Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/17/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Dear Better Business Bureau,I am writing to raise a concern regarding an auction I participated in on LiveAuctioneers.com on April 13, 2025. I placed bids on an Herms Birkin 30 in **********, with my final bid being $12,000. Shortly after, a competing bid of $12,500 was placed, outbidding me. When the auction concluded, I was not listed as the winning bidder, and I received no indication on the website that I had won. As such, I left the website under the impression that I had not won the item.Additionally, I did not receive any notifications or emails from LiveAuctioneers indicating a change in the auction ********** my surprise, on Monday morning (April 14th), around 10:40 AM, I received an email from the auction house, NY *********, stating that I had won the item because the competing bidder had retracted their bid. I was unaware of this and had already spent my funds early that morning.I explained the situation to NY *********, stating that I was not notified in a timely or transparent manner and did not see any such update on the auction page before leaving the website. However, they have not acknowledged my concerns. Instead, they followed up with a threatening message stating:"We do send all non-payments to our law firm, which additional legal fees are added to your cancellation fee if this matter is not resolved."I have attached a screenshot of the auction page showing the final bid above mine, which supports my position that I was not the winning bidder when the auction ended.I am now extremely concerned, especially after reading numerous complaints about NY *********. I do not want to become a victim of potential fraud or coercive tactics.I kindly request a fair and transparent resolution to this issue.Thank you for your attention and assistance.Sincerely,

  Business Response

  Date: 05/06/2025

  Dear *****,

  
  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We understand your concerns and appreciate the opportunity to assist.
  As a third-party online marketplace, LiveAuctioneers facilitates bidding between bidders and independent auction houses but does not manage inventory, set auction terms, or handle cancellations directly. However, we have been actively engaged in mediating this issue on your behalf with the auction house, NY *********.
  According to the auctioneer, the initial high bid was retracted, which made your bid the winning bid. This was communicated to you by NY ********* following the auction. The auction house has advised that, per their terms, cancellations are only possible with a cancellation fee. Furthermore, weve been informed that you agreed to a two-part payment arrangement, which has been approved by their director.
  We understand that this situation may be frustrating and we are continuing to monitor communication between you and the seller to ensure it remains professional and fair. If you believe any terms were misrepresented or if you need further assistance, please continue corresponding with us at ******************************* so we can help facilitate the best possible resolution.
  

  Sincerely,
  LiveAuctioneers Bidder Support Team

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/13/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********. The company sent me a settlement agreement which finalized the case. Thank you for your effort.
  
  Yours Sincerely,
  
  ***** *****
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/14/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am writing to formally request a full refund for two recent invoices due to serious concerns about the authenticity of the artworks received.Invoice #******* Montclaire Auctions / Great Estates (February 25, 2025)Amount: Over $3,000 Description: Various lots from the "Great Estates!" event Lot #**** **** Kusama Amount: $600.00 After receiving these works, I have had each piece reviewed and assessed by qualified experts. It has become evident that the signatures on all artworks are forged. This is an extremely troubling discovery, especially considering the reputability I expected from your organization.I am shocked and disappointed that such blatant forgeries were included in your offerings, with no disclosure or authentication documents to support their legitimacy. This is a serious breach of trust and completely unacceptable.Please confirm immediate cancellation and a full refund of the above invoices. I expect a prompt resolution to this matter. I am prepared to take further action if necessary, but I sincerely hope this can be resolved amicably and swiftly.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/06/2025

  Dear ****,
  
  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We take concerns regarding artwork authenticity very seriously and understand the importance of resolving this promptly.
  Please note that LiveAuctioneers is a third-party online marketplace that facilitates bidding and transactions between bidders and independent auction houses. As such, we are not the seller of record and do not handle or authenticate inventory directly.

  
  To help mediate and move this issue forward, we kindly ask that you email us at ******************************* and also copy the auctioneer directly on your message. This will allow us to coordinate with the seller and assist in facilitating a resolution.

  
  Were here to help and will do our best to support both parties in reaching a fair outcome.
  
