This is a non-profit and many people working are volunteers. Read the terms, hours etc. and you can have a great experience.

Do not be fooled by their non-profit status as a 'giving foundation". Beware of the listings on their auction site. Their interpretation of "vintage" is 20 years old which is just plain wrong. Their description is misleading to the buyer, many of whom are on-line and rely on the honest and accurate appraisals of the items including the age and scarcity. I have been purchasing many rare antiques for over 30 years and was shock to see a piece of stained glass, item # 0736 on the January 8th auction. described as vintage when it is clearly a piece from the 70's or 80's, only to be informed by the auction rep's of their 20 year vintage criteria. It's bad enough to have issue with a for profit auction but when a non-profit is shady it is more disappointing. They are charging a 29% fee which is also outrageous. read more

Non existent customer service, rude and unhelpful on the phone and in person. Recommend the worst shipping stores in the universe. Avoid them like the plague read more

No shock to see a bunch of other reviews saying this company was rude or aggressive to them. They were very rude to me and awful when I showed up for my item. Surprising given there was no one there. They must savor the quiet and think how can I make it more quiet here. Then when someone shows up they spring into action. Being awful for the two seconds they have to interact with a human. read more

Paid for my items, received them, this auction house filed unpaid item reports AFTER receiving payment and have not removed them for months. I have already sold the stuff I purchased (except for the clearly fake thing described as gold, which they refused to respond to and did not refund.) This Auction house should be closed down by government agencies, they are breaking federal law and are terrible at business. read more

wonderful auction site with fabulous deals easy to do business with I look forward to each option

I only gave this "business" one star because there is no option for zero stars. Extremely rude people, offensive behavior toward customers when they are the ones with the ridiculously unprofessional website and poor communication skills. Not sure how the owner can brag about having gone to Wharton went her business is so janky and the people she hires are unprofessional. I think the claim that this is a "foundation" or "benefit" to the community is a stretch. Unlike this horrible establishment, there are a lot of auction houses that have really easy processes to ship and buy and if their processes aren't so state of the art, the people are kind and helpful and patient. I will go out of my way to never purchase anything from this dump again. read more

I was looking at an item on this auction house and next thing I knew I purchased the item without even bidding. I immediately called the auction house and an incredibly rude man said you bid on it you bought it and he hung up on me. He did not even let me explain. I contacted a charity review site and found that as a charity, Benefits Shop has a failing grade. I then sent an email to Pam Stone President and founder of the Benefits shop. I did not receive an answer. BEWARE! Cherie read more

I would have made this auction a big fat zero if I could have! I purchase items from them and I was referred to UPS to ship them. I was told that they were picked up and was given a quote. I spoke to a young man at UPS who said my items were there and made arrangements for them to be shipped. I thought they were. They weren't and this auction resold them though I called and spoke to the owner trying to locate them. I was told they "would get back to me". Well they got back to me an hour before my things were auctioned and of course I didn't get the message in time. I'm a new business owner and I will never do business with this company again. They are very low class. Nancy Jones read more

I was shocked to be treated so rudely. My simple questions were answered with hostility. I am surprised that such aggression is tolerated by PAM STONE. I am unclear who is benefiting from this auction house, perhaps it is the staff, my little interaction leads me to think they are grubby people who should be avoided. read more

BE AWARE!! They DO NOT SHIP!!! and shipping cost is INSANE if you arrange shipping using agents provided by them! Management is terrible. They even can confiscate your items if you do not pick up them on time. This business dishonest and should not be exist! Pure scam! read more

I consigned over $100,000 worth of fine furnishings, the gist of which was imported. The way Pam Stone's contract reads, anything sold for less than $200 would be considered a donation. At the time I didn't think that would be an issue since the pieces I was consigning certainly would yield more than $200. Well, she reported to me that 90% of the items sold for less than $200. 90%? Given what I consigned I felt and still feel this was impossible. And as if that was not bad enough, there were a number of things that were not accounted for in her reports. For a month I tried to get an explanation as to where these pieces were. I placed numerous calls; I sent numerous emails, all to no avail. I finally got her on the phone and when I pushed her on the unaccounted for items she hung up on me. This woman, her organization and her shady dealings need to be investigated. read more

