Buyer Beware of Auctions

[Jesse 12]

I had the winning bid on a  robot offered by Smith House Auctions. I promptly paid and waited for robot to arrive. When I received the shipment and opened the box the robot was damaged. The shipping box appeared in good shape so I have to assume that the robot was damaged when packaged. I called Smith House and was told to ship the robot back for repairs, assuming that I would be reimbursed my shipping costs, I mailed back the robot. After a few days when I didn't hear back from Smith House I sent them a email telling them I wanted to cancel the order and I wanted  cost of the robot and my return shipping cost refunded. After hearing nothing back from the auction house I contacted my credit company and after several months I received the funds for the cost of the robot ,but not the return shipping. After several more attempts over several more months, I was informed that vendor was unwilling to refund the return shipping cost. So the point is, make sure you ask all the right questions before you  buy.

[MetalRobotHead]

I had a similar experience with Smith House several years ago, robot arrived with damage in two places, one to a leg where it attaches to the walking mechanism, the other showing a rather poor bodged repair to damaged battery compartment, transit box undamaged so must have been damaged/repaired at time of auction listing although there was no mention of the damage/repairs and the photos listed failed to show any problems, more to the point looked in very good condition.

Contacted Smith House who stated I should have asked about the condition before bidding, and if not satisfied to return it, therein is the problem, I live in the UK and had to pay a substantial amount in UK import duty which Smith House stated they would not refund. I still have the robot years later which is a constant reminder of my unsatisfactory buying experience with Smith House. To be fair most UK auction houses are even worse, but that is another story. 

Hence I am now very wary of bidding on anything Smith House lists, why should we have to ask for a detailed condition report when any problems should be mentioned and with photos at the time of listing.

 

 

[Brian..]

An auction house worth its salt would always indicate any obvious faults. It's poor business practice to rely on the old "buyer beware" clause, especially in a world of remote bidding. 

 

Auction houses may save a few dollars by hiding or ignoring faults but they'll lose thousands once bidders realise that catalogue descriptions are false or misleading.  A good reputation takes years to earn but minutes to lose.