Keys Auctions レビュー 35

We have been full time book sellers for 28 years and during this time, we have bought & sold books through Keys at Aylsham. After some long-term staff changes in the Book Department some 5 or 6 years' ago, there was an unfortunate blip in the service and we reluctantly went elsewhere. However the good news is that Key's Book Room is now back (and so are we) under a new & enthusiastic management. Emily Ayson is friendly, extremely knowledgeable & very professional. She is always keen & willing to help us, often by sending email messages from home in her own time. The place is now busy & buzzing again, so many thanks, well done & good luck Emily!

I placed a bid which was put on the computer but not transferred to the piece of paper in front of the auctioneer. I received this in an email afterwards: Lot 368 Lyndon Hammell (Cat & Mouseman) - A 20th Century Yorkshire oak sideboard with adzed top over. Your bid £600 Sold price£520 Won No
Kind regards,
Keys
REALLY!! I certainly wouldn't sell through them because you wont necessarily get the highest price. Congratulations to the fortunate winner

I have dealt with Keys Auctioneers & Valuers for several months in order to sell various pieces of artwork. I struggled to sell privately and decided to go to a professional company to help. Best decision made from my perspective.
Great set up and very methodical. Emily Ayson, what a legend. She has been so supportive and went the extra mile to ensure all efforts were made to sell our items. Would 100% use Keys in the future

I've dealt with a number of Auction Houses. Keys are by far the worst. No sense of customer service, and the person answering the e-mails needs a lesson in dealing with customers.

I have had 2 experiences of selling items with Keys. The first time, totally new to the company, I was given the ‘try to find the right person’ game, being directed to various warehouses. My items were put in the general sale, all were sold. I was sent an account that included an item that was not mine. I hope they found the real owner. The second experience was about the same. I was advised that one item, a silver object, should be placed in a specialist sale and I agreed. They know better than me. All but one of the other items sold, although I didn’t receive an account for everything. I went to the office after phoning them to find out what happened to the silver item. No idea. At the company I spent an hour watching various members of staff trying to find my item. They phoned Nigel, apparently someone who should know, but he denied all knowledge. Over a week later I have heard nothing further and now face having to contact senior management. I wish now that I had taken photos of what I left with them. They are clearly incapable of looking after sale items and keeping track of people. The lost item is valuable and I wish I had not given it to them.

Comically inefficient.. if they weren't real people with real jobs. Forget free valuation Fridays, lights are just about on but nobody sensible at home. Hard to see how this business can continue much longer before being turned into a housing estate.

Emailed photos and titles for about 150antique books (Fairy tale collection) and were told to bring for a more detailed evaluation this Friday. Asked if the book expert (Emily) would be there and were told yes and that we didn't need an appointment, just to turn up. Packed five heavy boxes and drove 45 min to Aylsham. Had to wait 20 min in Evaluation Reception as busy. Then Kate told us to go back to car and drive to another part to meet Emily. Waited again about 15min until Emily free, to be told that she needed to leave now. We should drive back to Reception and ask for David. Did that. Waited again for 10 min to be told that David was not in. Got cross. Waited another 10 min.
Was told Daniel might take 'a look" Daniel explained that he didn't know anything about books but that we could leave them with him and David would come back to us when back. Just when we started unloading Daniel said it would be better to bring them to another building . So back in the car and driving to another part of the set up. No-one there. Stood around for a while until found someone called Nick. Told him what Daniel said and he told us to go to another building and unload. Went to that building and told the guy what Nick had said.... he said he was pretty full up and there was no room. My partner lost it then and said 'Its Chaos here isn't it'? 'Yes, can be' said the man cheerfully.....What an absolute waste of time! Staff are disorganised, disinterested and not knowledgable. Shame as it used to be quite a reputable auction house but not at the moment!

I deal with a number of auction houses. Keys is one of the poorest from an administrative viewpoint. While I understand and appreciate the need of an auction house to keep income flowing, Keys have reached an all-time low.
Firstly, their website states ‘payment is due on the day of sale’ which of course is impossible to fulfill if you have requested postage & packing. Secondly, they chase and harass you for payment without fulfilling the P & P request, sometimes within a day or so of their original invoice. They have a propensity in failing to update the invoice with P & P in a timely manner.
In so many other ways Keys do an outstanding job, but in this one particular aspect, they are appalling. Come on Keys, get your act together. They have done this to me on over two separate occasions.