I spent 2 grand on a music box player that arrived damaged before shipping and they tried to touch up the stain and they did not ship the 17 disks that i paid for and the 2 times i reached someone they were bot rude and short and just didnt care. i have since sent them an email to respond back in 24hrs or I am going to take legal action. Terrible company they lie and said they didn't damage or fix my player, they are blaming the guy that picked it up to ship it. either way I am out a lot of money thanks to someone being careless I will need to sue them in small claims as the picture is clear, the item was altered read more

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I see that I am not alone in my dissatisfaction. I purchased a poster that was advertised as being "on paper." It wasn't. It was on foam-core. When I complained, I was told effectively that it was too bad and I was refused a refund. The owner was surely and it was surprising, since the only thing that he had to do, was to put it in the next auction. I imagine the Benefit Shop is fine, provided you do not have a problem. If you do, you are screwed. read more

VERY DISAPPOINTING. I will not participate in their auctions again. They do not have even the smallest window of hours on the weekends or after 5pm when buyers can pick up won items. They refer you to local UPS shipping and packing businesses that charge exorbitant prices. The amount you buy will double with the packing and shipping costs. You will end up paying double for your items. Not a good business model and not a good way to keep customers. I communicated this to them and explained that it would "benefit" them to have more online customers bidding to increase their profits but they don't care. read more

I bid, I won, I paid. After that I received nothing!!! No product or communication. When I eventually contacted them, they told me I had forfeited the item. BUYERS BEWARE!!!!!! I only put a one star rating because that's the only way it would post. Wanted no stars. read more

I purchased a teapot for $70.00 from the Benefit Shop Foundation online auction. The teapot weighs 2 lbs. The shipping cost was $95.00. UPS shipping. Really? I will never purchase again from auction house that does not have instore shipping. LESSON LEARNED. read more

I thought I would support this local auction house that I've purchased over 50 items at auction in the last 6 years. I've managed to furnish or upgrade my house with many different and unique items over that time. I live locally so shipping is not a concern but to be fair, there are so things about the auction house that are frustrating. Cons Inconvenient to pick up hours. There aren't any weekend or evening pick-ups available. Dis-organization of auction items. I often have to hunt and guess where my items are stored and I will often have to unpack the other items stored on top of furniture in order to remove the item. Also, the walkways are narrow and I'm always afraid of damaging someone's items on my way to the front door. The items (furniture) are often not without stains/ tears/ pulls but I've found them to do a good job being truthful and accurate about the condition. Live Auctions website is brutal. This is not a reflection on the Benefit Shop but since that is the only medium you have to work through... it's a horrible site to bid on and user experience is severely lacking. Pros The prices are great as a buyer. I've been able to secure some nice pieces periodically for reasonable rates. It's hit and miss just like any auction house. Artwork. If you are looking for some nice pieces for your home, you can find some really unique items for a reasonable cost. I've found the people to be helpful. If you are expecting a Sotheby's like experience - this is not the auction house for you. I found the staff generally pleasant to work with. read more

If I could give this place a zero, I would. i received an invoice with an item on it that I never bid on. The staff at the Benefit Shop referred me to Live Auctioneers ( not easy folks to get in touch with). They referred me back to the Benefit Shop. The people there said that they would send me the auction log and prove that I did indeed buy the item in question. Fast forward, I get a call that the bill was in error and the item would be removed. This after numerous phone calls. No apology. The pick up is ludicrous. Sullen, rude, unwelcoming, and unhelpful employees. You get a page with a rack number on it. You proceed to the rack and then you need to search through the numerous items there to find your item. I couldn't find my purchase after 20 minutes of searching. Back to the front. Annoyed worker. She finally finds my bag in a restricted area. She didn't know that the bag I won was expensive and costly items are kept separately. No apology. The exorbitant buyers' fee they tack on should at least entitle us to polite service. They purport to be a charitable organization but their behavior is singularly uncharitable. Stay away! read more

