I've been happily attending Maynard's auctions for 15 years, and am happy to add a bit of balance…read moreto a ridiculously skewed set of review data. Number one: All auction houses have a Buyers Premium on auctioned goods. This occurs without exception across the globe, as auction houses are not charitable institutions; they are businesses. At an auction, the goods will be sold to the highest bidder, and there is no guarantee that your goods will circumvent fundamentals, and sell at an appraised or retail level. In fact, unless the goods are highly coveted, you can be reasonably assured of a disappointing outcome. Given this, no auctioneer would give a guarantee on a positive outcome, but would venture a conjecture; something that you cannot take to the bank. Auctions serve the purpose of liquidating masses of goods quickly. If you feel slighted that the clapped-out tat you dragged down to the auction didn't generate a king's ransom, then this is only a confession of your naïveté. As an example, let's examine the sale of a Persian rug. Depending upon its pedigree, it isn't uncommon for a rug to sell at auction for a tiny fraction of its retail value. This is normal. If the rug was an Isfahan signed rug, it will sell for considerably more than the bazaar grade rug, but unless it is rare Isfahan rug, or several bidders go mad, it will never sell for more than the retail rate. The bottom dropped out of the antiques market a decade ago, and there is not even a hint that it will recover anytime soon. This means that the once highly coveted Scottish Victorian chest of drawers you bought for $2K at auction in the late 90s/early 2000s can barely be given away for $100 today. Lastly, and this should be painfully obvious, a little research will go a long way towards staving off disappointing outcomes. If a set of Noritake China sold for x amount of dollars at auction two months earlier, you can be certain that when you trot your set in that the audience will not spontaneously burst into a standing ovation when yours appears up for bids. Like the laws of Physics, common sense always prevails over infantile wish fulfillments.

Over the years I have have bought all sorts of furniture, art, jewellery,rugs you name it I bought…read moreit. As far as I am concerned I got a great deal on whatever I won at the auction. No issues whatsoever. If you are bidding on an item I suggest you look at in person and then place your bid if it suits your fancy. Photos are not the same as looking at an item in person. That is true no matter if it is an auction, a hotel or some vacation destination, photos are only 1/2 the story both good and bad ..

What an unpleasant man! We came to see him on recommendation, and he didn't take a single minute to…read morelook at our pictures or listen to our product proposal. He really didn't care at all! I would say never go there again -- even jail gates are more welcoming than he is.

Marvel took care of most of my late mum's estate. Initially, I had no idea all her cherished…read morecollectibles and antique furniture would be worth so little and so difficult to sell. No one wants your stuff, folks! Service with Marvel was quick, easy, efficient, professional and friendly. Highly recommend.

I've noticed that this "business" is still in operation, and I feel obligated to warn the public…read moreabout his business practises, although it is currently under litigation in small claims court. I had a convenience store that was going out of business, so I had been advertising the sale of the store contents on Craigslist. Derek C. of DWC Auctions answered my ad pretending to be a past client of DWC Auctions, giving DWC Auctions glowing reviews. After finding this out, I realized that all of the positive reviews online were most likely written by Derek C. himself. Not knowing at the time that I was possibly being conned, I agreed to sell the contents of my store on an online auction held by Derek C./ DWC Auctions on February 19, 2018. According to the final paperwork, I was to receive $3,047.25 the next day. He gave me $300 with some story about his bank accounts being frozen until Monday, so I prepared a written agreement for the balance. I met him a week later to receive the balance of the money owed. He gave me $1,000, telling me his ICBC payments unexpectedly went through his account and that he'd have the balance a week later, having him sign a receipt with an agreement to pay me the balance on March 2, 2018. I phoned him repeatedly to meet on the agreed date for the balance and he would not answer or return my call until I phoned from an alternate number on the actual date we were supposed to meet, telling him I am considering taking him to small claims court because he wasn't returning my calls. I was expecting to get an apology for forgetting about our meeting, or an alternate date to meet. Instead, at that point he went into an over the top angry fit, telling me that he would delay paying me as long as possible. He told me I was welcome to take him to court. So having no choice, I filed a lawsuit against him in small claims court. He countered (in writing) with some libellous fiction about me stalking him and his wife/girlfriend whatever, asking for $5,000 in damages in a bizarre attempt to profit from the court system. The court told him he'd need to present any evidence to them and the police. He ignored their requests, as there is no evidence, Must be tough to gather evidence on something that didn't happen... As of this date September 30, 2018, I am still awaiting a judgement from small claims court for the balance due plus interest. UPDATE OCT. 13, 2018: This Derek person has been phoning/texting me for days with psychotic messages. Now he has placed my personal information on Google Ads to (in his mind I suppose) get "revenge" for the bad review. Note that he also did this to a previous reviewer, (Barbara Bird) it's the way he is I guess. Like the previous reviewer said, if you give him a negative review, he needs to lash out, get revenge. Bottom line, he sold my property in an online auction, he dodged my calls and didn't pay me the money owed. I give an honest review of my personal experience, this is what he does. It's truly like dealing with an immature little high school kid attempting to bully people into submission. I've posted some of the many texts he's been sending me. Very weird, very childish. Avoid this person/"business" at all costs.

Derek sold semi precious gems he didn't have and billed my credit card for them. He spent a month…read moretelling me that he had them somewhere in a box, would look for them and send them when he found them. After a month I told him I wanted a refund. I waited another two weeks but one was never issued and ended up having to call my credit card company to reverse the charges or I would still be waiting. Will never buy from them again. He responded to my negative Google review by telling me I was banned because I was impatient yet I had already told him I was done dealing with him. He now claims he had offered a refund and I had refused. Then he posted my home address on the review. To me that speaks volumes for how ethically he runs his business. I even now have all the original emails and billings that came to me from him which makes it hard for him to refute the truth. Stay away from this business at all costs. He unfortunately is one of those shady ones you read about

I have been dealing with Cotton Auctions for several years now and have never had any issue. I can…read morehonestly say that they are one of the top auctions houses in my opinion as far as staff who are always courteous and helpful, items available for auction - great variety, and overall great business practices. I highly recommend dealing with Cotton, you will not be disappointed. A+++

I have more of a question! i have noticed a few times that i will put a higher bid just incase i…read morecan't watch and wonder why just like the weekend that just passed why my amount is completely full but the other items are not and they are lower than mine. like i put i can go as high as 30 and it is put to 30 by the day of the auction while others are sitting at 20. and not moving. i feel like your company is putting it up to make money and not completely letting the people bid right. for why would i go and bid higher when there are lower amounts to go for.

Twice I arrived to pickup my items and they didn't have them. You are given a time frame that you…read moremust adhere to, it's a 5 minute window during a day designated by them, would be during most people's work days, if not on weekend pickup. I went there and was told on both occasions that they didn't have my items, once someone else stole them they thought, and next time they donated them by mistake. I don't live closeby, I drove 50 klms out of my way during a weekday to pickup my items, and they didn't have them. Offering a refund doesn't account for the frustration, expense and time spent! Very poor accountability. A phone call would have been nice to explain the issues and tell me not to come. Don't wait for someone to arrive during your designated time, then tell them you don't have the items they paid for and agreed pickup time? Terrible customer service!

From the owner: We have assisted many clients with downsizing and estate sale liquidations. This is a delicate and…read moreemotional time for most people and we strive to offer compassionate, stress free, pressure free, fair and friendly service. You can count on our discretion at all times. Whether you are selling one piece or a whole collection, downsizing or wanting to liquidate an entire estate, Steptoe Antiques is the company to call.