First of all I would just like to thank everyone for lodging a review - I was about to Use Leonard Joel Auction House but thanks to these wonderful people for taking the time to warn others about them - I say thankyou very much to you all as you may have saved me from very unhappy extra expenses. To Leonard Joel I say how stupid of you to conduct your business like this - Shame Shame Shame!! I will also (and no doubt along with a lot of other people) deter everyone I know away from doing business with you. So sad and embarrassing for all Australians for an AUSTRALIAN Business to treat people around the world like this! You give Australians a bad name! read more

Bidding was easy, and a very nice item ~ a tiny silver item - bid from on-line to the USA: The problem was international shipping from the 2 Oxley Rd, Hawthorn Vic 3122, Australia location was basically non-available from their recommended shippers: Grace Fine Art provided an insulting and price gauging shipping estimate at $1426.00 to collect and ship a silver item measuring less than 2 inches / 5 cm round. Pack & Send Bondi Junction at first failed to respond until the Auction house twisted their arm, then they charged a hefty $242.00 to send the item arriving in a thin plastic bag with the free moving antique item partly wrapped in a make-do, flimsy piece of cardboard (I have saved these material as proof). As a collector of fine antiques, I have never experienced anything so corrupt. After my purchase payment, I had to contact the auction house dozens of times with non-action before they finally influenced their shippers to act. Beware of these people. read more

Leonard Joel - South Yarra, VIC

My advise is not to ever try and purchase something via an absentee bid with this organisation. My experience was that I placed an absentee bid on 5 items and also watched the auction live on my computer. On at least two of the items there were no bids made online or on the floor. I was still charged over the top of the range i.e. the range was $60-$80 and no other bids but I was charged $90! The other item the previous bid was for $100.00 and I was told by Amelia from Leonard Joel that I should have been charged $120.00 but I was charged $160.00! I raised this with the staff and was told that an error had been made and that I would need to speak with Kim Clarke. I rang and left a message and received a return call from Nora Merralls who was rude and obnoxious! Denying what I was told by their own staff and refusing to refund my money. I would never do an absentee bid with this organisation as I don't trust them! I do not think they are a reputable auction house. read more

Look elsewhere. This business basically operates by pushing down auction price points. They start with a wide bid range but in truth they almost always offer below the agreed pricing. This would not be an issue except that bidders know that quoted ranges are top end and will under bid on most prices. Basically they are targeting the bottom end of the buying market who know how their pricing works. Don't expect any services like valuations at your location, pick up or handling of art. It's all do it yourself. They look great but are just a clearance house for bottom feeders. read more

This company is not a reputable auction house. We purchased a beautiful marble marble sculpture last May, and Leonard Joel arranged shipping to us in the United States through their "partner" shipping company. They did not provide any other choices for this. We were told the piece was fully insured with "premium" insurance. It was horribly packed and arrived in hundreds of pieces. When we attempted to recover our cost, we were told that the "premium" insurance they had arranged did not include shipping cost, and we would have to pay hundreds more dollars before they would pay our claim. Leonard Joel has refused to help with this, saying that it is our fault. I would never do business with them again. read more