Bidder Reviews for Schwenke Auctioneers (203)

This poster has unfortunately misstated our terms, even those which were in effect at that time. We do not keep copies of the credit card beyond two weeks after the auction, and we have always accepted credit cards for in house purchasers where the card is swiped and where we have a companion photo ID such as a drivers license. There are valid reasons for not accepting credit cards for certain internet transactions, and at present we maintain a secure payment portal for credit card payments and have been certified as a safe vendor in respect of our maintenance of customer information. The current problem for auction houses is fraudulent purchases with stolen credit cards and requests for shipment to addresses which do not match that on the card. Registration on Live Auctioneers with a validated credit card does not transfer that card information to the auction house, hence the reason we ask for verification since we are the ones taking the risk with selling and delivering an item which does not belong to us and for which we are acting as a trusted agent. It is unfortunate that many bidder do not understand the interrelationship between Live Auctioneers and the auction houses who post on their site, and that results in frequent misconceptions and disappointments. We always strive for customer satisfaction, but there are sometime bidders who prefer to complain than comply, even though compliance is easy and straightforward. Sincerely, Tom Schwenke, Auctioneer

Our Terms & Conditions clearly spell out the risks inherent in online bidding, and this is despite the fact that we are not responsible for the functionality of the online bidding platforms which we utilize. This post is akin to blaming the auto manufacturer when ones car runs out of fuel. We are sorry you were not able to secure the item you wanted, and we would certainly have preferred to sell the item for a higher price, as we are fiduciaries for the estate merchandise which we sell. We make every effort to provide all the information necessary for an interested bidder to have every opportunity to be successful and glad that they were successful. In my experience very few bidders actually read the Terms & Conditions posted with the auction, and that is both unfortunate and something about which we can do nothing. Our approval rating is very high and this is one of only a very few less than 5 star ratings and in my opinion this complaint should have been directed to Live Auctioneers. Sincerely, Tom Schwenke, Owner/Auctioneer

Apparently this two star rating is because we did not take a credit card. Since this is an anonymous post I am not able to check the actual facts. We are sorry that such a highly regarded purchaser felt slighted in any way, as we always strive for total customer satisfaction and even when we encounter a difficult bidder who makes satisfaction impossible we make every effort to overcome. Tom Schwenke, Auctioneer

Obviously this is a slightly sarcastic posting, somewhat tongue in cheek. Not sure how to tell that taking credit cards would have increased the selling price. Regardless, however, we have always accepted credits cards, but never accepted PayPal due to their absurd policies in several respects which are quite adverse to sellers. We do not accept credit cards for certain types of purchases (jewelry and metals) and from purchasers offshore due to the increasing incidence of credit card fraud and the potential for unjustified chargebacks.

Thank you for your comment, as that is always our intent and we frequently go the extra mile to ensure a satisfactory customer experience. There are times, however, that satisfaction is just not possible, and we hope those incidents are kept to a minimum. Tom Schwenke, Auctioneer