I'm not sure how this company is still in business in the greater Grass Valley/Nevada City area. Their reputation is dismal at best with many at local yard sales having conversations on just how Longacre pulled one on them, here's my story.
Robin Longacre listed a tractor for sale on behalf of a client to which I thought the price was fair and made a deal to purchase the tractor. The deal was for me to pick it up a few days later (at her request) which was no problem as I needed to secure/rent a trailer to pick it up. The morning of the agreed day, I contacted Robin to get the time for pickup at which time she told me the deal was now off, that she wanted to take bids and that our agreed price was no longer valid (all of this in Facebook messages/writing that I still have to this day) Being a civil dispute, I had no recourse and decided to let the tractor and the deal go. Most would never visit her sales after that, but I'm a glutton for punishment, so I continued.
A few sales ago, I decide to go early, be there when the door opens as the estate looks to have some neat items to purchase. I find there's a waiting list that you have to sign, giving you a number. I asked when the list comes out and she advises, sometimes the morning of, sometimes the day prior but when it is out, that the only way to get on it is to be there in person. She then starts talking about people on the list and how they message her prior as they are coming long distance and she has them in the first spots. She claims there are rules for estates when she gives her speech in the morning, but also doesn't adhere to her own rules and changes things on the fly. I say this as I've heard, yes hearsay, that she's changed rules set by homeowners of the estates to fit her needs. Seems to fit that if she can't follow her own rules, why would she listen to those given to her.
Recently I went to another sale, locally. During the sale I was shown some stuff with prices, outlandish prices and was questioned had I seen them before. I hadn't but was told a homeowner hired Longacre to run an estate, who priced everything extremely high and then when it didn't sell, told the homeowner they'd clean out the property for a fee. So rather than making money for the homeowner, they overpriced items then try to charge to remove them (and potentially sell on their own for another profit). That homeowner obviously didn't allow this, and sold the lot where it ended up at another sale that I stumbled upon. This is the first I've seen evidence of it, but had always suspected it happening.
Finally Robin priced a sale extremely high, not uncommon as mentioned above. I tried to negotiate which she said she would do at her opening speech, but in this case, she wouldn't budge. I didn't need the item, handed it to her and said that the price was to high for me at which time she lost her mind. It's talked about by many in the yard sale circles and laughed about by many, including myself. I said her pricing was to high, she said it was the first day of sale and that she didn't negotiate.... all while yelling as I walked away.
Enter today. I go to yet another Longacre sale. I find something, a little high priced, but it's for me personally so I grab it. I walk up to Robin, show her her tag of $10 and hand her $20... no negotiation, I'm paying the price. She then says "Are we ok" to which I reply, yea I'm here, I'm buying your stuff at which point she starts a huge lecture abut how everybody was talking about our previous encounter. I reply back that she was upset that I didn't want to pay her high prices, take my $20, hand her the item and walk away, calling out her unfair deals/negotiation tactics to which she can't recall.
I am now banned from any sale of hers, which is fine. But here's some tips for a potential way to actually get a fair negotiation. She gets flustered with lots of items. Put a pile in front of her and she will lose her mind, she can't add in her head, so she loses track. The more you buy, the better the deal with this tactic. More than 1 person in line, she can't handle it... again, this is when to approach for a deal. She can't add, is very unorganized (just look at the ball of money she pulls out when she get you change) and can't even present herself in a professional manner. If you're looking for an estate/liquidation company, go see how hers are ran before you agree to go with them. It amazes me as someone who has ran estates in the past, who has a family who regularly runs estates elsewhere that anybody ever contracts with her.
All of this story may sound outlandish/vindictive or retaliation of deals gone sour. Feel free to go to other estates in the Grass Valley area, ask about Longacre. Many of those who are at the sale are regulars and will all have some story about how they've had a bad Longacre experience.
Be warned, and remember if you do contract with Longacre Estate Sales, and are unsatisfied, I told ya so. read more
