ComplaintsforCity Antiques

• Initial Complaint

  10/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 8/18/21, we met with ************************* of City Antiques. We'd decided to downsize & sell our home. Our realtor had heard of a possibility of liquidating our assets, if not an estate sale, as homes were selling quickly. He got us ******'s number. He'd suggested we declutter our personal pix and rooms, but when She came, she told us to get rid of everything, to make our home appear bigger, to make the most $. She felt we'd hired the wrong realtor. Only items in very good shape would go to ********************** in **********. I filed a complaint against them last week with BBB.She said it would be an online across the US auction. A dumpster was brought in to get rid of unsellable items.On 8/25 & 9/1 a crew of 8 came and cleared out our home. Continually, pushed us to downsize, til our entire basement, workshop, 2 bedrooms, front room, and ********** were empty. In the first hr. we met her she pointed out a retro table, called in to *******, and said no less than $150. Said, "I take care of my people", leaving us to believe we'd get decent prices for our antiques, 1st. edition books, Civil War wardrobe,etc.UNTRUE and so made the decision to go with her. Falsely Reeled us in!Told us she didn't follow the sales, once they left here. Her bill, $5,295. She told me incorrectly, how to follow our items. Complained I"d spent hrs. but couldn't find our items. Over the next 5 months I received 5 inventories, last 3 while in FL. 371 items sold. I located a mislaid one, went through them & discovered 79 missing items. which included, antiques, furniture, NEVER sold (more on ******* complaint), and found 12 items that we didn't want taken! I called & texted her, eg. ***** Collector Golden album, doll, etc. and She said nothing was taken we didn't consent too, YET DAY 1; there was a lamp and ***************** on a ledge, told not to take, and she apologized for the mistake. Robbed with eyes wide open. Taken advantage of in our 70"s. Trusted that they had integrity.

  Business response

  11/09/2022

  49371545-F789D

   Complaint #********

  The City Antiques business model involves partnering with clients to package and remove for auction, the physical contents of their homes, and clean the home, to facilitate selling the property.  The clients possessions are individually marked and sent to an online auction house for sale, and the proceeds of the auction are then sent to the client.  City Antiques charges a daily fee for our service (covers labor, dumpster, supplies and transportation fees).  City Antiques does not warrant or guarantee the value of a clients possessions or how much money they will bring at auction.  An auction brings whatever amount that a buyer is willing to pay.  City Antiques is a separate entity from the auction house that sells the clients goods. Once the clients items are received at the auction house, City Antiques has fulfilled their obligation to the client.
  In the case of this client, she was in a hurry to clear her house so that she could list her home, as she had purchased another property.  The client was unprepared for the job to commence and as a result, the client was on premise for the entirety of the job, seeking validation from the City Antiques staff, on what items she should keep and what she should send to auction, approving everything that was sent to the auction house. As a result of her unpreparedness, the job was performed on 2 separate days which were 2 weeks apart.  In the end, the client had held back roughly 1/3 stall of her garage of items that she wanted to keep.  The client was very thankful and appreciative at the completion of the job that City Antiques had performed.
  A year later, the client is complaining about the amount of money that her possessions brought at auction.  Client has been in contact with City Antiques, airing her complaints.  Client has since contacted the Ottawa ************************** filing a complaint of Fraud.  The investigating officer from Ottawa ************************** has been in contact with City Antiques and has stated that there was no fraud involved.  

  Customer response

  11/16/2022

   
  Complaint: 18326125
  
  I am rejecting this response because: as noted in the first complaint, it was her suggestion for us to get everything cleared out of our home except for essentials to make the home appear larger!

  We did not have another home to send the items on, as  there wasn't one even being  built at the time. The location in FL was also not purchased at the time.

  Foolishly we accepted her idea. I also, was undergoing serious physical situation, as well as other issues, to have thought thru her idea of getting rid of it all NOW, Should have stored many more items, and dealt with them later. Perhaps then the 79 missing items as well as not wanted in the sale items, would still be in our possession. 

  ****** was also misleading us to believe that the items went from online to local auction, they took everything. Also noted on one occasion I saw items missing off a shelf that ****** saw and said would not be removed, but found that they were later, and she apologized for the error, but a different lady had packed up the items, then the one she told. Yes we were on site during  packing of our home, but with a crew of ****, my husband and I were not in the room when all the items were packed! in cardboard boxes, to be either left with us or sent to *******! Thus, it was when I went on line and began to see special items, sold, such as my Mother's special doll, left to me. It was on a dresser, not with the other dolls to be taken. . . and sundial off our deck, and other lawn furniture, tall **** designed for me vase from our fireplace. blown glass pitcher, ******** tray with 6 small brass shot glasses, green lamp, an ***** never opened collectors  set with several albums.  But items were still in those areas meant to stay with us and for others to go.

