COMMENTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. ***DONNIE- IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ISSUE AS PER THE POLICIES OF THIS BOARD, STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMPLAINT.
AMI HAS MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY THIS, BUT YOU HAVE NOT STEPPED FORWARD MAKING IT SEEM LIKE THIS IS NOT A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT.
I HAVE SAVED YOUR ORIGINAL POST AND WILL RE-POST IT IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE AN ACTUAL SITUATION. SINCE YOU HAVE NOT COME FORWARD, I'LL ASSUME THIS IS AN ANONYMOUS SMEAR CAMPAIGN
ERIC***
This message has been edited by ecky3 on Jun 12, 2005 12:59 AM
The point you make is on target. A lot of people know this and I think it has steered a lot of potential consignors away. They are extremely disorganized and clearly not dedicated to getting their consignors their due money. My other complaint is that I've purchased several basketball jerseys with Lou Lampson letters that came out of AMI auctions and they have all been stiff as boards (they even smell new - yes, I smelled them).
Nice post!! Yes I know 4 people that have not been paid for their March auction. Good business practice. About a new home, well that is none of my business but yes I heard the same, very EXPENSIVE. I will never consign to them nor will I bid. I looked at their auction and I can't even see 1 thing that is worth while to purchase. Variety is horrible. I wonder if their big items even sell? Dick Butkus $40,703--that is a lot for a vintage football jersey. Oh well, off My Favorites list. Good Luck you will need it.
This is the beauty of the site. I have a Ruth/Gehrig signed ball as well as some HOF Player bats that I was looking to consign and AMI was one of the houses that I was considering using. This post has certainly narrowed my search! Thanks!
American Memorabalia gets top dollar,and pays faster than anyone.
June 10 2005, 12:48 PM
I have been dealing with them for 2 years,and never had a problem.They have been getting more money lately for their vintage memorabalia,because they are growing so fast.Everything is in place for them to dominate this business.
I consigned twice and both times it was a huge ordeal getting them to send me my money. The second time they sent me an unsigned check, which I sincerely doubt was by accident given their M.O. Take your consignments else where. I have been paid is quick fashion by Bricol on several occasions.
This website has been a tremendous asset to the hobby and an educational forum. However, responding directly to the posting we must separate fact from fiction.
We have been actively in the business for over 10 years and have grown from 2 to 7 auctions a year. As such, we pride ourselves in our ethics and honesty and we find this posting appalling.
Our payment terms are 45 days after the auction but it is dependent upon the bidder paying for the items. As all collector, dealers, and buyers are aware, payment is not always forthcoming.
Our reputation is stellar and some of the most well known individuals consign to us on a regular basis because of our reputation and prices realized. We do get the prices.
We have several avenues of communication available and if there is ever an issue we address it immediately. In regards to this posting, we are unaware of who this person is, however, we are more than willing to discuss any issue in greater detail and resolve any problems if the member contacts us.
I am always a little suspicious of a forum thread that starts bashing one auction house and then starts making innuendos of "bankruptcy" and "expensive house buying" (how silly).
The whole thing stinks of an agenda, but I'm going to put my two cents in anyway.
I've consigned to a number of auction houses and have never had a problem with American Memorabilia. I have always been paid by them on time, and Victor will always take my calls personally and answer any of my questions.
Speaking of American memorabilia being "disorganized", I once received a call from AMI informing me I'd been the winner of a lot in their most recent auction and asking for payment.
The problem was the lot they were talking about was from a year earlier. (Not to mention the item had already been paid and was sitting framed on my display case.)
Thanks for starting this thread. It's good to have this information public, good or bad.
BTW, it's shameful that yet again, an auction house is spurred to customer service only AFTER you've publicly complained about them. One of the things some auction houses have yet to learn is that if you take care of your customers and do the right thing, you can short-circuit this kind of public airing of dirty laundry.
Aaron is right. As a general rule, if you are taking care of your business and your customers from the beginning, this type of discussion never even comes up - - - - - - this is not a comment about any particular auction house, authentication business, etc., but rather just a Business 101 rule of thumb for all businesses. It always amazes me how many businesses have apparently skipped Business 101.
Which is yet again, another reason why this site is so valuable. I think in the very recent past an auction house could proceed with treating their customers arrogantly with little fear of recourse.
Now that this site is up and has the kind of traffic and influence it does, the customer has an excellent venue of recourse which an auction house is highly-motivated to address.
Their terms of payment seem weird to me, so correct me if I am wrong:
Example:
a)I consign a game used widget from Mr. Smith to AMI (or sub any auction house name) and they auction it off to the highest bidder.
b) AMI takes a percentage of the sale from me.
c) AMI collects the payment and also charges a buyers premium to the buyer.
d) AMI doesn't pay me (the consignor) for 45 days (which where I live is a month and a half) AFTER the auction ends.
What if the buyer pays immediately. Do I still have to wait 45 days? That doesn't seem fair to me.
Doesn't anyone think that payment should be sent out immediately (possibly on a weekly basis) based on the payments received in from the buyer since AMI really doesn't physically own the item that sold?
I can understand not getting payment until the buyer pays, but why the 45 day wait?
What should I call you? Can you produce a product inventory of itmes for sale in the next 10 minutes if you are on line now and claim to be a businessman/dealer? Why don't you have a website like every other dealer does? Why go by an italian surname?
What should I call you? Can you produce a product inventory of itmes for sale in the next 10 minutes if you are on line now and claim to be a businessman/dealer? Why don't you have a website like every other dealer does? Why go by an italian surname?
Jim,since your not anonymous,why don't you back up yourself,and callme,YOU ARE THE FRAUD,THAT IS A CRAZY KIDS GAME YOU ARE PLAYING BY CALLING ME A FRAUD.
Since I have been accused recently by some on this site as not having a sense of humor and always taking things too literally, please let me be consistant if nothing else..If you assume that the average company pays in 45 days, then 14 times faster would be approximately .00048 of a day.
