Christies - World Class (Pains in the Ass)

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I've bought a decent amount of stuff from them. Now I need to speak with someone to verify my account, because the drivers license scan doesn't match the proof of residency scan. Maybe because I moved in the last few years. Crazy, but it happens. Nuts. No way I'm calling them and dealing with additional documents, etc. Hard pass. There are about 75 auctions in the next 12 months I plan to deal with where I don't need to go through these hoops.

I am sorry you are going through this.

[Exhibitman]

With all that farcical, bogus security to prevent non-existent fraud you'd think you were trying to register to vote.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

With all that farcical, bogus security to prevent non-existent fraud you'd think you were trying to register to vote.

Ha!

[MVSNYC]

Well, Steve, you weren't wrong about them...

So, after my earlier praise of their customer service...they really dropped the ball yesterday. I was all set up for them to call me when certain lots came up, so I could bid with them over the phone, during the live auction...well, the phone calls never came. Kind of really unacceptable.

After the auction, I checked my email, and it appears (during the auction, not prior), they were requesting proof of funds/bank statement (which I've never been asked to provide anytime prior, with any auction house). I was never told earlier this week (when I was on the phone with them) that they needed that...Instead they send an email (not a call) during the auction? Anyway, I wasn't able to bid after all.

A fellow board member/friend (a big time collector) ran into a similar situation (maybe he'll post here with his story)...anyway, rather disappointing.

[rman444]

My email conversation with them over the past few days:

Me: I tried having my password sent to me, but I did not receive an email to reset it.

Christie's: I am forwarding this to our online assistance team who can help you reset your password. We will get this sorted out ahead of tomorrow’s sale.

Christie's (at 5:57am yesterday morning): Dear Mr. Wong, I have issued a password reset link to your email address. Please note this link will be valid for one hour. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Me: You sent a link that expires in 1 hour at 5:57am? Really?

Christie's (at 5:27am this morning - after the auction is over): Dear Mr. Wong, I have just sent along a new link. Please let me know if you should need any further assistance.

Me: Maybe my last email was not clear enough. Sending me a link to reset my password at 5:30am that expires in 1 hour does not help me. I am in California and am asleep during that time. If you want me to bid in your auctions, send me a link that either does not expire, or send it to me during the day when I am awake. Otherwise forget it. It shouldn't be this hard.

[rjackson44]

My mom collects art,and furniture and deals with this auction house ,,till this day i dont understand why . They do ship very securely like you bought a picasso.Oh well.

[hcv123]

I was registered previously (must have been from years ago) - so I had an account. I called and spoke to someone who I emailed my license as instructed and who was forwarding my info to the "online assistance team" to get me authorized to place bids. Well, I was able to log in and watch the live auction, but never authorized to bid!! The auctioneer was a joke - had trouble pronouncing names on many of the items and my guess is wouldn't know the difference between Babe Ruth the baseball player and Baby Ruth the candy bar. I closed the window after about 60 lots.

Hmmmmm I wonder why they aren't so big in Sports auctions!

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by rman444

My email conversation with them over the past few days:

Me: I tried having my password sent to me, but I did not receive an email to reset it.

Christie's: I am forwarding this to our online assistance team who can help you reset your password. We will get this sorted out ahead of tomorrow’s sale.

Christie's (at 5:57am yesterday morning): Dear Mr. Wong, I have issued a password reset link to your email address. Please note this link will be valid for one hour. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Me: You sent a link that expires in 1 hour at 5:57am? Really?

Christie's (at 5:27am this morning - after the auction is over): Dear Mr. Wong, I have just sent along a new link. Please let me know if you should need any further assistance.

Me: Maybe my last email was not clear enough. Sending me a link to reset my password at 5:30am that expires in 1 hour does not help me. I am in California and am asleep during that time. If you want me to bid in your auctions, send me a link that either does not expire, or send it to me during the day when I am awake. Otherwise forget it. It shouldn't be this hard.

Richard, sorry that happened to you (too). I failed to mention, the same thing happened to me, with the password reset link. Ridiculous.

[Rhotchkiss]

Christie’s screwed me bad! I signed up for the sole reason of bidding on, and winning, the W600 Plank. When I signed up a week before the auction, I was told I have a $X credit limit. I really wanted the Plank, but I also liked the W600 Young and W600 Bender, and the three would go for more than $X. So I reached out to Christie’s and asked to get my credit limit raised and I provided bank statements and proof of net worth. The day before the auction I circled back and expressly and specifically asked them to confirm that my limit had been raised, bc if it had not, I would pass on the Young and Bender, which came before Plank. I was expressly told, in an email, that I was good to go.

The auction starts and I win the Young. Then I win the Bender. Then Plank starts, and the bids go up and I am bidding and I go to place another bid and it says I can’t bid bc I hit my credit limit! So I had to sit there and watch two other people duke it out as the plank gets away. Only 2 graded!! And I got screwed bc I was told, after proof of net worth, that my credit limit had been raised l, which clearly it was not, and so I bid on prior lots.

The Consolation is I stole the Young and Bender- I don’t think prices were particularly strong in general- but I did not get a white whale and they cost their consignor at least another 5-6 bids.

You suck Christies.

Ryan Hotchkiss