Do not buy from this organizations auctions! Misrepresentation of items for sale, they do not return phone calls. I purchased a ceramic item at an online auction that was described to be in excellent condition. When I received the item it had a very obvious repair. It took 8 phone calls to have them tell me that they will not stand behind their mistake. Do yourself a favor and don't purchase from these people. read more

The worst place to buy. Poor customer service. never again. I was duped into buying saddles which I never bid on but charged for. i just left them since although I had to pay I did not bid on or wanted. i also had to pay for a awful glass item that I just looked at on line,but they had me down for purchase. Don't know if this is a broken system or to drum up more sales. I told them on phone but they did not look into it and was made to pay for two items that never bid on or wanted. Very poor organization. I would be careful With this company. very unfriendly and rude. read more

Do not buy from this "charity" and more importantly, do not consign or donate to them. The woman who runs (owns) the charity, and registered it, pays herself $317,000 annually, according 2018 NY State Charities registration, which is the most recent filing I could find. This is obscene for a "charity" that grosses just over one million annually. The payment process was horrible. I was not able to pay by credit card because my total bill came to $1005.00 - which was $5 beyond their limit for credit card payments. They charge 28% buyers premium - 28% - which is more than Sotheby's or Christies. Seriously. Don' t buy here. On a good note, one of the three recommended shippers was excellent and came in at $70 cheaper than the other two. He is the last name on the list - very polite and professional. Firoz. read more

Do not be concerned about the poor reviews. Apparently, people are bidding without reading all the information. If you need your item shipped contact a shipper for an estimate prior to bidding. If you are concerned about the condition examine the item in person. If you need help when you pick the item up, take help with you. Of course they are not going to help load the items at these prices!! I have been purchasing items for a couple of years, I might call it a hobby. I buy furniture for my children or friends. I have been very lucky and purchased wonderful items for as low as $1.00 (plus 34%) and items I just had to have, for several hundred. I have never been unhappy, I inspect if I know the price will be higher, if it is only a few dollars I take a chance! If you decide to bid, make it your business to get all the information and prepare to get your own shipping or help. read more

Purchased a small lot for 20.00, mailed them a self addressed , stamped priority envelope. They only had to throw the items in a stick in a mailbox. NOPE, I was rudely told they don't ship. I told them I would donate the ridiculous shipping fee charged by their suggested shippers. NOPE, I said could you please let me know if you get my envelope with my credit card number. SURE, I will ask around. NEVER AGAIN. read more

BEWARE! Inaccurate listings with inauthentic product and no exceptions for refunds!

I work for a non-profit. We consigned with The Benefit Shop a number of items that made a profit of upwards of $400.00. We will receive none of this profit because each individual item that sells for less than $201.00 is considered a donation, which was not made clear in the contract. The business made it seem that if the total number of items sold exceeded $201.00, we would receive payment. Keeping the entire profit is a disgusting business practice, especially for a non-profit. They say their proceeds go to charity, but there are numerous sources that the owner makes six figures, almost unheard of in a small non-profit. I have also been looking into the business, and she has many shady dealings in terms of pricing, contract faithfulness, transparency, quality of items, rudeness, and valuing items below their worth. I was never even given contracts to sign for some of the pieces that went to auction. Her commission percentage is more than Sotheby's and Christie's, even though she is basically operating a junk shop out of a poorly ventilated warehouse. As many agree with me, the owner of The Benefit Shop Foundation should be reported for her shady business dealings. There is something fishy going on in this organization. read more

Allow me to add my disgust to the chorus of bad reviews here. I live in L.A. far away from Mt. Kisko, but was stupid enough to bid on one of their auctions before checking with Yelp. Sadly, I won the item, which is when the nightmare started. TBS hooked me up with a shipper who wanted to charge me 2.5 times what the item cost. When I protested, TBS hooked me up with a second shipper whose bid was still pricier than the item, but only by a bit. From the time I bought the item until it was finally shipped was THREE LONG MONTHS. When it finally arrived, it had been broken and poorly repaired. I asked for a refund, and TBS did not even both to write me back or say they were sorry. It was the noble shipper who stepped up and refunded me. In short, THS is the worst auction house I have ever encountered. Stay away. read more

