Business ProfileforMariner Auctions & Liquidations

On April 16, 2024, BBB Serving the Atlantic Provinces sent a letter to Mariner Auctions & Liquidations to their email address indicated their website. 

Receiving no response, BBB sent a second email on May 7, 2024.

The letters were prompted by recent complaints to which BBB received no response, as well as several phone inquires by consumers. 

Consumers report:

1. False depiction of products on their website to lure customers to bid for them.

2. Poor quality of products that are unsellable.

3. Poor after sales customer service.

BBB recommends that consumers check with BBB.org to research reputable auctioneers in your area -

Research auctions and auctioneers before participating - If an auction claims to be a “government” auction, reach out to the branch of government hosting the event to make sure it’s legitimate. If you’re looking at a private auction or an auction ran by a private company, look into the auctioneer ahead of time. Look carefully at reviews from previous buyers. Does the auctioneer have a good reputation? Do they have the appropriate licensing to conduct the auction? If the answers are no, or there is no information available about the auctioneer, it may be best not to participate.

Get to know the terms and conditions of the auction - Find out whether there are entry fees, winning bidder fees, taxes, or shipping costs you’ll be responsible for paying. Winning an auction may not be as simple as paying the price you offered. Plus, scammers may try to hustle you out of “entry fees” or “pre-bid deposits” without even having any real items in their auction.

Don’t give in to bidder’s excitement - Don’t make impulse buys when participating in auctions. Scammers will be counting on you to get wrapped up in the excitement and could even prod you into a fake bidding war to get more money out of you. Even when you are on a reputable auction website, set a spending limit and stick to it. If an item goes over your budget, don’t buy it.

Understand how auction sites work - Check each auction website’s rules and policies carefully. Pay special attention to what buyer protections the auctioneer has in place. Find out what policies apply if an item is not delivered or is significantly different from its description. Each site may have different rules and procedures. If a website offers no buyer protection at all, consider it a red flag.

Find out how payments are made - Know how and who you will pay before you place a bid. If the seller insists on using a payment method you are unfamiliar with, do some research. If the payment service doesn’t have a customer service line you can contact to find out details about how the service works, don’t use it to make a payment.

Check the seller’s contact information - The same goes for the seller or auctioneer. Check out their website and look for valid contact information. If you can’t reach anyone, or if you do speak with someone who is uncomfortable answering your questions, don’t participate in their auctions.

Be careful with your personal information - Be sure you trust a website, company, or auctioneer before you divulge your personal information. Once your information is in the hands of a scammer, you won’t be able to get it back.