  Sincerely,
  LiveAuctioneers Bidder Support Team
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/15/2025

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *********
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/13/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Greetigs,These 6 ****** ****** images were purchased via LA:Invoice #******* Feb 27, 2025 Rock Posters, ****** *****, The Dead & More ******************** Total: $430.50 They are said to be authentic ******, but are printer reproductions. Auctioneer says he has sold over 50 this way! This is dishonest and is still going on.**** ******* Mar 17, 2025 9:05 AM PDT ****,Here is the body of one of your descriptions:The lithograph features an evocative image of elderly Native American women, capturing the dignity and resilience of indigenous peoples. ******* profound attention to detail and composition is evident in this piece, offering a rare glimpse into traditional Native American life during the early 20th century. Measuring 16x11.5 inches, the lithograph is in excellent condition with rich tonal contrasts and sharp definition, characteristic of ******* mastery in photographic techniques and lithographic reproduction. This artwork exemplifies ******* dedication to preserving Native American heritage and stands as a valuable collectible for admirers of historical Native American art and early American photography. This lithograph is perfect for collectors seeking authentic ****** S. ****** pieces, as it embodies the iconic style and cultural significance for which his work is celebrated worldwide.15.5x11.5 Which part of this is true? As I learned the hard way, none of ****** refer many times to lithographs: they are ******* say the mages have rich tonal contrasts and sharp definition: they do ******* say it is perfect for collectors seeking authentic ****** pieces. These are not for collectors, nor are they authentic.Finally you wrote that they are on old and thick paper. The paper is not old nor is it ******** I will take the initial steps at redress: contact Liveauctioneers for assistance. file a complaint with my bank. post a ****** review and so on.Then we will see if additional steps are needed to compensate for the hassle factor.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/06/2025

  Hi ****,

  We're sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the lots you won in February. As LiveAuctioneers is a technology provider, we do not have possession of the lots listed on our platform. Post-sale issues, like refunds, are handled by the auction house. I see that my colleague on the Bidder Support team was helping you with this complaint. Since you have already filed a dispute with your credit card company, the case will now be handled by our Payments team. Your bank will have final decision on who they will side with once they've had the chance to review the complaint.

  With regard to your complaint that the lots are not as described, my colleague will be passing this on to the appropriate team to review. This team will look into your claim and address this with the auction house, if necessary.

  Regards,

  LiveAuctioneers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/10/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This is regarding the email which I received from **** ******* on March 31 asking me to register as a seller for ******** and pay the $250.00 registration fee which I did (email attached). However, as of today I still haven't heard from anyone at your company regarding the setup of my account as a seller.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/19/2025

  Dear ****,
  Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Were sorry for the delay you've experienced after registering as a seller with ********.
  Weve contacted the ******** team directly regarding your account setup, and someone from their team will be reaching out to you shortly to assist with next steps.
  We appreciate your patience and understanding, and were here to support you throughout this process.
  

  Sincerely,
  LiveAuctioneers Bidder Support Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/04/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Live Auctioneers conducted an online auction for "Montclaire Auction" either located in ******* or ******** - Lot #** - Upper Room by artist **** * ******* is listed as a print in colors. They did not disclose in their description that this lot was in fact a reproduction (which we discovered when we received it and examined it). In fact it is an illegal copy (reproduction) that was and has not been unauthorized by the estate of **** ******* nor anyone on behalf of his estate. Also what we received was not in colors, it is in one color, sepia. Any reputable entity would/will know what a reproduction is - basically a worthless cheap photographic copy. We immediately notified the payment processor Zip, Live Auctioneers and "Montclaire Auction" by email about this and that we did not want or intend to pay any more money on the installment - however to no avail. This was an advertised auction. We do not feel Live Auctioneers vetted this "Montclaire Auctions." Is ****************** a legitimate entity or operating as a scam? If we can locate a legitimate location for **********, we will file a complaint with them. February 25, 2025 date of Auction - ( installment payments through Zip)

  Business Response

  Date: 04/08/2025

  Hi ******,

  We're sorry to hear this has not been a good experience on our platform. We reviewed your complaint and have decided to close the auction house's account. I copied my colleague's reply to your email below.

   

  "Hi ******,
  
  Following up on your complaint, please note that we have contacted the auction house in an effort to facilitate a resolution to the issue you have raised.  In addition, since we take all bidder complaints seriously, we have closed the auction house's account. Thus, Montclaire Auctions will be unable to sell on LiveAuctioneers until it has substantively responded to your complaint.  
   
  We will continue to reach out to the auction house until a response is provided for your case, with the hope that the matter can be resolved.  You may also wish, at this juncture, to contact the payment provider that you used for this invoice to explore any other options available to you."

