CT Bids

I would be a regular customer, but I am done now after about two months of nothing but what I see as unfair practices by CT Bids. This is my humble opinion, of course. Today was the final straw... The purchase? Several small items, in both price & size, as they were jewelry. The sales/purchase invoice was $95.89, including CT's 18% buyers fee, which they took instantly at auction end. Literally when an auction closes, they take their money seconds later. The shipping invoice comes later - whenever, really - because they already have your money. Now they need to fleece you for more. For this purchase, the shipping invoice arrived today for $76.93. It read: "Box $5.00. Shipping/handling $71.93." You can do the math. $95 with $77 shipping. Terrible. How long does it take to put 4 pieces of jewelry in a box and print a label? It takes me maybe 10 minutes, even if I take a bathroom break. I have owned my company for over 30 years and know that these items did not cost more than $15 in shipping cost & insurance with any US carrier. CT charges whatever they want for shipping and you are stuck with no recourse, except to forfeit your purchase. The overcharging & gouging are the very definition of extortion - forcing an extraordinary unfair payment from someone - a payment that is way more than a person expected to pay on an item you already paid for weeks earlier. On top of that, then CT takes as long as they want to send your package after both payments. Lord knows when I will get these items. I should have been more cautious myself as one of my first purchases in March, under the exact circumstances has not been received. It was one $35 item with $30 shipping. I made 41 purchases with CT over the last 8 weeks and have been waiting weeks for shipping invoices, which I know will gouge me. I have only received 19 of the 41 purchases. In being forthright, some of those were shipped with better pricing, but still overall still not fair. BUYER BEWARE! Think about this... If this is how they take care of their customers who they should want to keep, perhaps you should not trust them to be "caring" and honest toward you and your vulnerable family members. Thank you.

At first. I thought this would be convenient way to purchase estate sale items for decent prices. Boy was I wrong. It might be okay if you could drive to pick up the items, but NEVER ship them! Between the handing charges (just to have them take the items to the shipping company or post office) have exceeded $100, then you pay for outrageous shipping fees! I made the mistake of questioning the handling fees and received numerous nasty emails from upper management (especially Theresa Murphy). There is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE! In my opinion no one should use this company! There are much better options out there! Save yourself the headache!

They are super high on shipping. Its absolutely ridiculous and im thinking of stop buying from them because of this one problem that they will not be reasonable on. I ship all the time and it cost me $5-10 maybe! They have a flat rate of $20-$30 and it will arrived (3 weeks later...thats another problem) and it arrives in a padded mailer with cheap bubble wrap for the padding. I mean I know that didnt cost $20! They are making a killing off Shipping

CT BIDS USING MISLEADING RULES IN THEIR AUCTIONS. THEY INFLATE SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES TO RECOUP AUCTION PROFIT LOSSES. CT BIDS USES UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES KEEPING WON ITEMS AND PAYMENTS. WINNERS ARE BLIND SIDED BY INFLATED SHIPPING COSTS WHICH ARE OFTEN 2 OR 3 TIMES WHAT A PERSON WOULD PAY, SHIPPING THE ITEM THEMSELVES. WON ITEMS BECOME UNATAINABLE DUE TO INFLATED SHIPPING AND HANDELING COSTS, BUT WINNERS HAVE NO RECOURSE. CT BIDS ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH THE WINNERS TO FIND MORE AFFORDABLE SHIPPING SOLUTIONS. THEREFORE, WHEN SHIPPING ISNT PAID IN FULL IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME THEY GIVE THEMSELVES THE RIGHT TO KEEP ALL WON ITEMS AND ALL PRE-CHARGED PAYMENTS WITH NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION.

I purchased several purses in an auction which cost about $26 but the shipping I was going to be charged was $82. This is quite a profit for CT BIDS DENTON COLLIN COUNTY.

I have been an avid buyer on this site for several years, spending over $100,000. While I initially accepted the high shipping costs and delays because I could still turn a profit, my experience has become increasingly frustrating.

The franchise owners often seem disinterested in providing a positive buyer experience. Many are real estate agents more focused on clearing houses for listings than on customer service. Unfortunately, this lack of care extends to how they treat buyers, who often feel undervalued.

I have faced threats of being removed from the site for not paying shipping invoices immediately, despite the frequent delays in receiving those invoices. When I inquired about using my own shipping labels or arranging my own shipping, the response was always a firm "no," often with an unhelpful reference to the terms of service.

