I *think* I have just seen whole room of people get ripped off.

Advocatus

I think what I saw has to something to do with what is mentioned here.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2983010

I like watches and when a friend told me there was a auction of "fine watches" and "fine paintings" at the Hilton on Edgeware Road on 14 August, I really thought I should drop in.

The auction was run by "Cooper International Auctions" and in my opinion, it was a complete rip off. Mods, if I have broken rules with a name please remove the name but I would be grateful if you would let the thread run.

http://www.coopersinternationalauctions.com/

I am no expert, but the "fine art" was almost certainly all mass produced at a factory in China. In fact, it was exactly the same stuff you see being hawked for £50 quid (one you bargain) in those gold coloured frames along Picaddilly and Baywater on a weekend.

The advertised them as being completely genuine from genuine English artists. I had looked the artists up online and what I saw in that room was certainly not what I thought I would see. In fact, I looked closely at the signatures on two paintings that were side by side. I couldn't help but notice that: (a) the artist had not used cursive hand which is very unsual and (b) the letters in both paintings were disturbing similar, the same letter used in different names - clearly a forgery!

The watches were an utter jokes and the sales drivel even worse! For example one Johnny told a buyer that Rolexs never have original receipts because the original owner alway hangs on to them! What rot. I looked at the Rolex very careful and as an owner I think I am qualified to say that my view is that some of the watch was real (i.e. a case here, a bezel or bracelet there) but the "gold" president Rolex there almost certianly had a fake bracelet.

What was pretty poor was the auctioneer's chat. He referred to the (in my opinion, fake) paintings as works of art, "not some mass produced Chinese crap. None of this I love you long time stuff" in a public place, and to my horror right in front of an oriental lady who was clearly very, very uncomfortable. What a boor.

In additon he said the company had been around for 30 years, when clearly the website says it's ten years, if that!

All in all, I think everything in there was not quite 100%. I may be entirely wrong here and I am open to correction, but I thought I should mention this in case there are innocent people who are duped in the future and come to review this particular auction here.

Anyone see this? What did they think?

Valli

what clinches it for me is the fact they auction from rented premises and it's a one off - I would NEVER goto an auction in a hotel.

mobile48

Advocatus wrote: »

In additon he said the company had been around for 30 years, when clearly the website says it's ten years, if that!

The domain name was Created 24-March-2011 and uses WHOIS privacy to stop business details being found out.

http://www.whois.net/whois/coopersinternationalauctions.com

RFW

I'm always way of auctions (of goods) in hotels, although some genuine auctioneers do do it that way occasionally.

I can only make an opinion on the above company, it may be that they are genuine, it is always worth notifying trading standards if you see an auction like this advertised. There are actually only a few people who run these, unsurprisingly there are a lot of company names that have run these over the years.

hollydays

If you google their address,its a "virtual office " in london.

toddles*

Im sure I saw a piece on watchdog a few years ago about these auctions, not sure if the same company but very similar. they also plant people in the crowd to drive up the price of the auctions. I think watchdog bought a few items and got them professionally valued. Needless to say it was all fake carp!

pitkin2020

mobile48 wrote: »

The domain name was Created 24-March-2011 and uses WHOIS privacy to stop business details being found out.

http://www.whois.net/whois/coopersinternationalauctions.com

If you report them to Whois they will show the address and contact details after 7 days if they believe they are a trading website. They are actually very good at doing it aswell.

hollydays

http://www.wigantoday.net/news/fined_for_pottery_rip_off_1_207117?action=logout

David henstock,presumably the same one named

Advocatus

I want to do something about this. Suggestions?

hollydays

on their website they list their future venues,report them to action fraud


and directly to the council named in the wigan news?

birkee

I've not even bothered reading this.

Are people STILL falling for the auction scams?
Then again, I suppose they must be, for the auctions to be still running.