Waterbury Auction Gallery — Local services in Waterbury

So I had done business with Waterbury Liquidators before and there was no problems; except for shipping was a little delayed but they were cool and kept me in the loop so I was okay with it, but other then that no issues up until last August. Quick recap, I had won a lot of comic books for a pretty high amount. When they had attempted to charge my card I had gotten an email saying my invoice was not paid.. so, I checked my balance to make sure I was in the clear to purchase but there was no attempted charge on my records so thinking this was weird I had called my bank trying to figure out what the issue was and it turned out I had been sent a new card for what they called “security issues” and the card I had on file was no good. Doing the right thing I decided to call Waterbury Liquidators to let them know of the issue and figure out what my options were. They were closed so I called back the next day and spoke to a woman on the phone. The young lady seemed nice and understanding when I explained the issue. She had then put me on hold to speak to her manager in which she told me her manager said I could come in that same day to clear up my debt with cash. I explained I had two jobs and I lived far but I was willing to send over a partial payment through PayPal and pay everything in cash the day of pick up (Saturday). She put me on hold again and then told me she was really busy that she would call me back to set something up. I explained to her that as long as they understood I wasn’t trying to play any games and I was serious about this lot then please do so as soon as she could. She told me she understood. After a few hours I never received a call back. I called them an hour before they closed and I got no response. The next day I called, and I spoke to the auction Manager. Tony I believe was his name (might be wrong if I am I apologize) This man treated me disgustingly to the point where I literally felt like dirt. He told me that he was sorry to say that my lot was sold to someone else because they were under the impression that I couldn’t pay so they gave it to the runner up. He then told me after I explained to him that I had agreed to bring cash and I had given this young lady all these different options to show them how serious I was. Like I didn’t understand how that could’ve happened when I tried everything I could to show that I was an honest buyer but nope. He responded with that he was one that made the decision because of what the young lady told him (wrong info) and that so much people had won lots and not paid and because of this I was basically getting the “can’t afford it, off to the next” treatment. Now, I’ve never been one to leave any type of feedback because I’m a big girl and I have a business of my own so I understand BUT jumping to conclusions and saying someone can’t afford something and moving on with a decision like that without consulting them is unprofessional and downright disrespectful. I’ve never been spoken to like that, never been treated like that ever. I understand that these people have an obligation to the sellers. I get that, but being judge as someone who can’t afford a LOT that I BIDDED FOR despite all my advances to work it out and just being pushed over like I was just some poor Spanish girl is disgusting. Because honestly... that’s how I felt. Long story short.. no one should ever be treated poorly. I understand that we have a lot of dishonest people in the world but all I’m asking is take every situation and approach it...

OK- but definitely a buyer beware kind of place. I have bought maybe a dozen or so lots over the last 3-4 years from them. Some were OK, most were rather meh. What seems to be a common trend is that anything that is electronic or mechanic WILL BE BROKEN. They will list it as "untested" with a few pictures that look good and make you think its worth it, then when you get the item home you realize that it has been opened before and tinkered with, or even parts removed. So this feels very much NOT like they are auctioning off estate finds or things out of granny's basement, but rather items that someone who has knowledge or interest in has played with already, determined that they are broken beyond reasonable repair, and rather than going through the hassle of ebay, which has some pretty solid buyer protection, they unload their broken stuff via this auction. Just as an example: I bought a desk clock from them today, looks beautiful in the pictures, all screws on the back intact. When I open it at home, there is a kids bracelet stuffed inside that was squeezed in and bent part of the movement. Several screws missing inside too. Not even sure if "untested" describes that condition correctly. "Messed with until it broke beyond repair" would be more accurate.

EDIT: After their reply I just want to make this crystal clear, as the company seems to contest that: There is no question that the clock I purchased had been tampered with. It had been opened prior, and a costume jewelry bracelet or necklace put inside, then the back had been closed again. Due to the limited space inside the clock, the bracelet was squeezed against parts of the movement that consequently broke or bent. This is not a condition of "untested". Not saying it was the the auction gallery who did that, could have...

HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY, WAS LAID UP IN HOSPITAL A DAY OR 2, SO WAS A WEEK PAYING ONE INVOICE, I USUSALLY ATTEND 3-5 AUCTIONS OF THEIRS A WEEK, SPENDING 2-3K A MONTH, I WAS LATE ON ONE INVOICE, I PAID WHEN I SAID I WOULD, I WAS WAITING FOR AN EBAY DISBURSEMENT TO CLEAR, TONY WAS ROUGH WITH ME AND USED PROFANITIES, THEN SAID WE DO NOT NEED YOUR" FUC90G) BUSINESS AND I AM KICKING YOU OFF OUR LIST, OH WELL, THE WAY I WAS TREATED WAS RUDE, AND DISREPECTFUL, EMERGENCIES DO COME UP, JSUT FOR 450.00 BEING 5 DAYS LATE, HE TOLD ME IF I DID NOT PAY THAT DAY, HE WOULD KEEP THE OTHER ONES (4 INVOICES I HAD ALREADY PAID 1,000.00 FOR IN FULL) AND I WOULD GET NOTHING, FORFEITING THE ONE THOUSDAND DOLLARS I HAD ALREADY PAID, SO, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM, ALSO ON SEVERAL ITEMS PURCHASED WHERE THEY SAID ITEM WAS "NEW:, WELL THEY WERE FACTORY RETURNS AND COST ME OVER 400.00 IN RETURNS ON EBAY, AND ONE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL TO EUROPE ORDER, SO I LOST CLOSE TO 300.00 ON THAT ONE ALONE..BE VERY WARY OF WHAT THEY SAY THINGS ARE, FOR THEM TO TREAT SOMEONE THAT HAS SPENT ABOUT 8,000.00 IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS THIS WAY, IMAGINE WHAT THEY WILL DO FOR YOU!!!! DO NOT TRUST...