Everything But The House

The most professional auction house I have ever dealt with, True to their word, descriptions, pictures and dimensions are always accurate. Shipping and communication are spot on. I highly recommend for purchases and selling throughout the country.

Some cool things to be found. A few issues: 1) Their shipping is crazy high. 2) I’ve had many items (clothes) have holes and tears. They don’t describe them that way and if you try to get a refund, they say you purchased it «as is». Well, you couldn’t wear the pieces or fix them so I basically purchased items for them to donate. 3) Bought a really great piece, so excited but when it was shipped it cracked into multiple pieces. They gave me refund but I was so sad it broke.

I’ve spent over $ 4,000 on EBTH buying a number of items. I’ve now had so many issues with my orders that I’m not planning on working with them ever again. I can handle a few problems here or there, but this is ridiculous:
— One sculpture I ordered was an incomplete sculpture, but it was presented as a complete sculpture. (I later confirmed with the artist that it was incomplete.)
— One artwork I purchased was completely misattributed — in fact, the actual artist’s name was written on the back (but it was not pictured for auction).
— One piece said it was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity; that never arrived.
— Another piece said it was accompanied by the original paperwork and price tag; that never arrived.
— Another piece said it was accompanied by the appraisal; that never arrived.
— When someone arrived on my behalf to pick up an artwork I ordered, it was still 14 feet high on a wall.
— One piece had a huge scratch across the glass that was not described in the listing.
— One piece said the frame had a ding — the thing is completely coming apart.
— I have had to cancel a number of bids after they change items from antiquities, antique or authentic to «in the style of» or reproductions/​fakes during the bid.
— It’s almost impossible to get a prompt response to questions in time to make an informed bid.
— The shipping prices are exorbitant. Some of the items are very well-​packed; others not so well-​packed. Regardless, the shipping fees far exceed the actual cost of shipping, supplies and basic handling, and the shipping costs often exceed the purchase price of the items.
Also, as the website has gained popularity, the prices often exceed what the exact same or similar items are selling for *new* or, for collector’s items and artwork, on Ebay or third party sites, so it’s no longer a great site for resellers. Apparently a lot of the people bidding don’t know how to use Google or get a little too engaged with the thrill of bidding to make rational decisions!

LOVE everything about EBTH.
Great products and services.

I have seen items being sold at antique stores with better price and can negotiate. The price for shipping plus packaging plus tax plus the item is just ridiculous. Be very careful on items that look so good in the pictures, if you are buying plates or vase or anything breakable, you might get not only chipped items but glued together or incomplete mixed items. For example it say 12 place setting mikasa 8 dinner plates mikasa 2 of something else 4 cups with 4 of something else a huge platter of something else and it is cchippis and so on. The shipping so expensive and it takes forever to get to you. You would think expensive shipping fast shipment, NOT… you might get a few good items but you will never know until you get your item.

I experienced wonderful customer service with EBTH. I bid on a beautiful Turkish rug in Columbus OH. They accidentally charged me for shipping after I picked up the rug. I called and without hesitation they removed the charge right away. I am so happy with the quality of my purchase it definitely was spot on to the pictures and description.
This was my first purchase and will certainly not be my last. Looking forward to many more great finds!
Thanks again,
Adriana

My husband and I made a sudden decision to downsize late last year. I went to google and searched for help in how to downsize without stress and EBTH popped up. We are so very fortunate that it did. The experience was exceptional from the moment they walked into our home to explain the service/​process right up to the check coming in the mail. I did nothing but answer any questions they might have had on certain items and just watched the crew sort, catalog and photograph all the items we had selected to sell. The big surprise was when the auction was over and we netted three times what we expected. I have recommended EBTH to many people and they have had similar experiences. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Wish I would have read the reviews before I let them sell my valuables. They sure sold me with there sales pitch. If you have anything of value DO NOT USE THEM. They don’t have enough advertising power. No google search engine that takes the customers to the site. Also they promised me a feature listing and that never happened. My things went for pennies on the dollar. Also you will have hundreds of strangers coming to your house all hours of the day and night. They post your address for the whole world to see.

I really like the clarity of the photos for the items listed as well as the ease for purchasing and receiving. EBTH does an excellent job in shipping the auction items as quickly as possible. They also do a wonderful job in describing the items and try to give as much information as they can.

I smell a rat. The company just removed two valuable items from a Nashville sale that I was planning to bid on without a valid explanation. Looks awfully suspicious to me.

I love this site. I’ve made several purchases and have gotten some amazing pieces for an absolute steal. I’ve always picked my purchases up in person and the staff have been increadibly kind. I’ve raved about EBTH to everyone I know!

Sketchy, unfortunately. Terrible customer service — if there is one! Item is supposed to be shipped they say — but they don’t provide tracking and 21 days later no item is in sight!
Never again — stay away!

Friends, this is not a case of my not understanding the shipping rules of EBTH, or of my not receiving an email, or my not liking what I bought. Rather, this is EBTH NOT sending me something I paid a lot for, and perhaps selling me something that they never actually had, or perhaps didn’t have control over, but certainly didn’t deliver — twice. And failing to refund me the second time. I hate to be the person who has written five Unilocal reviews ever, and one of them is this very negative one, but I feel compelled to warn people off of this auction service.
Story is, I bid and won on some beautiful posters. Paid over $ 1000, with shipping included, but I knew that they were worth more than I paid. Which is the whole fun of estate sales, but anyway. Then two weeks, three weeks, six weeks go by — I hear nothing, although my credit card was charged. I contact them by email… I wait… I get a «we’re looking into it email.» Then I call five days later to follow up, and get told that my rep will call back that afternoon (she doesn’t.) Then two days later, another email saying, «Whoops, we lost your beautiful prints. Soooorrry. But we will refund you half the shipping.» Even though the part of the order they lost was five posters, out of six that I bought. Only half the shipping? Whatever, I said ok. And taht would have been fine. But now the second half of the order — $ 240 — has yet to appear. Nor do I have shipping information. Wtf. It’s been two weeks at least since they «resolved» my issue. Resolved it by admitting to losing the majority of what I bought, but hey, we found the small part, for which we’ll charge you half of the total shipping! And then not sending even sending the small part.
I am over it. Buyer beware.
UPDATE: they’ve now sent me the second part of my order, so I’m adding a second star. But I won’t buy anything w them again.

