Clearing House Estate Sales Reviews

A MUST READ (a little long but well worth it) BUYERS BEWARE

This is the email I sent to Clearing House Estate Sales after they said to do so if I couldn't resolve the issue with the auction manager myself. I received no reply from CHES by the way and when I called to inquire if they had received this email, I was greeted by Megan who asked me to explain the situation and as I am doing so she continued to rudely talk over me multiple times just to eventually hang up the phone on me and then blocked my phone number.

Megan (CHES Rep.) & Judith Pitcher (auction Manager) are both extremely rude and unprofessional individuals especially to a client who has spent 10's of thousands of dollars with their auction house in a matter of 21 months.

::EMAIL I SENT TO CHES::
Hello, I hope all is well! I am reaching out today because I was in contact with Judith Pitcher about a bracelet that I purchased from Invoice # CHES...
Here's the transcript of our conversation...

AARON
Hello, this is Aaron Cintron. Hope all is well.

AARON
I just acid tested everything and this opal bracelet is not real gold

JUDITH
This was certified by a gemologist. All pieces in this auction were tested

AARON
It failed a simple 10kt acid test, the same test I have been performing for many years. I'm no gemologist so I cannot verify the gemstones but I am more than qualified to verify the purity of gold or silver.

AARON
I wish it was real, trust me. Would have been a great deal if it was actually 10kt Gold

AARON
I was even able to tell its not real gold right after scratching it on the test stone before even putting the acid. The color left on the test stone when the bracelet was scratched onto it is more of a bronze color than gold. Then of course I used the acid to verify what I already knew at that point and sure enough the "gold" dissolved away in a couple seconds.

AARON
❔️

AARON
Hello?

(RECEIVED VOICEMAIL FROM JUDITH ASKING TO SEND BACK THE BRACELET WITH SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT AND EXTRA INSURANCE)

AARON
Make sure you're there to sign for it

AARON
Added a signature requirement and an extra $150 insurance

JUDITH
Thanx

AARON
No problem, keep me posted please

AARON
Didn't you ask for a signature requirement?

JUDITH
Yes I filled out a their form and they should be delivering today

AARON
Sounds good! Also, after determining that the bracelet is not 10 karat, I will be receiving a refund of the hammer price plus the buyers premium and return shipping costs correct?

JUDITH
No we do not refund shipping otherwise correct

AARON
I spent $20 and not to mention the time wasted with this back and forth to ship back an item that was not properly tested and therefore not as described. All mistakes that were not my fault and I shouldn't be penalized as if I made the mistake myself. You all did not do your due diligence to avoid this headache that I have been dealing with for weeks now and I also have to pay for it with my time and my money?

AARON
Does that seem fair to you?

AARON
And what is the hold up?

JUDITH
You are being credited for the bracelet today. There were hundreds of pieces in this auction. Sorry we missed this one. Hope you like the other pieces you bought

END OF THREAD

I then called Judith to see if she would be able to refund me the $19.30 shipping that I paid to return the bracelet to her and she was extremely rude to say the least. She cursed at me multiple times and even hung up the phone on me twice. I have these phone conversations recorded because I could already sense the rudeness from Judith through text message.

I know you guys have ZERO TOLERANCE when it comes to bidders being disrespectful to staff / Auction Managers and will ban disrespectful bidders from participating in future Auctions but what is the procedure for Auction Managers that are extremely rude and disrespectful to bidders?

I am very curious as to how this situation will be handled so please keep me informed and I really hope something can be done about the refund of my $19.30.

Thank you for your time, I hope to hear back from you soon.

Take care!
::END OF EMAIL::

I now know that nothing would be done to resolve this issue. Instead, I was gaslighted and treated horribly as if I am the one in the wrong here. I am almost certain that if the roles were reversed and I was the one cursing all types of obscenities and hanging up the phone on them, they would ban me from their platform without hesitation as they have done with numerous other clients of theirs. Why not the same treatment with the auction managers who are scaring your clients away from your auction house?

You would think they would side with the client who keeps them in business, ESPECIALLY in this situation (customer's NOT always right) but they don't even seem to care about about their client who has been extremely disrespected, is owed money and has spent 10's of thousands of dollars in less than 2 years.

I am not even the type of person to leave bad reviews but how could one not leave a bad review after an ugly situation like this?

Do better Clearing House Estate Sales, do better.

Clearing House Estate Sales

thank you so much. Coins are tough for me. They all look the same and take a lot of time. Glad you appreciate it.

Clearing House Estate Sales

Thanks for your review. You are correct about the house but this auction was for a very old lady. I would have been happy to have you stand outside instead of inside the door. Wish you had said something.

Clearing House Estate Sales

so glad you are happy. Thank you for taking the time to send feedback.rnJudy

Clearing House Estate Sales

Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoy my auction