cohibasmoker
07-26-2006, 08:38 AM
I guess we all have horror stories about auction houses and I have one to share about Bricol Auction.
During their last auction, in the wee hours of the morning, I placed an Internet bid on an item. The bid was accepted and I was declared the high bidder. A minute or two later, I went to place a bid on another item. I could not place an additional bid because I was advised that the auction was closed. How can that be? I just placed a bid!!!
I then called Bricol, still within the ten-minute guideline. I spoke to a woman and explained to her what had happened. She was very nice but added that the auction was over. As we continued our conversations, she asked what item I was interested in? I told the woman. She then asked how much I wanted to bid? I told her my bid. There was a hesitation on the phone then she came back and flatly refused my bid. She advised me the auction was over. However, since the high bidder was a old and valued client, Bricol will contact the high bidder and ask if they wanted to sell me the item for my bid – the bid Bricol refused to accept.
My problems are: according to Bricol’s own rules, they have a ten-minute rule. When no bids are placed either on the Internet or by telephone within 10-minutes, the auction will close. When my bid was accepted, the auction should have been extended. It was not and this is just plain wrong.
The second problem is, how about the consignor? They got screwed because they lost my bid and as such, additional revenue for their item.
During their last auction, in the wee hours of the morning, I placed an Internet bid on an item. The bid was accepted and I was declared the high bidder. A minute or two later, I went to place a bid on another item. I could not place an additional bid because I was advised that the auction was closed. How can that be? I just placed a bid!!!
I then called Bricol, still within the ten-minute guideline. I spoke to a woman and explained to her what had happened. She was very nice but added that the auction was over. As we continued our conversations, she asked what item I was interested in? I told the woman. She then asked how much I wanted to bid? I told her my bid. There was a hesitation on the phone then she came back and flatly refused my bid. She advised me the auction was over. However, since the high bidder was a old and valued client, Bricol will contact the high bidder and ask if they wanted to sell me the item for my bid – the bid Bricol refused to accept.
My problems are: according to Bricol’s own rules, they have a ten-minute rule. When no bids are placed either on the Internet or by telephone within 10-minutes, the auction will close. When my bid was accepted, the auction should have been extended. It was not and this is just plain wrong.
The second problem is, how about the consignor? They got screwed because they lost my bid and as such, additional revenue for their item.