Terrible experience for me. I would not recommend this place to anyone because of their poor customer service. Update: Specifically what happened to me was someone from our Ladies Ministries group recommended this auction house after consigning items from our Spring Roundup to benefit the homeless. They received 65% of the sales from items selling at auction for around $300 collectively. So, I decided to give them a try as well with leftovers from my mother's estate. The auction went well and I sold around a total of $200 for one auction and $420 for the next one. (My profits were going to The Young Mothers Ministries, a cause dear to my mother's heart.) Only I was told when I went in to collect my check, each SINGLE item that sold for UNDER $500 automatically became donation! She pulled out a blank contract form to prove this is their policy saying she couldn't find' mine. Which is because they never gave me one and I never asked because they were recommended by a trusted source. I won't miss the items but it bothers me my mother's wishes will not be honored and I'm posting this to warn others. read more

Rude and unhelpful when I messaged for condition info and other details. I'll spend my money elsewhere.

At the Benefit Shop auction held on April 29, 2020, I won a windup desk clock (Lot 130). I paid $40 hammer price plus $15 premium. When I received the clock I discovered it did not work, the winding mechanism appeared to be broken. The Benefit Shop refused to refund my money unless I returned the clock and paid shipping both ways. I had already paid $19 shipping one way and it was not worth it to pay another $19 to return the item. I was willing to pay shipping one way but they refused that. They cheated me. I see from the other reviews here I'm not the only one. read more

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD Following a poor experience with the Benefit Shop Foundation involving their sale and handling of a misrepresented item to me, I elected to verify the claims that their proceeds go to some of the local organizations listed on their website, including the Northern Westchester Hospital as referenced in the Wall Street Journal. I sent an enquiry to a sampling of five organizations asking if they received donations from the Benefit Shop and the results were two confirmations, two non-responses and one very disappointing response from the President of an organization I understood to be a major recipient. I would never have spent over $500 to buy something from this auction house had I known then what I know now. I encourage all to do their due diligence before donating to any organization, 501(c)3 or otherwise. read more

I have found great. Offers and have received everything with no problem I have ordered from them in 2 or 3 occasions and they were great deal. Happy with quality read more

Very fun and funky store, but was so disappointed to have to deal with a very unpleasant manager. I would not go back.

Extremely dishonest business practices. Would never ever do business again with these people. Ridiculous fees for donors and sell items worth thousands for $100 and slap donor with exorbitant moving fees. Scam artists. read more

My elderly parent had been ill for the past year and passed away recently. I had the task of cleaning out her house after she had lived there for 50 years. I really had no experience at this and was speaking to some friends and they suggested I donate most of the contents to a local charity. They would even come and pick it up and remove what they could use. I made the call and in one day a woman came to my house to take a look at what I had and the next day a small crew of men with a truck took the furniture and a lot of smaller items. It helped me out slot and i didn't have to lift a finger. Great service. Nice people. I recently was a winner at one of their on line only auctions. I bought dresser for $50 dollars for my sons apartment in the city. Had a great experience and great value. I will be telling my friends about the Benefit Shop Foundation. Another update from my experience at the Benefit Shop. I bid on several items at their last auction and won 2 out of 5 items. The service again was great but the value of the goods vs what I paid was great! read more

This place is a scam. They require that items purchased in auctions be picked up within 10 days, but neglect to mention that whether they will be open or closed on a particular day is information that they just kind of make up as they go... without ever actually sharing it with anyone to whom it would be valuable. read more

Beware the Auction Option - We donated a Tabora painting that cost $3,500 (with a receipt). Comparable pieces from the artist are sold for $6,000 today. We were promised great visibility and a fair process. I just got notified that the painting sold for $150. $150??? Are you kidding me? To whom - a friend of the owner? To a dealer who will sell it for 10x that price or more? I am disgusted. I would have gotten more value out of a straight deduction for tax purposes. Beware their auction option - if you want to donate something - just donate it. Don't expect anything resembling a fair price. read more

