ComplaintsforChurchill Galleries
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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
10/21/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
On 26 July 2024, I was the winning bidder for a sword in an auction with Churchill Galleries of **********************************That auction house has refused to release my property or refund my payment of $272.52. I participated in this auction through a proxy online service called LiveActioneers.LiveAuctioneers refunded my shipping fees after more than two months of no response from Churchill Galleries. They also suspended Churchills account due to failure to respond to their correspondence. I have asked Churchill repeatedly by email for a full refund which they have refused to issue. When I reached the manager by phone, I was told they called me and left voicemails but there was no such record on my phone. My shipping company, The Packengers, reported that Churchill refused to release my property on several pick up attempts. I did a ****** search on their reviews after the fact and there are at least twenty five negative reviews with the same or similar complaint as mine. I dont know what else to do because it is a three hour drive to the gallery. I have photos of emails if needed.Business response
10/21/2024
Below is our last communication with ************************************ Afternoon Bill,
We communicated with you via phone several times, and during our last conversation, I mentioned that the shippers from Live Auctioneers would be collecting your item on their next visit to the gallery. This occurred prior to your leaving a review, and we subsequently confirmed that they would be retrieving the sword on their upcoming trip. In our previous discussions, we emphasized that we had attempted to contact you multiple times regarding this issue and left messages without receiving a response.
We had agreed that I would reach out to Live Auctioneers for confirmation of the pick-up and promised to call you back afterward. You specifically stated that you would have your phone ready so as not to miss our call that day. We returned your call within an hour, but unfortunately, there was no answer. This was followed by several additional calls over the course of that day and subsequent days, yet we still did not receive a response and continued to leave messages.
The shippers from Live Auctioneers arrived at the gallery to collect items for bidders; however, yours was not included in the shipment. Upon contacting them, we learned that you had decided against shipping the item and canceled the request. The item remains at the gallery and can be shipped to you if you wish to proceed with it. Thank you.
Sincerely, *******
Churchill GalleriesCustomer response
10/22/2024
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:I have sent several recent emails to Churchill Galleries and they claim that they were all ready to ship my property but because I canceled shipping as a result of the complaint and refund request, Churchill could not send my property. Making it seem like MY fault that they didnt send my property the first and second time that my shipper arrived to take possession of it
I have since repeatedly asked Churchill Galleries for either a refund or to send my item by *** or ***** even to send COD which would cost them nothing. They have so far refused to do either and I am out nearly three hundred dollars. Churchill didnt hesitate to take my money, so why the big delay/refusal to send my property?
******* *******
Initial Complaint
09/06/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
I won an auction presented by churchill galleries via ******************* auction platform site on April 7th. I paid in full for the item including any fees or premiums on April 9th. I additionally paid for shipping that churchill galleries would oversee and collect payment on. I never received any tracking onfo after several messages, calls, and emails to them aski.g when I could expect delivery. They finally replied in May stsyibg their shipperz mixed up my orxer but tbey cprrected it and would soon send tracking info. Well, they never did. And after many many failed attempts to get any reslonse, I rrceived a medsahe at the end of june, then claiming their shipper broke my item and tbey had to oder me another. I told them to just refund me in full. They never did and jave ignored my 20 or so additional aytpts to speak to someone since June. It is now September and I have nothing for my troubles or the money I spent. I jave reached iut to liveauctioneers for assistance they promise on their site but their only assistance was to let Chuchill know I'm trying to contact them which I'm sure they are well aware of already.Please hekp me get my refund from this most unscrupulous unprofessumional company.Thank you,**** *****Initial Complaint
08/09/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
Purchased a ***************** art work, Lot 0005 in a frame on Feb 26, 2024 from Churchill Galleries Islip NY. *************************** ********************* is the contact. Shipment arrived in April 2024 and was damaged. I called and spoke to ******* regarding the damage, ******* instructed me to go to a frame store like ******** to get a cost for replacing the damaged frame. ******* said he would send me a check for $377.90. I have sent several text messages along with several phone calls to ******* for payment. ******* says he is a busy man travelling for the business and would get to me as soon as he could. I bought the art work in Feb 2024, it is now Aug 2024 and ******* has ghosted me with no response. The original frame was period correct ********* for this piece. I bought this in an online auction, Live Auctioneer, with Churchill Galleries being a reputable art dealer, This seams to be my last resort for seeking payment as promised by ******* who has now ghosted me from any communications. I contacted ******* on 7-30-24 and he finally responded saying he needed another week, I called twice this week and sent 2 text msg with no response. it's been another 11 days with no response. Terrible way to do business, I did my part, now ******* needs to do his.Initial Complaint
07/09/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
On Sep 8 2023, I paid this auction 2003 dollars for the purchase of a watch. In the excuse of setting up for warranty, the auction delayed shipping of the item for a few months. Until Dec 2023 I requested for a refund which is agreed upon by the auction company owner as well, but the refund never arrived half a year later as of today. Detailed communications can be found in the attached photos.Initial Complaint
11/06/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
This was an online auction and I purchased an item from them through an external website. They have charged my card and the item has not been sent to me. The date on the invoice is 10/01/23, and it was paid 10/20/23. They have not been in communication with me since the beginning of October. Its like they took the money and ran away with it. The invoice number I gave from estatesales.org is ******Initial Complaint
06/21/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Unanswered
Geographicus Rare Antique Maps, and proprietor, ***********************, are seeking a refund for 960 USD for Live Auctioneers Invoice #*******, in payment of lot **** for the Churchill Galleries June 18th, 2023 antique auction. We are requested this refund because the item was fraudulently advertised and intentionally misrepresented as an antique map with a production date of ****, when it is in fact a late 20th century or early 21st century reproduction made with modern printing technology. Churchill Galleries adverkses itself as an "online auckon site commiled exclusively to the sale of fine arts, ankques and colleckbles". They further state on their website that "Items offered by Churchill Galleries are guaranteed for authenticity and condition." We would like a refund under this, their publicly advertised policy.
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Customer Complaints Summary
7 total complaints in the last 3 years.
5 complaints closed in the last 12 months.