andy l.

I buy a TON from online auctions all over the country - as a collector of things that I do not really need. It's an addiction at some level. CTbids is a franchise business so, if you post complaining, please list the location. Some of these folks are incredible business people and others are straight out scammers.

I purchased 9 items from Lieann Wade's location back in July. She is in VA and I am in GA - the items were all labeled as shippable and I sent her an email telling her that I would need shipping and to send me an invoice for that cost. No response ever. I have called their posted number half a dozen times - no response ever. I was immediately charged over $300 for my "wins" at the close of the auction. I have never been able to reach anyone other than the answering service. To me, this is simply theft by conversion or deceit. It is what it is. I either expect and invoice for my shipping or return of my funds.

I might be wrong but I think these folks figure that since it's out of state and a nominal amount of money involved, that it will be forgotten. I guess if enough of us bad together, we can help corporate ferret out the bad apples. I will be contacting the proper authorities shortly and see what can be done.

Maybe I am wrong, but it all seems to be built right into her name? I love buying old stuff and enjoy the auctions. The shipping can be very expensive but I do expect that. Just be cautious with any of these locations until you have a personal relationship with them;

All of the atlanta area locations are excellent, Andy Beard in SC is awesome to deal with, the Iowa, Lexington and So Cali Tim Baker locations have all been great. This Loudoun location - RUN, RUN, RUN!

I am a very active online auction buyer and collector. I have had awesome experiences with the 3 local CTbids (caring transitions) locations in metro Atlanta. I also buy from out-of-state locations and that's where the trouble begins. With some of them, the communication is awful and I bought & paid for items that the franchise donated instead of completing shipping with me. Most of the locations deal with an outside vendor like UPS or Pak-Mail for shipping but the Franchise adds on a handling fee which varies from location to location. Some are $10 to $30 for the first item then it varies per item for a handling charge. Uniformity would be helpful to all.

With the cleveland location, and after several items being "donated" after I paid for them, I want an upfront answer on shipping and handling charges. If you are an out of state buyer, absolutely do not buy from the cleveland folks at this franchise location. Before the auction was completed, I messaged them about shipping as I was buying a sizeable amount of stuff and one particularly expensive item. I never got an answer to my question. Instead, I eventually get a text saying pay the invoice "ASAP" - followed by if it's not paid by 5pm, we will suspend you account and resell the items. Ever so lovely, I'm out working with crews and not sitting at a computer so I had no way to pay it. I sat down this morning pay them and find my account blocked just as they threatened. Amazing to me how some people do business when it's ever so easy to pick up a phone and communicate with someone. Lot's of online auctions to buy from so avoid this one! It's ok, the $1,000s I spend every year will just go to other business and not these guys!