Stamp Auction Dilemma, This Is Weird But True......

Just call David Coogle at Kelleher's. This is way out of character for them. Way out of character. In fact it does not compute at all. He is at the office every day right now but will be heading to Stockholm shortly I believe.

Kelleher? Very hard to understand how this could have happened with them! Usually one of the most careful, organized, and responsible auction firms that I deal with.

I've had trouble since Maureen left, last 2 packages went astray and no tracking sent. Last delivery took 8 phone calls to straighten out.

Just to clarify, was it Kelleher, or Michael Rogers which is a part of Kelleher now?

Kelliher

I am in no way saying that the behavior in the linked news article is the case here but it goes to show why you need to let the owner know when something is awry.

https://www.newstimes.com/news/arti...an-61535.php

Ten days after calling them they are still as confused as ever, stating untrue things (they sent some auto-response, stating my lots are being held until payment is received; what? I am in possession of five of the seven lots involving them! Even sent them photos, some of which I posted here!).

All requests to contact either owner have failed; every inquiry leads to the same confused staff.

The auction firms were correctly guessed; Michael Rogers was purchased by Kelleher some time ago. I will not comment on that move as I have known M.R. for years and had the utmost respect for him.

I was hoping Kelleher would live up to their previously sterling performance as I'd never before had any issue whatsoever with any previous bids and lots sent in years past. Over ninety days have passed and still no acknowledgements of my shipping issues and the two missing lots.

I'm moving on, and will send payment only for the lots I have already received. Of course I will check any future auction catalogues to see if they stick any lots between the pages as happened at least twice.

There are other auction firms who will gladly take my money, and ship any winning lots the right way. And not take over three months to straighten out their errors.

-J.

This is way out of character for Kelleher (whether it's Kelleher proper or the Michael Rogers division). I've bought thousands of dollars of material from them in the last year and I've only had one issue with one lot (where they shipped the card with the photographed item but not the backup envelope with the rest of the lot) which was immediately refunded.

Incidentally, they don't send me catalogs.

I did get a postcard from Kelleher recently for an upcoming auction in the last week.

Like many folks, I agree that much of this story sounded a bit strange. And while I normally refrain from posting links to the 'down under' forum due to obvious reasons, the same thread was posted and has been more aggressively questioned.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...f=21&t=86624

While the aggressive nature of some of the feedback is 'something less than ideal', some good points are raised. It is possible that communications were not handled well on either side of this situation. Kelleher's reputation is very good and we have not heard their side of this transaction. I encourage folks to hold off on forming any opinions until more is known.

That said, the original posters warning about shipping something in a catalog should be heeded. Thank you Jay for posting and hopefully you can work something out with them.
Don

Strange ,this story is so out of the way they do business. I done a lot of business with them for 25 years and always had them ship the items and never a problem with over 60 different transactions .Something is missing ,I believe their catalog mailings are not done by the same people who handle expensive stamps .

Excellent point Floortrader! They do come directly from the printer.

I just received a Flagship catalog and it was shipped to the US from Hong Kong. I had to sign for it because Fedex requires a signature for ANYTHING coming from overseas.

Strangerer and strangerer.

All of the Kelleher Flagship Auction catalogs I have received this year have been drop shipped via FedEx with signature required directly from the catalog printer In Hong Kong. Printer name is Colour Dragon Graphics Co.