Maine
In October 2006, I consigned 16 items to Cyr Auction Company, Gray Maine to be sold at the November 2006 auction. When Jim Cyr, the owner picked up the items, he indicated that after the items are sold, I would received payment in 45 business days.
I checked the Cyr website to see if my items appeared - only one item did. So I thought perhaps they would go in the December auction - again nothing. I then sent them an e-mail requesting status. The fine print on their Consignment Contract indicateds that there is a storage fee of 10% and a buy-back fee of 25% for items sold.
I called the office at the beginning of February 2006 again to find out the status and was told everything was sold, except one item but the woman who handled that wasn't in and he would tell her I called. Nothing. I called again at the of February and spoke to the woman again to get the status - I told her I wanted to pick up the unsold item - she said she would mail it again with the check to follow.
SOMETHING IS FISHY - I had several of the items appraised in 2006 and one of the items, a painting, was valued at $25,000 - without listing the others, safe to say in total, he has about $35,000 worth of my items - that apparently have been sold and I do not appear to be getting paid. I gave this items to him on good faith - his business practices are forcing me into the "fee" territory. I plan to go up to the office in person next week but what should I do if they (a) don't give me the one item back and (b) don't give me the commission - I did not do this as a business but as a consumer. I do not work (I've been working on a small start up and its a year out before I see any commercial gain - I don't qualify for free legal aid becuase my husband works, although his salary doesn't cover the bills so we've been drawing on savings to make up the differnce while I get this project off the ground. I'm angry that someone would do this!
In October 2006, I consigned 16 items to Cyr Auction Company, Gray Maine to be sold at the November 2006 auction. When Jim Cyr, the owner picked up the items, he indicated that after the items are sold, I would received payment in 45 business days.
I checked the Cyr website to see if my items appeared - only one item did. So I thought perhaps they would go in the December auction - again nothing. I then sent them an e-mail requesting status. The fine print on their Consignment Contract indicateds that there is a storage fee of 10% and a buy-back fee of 25% for items sold.
I called the office at the beginning of February 2006 again to find out the status and was told everything was sold, except one item but the woman who handled that wasn't in and he would tell her I called. Nothing. I called again at the of February and spoke to the woman again to get the status - I told her I wanted to pick up the unsold item - she said she would mail it again with the check to follow.
SOMETHING IS FISHY - I had several of the items appraised in 2006 and one of the items, a painting, was valued at $25,000 - without listing the others, safe to say in total, he has about $35,000 worth of my items - that apparently have been sold and I do not appear to be getting paid. I gave this items to him on good faith - his business practices are forcing me into the "fee" territory. I plan to go up to the office in person next week but what should I do if they (a) don't give me the one item back and (b) don't give me the commission - I did not do this as a business but as a consumer. I do not work (I've been working on a small start up and its a year out before I see any commercial gain - I don't qualify for free legal aid becuase my husband works, although his salary doesn't cover the bills so we've been drawing on savings to make up the differnce while I get this project off the ground. I'm angry that someone would do this!