Auctions at Showplace — Local services in New York

BUYER BEWARE!!! I made a huge mistake not doing my research prior to purchase. On a recent trip to NYC I came across a beautiful German Op Art Vase and purchased for my husband from the upstairs vendor. It was not expensive considering other prices in the store. $305 usd including shipping of approx $30.

After completing the order I went online to look for similar pieces. I found not 1 but 3 the same in my area. ALL 3 were approx $30 CAD. At first I thought maybe there is something special about the one I purchased. NOPE. Not at all. Same everything as the one I bought for 10 times more.

While I take responsibility for not doing my research I also feel it’s important to share my experience so that others know to spend some time doing their due diligence.

The store refused to return (all sales final which I knew and agreed to) even knowing what my researched discovered. The store also said they don’t have control over pricing and don’t know much about Experts in German op art. I said I would leave a review and Emily said ok and hung up on me.

Her level of professionalism while selling was remarkable. Her customer service after is deplorable. As I said; buyer beware.

Thankfully I didn’t move forward on any other larger purchases I was considering from this business. One time customers who overpay don’t come back for return sales. It’s a poor business model.

I do hope this review helps future potential buyers from...

This place is a complete scam. They claim total jurisdiction over their listings and yet none of the responsibility. Pieces are routinely misrepresented and overpriced (either willfully or through sheer ignorance). I found a lamp that was mis-labeled as being designed by Fabio Lenci and listed for $8500. The lamp is a Luigi Bandini Buti and goes for around 1/5th that price. After some back and forth, the dealer finally (reluctantly) agreed to change the listing, but he did not change the price. He made a final "offer" of double what the lamp is worth. And yet he refused to send photos or give any details about the piece. Of course, Showplace takes no responsibility for this. They only provide attitude and opaqueness. When I brought this up to them, they replied "we've been doing this a long time, so clearly we're doing something right." I hope to end that run of unearned longevity. I wish I could write a thousand reviews to give them the 1.2 star aggregate score they deserve. This is my only "interaction" with this place and I have to imagine this type of stuff happens all the time. (Other Google reviews confirm this!) They're basically a pretentious Craigslist with no moral compass. If you buy anything from them, I'm willing to bet there's better than a 90% chance you're being majorly ripped off. This place has a darkness to it that is palpable. Source your pieces elsewhere. New York (and the Internet) is...

As an interior designer one is forever in the creating mindset. This was the first time a client requested I dismantle an entire home I had designed years ago. One of the very first over 20 years ago . It was for the dearest of clients, a man that was himself a brilliant innovator designer . Who else would ask you to design a fourteen foot koi pond for the entrance of a home and was thrilled with the Noguchi inspired design. I understand loss deeply and embraced the role to completely support the family . How do you empty a home of forty years with five children and a grieving spouse ? The answer is simply from your heart .

Andrea Baker and her loving team from Showplace were the only people to accomplish such a monumental task of clearing three floors of a home with such care and sensitivity . I am forever grateful . There is no one else to consider if you should have a need for yourself or...