  Regards,

  LiveAuctioneers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/28/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a painting from live auction which arrived in a reused and apparently recycled flimsy box. The frame and glass was broken. I'm submitted a claim but still haven't heard from them . ..just another scam.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/03/2025

  Hi *****,

  We're sorry to hear that the lot arrived damaged. I see that you recently followed up with the LiveShipping team on March 31st and was told that they would reach out to the claims department for an update. Please give them a few more days to look into this claim. If you don't hear back by tomorrow, I suggest you send them an email for a follow up. Please continue to communicate with my colleague in the LiveShipping team as they are the ones handling your case.

   

  Regards, 

  LiveAuctioneers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/25/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On Feb. 13th, I bought a table with 2 extra leaves from Greenwich Auction in ************When my driver arrived to pick up my purchace, he provided them with my name and lot# for the table. When the table was delivered the 2 leaves were missing. I called ****************** immediately to complain and they said they would look for the leaves. It took them 2 days to find the leaves. I requested that they ship me the missing leaves at their expense, as the problem was their doing. Even though they separated the lot into 2 parts and misplaced half of it,they said that they were not responsible because the driver didn't specifically ask for the 2 leaves even after providing them my name and the lot#. The online lot description clearly mentioned the 2 leaves and there were several photos showing them. They also said that my driver should have waited for them to locate the missing leaves before leaving ******** (2 days). I'm now having to pay the driver again to drive to ******** to retreive the leaves. I'm asking for them to cover the extra cost to deliver me the 2 leaves which they lost; $200.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/07/2025

  Hi,

  I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience with the auction house. As LiveAuctioneers is a technology provider, post-sale issues are handled by the auction house. While we cannot force them to reimburse you for the cost of delivery or go against their own company policy, the best we can do is reach out to them to see if they will reconsider.

  If you want us to contact the auction house, could you please take a moment to email us at ******************************* with the invoice number and a summary of the situation? Upon checking, I didn't see any email correspondence from you regarding this complaint.

  Regards, 

  LiveAuctioneers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/21/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Bidded on jan 11 and 12 2025 online auction of brand used works thru LiveAuctioneers.com but did not get what I paid for because of poor packaging and ***** poor handling. These are the missing items and respective lots:Bolt of a rifle lot 348 1 knife lot 353 19 rounds of 44 mag ammo lot 1621 Reached out to **** and *** thru LiveAuctioneers.com messenger 1-26-2025 and email.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/31/2025

  Hi *****

  We're sorry to hear about your poor experience with this sale. I saw that you had been in contact with the auction house directly to let them know there were some missing parts to the item you received. It looks like they are insisting that all the pieces were shipped. LiveAuctioneers, as an online bidding platform, has no control over shipping issues so there is little we can do to assist. The best we can recommend is that you talk to the shipper to find out your options at this point.

  Regards,

  LiveAuctioneers

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/10/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This is an auction site that hosts other auction houses and takes a commission on sales. I purchased a bronze statue that was offered by ************************** that was advertised as an original. When I received it, it was a reproduction that was available all over the internet for a third of what I paid. The statue came cracked and neither Live Auctioneers or Weatherham answer there phones. This site runs scams.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/21/2025

  Dear ****,

  
  Thank you for reaching out, and we sincerely apologize for the frustration you've experienced. We understand your concerns regarding the statue and the issues with the communication youve had with both the auction house and our team. We take these matters seriously and are committed to providing assistance.
  Someone from our bidder support team will be reaching out to you later today to help with this matter as quickly as possible. We apologize again for the delay and the inconvenience you've encountered.
  Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to working with you to address your concerns.
  Best regards,

  LiveAuctioneers Bidder Support Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/03/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Date of initial request to becomeauctionnr partner partner: February ******* ****** ******* answered my request to get started as an auction Partner, initial request was made on Feb 8. Before doing any setting up steps he took my credit card and processed for a one time annual fee of $500. After collecting a receipt for proof of residence ,he did not inform me of any soft credit check, but notified me that I was in a Chapter 13 BK and did I have a discharge , which I do not. I informed him of this. He said of we just need a different approach to setting up the account. I did not hear back from him as promised the day after Presidents Day. I emailed him and he apologized, but said he was sick with noro virus and he would call me the next day and I have not heard back from him.On Sat Feb 22, I emailed him requesting a new representative contact me or return my fee.I have had neither.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/15/2025

  Hi *******,

  I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience on our platform. It sounds like expectations were not properly set. I know you are asking to either get step up to be a seller or get a refund. I will reach out to my colleague handling this matter and ask that he contact you with clear next steps and expectations. Please expect someone to reach out on Monday or Tuesday.

  Regards,

  LiveAuctioneers