If they only want bidders who live in Mt. Kisco, they should state that in their "Easy to use terms", but they don't and any kind of pick up with them is a bad experience. This company has a history "with me personally", of not accurately disclosing the condition of the item, twice they did not disclose "broken legs" on sofas I have purchased from different auctions. Once they gave my items to a UPS shipper that they recommended without collecting a name and a signature for that pick up, I never received them. Those items just disappeared according to the auction house. Once I purchased a very large mirror, when I arrived I asked if they would help me load it and they would not, they said that it would not fit in my van. I measured the van and the mirror would in fact fit. So I asked a delivery company who was dropping items off for donation if they would help me load the item for a fee and they agreed. At that point the auction would not let me collect the item I had paid for, saying that they had already listed it for auction again. This is a pattern with them. They will sell something and then make an arbitrary decision that they can't wait long enough for you to pick it up, after they have already agreed to a pick up date with you. Then they will resell the item. That is not charity, IT IS THEFT! They can't keep staff and it results in people who are not well trained in their job. The last time I purchased from them, my credit card was immediately used for a large purchase on Etsy and it was not by me. BEWARE, This is not a reputable company! read more

I have been buying from this auction house via the internet platform called Liveauctioneers. The auction was on August 5th and started at 1100PM and ended like at 115 AM on the 6th of August. The starting bids on all items is $1 , I won 15 lots totalling $191.00 that appeared on my Liveauctioneers dashboard. The next day I called them to make a payment and arrange pick up and some one at the shop said they had no auction last night so I copied the dashboard with my purchases and emailed it to them so they could produce the invoice and I could pay and pick up. The staff all pleaded ignorance told me there was a glitch in the system thus I had purchased nothing. I asked for proof of that and never heard back from them. At this point I decided to start communications solely via Email to have a concise record of the events and the Benefit Shop has not replies to any of my messages. I figured out what the total was for my purchases and send them a payment which they refunded back to me this morning. I entered into a legal binding contract with the Auction house to participate in the auction thus they are in violation of this contract since they refuse to honor my purchases. The Benefit Shop is also in breech of their license since Section 2-124 item # states that (5) Accept as payment or exchange any article previously knocked down or sold to a successful bidder. The article knocked down or sold must be delivered to the bidder or, if the auctioneer is willing and at the bidder''s election, the purchase price refunded in full. No other article may be offered to said bidder as a substitute or replacement. Such refund shall take place within a reasonable time or may be applied as part payment or payment for any other article purchased at auction by the same bidder. The auction house has relisted my purchased items for sale again on August 22nd which is in clear violation of the licensing agreement for auctioneers. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/about/auctioneer_law_rules.pdf We all know hat happens when buyers fail to pay for purchases the auction house hits the roof the auction platform threatens to close your account and all kinds of rules protect the sellers. But when an auction house blatantly breaks the rules there has to be enforcement of the contract and the auction house must be exposed and punished they cannot be allowed to act with impunity! I strongly urge anybody else that has fallen victim to this sort of scam to report it and strongly urge consumers not to do business with The Benefit Shop since they take no responsibility for their actions and have no customer service skills to address such issues they just simply ignore any request for a valid reason they may have engage in such despicable behavior! read more

I was a victim of using the online auction site Live Auctioneers. What a bunch of crock! I won 3 items from The Benefit Shop Foundation only to find out they don't ship and the shippers they suggest charge a crazy ridiculous price. I won a couple of quilts and a couple of framed posters. The winning bids were fairly reasonable, but when quoted shipping costs I was told it was going to be over $200. I could see it had I won something extra heavy, but I didn't. So I had no other choice, but to donate the items back to The Benefit Shop. Now they can resale them and make even more money. I wonder how many times this happens and the bidder has to donate the items back or pay ridiculous over priced shipping costs. Very disappointed and will never again bid on Live Auctioneers or from The Benefit Shop. read more