“PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE GREADY UNPROFESSIONAL COMPANY THEY RIPPED ME OFF FOR THOUSANDS DIDN'T GET MY ITEMS BACK AND RUDE ARROGANT IGNORANT. BE WARNED PLEASE”
“My Brother let this company take 2 music boxes away from him, he was left with a receipt stating there was£2,00 reserve.
He had no communication and all he seen was the money in his bank, much less than agreed, he contacted them and he was told that he agreed to let it go cheaper, he said he had nothing of the sort and they said they rang him. He had no phone call at all but, what a way to run a business! Rip off merchants so my Brother will seek legal help as he has the original documentation.”
“I went up to view several lots at the early August auction and was disappointed at how little information there was available on the lots, especially the firearms, old and modern.
Almost all the s.58 weapons were defective, with broken or missing parts, none of this being mentioned in the sales information.
I should have walked away then, but was reassured by the helpful young man on the reception desk and decided to place various bids then and also later via the online system.
The following Monday I went up to collect the four items I had successfully bid for, one of which was a .22 pistol, for which I had an authorised space for on my firearms certificate. I was told this was not correctly entered and I could not have the pistol.
Back at home, an hour of calls and emails confirmed that Stuart Maule, the auctioneer and supposed expert was wrong and that my 60 mile round trip on a day taken off from work had been wasted because of his lack of knowledge or research about the pistol.
I waited for some response, but it was several days before they eventually rang and told my wife that there had been “a technical hitch” but it was alright to collect the pistol now!
I emailed Stuart Maule to politely express my concerns about their handling of the sale and this is where it became clear just how Harper Field really treat their customers, especially if they dare to complain.
The reply, from Lyn Bowkett, wife of the owner, was rude, patronising and then threatening. She completely ignored my main complaint and tried to scare me off with suggestions that I was not a suitable person to hold a firearms certificate.
I replied and she then threatened to cancel the sale – a transaction that was already done, dusted and paid for days earlier!
I can see why this firm had to rebrand and relocate, the only surprise is that they are still doing business.
BE WARNED!”
“Well I won
Then was buggered around for postage?
Why didn't they send a picture. The box was huge when I collected today . Apologies for my language but communication could have been better. Cheers Steve”
“So I won, advised postage would be 25 to 30 pounds? Today I got my bill , postage was 50 pounds postage. Totally disingenuous , avoid these robbing bastards at all cost . You have have been warned”
“Along with many other clients who have left reviews online, having had problems with the poor attitude shown by the employees of this auction house, I cannot find anything to recommend about my experience with them.
I buy regularly from auction houses around the country, the majority of whom treat their clients with respect, humour, and politeness. Sadly this is not the case with these auction rooms.
I was berated like a school child over the telephone by the man with whom I dealt, because I had missed a pick up due to illness. The same man couldn't even be bothered to help me move my items when I collected them, beyond a cursory gesture, and, of the two pieces I purchased from the house, one, as a previous reviewer has also said about her purchase, turns out to have had an extremely economical description, and I believe that the piece I was sold was not fit for purpose. When I rang to query this, they could not have cared less. I do understand that auction items are always sold with a caveat and as such I sadly have no legal redress as I had not requested a condition report, but I believe that in this case the fundamental flaw that rendered this piece wholly unusable at point of sale should have been listed in the description.
I am a local customer and I would've hoped to have built a relationship with this auction house from this first time purchase, as I have built with the many houses from whom I buy on a weekly basis. Sadly I will never buy from them again, and would be unable to recommend them to any of my clients or the myriad local people with whom I deal.
This Auction house really needs to reflect upon the value of good customer service, and the benefits of building a relationship with their clients. And let me use that word again: clients.
They do appear to be missing something fundamental about the mechanics of a client relationship: the recognition that they are serving a client and not the other way round”
“Stroud auctions sent my valuable jewellery purchases to my old address ( I left there over 3 years ago) without checking that I still lived there. I bought through the Sale room which has my new address and obviously my bank payment went through from my current address too. When contacting Stroud auctions they said it’s my responsibility to check, however when one simply presses the ‘pay now’ button and my address is correct on this I think it’s actually the auctioneer’s responsibility to also double check. I would have appreciated more sympathy from them. They have not offered to trace the parcel worth £500 or to send me the tracking number or taken any responsibility at all simply thrown it back to me to sort out as ‘my responsibility’ I will not be buying from them again snd think they need to revise their customer services policy.”
“Without doubt the rudest staff I have ever met, Stuart Maule suffers from small man syndrome and talks to customers like they are idiots. I will not be dealing with this bunch of amateurs again. Read the reviews, something is clearly wrong with this company and it starts with Stuart "The midget" Maule. The Auction world answer to Napolean.”