Terrible, awful customer service, making it up as they go along.

I've used the auction both on line and in person over several years. Not had reason to complain about lots I've purchased. I accept its buyer beware and make sure I satisfy myself that the item is what I'm looking for and in a satisfactory used condition. They do run through the lots at pace 100 an hour so you need to be quick. I prefer to buy in person rather than rely on the web. I do miss the live stock and plant sales and remember Geoffry Key standing on the trestle tables selling lots outside.

Currently still waiting for our money from auctions held in October. Have had to chase everything- find out when the auctions were, invoices and what our lots gained and now chasing up payments to us. ‘Apparently the boss went on holiday’ what the

Won a clock at the auction paid for it but upon collection the lot was incomplete .i complained and was told by the auctioneer and the office lady would receive a refund . 4 days later I recieved a call to say they have found missing parts.I requested to speak to a director , but apparently no one onsite as having already travelled 30 mile round trip I felt the refund agreed was appropriate .Still no phone call
Poor customer service
Having read the other reviews it seems to be a theme

Please ensure to ask for a confirm report on anything you wish to purchase
As it will more than likely not be as good as photographed or described in their catalogue

Very efficient service. Auction results exceeded expectations, Very pleased.

I took 5 lots to the saleroom for Mondays Auction and filled in form and told person accepting these that they needed to be shown in Lots as written on Sheet . When catalogue put on line all the Jewellrey was put together in 1 lot . What is the point of telling someone what you want for them to totally ignore you and to make matters worse when i rang up to tell them and remove items was told it would cost me money even though it wasn't my fault. Even though it will take me longer i will never use them again.

Total bull about shipping, t&c’s stated nothing about no shipping for weekly auction. In the end paid for what I won and never got it as the alternatives for postage were expensive. Shocking lack of customer service and steer well clear. This lot which was already broken and requested posting by Jiffy bag which I was willing to pay was also declined…money for nothing.

Very misleading on postage and packing policy. My mother was quoted a price of £25 posting and packing on some items she was interested in previous to bidding, however, she won the items and one other small item. Upon asking for the items to be packed and shipped Keys stated that they could not pack and post mum's items as she had won more than one lot. Mum was then quoted an estimate of £72 for local courier to collect, ship and deliver the items she had won. My mother is an 86 year old pensioner and simply cannot afford such fee's. Very disappointed and do NOT recommend this auction house. Complaint made to saleroom.com.

I have purchased several lots over the years with this Auction house, with mistakes made along the way. Including loosing three of my consigned lots, it was only after several phone calls they were 'found' weeks later and consequently sold for £4!
Picked up a box of so called movie films and reels that I had won on line, trusting their description, only to find they were old magnetic tape covered in rat/mouse droppings (went straight in the bin).
But the way I was treated today is totally unacceptable. I had the sense to view the sale beforehand to see exactly what I intended to bid on via the Saleroom. Didn't really help as I only received one of the three lots I consequently won.
The first lot I left a bid of £10, confirmed I had won the lot for £5 but on collection was told it sold to someone else for £5? Human error they said!
Second lot I won for £40, after paying and going to collect was told it had gone missing so I couldn't have it, surely they need to make enquiries as to who took it ?
Third lot I won for £38 and actually got it in my hands, one out of three, I should be celebrating especially after having the pleasure of a two hour round trip to pick it up!!
I think it is high time Keys started to do some investigating rather than treating us, the customers with contempt. I would have given 0 stars if I could.

A very knowledgeable group of specialists in all aspects of my items brought to sell at KEYS. Talked through each lot in detail to my satisfaction . Valuations and reserves advised worked out well for me. thank you mr broom and mr ducker and Keys many staff. 10 out of 10 thank you.

I won a £25 item and as most auctions will post and I assumed keys were the same what an error as no packaging/delivery service available but keys stated other customers used a particular shipping company and I stupidly asked for a quote and boy did I receive one. The item I wanted to be packaged and delivered is a pottery jug (small) and they wanted £55 which I declined. I have now asked keys to re-enter my item in their next suitable auction and up to now no reply. I have an inkling both may be in cahoots to maximize postal costs. Horrible to deal with and have a could not care attitude even when I informed them I'm housebound. Horrible experience.