.

    I don't know the law in the UK, but here in the US, corporate debts generally can't be forced to the owners unless willful fraud can be proven. It is a much tougher standard than a civil judgment for misrepresentation.
    gatorcpa