Despite my efforts to endure these issues in the hopes of profitability, the combination of high fees, outrageous shipping costs, and overall disregard for buyers has led me to take my business elsewhere. I now source from places that respect their customers and recognize the role we play in keeping their businesses afloat.

If you choose to shop here, be aware of these challenges from someone with extensive experience on your site.

Olivia from Omaha wanted to charge me $942 in shipping for dolls and doll clothes that I paid $264. She and Joe were very nasty and threatening. I know shipping is expensive but $942 is obscene. Caring Transitions main office didn't care though. Be careful if you want her to ship you something.

Not a trustworthy site or bidders. When I picked up in Milwaukee my door handle was broken by somebody while I was inside. I called and spoke to Kim and asked if she had cameras. No! She then mentioned there's a bike trail right next to the building! How damn convenient! The door handle will cost me way more than what I picked up. Waste of time, energy and money.

I often bid on CT bids in Charleston South Carolina. I have had nothing but great experience with them. Items are always as described and sometimes they are even boxed up and ready to go when my husband picks up.

They Have froze me from bidding unfairly. I do not what to bid on their junk,.But to block me from other auctions Is Unfair.I Have been a good customer and have a good record before these two came in to town. V/R David Hawkins

When you purchase items you intend to ship they do not give you any indicationof what shipping might cost but claim it will be fair. When you win the item they take your money for the item immediately. Then a few days later they tell you the shipping cost. You either pay that or forfeit the original cost of the item. They charged me TWENTY DOLLARS to ship 12 small coins! This website is an absolute SCAM! Avoid at all costs!

I purchased earrings and it took over a month to receive them. I had to email or call to get them to create a shipping invoice, then to put the charge through on my credit card, then to create a shipping label, and even then it took nine days, two emails, and a complaint to CTBIDS customer support for them to finally take it to the post office. Never once did they answer my emails or phone calls.

Had a problem with one of their franchises not shipping items I've won. Ctbids themselves have brain dead support that didn't help at all and stopped responding and started playing dumb. Not only are a lot of the franchises garbage, ctbids themselves are garbage and should be shut down

Do not buy from Moore Ok. The lady's last name is Gonzolas. She said they charge 15 dollars to pick up the item. My item was kitchen spatulas etc. Outrageous. I cancelled my item and she said she would give me half of my bid $ back but have not heard from her. I think I should get it all back. So they charge 15$ per pickup per person...wow. CTBIDS OKLAHOMA MOORE

Recently, I was the winning bidder for some high end audio equipment in an online auction conducted by Favaro Auctioneers how after the sale the owner, Keith Favaro refused to take my money and ship the items to me. Because of the high resale value of the items I purchased, I suspect that he either took the items and sold them himself or sold them to someone post-auction for more money. Either way he is a crook. BEWARE

This was my first experience and won't be my last. Everything I won at auction was exactly as described. My in-law's are thrilled with their TV! I have been telling all my friends about it and can't wait for the next one! The people running the auction are so nice and helpful. They really make the adventure even more fun!
Thank-you So much!
KM

They lie and are deceptive about the items they sell. I bid on some earrings displayed nicely in a box with the caveat that they were all paired and what I received was a bag of old, dirty junk. When I called the franchise owner (Julie) and confronted her with the potential "bait and switch", she wrote the corporate office a letter and suspended my account - company-wide. The corporate office is no help. They do not care about their bidding customers and have not bothered to reach back out to me after 2 phone calls. Don't waste your money with this bidding site.

I am already tired of contacting number of people to complain about the item I received that is broken.
This location is at Elk City Ok and I do not get any action since I brought up this issue. They have been telling me that there will be someone who will call me but there is none.
Is there a way or there is NO way I can refund my money?
You see, shipping fee was debited on my card but the handling on their end is very very poor. No matter how expensive the shipping is, I paid for it. What an insult!
I just feel that I was conned by Ct Bids because of my issue.
I do not accept your response that "there will be someone who will be contacting me" or "I will forward this email to the location where you won the auction"

I have won several local bids, and they have all been seamless. Everyone at the pickup from CT is kind, and the whole endeavor is very organized.
On the other hand, I have won several bids that needed to be shipped, and as others have mentioned, their fees are EXORBITANT. They clearly don't want to offer shipping but know they have to in order to get more attention, and therefore bids, to their sale. I was charged almost $200 shipping on a flat box that was large-ish but weighed less than 20 lbs. That's outrageous. And that was on top of the 18% fee from the site and an additional handling fee. Plus, I've had shipments take over three weeks to be sent.
So long story short, sometimes worth it for local sales but rarely worth it for shipping unless you really, really want the item or get it for next to nothing.