“It’s communication policy is awful. They send out emails with no contact details to CUs asking to contact Catawiki in case CU disapproves or wants an alternative. It is impossible to contact anybody directly. Help section asks for info which is not available to CUs before accepting request.
Its commissions are the same independently from price and are enormous, especially for items above €100. Both seller and buyers buy commission but there are professional sellers with sweetheart deals which dominate the products on offer. Its not a site for the common Joe.
Valuations are horribly inflated so that reserve prices are horribly inflated so that commissions intake is maximised. The result is that it is very difficult to sell higher priced items, say around €900-€1200.”
“The site is just a selling site maskeraiding as an antique /collectable site.
The so called experts have little knowledge of the items they value. Don't buy from this site”
“I was outbid on a no reserve item, a painting, but Googled it 2 weeks later. Hey presto, there it was back for sale by the artist. This smacks of illegal shill bidding. There is no customer service so use the site at your peril.”
“Pure fraud
Pure fraud . I bid and won a lenticular print by the artist JJ Adams . What I got was an ordinary print which is worth only a fraction of the price of a lenticular print . The expert confirmed it was a lenticular print and provided a high estimate .
The customer service is so appealing and a lady called Maisie a senior customer service representative is a joke .
Avoid at all costs”
“Once again there is a wrong description on Catawiki auction. Item.
Lot 37857337
Lapponia - 14 kt. Gold - Ring - 0.03 ct Diamond
This ring is not manufactured by Lapponia but Auran Kultaseppä Oy and it is designed by Matti J. Hyvärinen (MJH) who has newer worked for Lapponia.
I don´t undestand why it has been made impossible to contact "Experts" considering wrong descriptions so they could be changed immediately. It has now gone 8 days when I informed them and nothing has happened. Be very careful when buying through Catawiki.”
“It's fine until something goes wrong.
They make it look like a serious auction with experts and notarial protection, but then customer support doesn't reply for a week (so far).
It's a fake feeling of safety that you can claim seller misbehavior or incorrect item description. But in reality, they don't seem to care.”
“We offered an object in catawiki. Based on the winning bid of an earlier lot in catawiki with the same object in a lesser condition, we ask for a minimum price. The expert told us that the value was not up to the proposed minimum price. After checking the site again, we notice the winning bid was a third of what was reported earlier that day. Smells like price manipulation or scam”
“Money has not been paid auctioneer has been paid buyer has my goods i have nothing look at the stupidity of this screenshot to get a police report! They put the money into the wrong account and blame me? Customer service was a joke they do not care at all. I am taking legal action against them. There number is: +44 800 028 7742 You will be wasting your time they where laughing at me and kept hanging up i’m going round in circles they said - yeah that is right Sandra, Ryan, Josh you are scamming scum!”
“An absolute disgrace sold an item on Catawiki and they paid my money into the wrong account the guy has my item and auctioneer has been paid - Me nothing! Please avoid these scamming people even customer service was atrocious and very unfriendly.”
“I have not been paid and it’s been nearly a month and I have posted the item to the buyer and now my item says disputed I understand that sometimes there are issues but I can’t even find a phone number for customer services to even talk to someone to understand what is the issue or to even resolve the matter all I can say is the service on Catawiki is terrible and once I resolve this matter I am leaving Catawiki and would never recommend it to anyone”
“VERY FRAUDULANT SITE USING HE COVID VIRUS TO THERE ADVANTAGE THEY NO CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER NO CUSTOMER SERVICE EMAIL NO WHERE TO BE FOUND SO PEOPLE CAN NOT COMPLAIN OR REPORT FAKE ITEMS BEING SOLD ...PAYMENT TEAMS MANIPULATE PAYMENT DATES AND KEEP PEOPLES MONEY FOR NEARLY 1 MONTH TO GAIN UNTOLD AMOUNT OF INTEREST ...SELLERS ARE CLEARING TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NO CONTACT TO THE SITE ..UNTOLD AMOUNT OF FAKES ,,THE GREAT CATAWIKI SWINDLE I WAS A FEW YEARS TOLD IF I LEAVE A BAD REVIEW THEY WOULD BAN ME FROM THE SITE ...CON SITE MAKES ME FURIOUS”
“Fake items being sold, specifically vintage Rolex part and accessories, so called ‘experts’ not bothering to check of have the knowledge to verify items, website slow to absent for any response. Buyers beware!!”
“First two items had undisclosed damage. Next item was shipped a month ago and still not received and all I get from the shipper and Catawiki are excuses. No way to get a refund. The most recent item the seller wanted to double the stated shipping cost. There is no way to get help from the site. Avoid this place until they offer better service and help with problems. One indication is that it is impossible to make a negative review. So nothing but positive reviews from everyone.”
“Dear all,
Unless you want to waste your money, this is a cash cow platform!! Once you paid your money is gone TO THEIR POCKETS. It happened to me and it can happen to you, be careful. You have to be aware they have NO customer service line and they make it impossible to get in touch with them. They only provide a ''Return'' request online, you have to apply within 14 days from the purchase date without stating a reason. However, I sent mine in time and in accordance with their criteria, they kept me waiting until 2 days before the deadline to say that my request did not meet the criteria??? On the other hand, the seller ignored 3 emails I sent to them, it feels like a mafia.
Also, don't trust their experts' estimate their figures are inflated: I won a bid for a ring that was estimated by catawiki's experts at £13000 to £15000+ when I took it for an independent valuation @ Hatten Garden it was valued at £700.
My review was removed.
MY ADVICE IS TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS DISHONEST PLATFORM.”
“I bought a Breitling watch at the Catawiki watch auction, the watch was manipulated. many parts were not original, the movement was a copy, the seller demanded a proof from a watch expert within 5 days which was impossible. Catawiki did nothing, they wanted their commission, it completely ignored me. I think they are not serious, you do not feel safe when you pay. I DO NOT advise anyone to buy on CATAWIKI”
“I made a purchase and the item arrived damaged. I contacted the seller who basically delied the damage even though it was clearly not from the shipping but was packed that way.
After hours trying to find out where to complaint I sent a message and they seem more interested in helping the seller than me despite having proof of the damage.
If you buy from them and it is not what you want then to bad you will be stuck with it.
The worst customer service I have dealt online.”
“It's a horrible platform for sellers. As an artist I've been asked to remove my reserve price, which means my art could sell for as little as 5$. I am talking about an artwork that normally would sell for 1000+ due to it's size 1m x 1m. On top of this they would take a percentage of the sale. I've added a very modest reserve price of 300 and I was asked to remove it. A bunch of thieves asking artists to give away their work for free, zero appreciation for their work.”
“Catawiki makes it impossible to contact them in any way. It is so frustrating! I am trying receive a refund because my item has not arrived after nearly 2 months. They will not allow or provide any avenue for contact. They have my money but have no way to reach any customer service representative. No matter how I try to reach them I always end up with their "frequently asked questions." They have no phone number. They have no customer support email address.” I have had to stop using the auction, except for very small value items for which I am willing to lose my money.”
