Sotheby's Arvostelua 96

Contacted. Representative gave directions to send photos of an oul paintings. I called multiple times. Rep was unavailable. I was told by another rep, that it may take months before I would be contacted.
Six months later, I sold it at a local general auction for more than $9000.00.
Their arrogant customer no service is akin to level walmart

Bad experience with their office in Prague, Czech Republic, EU. The staff told us to send a picture about the painting. After this, no answer received. After un urgency his "professional" opinion about the painting came without few hours. This has been made based on one picture and by a lawyer!! Not by a professional. Btw he was arrogant. After my few questions about the case no response received. Thank God that I have read these reviews here and will sell the painting with some other, much more professional company.

I had a 18th Century family painting and was offered an estimated $5000 sale at Auction by Sotheby's employee, Frankie Mananzan. Instead, Sotheby's put it on the internet for a month, didn't sell it and sent me a $785 bill for their time. They also wanted another $700 to return it to me. It had cost about $125 to ship it to Sotheby's. YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH SOTHEBY'S.

The consignment process and attention to detail shown by the art vendor for a prospective art sale was slow and rather tardy in email response time. They also have a lot of hidden fees as well compared to other more innovative online art establishments

I bought a master drawing on an on line sale.There was no reserve and the estimates were $2200-$1800.I won the drawing for $400.With buyer premium and taxes $548.86.I was delighted.I received my bill with the final price including shipping New York to Atlanta.Shipping fee $283x.Small framed drawing 13.5 x
10 inches.Quite high but ok.A filled out the on line form with credit card info.Clicked on pay and it was rejected twice.Contacted customer service and was given another link which allowed me to pay for the drawing only.I again contacted customer service and was told á would get the shipping fee within 10 days no sooner.I mentioned the fee was $280 they said shipping would email me.On the ninth day I received a shipping bill for $760.outrageous.I’m a long time collector and know shipping prices$75-$100 is what it should have been.Contacted customer service and the saw the original quote and
Would get back to me.They never did.I subsequently hired another shipping company to pick up the drawing at a fraction of the price.Sothebys pulled a classic bait and switch operation.I will never buy from them again

Sotheby’s is huge disappointed. Advertising merchandise from vendors who are not obligated to complete a sale is in no way a business model that is sustainable. I completed a purchase for dining chairs. They sent a confirmation delivery order. They cancelled the sale. In the meantime, I have sold my dining chairs and bought furniture to compliment the chairs I purchased. After many attempts to discuss the cancellation of the shipment, I received an email explaining the sale had been canceled as the vendor could not complete the sale. It seems to me the vendor should be obligated to complete the purchase. If Sotheby’s cannot guarantee the products they proffered they should not be in the business of selling online. Maybe they should stick to what they know. Hopefully their auction business will support the venerable name of Sotheby’s, as their online business will not.
Buyer beware, the name Sotheby’s means little if they reduce standards to below that of other online sellers. Never again.
L. Barrington

Once upon a time Sotheby's was a company renowned for its professionalism. Sadly they have shown a decline in standards.
Recently I approached Southeby's regarding a sculpture that I wished to place for sale. Having lived and worked for many years in China as a Snr bank officer my wife and I had collected a very small number of Asian works of art.
I wrote to Sotherby's twice using the online forms and directly to the manager of their Canadian office to inquire if one of my pieces might be suitable for auction. I enclosed photos and all legal documentation (provenance etc).
To date, I have not had the courtesy of a reply or acknowledgment.
Yet they are quick to send me their magazine.
I would suggest that anyone who is contemplating placing for auction a serious work of art seek advice from a more professional company.

THESE PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE YOU AND EMAIL AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO UNSUBSCRIBE. I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THESE DISGRACEFUL FOOLS.

Extremely bad service. They agreed to sell an item on auction and sent paper work. After chasing a few times I signed the document and sent back. They voided the whole contract without giving any reason and do not respond to emails or answer calls.

