ComplaintsforSouth Florida Estate Buyers, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  04/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  October 2022, I consigned the entire contents of a 10 by 10 storage unit, (containing my inheritance from my parents, and I am an older woman myself), filled with antiques, furniture, commissioned light pieces, and valuable artwork, to *****, ****. He gave me $200 as so-called "good faith money". That money was all I ever received. I believe he took advantage of my situation, being from out of town (I came down from ****** during Hurricane ***) on a tight time frame. He does everything on a cash basis, you cant see any bids on items you trust him to auction for you on consignment basis. Ive since priced what Ive lost, online or at estate auctions, even thrift stores, and yes, thousands of dollars (not to mention the mental and emotional turmoil I endured throughout this nightmare).

  Business response

  04/26/2023

  To whom it may concern, in October 2022 I *********************** from South Florida Estate Buyers & *********************** was the person who picked up the contents of a 10 x 10 storage unit from *********************** . But by no means was the storage unit full ! As I remember, she was having family issues and was only in town for a few days. Furniture wise there was a bedroom, chest a chair and maybe two other pieces of furniture, then there was maybe 20 small boxes, and two pieces of art in total in her 10 x 10 warehouse. The whole time I was there I explained this is not the type of items that we sell , but I would do my best to help her. She told me the boxes were loaded with great sellable items which they were not. She told me her family was trying to take everything and she had no money and was just trying to get home like I stated, I didnt really see anything of interest other than a couple pieces of art which she said, had substantial value, I told her I would give her a couple hundred dollars upfront to give her money to get home and I would take that advance back when her items were sold through Auction . when I arrived back at my place of business and started unpacking the boxes I knew instantly that I would have a hard time getting my $200 investment back. The boxes were full of random miscellaneous, housewares, old linens, pencils, pens, nothing of any real value in fact, after selling everything except the Artwork I didnt even regain my initial investment. Ive never sold the two pieces of art because she said they were worth thousands I tried once and bought them back because they were only going for $300 and I didnt want any problems ! so heres where Im at. I still have both her pieces of art that I have stored for around a year now if I was crooked as she implies I wouldve sold those also to at least break even or make a little money. I did not do this, as I felt, they meant more to her than I would ever get for them. But with this said, I refuse to lose any more money and or time to pay to have them packed and then shipped to ******. I think Ive done more than most by still having them but honestly, there was nothing else of value in her storage unit, and as I said, I still have her art that she believed to be so valuable, I will gladly ship it to her if she would pay to have it packed and also pay for the shipping . Thank you *********************** South Florida Estate Buyers and ***********************
  

  Customer response

  04/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 19957653
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The matter had not been resolved.I want some kind of proof of what the items were sold for, or if he couldnt sell them, where did he donate them and for what amount (his tax write-off).
  There are many inaccuracies in this response I will attempt to address. The unit may not have been completely full but it was packed. My family issues were and are irrelevant to this situation. In fact, this statement from ***** She told me her family was trying to take everything and she had no money and was just trying to get homeis completely wrong. I most certainly did not need your charity. I had a ticket home, I had my AirBnB; I had my rental car; that was not the issue. Some more spending money was the only issue I had. I was in Florida (from ******) for 10 days (during Hurricane ***) for the express purpose of emptying the unit and making what money I could. (I spent $11,000 dealing with this storage unit,moving the items into it, the deposit and paying on it every month. I was obviously hoping to recoup some of my losses). This was my inheritance.  I have pictures of everything in the unit.There were more than two pieces of artwork, as well as a custom-made stained glass light box, high end *****, antique ******** a full antique silver flatware set (in the wooden box, lined with velvet, etc), jewelry (among other things a set of Wedgewood cufflinks).  (Btw, I dont remember any linens at all.) This statement from ***** is also inaccurate. I told her I would give her a couple hundred dollars upfront to give her money to get home [note: again, I didnt need your charity] and I would take that advance back when her items were sold through Auction. What you said was the $200 was a good faith advance on what you sold, implying an anticipation that I would receive another check when the items sold (the next weeks auction was your implication).  The advance was not to be taken back (thats a loan, not an advance) but deducted from whatever profit any sales may had made. When I looked online at that auction and saw my items listed for sale, I knew I was in trouble when there was no listing of ongoing bids during the auction. I have been a bidder in many auctions over the years.They all have a way for you to see the ongoing bids and what the item finally went for. Wheres the proof? No way to see what anything went for or if it didnt sell at all. I determined the value of my items through my own research and years of doing auctions, yard sales, thrift stores, etc. Interestingly,  I saw similar items to mine in your auction gallery several times. Im curious, they didnt sell either?  But since there is no proof on your site (cash only, no way to see bids) I have no idea what you sell anything for.
  ***** writes like I stated,I didnt really see anything of interest other than a couple pieces of ******* I recall, you were pretty excited about some of the items. In fact, you specifically said re: the custom stained glass light box oh, I could sell that.
   ***** said The boxes were full of random miscellaneous, housewares, old linens, pencils, pens, nothing of any real value in fact, after selling everything except the Artwork I didnt even regain my initial investment.He also said Ive never sold the two pieces of art because she said they were worth thousands I tried once and bought them back because they were only going for $300 and I didnt want any problems !  So did you sell the artwork? And what problems were you trying to avoid? Youre being inconsistent. And if the items in all those boxes were so bad (which they werent, but whatever), what did you do with them? If they were donated, you got that tax write-off, so again, a plus for you, ***** states,  honestly, there was nothing else of value in her storage unit. Thats a lie, but regardless, I find it hard to believe that you were unable to make up $200 selling even those items.
  Btw, when were you going to tell me you had my art? Or were you just going to hold onto it forever hoping Id forget? The art could not have been stored for a year since I was there in October 2022 and it is now just May 2023. By my calendar that is only 7 months, not a year. After I asked you to get me prices for shipping the art you never responded back. In fact, I was under the assumption that there was only one piece of art. How can I make a decision if you dont let me know what you discovered?I am certainly not giving you a blank check. All youve done is shine me on and ghost me.
  You say, I will gladly ship it to her if she would pay to have it packed and also pay for the shipping.Thats fine. Send me the details in a timely manner. Dont ghost me again or shine me on.  I also want the artwork insured.
  ***************, Im not the only one whos had issues with you. Other Yelp reviews warned me about using you if Im from out of town. Dealing with you went against my better judgement.  Unfortunately I was in a situation where I had no choice. Karma is a thing, *****. The world is round.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  05/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On May 14 I received an invoice from an online ******* website called Invaluable. The invoice was for the company South Florida ******* Services. The amount was ****** and I immediately submitted a fraudulent activities complaint with Invaluable and emailed South Florida ******* Services. After I notified them that there was an issue, the South Florida ******* Services company charged my credit card. I then submitted a fraud claim with my credit card company. My credit card was on file with the online auction website (Invaluable) and they provided my credit card information to the South Florida ******* Services company. I informed South Florida ******* Services and requested that those items not be shipped to me until the matter was investigated and resolved. The gentleman emailed me back and stated that if its not resolved by Thursday (which was two days later), then he would mail my items out. Then, the credit card company closed out the fraud case because they said my items were received by me. I believe the online action (Invaluable) provided my credit card information without my consent and South Florida ******* Services charged my card without my consent. Then, the credit card company (CapitalOne) did not even ask for my side of the story and closed the case out mainly because I received the items. My desired settlement is to return the items and receive a refund. I believe that they did not afford me time to resolve the issue and urgently charged my card/mailed the items so that I would be forced to accept the items. The company's information is:South Florida ******* & Estate Sale Services ************************************ ************ email: **********************************************

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