Nationwide Auctions.

patman99

Has anyone had any dealings with 'Nationwide Auctions'?. They run insolvency & liquidation auctions near me. I haven't been before, and want to know if they are as genuine as they make-out.

I would be going with the intent of buying an lcd tv, anyone know what sort of average price a 38" set goes for at these auctions?.

RFW

Don't know the company.
Do they have their own premises or are they working out of a hotel or other premises they have hored for a day or two?
Are they selling new goods or graded returns?
I had an online search and couldn't find a website which is strange.
I'd suggest treading very very carefully.
As for asking what price a 38" TV makes at auction there isn't really an answer for that, what makes/model, new, used, reconditioned, demic, etc. Are any guarantees given? If it is a genuine auction with general auction conditions of sale, then I'd suggest you want to be paying about 40-50% of retail.

patman99

They do have a website, I haven't visited it myself. They sell mainly at big, up-market venues such as '5 lakes' in Tollesbury (Essex). They do hold these auctions on a regular basis, and always advertise in the local papers.

RFW

patman99 wrote: »

They do have a website,

Found it!They have a contact address in central Manchester and a phone number in Wigan.
I couldn't say one way or another if this company is reputable, a simple way to check is to get in touch with Trading Standards who would give advice.
I would recommend if you're buying goods over £100 then pay with a credit card and you are protected should anything go wrong.

As someone who's been in and around the auction business for over 20 years my instinct would be to keep away.

patman99

As my experiance of auctions is limited to IT equipment disposals held at the disposal company's premesis, hence my posting the thread.

Mind you, entering 'nationwide auctions' into google doesn't produce any links to threads complaining about them. As the auction is only 10 miles down the road, I might pop along just to view.
If they are genuine, and not one of those 'put your hands up if you want one of these' type companies.

italiastar

Just been highlighted on BBC WatchDog .............. I wouldn't want to libel myself, so I suggest that you watch th pro gramme - draw you own conclusions.

Always_Harassed

Also saw Watchdog suffice to say AVOID.

StaffsSW

patman99 wrote: »

I would be going with the intent of buying an lcd tv, anyone know what sort of average price a 38" set goes for at these auctions?.

Having been to two of these types of auctions in the last few days, LCD TV's typically sell anywhere from £50 to £200!

However, they are sold as seen, you very rarely get the opportunity to see them working, and if they come with any remotes, manuals or cables it is a real bonus. They are often in tatty cosmetic condition after being forcibly removed from households, either by bailiffs or burglars, and then left sitting around in police compounds or bailiff warehouses for a few weeks prior to going to the auction house, so do not get your expectations up too high. Any decent ones do attract bidders attention, and in the last few days I have seen many hammer drops at higher than Richer Sounds or Ebuyer prices, and that is before the 10% buyers fee and 17.5% VAT.

If you are in the North West area, keep an eye out for http://www.charlestaylor.co.uk/ in Salford, and http://www.simoncharles-auctioneers.co.uk/index.php in Ashton Under Lyne.

If you do go to any it is worthwhile getting hold of an internet enabled phone or wireless netbook to check prices there and then.

McKneff

See Watchdog on you iplayer.
Liars and scammers the lot of them.

Dont touch them with a barge pole.

cyberbob

McKneff wrote: »

Liars and scammers the lot of them.

And that's just Watchdog

flapjackboy

After watching the Watchdog article on them, looks like they're just an upmarket mock auction outfit. Wouldn't surprise me if they hid a few convincers amongst the marks.