A Question for Experienced Auction Buyers

Originally Posted by Pr0417533r

Thanks for this. How about this? I bought some stainless steel doors from an auction but some are actually just steel. Would I be able to get a refund due to their error in listing?

Probably not , most auctions sales are final and inspections are to be done prior to bidding not after . I know in my neck of the woods its buyer beware . The auctioneer would be the only one who could anwser your question but I would expect they are yours now .

Originally Posted by Metalbestos

Probably not , most auctions sales are final and inspections are to be done prior to bidding not after . I know in my neck of the woods its buyer beware . The auctioneer would be the only one who could anwser your question but I would expect they are yours now .

I looked over the terms of the addiction site and in this case their descriptions are supposed to be accurate therefore they are liable if their items are misrepresented. I spoke to the auctioneer and he said he would refund me for the lots which were misrepresented. He said I would get an email in regards to the subject. At the end of the day now and I haven't redirected anything nor had my account been credited. How long would this take? Anyone know? I'm a little worried they might try to rip me off.

Originally Posted by Pnutfarmer

Also remember that they might be held accountable for descriptions in a written catalog, but anything the auctioneer says is NOT to be relied upon in most cases. They can pretty much say what they want and it's called salesman's fluff. Come to think of it, most written catalogs have a disclaimer about their descriptions not to be considered fact and buyers need to inspect the items.

In your case, they probably said "stainless steel doors" which was true, they just left out that there were also some steel ones.

From what I've learned, they are definitely accountable as their descriptions are made to be true. I spoke to the seller of the items and he notified me it was the auction house who set the descriptions and took all the pictures. I did learn about salesman fluff, but I also learned their is a fine line between fluff and misrepresentation. In these days the court tends to protect the consumers rights in going after deceitful auction houses.

In my case, they said stainless steel doors for each particular lot, however, I had lots marked stainless steel that were what they were supposed to be and lots marked stainless steel that were all completely steel.

Originally Posted by sledge

You must inspect your items.
I've never seen an auction that did not have the ability to preview the items prior to bidding.. even auctions that are online bidding only.. Preview day was 2 days prior on one recently that I did some bidding, I took part of the day to go and inspect all the items, make notes on the "lots" I was interested in some items I passed on after seeing them.

Remember that most auctioneers know very little about MOST items they are selling- unless it is a large ticket item (then they KNOW market value and will do virtually anything to get the money out of that item) But if you are selling a set of doors or a gold watch.. it is exactly that to them.. and remember.. chances are they are trying to photograph and set "lots" for hundreds or thousands of items.

Gotta know what you are bidding on.

You're right in that they did have an auction preview which I did attend, however I was not add knowledgeable in the subject as I am now, therfore I relied on the descriptions. I get that auctioneers want to make money too, but auctions need to remain honest and not be riddled by shady auctioneers who fabricate their items descriptions in an attempt to rip off unsuspecting buyers. There are federal government agencies specifically for the situations namely the state attorney generals office, the consumer protection agency, the FTC and organizations like BBB who will take the aid of the consumer.

Originally Posted by Ohio Scrapper

If they were listed as "stainless steel doors" but some are magnetic, they didn't misrepresent them, as some stainless steel is magnetic. They could have been more specific, but most auctions listings aren't.

No, getting a pallet labeled stainless steel doors with nothing but steel doors is a definite misrepresentation.

Originally Posted by eesakiwi

'Some' magnetic Stainless Steel is actually high quality Stainless Steel..

If its only slightly magnetic, but still magnetic, but only slightly mag-net-ik, you might have high quality Stainless.

There's members here who really know their Stainless who might be able to help you out.
There's probably simple tests to find this out.

I 'think' that if its 'draws' the strong magnet to it, its low quality, if the magnet just 'sticks only' its high quality.
(I'm leaning towards that they are high quality)

Thanks for your post, nothing but good advice from you

Originally Posted by lousypirate

If the ad is misrepresented, I would argue.

I won an item in February labeled "air tank". Pictures weren't great, but I needed one to put on my truck. So I won it. I get there and find out it is acutally an old freon tank. I argue, then shake it, and can hear the rust rolling around. I asked them to fill it up and prove to me that it even hold air. They gave me my $4 dollars back.

Now, I do agree this is greatly based on the type of item and how much you spent on it. A pallet of computers, labeled as a pallet of computers, should be buyer beware. Can't assume that they are all working and/or complete.

They definitely were misrepresented and even the auctioneer admitted to it when he agreed to give me a refund. I'm a little on edge because according to the auction terms any items not picked up after 3 days are forfeited. I worry theyay try to stall and then try to say i am s . O. L.

It's actually more like buying a pallet of computers and receiving a pallet of calculators

Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper

Well did they have the shiny color of stainless? Again could be just a color type. You also have to read the fine print and terms and condition of the auction itself. Most auction companies cover there rear ends pretty good for item listings. Its hard to say without knowing all the details.

A few pallets were stainless and the rest were painted steel. It's pretty obvious to most who know what to look for but I wasn't aware at the time. I did read the terms, but from what I learned about contracts is they can be rescinded if their isn't a mutual understanding on the items being purchased, in this case there wasn't since from my understanding they were stainless steel.

Would anyone here know how a charge back would work in this situation? I've never done something like that, and I would prefer it not to come to that but if worst case scenario, I won't hesitate to do everything in my power to make things right for myself.

I'm thinking if they don't resolve this by the end of tomorrow, I am contacting my state attorney generals office to let then know how items I bought at auction were misrepresented and about how much money I lost as a result of it (damages). I will also file with the FTC, BBB and any other consumer protection group such as scam report, etc.

Thoughts? Keep in mind I'm only giving them 24 hours before I act since as far as I know, our contract was rescinded when I relied on their misrepresented descriptions (contract requires a "meeting of minds").