Won auction but didn't receive item
I won an auction for an amazing Horace Armistead painting from Auctions at Showplace for my wife's birthday. The bidding process was easy via Invaluable, and purchase went smoothly.
Unfortunately, the auction house does not ship directly, and they provided a list of recommended shippers. I made the bad choice of selecting ThePackengers. They charged me, picked up the painting and then 'accidentally' shipped it out of the country. They were unable to secure its return and refuse to tell me where/who they shipped it to, so I might try to get it returned myself.
Due to the poor response from ThePackengers, I contacted Showplace for help. They did reach out to the shipper on my behalf which was highly appreciated. Sadly, the painting has yet to be returned to me.
After several months ThePackengers finally refunded the shipping fee and auction price. I got a really good deal at the Showplace auction and cannot replace a painting from this artist at that price. ThePackengers refused to offer a like-for-like replacement. It seems unfair and makes me hesitant to purchase/bid for items from Auctions at Showplace going forward.
What's the point of winning an auction if the item never arrives?