Видео

Because Keller Williams is privately held we'll never know the settlement dollar amount.

I’m fairly new to buying at auctions but have found them a great way to collect and find unusual items. I recently had an experience I didn’t anticipate: an unethical auctioneer. I have recently been buying from HiBid and realized how easy it is for the buyer to be mislead, and items misrepresented. I have acquired many things off HiBid. I recently experienced an auctioneer who lacks ethics and honesty. For example listing a poly resin candelabra as solid brass. Had I not viewed the piece, which I bid on, I would have not known until it was time to pick the piece up. They also were listing picture frames as gilt, but were only gold painted. After bringing this to the auctioneer’s attention she did change one item mid auction but refused to correctly describe the others. This is misleading and unethical - misrepresentation. The HiBid website should have a rating system so buyers, who keep this auction site alive, should be able to rate the auctioneers to keep them honest. It is the auctioneers responsibility to present pieces accurately, not guess their properties or qualities. Buyers should not have to view the pieces in person as most are out of town. If EBay did this they would be out of business. The model HiBid is using allows unethical auctioneers to take advantage of buyers. I’m now very wary of buying from HiBid. Is there anything a buyer can do to bring attention to these unethical auctioneers?