A little disappointment rant

[lug-nut]

**remove if you think it should be**

So I'm done with LOTG auctions and I know several of the members love them and I hoped to as well based on past positive posts about them. well, I'm disappointed in their latest auction decision. I'll try to be brief.

Auction closes on Aug 9th, I win an item on Aug 9th, I pay for my item on Aug 10th. On Aug 12th, I get an email stating that there will be a delay in shipping items since they are going to a local show to get some consignments for their next auction. How about completing this auction before worrying about the next auction?

This tells me one thing: LOTG cares more about their future customers and consignment fees than their current customers who helped make them bank on their auction. I gave them a whole week of delivery days to see if I was over reacting but nothing, no item and no shipping update email. Who knows when I'll see my item? I know I don't.

If they had stated in their email that shipping and handling charges would be credited by 20%, 10% or even 5% then I would say "at least they know it wasn't ok" but no, nothing...

I plan to participate ZERO more times in any of their auctions. I wish the best of luck to those that will continue to support them, but I think this was a bad decision on their part. Maybe hire a couple of family members to help out, it's not like they weren't given any notice of the show...poor planning on their part shouldn't effect any customer paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for an item.

Im done, thanks for listening.

[jb217676]

I cracked beers with Al at the National a couple of weeks ago, fantastic guy! I think he might have been at the East Coast National getting consignments. He's got a business to run so it is ALWAYS about the next round of consignments. If he's not out hustling for this stuff others will beat him to it. Instead of crapping on him in public, try messaging him privately. He would probably get back to you before you were finished typing, he's that kind of guy. Don't get your panties in a knot, you'll get your winnings.

[pokerplyr80]

Did your payment clear on the 10th? How long did they say your shipment would be delayed?

I know Al is a Net54 member and has a lot of supporters here, and I agree that at least one attempt to contact him directly should have been made before blasting him on a public forum. From your post it's not clear if that attempt was made.

[Jay Wolt]

I don't get the hostility either.
He sent all bidders a note that he'll be at the East Coast National this weekend.
Al is a 1 man company, he does everything himself and he does it right.

[Leon]

Per the rules the original poster is Mark Dol.fi .....LOTG is an advertiser here but regardless, I am still a strong supporter. Al does just about everything right.

[travrosty]

if you paid on the 10th, they couldnt have even shipped til the 11th, a weeks worth of delivery days would then be the 18th, it seems to be only the 16th today.

you didnt get your item in 4 shipping days and you are going off, whats going on? give em another week. plus why not call, email, text and just ask where it is? 2 weeks is not a long time to wait till you get your winnings.

[Jacker_ Cracks]

Al is a great guy who is building a first rate auction house that we can trust. Not sure why you are so hostile/impatient. Chill..you will get your stuff.
James Hill

[sycks22]

Al is a top notch guy and he told me they're a little behind on shipments because of the East coast national. I do kind of chuckle when I see an advertiser saying "accepting consignments", isn't every auction house always accepting consignments?

[ethicsprof]

In a short span of time, Al C. has created a top auction house. Hard work, honesty, attentiveness, research skills, remarkable knowledge of his offerings and the sincerest desire to articulate the best descriptions of these offerings in the business have set LOTG apart from the crowd. I continue to stand behind him, knowing that he gives his all, his very best.

all the best,
Barry

[ccre]

Originally Posted by lug-nut

**remove if you think it should be**

So I'm done with LOTG auctions and I know several of the members love them and I hoped to as well based on past positive posts about them. well, I'm disappointed in their latest auction decision. I'll try to be brief.

Auction closes on Aug 9th, I win an item on Aug 9th, I pay for my item on Aug 10th. On Aug 12th, I get an email stating that there will be a delay in shipping items since they are going to a local show to get some consignments for their next auction. How about completing this auction before worrying about the next auction?

This tells me one thing: LOTG cares more about their future customers and consignment fees than their current customers who helped make them bank on their auction. I gave them a whole week of delivery days to see if I was over reacting but nothing, no item and no shipping update email. Who knows when I'll see my item? I know I don't.

If they had stated in their email that shipping and handling charges would be credited by 20%, 10% or even 5% then I would say "at least they know it wasn't ok" but no, nothing...

I plan to participate ZERO more times in any of their auctions. I wish the best of luck to those that will continue to support them, but I think this was a bad decision on their part. Maybe hire a couple of family members to help out, it's not like they weren't given any notice of the show...poor planning on their part shouldn't effect any customer paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for an item.

Im done, thanks for listening.

I do agree with this to a certain extent. I'm certainly not going to boycott them but it is disappointing that they decide to hunt down some consignments rather than have someone (anyone) from the company completing these shipments. And to hear it won't be until mid next week that they will get "caught up". Oh well.

[VintageBall]

Let's do the math. Let's say a bidder lives all the way on one coast, say West Covina, CA. And the auction is all the way on the other coast, say New Jersey. How long should it take a package to get delivered cross-country?



I think the answer is clear: If it doesn't arrive within 4-5 business days you should boycott the auction.



So how many auctions are left on your non-boycott list?