Very disappointing. Asked for a review and possible sale. Recieved back an email saying they couldn’t sell. No reason given. No valuation given. No information about the item. I have subsequently asked them several times for more info, via their email but after many weeks of no response have given up. I guess that service to ordinary mortals isn’t on their agenda. Unsure of exact date of first contact with them so have estimated the date that this occurred.

Seems that I am getting the run around on a sold consignment. Sold in June, 2022. So they ask me to fill out W-9. I do - three times and say they received it. Told check mailed September 6. Nothing. You get the wall from customer service and not once after dozens of attempts do I ever get the promised return phone call on what is happening. I am an art professional - the experts are great -some of them my friends - but customer service, post-sales and administration is Sotheby’s weak link - BBB report to be filed. Will never deal with Sotheby’s again.

Wish I had read these reviews before I listed my item for sale with Sothebys in NY. I received a receipt that it was sold and that I would get paid on 10/28. Well, that date has come and gone and still no payment. Not sure why and they cannot tell me why either. It is now Nov 29 and still no payment yet despite many promises !

Sothebys Hong Kong do not allow DHL to pick up you winning bids, they give you alternative expensive agents. Totally unprofessional from a company that prides on his reputation, I suggest you bid with Christie’s or Bonhams in Hong Kong for a real professional service.

Sent a painting that had been appraised by 2 other experts in a range of $6K-$12K but I get a pat response not explaining why they wont sell it there, wrote them back for a specific reason, their answer was they dont tell you the reason, unreal!!

I sent them a painting and they said they would auction it 6 months go by and still nothing I send them a message and they finally responded to me and say they can’t auction it so they send me a bill for three times what it cost to ship it to them never again

WA-K---S AND FALSE ADVERTISING.
John Wayne rode up with his horse as better Cowboy than this bunch of tossa's!

They advertise free online valuations and free appraisals. Their website says that they will only provide estimates on items they want to buy. Yet, when you're filling out the forms, you're asked whether you would like an estimate, *or* if you would like to sell it *and* get an estimate. So that sounds to me like they would provide you an estimate even if they don't buy it...but what do I know.
I'm not under the impression that I have some kind of priceless artifact here, but a signed numbered print by a famous artist that goes for a couple hundred in a google search. Nothing fancy but something I still want to check out before taking it to goodwill. I wanted a rough estimate, some information if possible, and if they wanted to buy it, great.
Immediately after submitting the forms (and by immediately I mean *27 minutes* later - far from the "5-7 days" their website claims) I receive an automated email a few sentences long that says nothing more than "yeah, we don't want it." They have "specific guidelines" that apparently weren't met but, having been sent a template of an email, it wasn't explained what those were or why the the item didn't live up to their standards.
Yes it's a free process, but since you won't get anything out of it unless you're coming to them with a Van Gogh, don't waste your time. They don't want to mingle with the proles.

Possibly the worst after sales service I’ve ever experienced. I purchased an item post-auction. After agreeing the price, I was sent an incorrect invoice because they’d calculated taxes incorrectly. Upon payment of the correct invoice (which I paid immediately), I tried to organise delivery. It took WEEKS to get a quote, let alone confirmation of delivery.

I agreed and paid the quote and, guess what, radio silence. Weeks went by, again, with no one confirming delivery or trying to schedule a set time.

I’ve tried lodging a formal complaint (management have ignored me) and still don’t have a delivery date.

Everything was paid for immediately - the artwork and delivery - and Sothebys were all too happy to take their fee. I’m still holding a candle trying to arrange delivery. Absolutely appalling. I’d recommend never buying anything from these conartists, ever.

Made mistakes with entering details though my phone (admittedly my fault), tried to call Hong Kong branch for assistance, irate sounding staff promised email to re-verify credit card for auction. I was sent a request for photocopies of “a different/another card”, and I apologised as I have only that one credit card. No further response by email, it seems my number was blocked from their phone as no answer with numerous attempts on calling on different days, no return call from message left. I shouldn’t have to beg to join an auction! Thank you for your kind “professional assistance.”