“Called to collect goods won in auction. Waited at counter with my collection note, and waited and waited... Three different staff walked past me without making eye contact even though I was smiling at them. Completely ignored! I eventually managed to stop someone and complained about the staff's manner and he completely ignored the comments. Got my goods for me, threw it on the counter and said when I have loaded the car to bring the old fruit box back. No please no thank you. I would warn people with a sensitive disposition to avoid this set of ignorant people.”
“I bought an air rifle from Stroud Auctions and when it arrived I found that it had been wrongly described and was not what I was after. Initially, after The Saleroom got involved, they said they would give me a full refund if I returned the item. I did this and then got an email from them claiming that the rifle had been damaged in the post, totally impossible and the slight mark was apparent in the original auction pictures. They said that they’d put it back in the next auction and wouldn’t budge from that. I lost over £200 dealing with these thieves and would warn anyone else to stay well clear.”
“Absolutely disgraceful. Do not use or trust this company under any circumstances. Once they have your money, they will lie and cheat and use any underhand methods to swindle you, you have been warned”
“Read the (frankly appalling) customer feedback about Stroud Auctions, decided to withdraw my item, only to be informed that will cost me £60. Given that my painting is by a very well known artist (richard ellis) AND there is no reserve on it, I am very unhappy about this. AVOID THIS BUSINESS”
“AVOID DEALING WITH STROUD AUCTIONS
SELLERS BEWARE
My experience of dealing with Stroud Auctions was initially positive, with promised results. However, after the initial meeting, the general positive first impression of Stroud Auctions was totally obliterated by the conduct of staff after the sale was over. I rang with a query regarding how the reserve process worked on bidding as one of my lots was sold for less than the reserve. As a first time auction seller, I only wanted to understand the process. Alex Bowkett, who was my contact at the auction, failed to answer my email query regarding the item and after leaving a message, I received a phone call from one of the rudest individuals I have ever had the misfortune to encounter. Her name was Lyn/Lynda. She was rude and abrupt from the outset, in a manner that was totally unprofessional and unnecessary. She was arrogant, dismissive and absolutely rude beyond belief. This woman told me that she was an owner of the auction house, and spoke over me, failing to listen to what I was asking, and failing to grasp the nature of the enquiry. She just hurled insults and negative unkind words at me. I merely wanted to understand the process of reserves. She spoke over me, shouting and angry, for about five minutes. She then hung up on me, leaving me shaken and aghast that anyone could be so vile to another human being. Worse yet, to think that she is an owner of the company.
I understand from checking, that there is indeed a female director of Stroud Auctions, whose name is Lynda Bowkett. Having checked reviews online, on various platforms, I have found numerous negative reviews citing the same disgraceful conduct of this very same woman, Lyn.
All I can say is that I will never use the auction house again, and I would urge anyone considering selling items at auction to chose carefully, as there are other professional auctions available, who will treat you in a professional and humane way. The reality is that you don’t have to scratch very far below the surface to realise the true character and nature of this outfit.
After a further phone call with the delightful Lyn, she refused to discuss arranging my unsold items in a reasonable way. She was extremely uncooperative and would not arrange the return in a reasonable way. I therefore rang again and spoke to Mark Rozelaar, about the return of my unsold items and I informed him how shocked I was at the behaviour of that woman- that was both bullying and intimidating. Immediately after this phone call I received an email from Mark asking what he needed to do to make things right, expressing concern at how quickly things had got toxic. He offered to waive the commission on the item that they had sold under the reserve price, as a solution to the problem. He asked for a reply by email that day to resolve the issue. I accepted the offer of waiving the fee in the one item, but pointed out that the only real resolution needed to be an apology from that unprofessional individual, Lyn, who had created the situation so unnecessarily. I did not receive any such apology and the promised waiving of the fees, offered by Mark Rozelaar has not been forthcoming.
SELLERS BEWARE- AVOID STROUD AUCTIONS AT ALL COSTS.”
“You people are a joke. Greedy unprofessional. Doing more research on your business. I m not the only one you've upset. But I'm getting a very big portfolio up about your business.”
“Can't believe I had a meeting with the owner about the night mare iv had dealing with these unprofessional group.. As you see she has acudecd me of putting false reviews on there site. I can assure everyone I did not. What I put is in my name. The so called meeting I had with her she wouldn't let me get a word in. And to accused me of false statements well. Her attitude wS appalling. Good job I took someone with me. I am taking further now and hope more people do as well. Not even a sorry just rudeness.”
“Message to Nick and Mike - How did you get on with the old bank notes that went 'missing' from my collection at the 3rd February valuation day? And I'm a pensioner too!!!”
“Excellent service received from Stroud Auctions. Lot we purchased on 11th January 2021 arrived early today. Well packed and postage very reasonable. Will certainly be doing business with them again. Wish other Auctions Houses were as prompt at despatching items won at their auctions. Would recommend this Auction House.”
“Very happy with my fantastic vintage magazines. Quickly sent and an added bonus in house post and packing , which was very reasonable. Thoroughly recommend this friendly efficient auction house.”