Also simple: Only those west of the Mississippi.



Make sure to always check before bidding...

[4815162342]

Mark, were you trying to flip the item? Just curious.

[VintageBall]

On a related note, do you guys think I did the right thing here?



Earlier today at 2:00 pm I called Domino's.



At 2:31 I called a lawyer. And left a message



At 2:33 I posted a complaint online....



Still haven't heard back from either, so I've contacted the state bar association to report the lawyer.



I'm now hungry and mad.



Please advise... And also beware of ordering from Domino's.

[Luke]

I fall somewhere in the middle. I think Al is a good, honest guy, and that is what's most important.

But I think everyone jumping all over the OP is a little uncalled for. I think it's very reasonable to expect that after you pay for your auction winnings, getting your items to you would be the first priority for the auction house.

I personally would have been a little bummed to have to wait (I didn't win anything in this one) but I would have understood. Basically, I agree with Jeff.

[iwantitiwinit]

How about a little patience. You won the card and know you will be receiving it. Without the auction you wouldn't have been receiving the card at all. In the whole scheme of things I don't think waiting a few extra days or a week is that big a deal. I know when I win a card I get excited and want to receive it as soon as possible but I know its only a piece of cardboard and how ever long it takes, it takes, as long as it's not an unusually long period of time it's ok by me.

I also know Al is one of the best guys out there and deserves the benefit of the doubt. Has anyone ever heard of Al not doing everything in his power to satisfy customers, I haven't.

Give LOTG one more chance.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by LukeLyon

I fall somewhere in the middle. I think Al is a good, honest guy, and that is what's most important.

But I think everyone jumping all over the OP is a little uncalled for. I think it's very reasonable to expect that after you pay for your auction winnings, getting your items to you would be the first priority for the auction house.

I personally would have been a little bummed to have to wait (I didn't win anything in this one) but I would have understood. Basically, I agree with Jeff.

I do agree that if an item has been paid for it should be shipped in a timely manner. The bigger issue for me is whether or not an attempt to contact Al at the auction house directly was made before the OP went on this forum to complain. To me, that would be the logical first step.

[DerekMichael]

Hi Lug-Nut. I do understand that you may feel a certain level of frustration.

Still, do not be surprised if Al goes out of his way to reach out to you. I think he is a guy who truly does care, and I think that he will take any criticism and use it to better his operation.

I think the two of you can work this thing out in peace and go on to have a really nice business relationship.

I hope everything works out for the both of you.

Derek

[Mountaineer1999]

Hurry, everybody pile on the OP. It's not like he doesn't have a little bit of a point, he may have just presented it a little strongly. If it were a different AH, my guess is some of you would have felt the same way.

[VintageBall]

If you receive your items within two weeks from any auction house you are ahead if the game.



It's rare to get an item within 5 business days of paying. Especially if you live across the country from the auction house.



Plain and simple.



Now if the original poster doesn't get his item within two weeks then he has a point and should contact the auction house. Then, depending on the response, you should decide whether or not to publicly chastise the place.



Just my opinion...

[VintageBall]

After reading Al's post I have reconsidered and will never order pizza from him again. Eight days is just too long to wait...

[egbeachley]

I would prefer to wait an extra month rather than have an AH hire a bunch of temps for a couple days and need to raise the buyers premium to pay for it.

[drmondobueno]

Originally Posted by egbeachley

I would prefer to wait an extra month rather than have an AH hire a bunch of temps for a couple days and need to raise the buyers premium to pay for it.

And charge shipping and handling, and taxes, and.....

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by drmondobueno

And charge shipping and handling, and taxes, and.....

Unless Al has an in with the IRS I'm pretty sure he isn't the decision-maker on who gets charged which taxes.

[drmondobueno]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Unless Al has an in with the IRS I'm pretty sure he isn't the decision-maker on who gets charged which taxes.

Yeah, I know. Just being an @ss bitching about taxes. My bad. Al is not the guy who has hit me with surprises in the past. Just sayin.

[VintageBall]

In defense of old lugnut, I believe he was being sarcastic. Nobody's that dumb.



However, I have a confession: I'm both lactose and stupidity intolerant. Which means I probably won't be having pizza with at least one poster from this board.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Heck i been now waiting 4+ months to get the money on a card i consgined or the card back from Mile High. I did get a direct email contact at the National that I will try tomorrow but did wait months before i started to complain not a few days

[Stonepony]

Class act. Let's put this one to rest.

[gabrinus]

Two words Al....Delivery Drones.....

[gnaz01]

You are a very class act, Al. I know on the lots I've won at LOTG, I've received them quickly and without issue. I have no issues bidding in the future!!

[tiger8mush]

Is now a bad time for me to bring up that I got a tracking # email from Sterling, 45 mins after I paid on a Sunday night?

Edited to add: LOTG is awesome. I bid on (and lost) exactly 20 lots in this past auction. I've won items in 10 of their auctions and have never had an issue. I can understand the OPs frustration, but hopes he reconsiders his stance (unless, Mark, you are going to bid on T213-1s hee hee )