Bidder Reviews for Great Estates Auctioneers & Appraisers (147)

Great Estates Auctioneers is a well run auction house. The owner is honest with his appraisals and was very responsive to my questions as well as accommodating me with pick up times. Highly recommended.

Fair

Very good experience, thank you!!

Bought a painting unframed and was charged $100 for shipping even though the box cost $2 and the packing which was just one layer of bubble wrap cost me $100. Actual shipping charges were $35 + $3 in packing. To make matters worse... they stuck their label on the painted side of the canvas.

I won a small runner (rug) at their auction. It took several phone calls + emails to even get them to respond so I might pay. I then arranged for shipping. They charged me FIFTY DOLLARS and when the rug arrived, it said $25.00 on their shipping cost. Avoid them at all costs!!! I'd had a really great experience with another auction house several weeks before. I had won a much larger rug and their shipper sent it quickly for $30.00!!!!

I would like to see a commercial shipping rate.

Great transaction

Would not recommend

I was outbid in auction only to find out latter that I won the item. I have heard that some auction houses use false bidders to bring up prices. Shipping was excessive. Probably will not bid with this Auction house in the future.

Accurate pictures, prompt shipping and item well protected.

Here's an accurate account of my experience, judge for yourself. There were no initial bidders so the price dropped to around $50. I then started bidding, and after a long pause, another bid popped up. This happened in $10 increments until I bid $200. At that time, an opposing bid came in for $210 and I dropped out. I was surprised to be notified via email that I had won the item for $200. Don't know what happened to the $210 bidder. Hmm. I next heard from the shipper chosen by Great Estates. They charged an exorbitant amount for shipping-over $165 to pack and ship a vase. I've shipped and received many many similar items, and this cost is off the charts. I complained to Great Estates and they basically advised me to pick my own shipper next time. I just received the vase, and there is a large, ugly repair of a large portion of the ceramic decorative element, unmentioned in the initial catalog. In my opinion, Great Estates is a dishonest organization and LiveAuctioneers should rethink allowing them to put their own reputation at risk.

slow to respond to requests for information and shipping. Won't bid with them again.

Listing says "excellent" condition and the pens are certainly not that. One is broken and totally useless. They all were shipped with ink cartridges installed which then requires that I remove the cartridges and flush the pens. Plus, ridiculous add-on charges so in the end, this is not a good buy at all. Do not recommend this auction at all.

You can buy smalls and not be overcharged on shipping.

I spoke with a very nice gentleman.

Allow me to give a friendly suggestion. To deal with the public or the clients the e Auction House should assign this delicate and so important job to someone who has good manners Unfortunately I had to deal with rude and unpolite employee. Best, Sylvana Marie

I'm 80 years and get rather confused, at times, with the computer world. I talked with "JC" twice about the shipping buying/Shipping process.......... He is a highly worthy representative for your company, when it comes to confused older folks. He guided me with grace. Blessings, Maxwell

I have paid them in full for my items and indicated I will need info to arrange shipping. I have emailed them and telephoned them requesting status of my items and shipping info and they have not responded. They have had my payment in full for more than two weeks! I would appreciate any help from you to resolve this. My invoice is **********. Thanks for your help.

To Many Hoops to jump thru for Payment & Shipping. Maybe we that live in the Midwest, find Auction companies easier and more trusting perhaps? But then I'm just an old man that still does business w/a handshake.

They need to answer their phone and make better arrangements for shipping. It was only recently that the items purchased several weeks ago we're finally shipped after many phone calls and messages that were left unanswered.

I still do not see that they charged my card for payment and they told me shipping will be separate charge but not sure what is the amount. Yet I see that LiveAuctioneers is showing payment due. Over all not very satisfied. I dealt with pretty good number and that is not the best experience so far.

February 1st & 2nd: I was invoiced on the 1st and I paid on the 2nd, using their online payment forms. February 10th: I got a 'PAST DUE' notice. I wrote, and they responded saying it was an oversight and they'd take care of it, as I needed shipping. On the 18th, I finally got a very hard to read invoice for extremely expensive packing and shipping since it was 'in-state' and a small item. The item was put in a small flat rate Priority Mail box, when a regular Priority box would have cost $10 less, plus they charged for taking it to the Post Office, when the Post Office picks up for free. (They used the PO online for Postage) February 20th: I finally received my lot and it's nothing short of a miracle that it arrived undamaged because the box was far too small for the size of the item, and it was shoddily packed. The invoice for the shipping claimed "CUSTOM PACKING, MATERIALS, TRANSPORT"... custom packing is a JOKE! USED BUBBLE WRAP? Very, very poor service.... for everything. Harvey

I am unable to fully evaluate at this time as I have not received items. They require payment before they will ship. Also they notified me that they will send a separate invoice for shipping before shipping.