Run as fast as you can, horrible ethics, I bought a snow blower 4 miles from my house, did I say 4 miles? This was the only reason I bid on the item because it was 4 miles away, it was a small electric pup blower, could easily fir in a truck of a car. I never heard from them that I won the item, they stated they emailed me four times, but have yet to prove it. All they say is we sent an email to the email on file but will never actually send me a copy.
One day I get a call from a trucking company that they have a delivery for me, I said what is it, they said a snow blower, I said I’m not home and won’t be home for several days, they said they had to drop it off, so they did. Left it in my driveway. Really?
Here is the best part, remember I said it was 4 miles away, can you guess the shipping cost? 155.00.
The item cost 125.00.
Idiots, do not use this company!

So, I found this site and was excited! Live auction. I bid on multiple items in Dallas and Austin. Was very successful in Auction here in Austin.
So, this Saturday, they provided 4 hours to pickup. As we drove in from San Antonio, we hit traffic. I tried to call to let them know we were getting held up. Nobody answers the phone on Saturday. We race there and managed to get there just under the wire. So what did they pack the highly breakable items in? Lumped together in paper bags. When we got home, 5 of the items were broken.
As we unpacked the items. I was very irritated to find, a very old, clearly very personal photograph located in the top of a wooden box. Clearly these items were not checked or examined much less packed.
Then today, I learned I had won another item, a couch, in Dallas. Unfortunately, it had been emailed to my junk mail folder. Essentially giving me less than 2 hours notice for a drive 3.5 hours away. Now I was more than irritated THAT I had not caught it. Or that there was not additional attempts to contact me. But I recognized it’s my responsibility.
So, I contact their customer service:
1. Was concerned about receiving Payment
2. Could care less about their client’s Photograph, it took 3 calls to Get an address to send pic
3. Cust. Svc promised to contact the next bidder and call back. Later after I had contacted Charity Thrifts, I called back, getting the same woman again! When I explained the AIDS charity would pick up on Thursday, she told me the second bidder would not step forward, and that they could not accommodate a Thursday delivery. So much for the call back. It was at this point I no longer believed a word she was saying. Conversation deteriorated, she hung up when I asked her for an address for this «damn» photo
4. Without authorization, and without consent she processed my payment. Later, when I had to call back again (after being directed to do so when I attempted payment not knowing EBTH had done so. So after forcing EBTH to refund and process with another card, I stayed on line and ask that all my info be deleted. I have no trust it was as they assured me.
5. About an hour later, EBTH Dallas called me wanting to know if I was enroute. So much for checking with their Dallas office for a later pick up. I just live for lies upon lies from companies I do business with!
Shop with these bozos at your own risk. Before you list your items, be sure to check out the prices they get and their reviews.

This is an amazing site (online & their physical warehouse location)!!!
The staff is always helpful in locating items. I’ve «won» many items & continue to tell friends about it.
Highly recommended!

I have completed several transactions with EBTH and very happy with all phases. The shipping charge, in my experience, has been quoted a bit higher than what was actually charged in the end — not saying this is the rule, just my experience. I am lucky to be near a state where I can pick up some of my won items. The items were exactly as described and packaging was very well done. I’ve had all very responsive interactions with staff, both email and in person. It is true that the shipping takes a bit longer than what one might be used to, with express or overnight delivery, but my feeling is, so what? Not a problem in my book. I remain a very happy customer!

Ripped off too! Got me on shipping; charged $ 125 on a carton that I could ship back on the same carrier for 21 $. I requested a breakdown on how the shipping charges were calculated and got the runaround. Pretty sleezy operation, if you ask me.
After complaining to the Better Business Bureau, I was contacted by a company representative who explained the shipping was calculated by items instead of lots (20 items in two lots). The total shipping was reduced to @$ 15 and I was refunded the overcharge.

I have won several auction items from EBTH and it has been a great experience. I was a little hesitant at first, but your customer service staff in the Cincinnati office has been excellent. They have done everything from answer the littlest question for me to handling shipping issues in a timely manner. I understand that shipping can cost a bit more because it doesn’t come off the shelf like at Amazon, but its worth it the wait!
I cannot stay away from the site now. Keep up the good work!

I love estate auctions and sites that let you bid online. EBTH is one of those sites with a few extras. They bother to take good photos! No really this is a big deal. They seem to employ trained photographers who know how to light the items so you can see all the details, art pieces look great, prints and paintings do too. They are not making art, it’s just always good, sharp clean images that help you make better decisions.
Now like all auction sites my only complaint is the people who use and bid on them. Many have no idea what the value of things are and bid up prices beyond their value. Its not uncommon to see some items (and mind you its all used old stuff) that see on auction sites higher than brand new items of the same model and brand. I don’t get that, its not all that hard to use the internet and check a price before bidding.
Yet there are deals to be had and this site has a lot of them. Packing and shipping is a little over the top so I will only bid for local events I can easily drive to is as far as I go. However, if your bidding on high ticket items and see a bargain the shipping may be worth it to you.
Sometimes it’s hard to reach people at this warehouse address but when you do they are very friendly and helpful.