  She bragged how she did 50 liquidations a year, and the  ********************** was the only way to go. And she was used to working for clients who had to have homes cleared of deceased family or friends. She also didn't explain more than  that the 25% goes to auction...NOT the $3 fee for pix of each item. nor the $200 initial handling fee, 

  She should apologize for the mice with f**** pictures. KNowing that ******* told us they had to hire a huge dumpster to get rid of all the damaged mice infested items. I did send pix of many of the missing items, to BBB under that complaint earlier today. ***********; felt our ******** couch , in the basement, was in great shape and wanted to send it on. Not  one other item was brought to my attention as having mice.  We have a very well kept up home. 

  Also, my Pfaltzgraff dishes, were not damaged in any way, but on the sale site they showed one chip on the backside of a dish, and it was labeled damaged! So the set went for $6.

  She knew the ** dresses were sent with pix, but on site, as I also sent pix earlier today, they were not included with dresses, but poorly  displayed as wrinkled and only in partial view. 

  She could look us in the face and make us believe that things would  get a good price.Yet things like our oak table, chairs, etc. had all had starting bids of $3!! 

  She refused to meet with me at ********************** because I was upset with her on the phone. She acted like I knew that items would go for next to nothing. I did get upset. Who wouldn't. And for her not to pursue ******* for our missing items, is disgusting. 

  Yes, the police investigated, but said, without a list of inventory, etc. their hands were tied.  A reputable company would have provided one, if not two, one from each company... 

  We did not have two weeks between their company clearing our home. The crew came in on 2 back to back Wed. They did ************ out, and the place looked very nice . . . but her advic e was wrong. ************ out before the sale. . . .the house looked great, but  sadly, her salesmanship of ******* which I have learned, as well as her company,  is not  BBB accredited.

  I hope that we could get restitution for the missing items and unwanted in the sale items. Had we not been down in FL from DEC thru AUG. and got cooperation from ***** last Dec, this may have been resolved by now. 

   

   

   

   

   

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  BBB Complaint ID ********
  

  City Antiques strongly reiterates the point that they fulfilled their obligation to the client, ******************, and therefore we reject the clients claims in general, as well as rejecting her unreasonable request for resolution.  These claims are unreasonable and untrue.  City Antiques DOES NOT take advantage of seniors (as this client claims) or any other client for that matter, which has a need to downsize.  City Antiques is a professional and well-respected *************************** claims are unfounded, and City Antiques will not entertain further discussion on this matter.

  
  City Antiques packaged & shipped the clients belongings for auction in a timely and professional manner, with the clients oversight throughout the process as to what was sent to auction.  City Antiques performed the work that the client hired them for and that she was unable to perform for herself.  The client was well pleased, complimentary,and paid City Antiques for a job well done at its completion.

  
  Basically, a client has 4 choices in downsizing items no longer needed in an estate:
  1) Donate items to charity / Give them away
  2) Keep for future use
  3) Eliminate / Discard as Trash
  4) Try to sell remaining items to possibly recover some financial value

  
  NOTE:  Todays market does not bring the same interest or value in collectibles, antiques, or personal possessions as they did in the past.  City Antiques is not responsible for what dollar amount things sell for and this is clearly communicated to our clients prior to each job.

  
  In addition, this client had numerous other parties (family, friends & neighbors) assisting them with their move and clearing of their estate.  The client had a very knowledgeable and successful realtor, pushing City Antiques and the client to quickly get the house on the hot real estate market,to bring the highest amount possible for the property and home.

  
  City Antiques must reiterate that the client was not prepared for the rapid pace of clearing her estate, even after we had postponed the job, so that she could organize her belongings.  Even after this postponement, the client was still making decisions throughout the course of the job on which items were to be kept and which items were to be sent to auction for potential sale, with no guarantee of market value.  The client ultimately decides which items are kept and which items are moved to auction. 

  ****************** is not willing to listen to rationale and has had a difficult time coming to terms with liquidating her personal belongings and what value they brought at auction.  For the above enumerated reasons, we are unwilling to entertain any further dialogue with this client regarding this matter.

   

  Respectfully submitted
  

  Customer response

  12/06/2022

   
  Complaint: 18326125
  
  I am rejecting this response because: at no point does she  nor ********************** address all 79 missing items that never went up for auction. And no response , not even an apology for items taken off shelves like my Mothers doll etc. . 
  Yes, we were blindsided by the very low prices, but the BIGGEST concern is for missing items and for items not belonging to us on our inventory, and Misrepresentation of  how items were identified for sale. Yes, some of the blame goes to ******* but ****** doesnt seem to care to look into it. I sent several pictures to BBB earlier about this matter.
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