Question On Vance Auctions In Canada

Has anyone dealt with Vance Auctions in Canada? Thought I would try them out on their last auction and here is what happened. Placed a couple of bids and received confirmation back 4 days before end of auction that one was high bid. Then no updates nothing, then auction ends and no reply or nothing. So check website and it says to check in one week with bidder numbers. Finally a week after auction enter my number and it states that none of my bids were successful. No emails, no calls nothing. So ok figure that I was out bid. Curious check back on website and the upcoming auction shows my lot re-listed with same items. Then today I get a bill for said item and go back to check website and it is now gone. This just does not seem like a outfit I would like to deal with. Any choice words here as I have never dealt with a deal like this?

Maybe they are having trouble figuring out the 17 cent per us dollar discount? Just joking around. You could send them an email or call on their non toll free number.

What did you get anyways?

That's just it, they said I did not win then bill me two weeks after auction. The whole deal sounds like bad business practice. Also, have been dealing overseas just because currently the dollar is stronger in many countries right now.

No, Mac, that doesn't sound right. But they aren't necessarily trying to take you but maybe just screwed up... to put the best face on it. Talking directly with them might help.

1775:

I'd telephone him. He owns everything in the auction, it is not a consignment auction like most others.

Personally, I'd never buy anything from him. I've not heard good things about him... though he's been around for years.

Keep us posted.

David

Follow up.
After a call placed with owner I would not recommend further transactions with this business for others.
All they could do was state that I could not have seen what I did. I guess I must be having 70's flashbacks then.
The biggest problem with site is even though they act like a auction site there is no accountability on there entries. ( Things get changed and bids or prices realized have no accountability)

Not recommended.

Good to know. From time to time they send me their catalogs and sometimes I look through them, but I have never bid in their auctions.

I have received catalogs, and my impression was they bought
a list from APS. My preference it to buy within the US rather
than face a possible customs hassle.

I've bid on three of their items and won one. I was satisfied, but not overwhelmed. They did OK in the customer service area, but again nothing to crow about. I probably won't bid on any more of their items.

Modern said:




I've never had a problem with Canada Customs. I pretty much only deal with Canadians and Americans. I've been screwed, by others. Once burned, twice shy.

David

I have bought many stamps and coins from Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, China, and a few other countries. I have never had any hassles with customs.

Thanks, t, good to know.

Bought from Vance for 20 years but '99 , a couple of lots that I bid on was the high bid. They said they didn't sell.
also that year, I wrote the wrong lot number and bid on a wrong lot. I won it. Paid $40.00 for a lot that was woth about 4 bucks at best. Also they quit putting stamps on the envelopes. I wasn't going to pay $20.00 for P.B. meters and computer stamps.
Needless to say I quit buying from them.

Hi guys
I know this was an older issue, but Vance is still going strong and it's terrible to hear bad things about Vance and his auctions. He has been a good stamp friend of mine for years. I've bid on a few things in his auctions and I've never had any trouble. I've also been to his "shop" if you want to call it that. It's a great place. You can preview the auction lots and he also has items that he will sell outright. It's amazing the amount of stuff that he has.




The reason for meters and computer stamps is that Vance bought a batch of postage from someone he thought he could trust. It had been washed (cancels removed) and re-gummed. He was involved in a large dispute over it with the law, until the seller admitted that Vance didn't know that he was using re-gummed postage, so now he's not taking any chances. He wasn't the only dealer or auction house to be taken in by the postage scam.

Once again we are seeing great, fearless input. I have had no problems with Vance Auctions over the last years and have been quite pleased with especially box lots I got but also specialized items for my British Colonies collections but perhaps I will tread more lightly in the future. One cannot have too much information. I would also suggest direct communication in most cases but, admittedly, I had a similar experience with another 'house' that passed on my bids and the identical items came up on another auction when there was no such disclaimer allowing lot withdrawal if bids didn't reach some ephemeral value.

I've used Vance Auctions only once. No problems.