Sotheby's Reviews 99

Very disappointing. Asked for a review and possible sale. Recieved back an email saying they couldn’t sell. No reason given. No valuation given. No information about the item. I have subsequently asked them several times for more info, via their email but after many weeks of no response have given up. I guess that service to ordinary mortals isn’t on their agenda. Unsure of exact date of first contact with them so have estimated the date that this occurred.

Seems that I am getting the run around on a sold consignment. Sold in June, 2022. So they ask me to fill out W-9. I do - three times and say they received it. Told check mailed September 6. Nothing. You get the wall from customer service and not once after dozens of attempts do I ever get the promised return phone call on what is happening. I am an art professional - the experts are great -some of them my friends - but customer service, post-sales and administration is Sotheby’s weak link - BBB report to be filed. Will never deal with Sotheby’s again.

Wish I had read these reviews before I listed my item for sale with Sothebys in NY. I received a receipt that it was sold and that I would get paid on 10/28. Well, that date has come and gone and still no payment. Not sure why and they cannot tell me why either. It is now Nov 29 and still no payment yet despite many promises !

Sothebys Hong Kong do not allow DHL to pick up you winning bids, they give you alternative expensive agents. Totally unprofessional from a company that prides on his reputation, I suggest you bid with Christie’s or Bonhams in Hong Kong for a real professional service.

Sent a painting that had been appraised by 2 other experts in a range of $6K-$12K but I get a pat response not explaining why they wont sell it there, wrote them back for a specific reason, their answer was they dont tell you the reason, unreal!!

I sent them a painting and they said they would auction it 6 months go by and still nothing I send them a message and they finally responded to me and say they can’t auction it so they send me a bill for three times what it cost to ship it to them never again

WA-K---S AND FALSE ADVERTISING.
John Wayne rode up with his horse as better Cowboy than this bunch of tossa's!

They advertise free online valuations and free appraisals. Their website says that they will only provide estimates on items they want to buy. Yet, when you're filling out the forms, you're asked whether you would like an estimate, *or* if you would like to sell it *and* get an estimate. So that sounds to me like they would provide you an estimate even if they don't buy it...but what do I know.
I'm not under the impression that I have some kind of priceless artifact here, but a signed numbered print by a famous artist that goes for a couple hundred in a google search. Nothing fancy but something I still want to check out before taking it to goodwill. I wanted a rough estimate, some information if possible, and if they wanted to buy it, great.
Immediately after submitting the forms (and by immediately I mean *27 minutes* later - far from the "5-7 days" their website claims) I receive an automated email a few sentences long that says nothing more than "yeah, we don't want it." They have "specific guidelines" that apparently weren't met but, having been sent a template of an email, it wasn't explained what those were or why the the item didn't live up to their standards.
Yes it's a free process, but since you won't get anything out of it unless you're coming to them with a Van Gogh, don't waste your time. They don't want to mingle with the proles.

Possibly the worst after sales service I’ve ever experienced. I purchased an item post-auction. After agreeing the price, I was sent an incorrect invoice because they’d calculated taxes incorrectly. Upon payment of the correct invoice (which I paid immediately), I tried to organise delivery. It took WEEKS to get a quote, let alone confirmation of delivery.

I agreed and paid the quote and, guess what, radio silence. Weeks went by, again, with no one confirming delivery or trying to schedule a set time.

I’ve tried lodging a formal complaint (management have ignored me) and still don’t have a delivery date.

Everything was paid for immediately - the artwork and delivery - and Sothebys were all too happy to take their fee. I’m still holding a candle trying to arrange delivery. Absolutely appalling. I’d recommend never buying anything from these conartists, ever.

Made mistakes with entering details though my phone (admittedly my fault), tried to call Hong Kong branch for assistance, irate sounding staff promised email to re-verify credit card for auction. I was sent a request for photocopies of “a different/another card”, and I apologised as I have only that one credit card. No further response by email, it seems my number was blocked from their phone as no answer with numerous attempts on calling on different days, no return call from message left. I shouldn’t have to beg to join an auction! Thank you for your kind “professional assistance.”

Where to start? First, I paid $3600+ for a “Hermes” bag. What I got was a “Hermes” bag that only costs $1800. I contacted Sotheby’s and was told All Sales Final. When I showed to friend who has several Hermes bags, she noted that the bag was counterfeit. it failed to have the Hermes stamp on the silver purse closure. I immediately called Hermes but literally waited 2 weeks for a reply. They then said they were contacting their purse department. That took another 2 weeks only to be told to send pics of the silver purse closure. After I immediately sent the pics, I waited another 2.5 weeks for a reply. Then I was told they were sending to another department. I waited another 2 weeks. At this point I just started a dispute with my credit card company. The entire time I was dealing with Mason Howell who was the rude and lacked any customer service. After 2 plus months, I sent an email to get action. Mason Howell replied with an email acting like I was the problem and that I would be banned from any Sotheby’s purchases in the future. I sent a lengthy reply copying his upper management. Mason Howell had at least a scintilla of sense to change his tone. They finally sent a return label and after yes, another 2 weeks, I finally got my credit. I should have just disputed the entire purchase and kept the purse. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM SOTHEBY’S AGAIN!!! They employ people who have ZERO customer service and they passed me a counterfeit item.

Benoit is highly knowledegable and enthusiastic. He's a very easy person to get along with and prompt with communications. Benoit's also reassuringly consistent in his approach which I put down to him both knowing his stuff and communicating well with colleagues.

If you get chance to work with Benoit then I definitely recommend that you do.

Excellent service, received outstanding post sales support despite some shipping issues on my behalf was all resolved in the end at Sotheby’s Paris and Hong Kong.

Highly recommend them and ignore the bad reviews

I used the Sotheby's buy it now shopping site. NITEMARE! 1st, the site allowed me to use a PO Box, which I later found out wasn't acceptable. Fix your site, Sotheby's!

Then after I changed to the street address, I received an email telling me to manage/track my delivery. NOPE! I have no idea when my pckg is coming, but I need to be home to sign. Read on. Who uses a service from NYC that goes thru Newark, then to Tennessee (yes, way south & way west) to deliver a pckg to upstate NY? WHO!? I cannot glean any more info no matter how I try, except that the pckg was in TN at 5:30 am, the morning of the day it was to be delivered to Rochester, NY.

And that's not all! I ordered three (3) items in good faith & only 2 are supposed to come in this delivery. Just when the hell is the 3rd coming? Are you going to hold me hostage yet again because it needs a signature? What a nitemare! Very badly run business.

I thought this place was 1st class. Hah! Cross it off your list if you're smart.

New Addition: my package FINALLY arrived on President's Day with, of course with no warning b/c I couldn't track it. I'm glad we happened to be home.

This was a huge box for 2 scarves & a bracelet. (Trying to imoress me, Sothebys? NOT impressed.) It was filled w paper, so much so, I has to dig arnd to find my purchases. Low & behold all 3 items were in it, although I had been led to believe there would be two shipments (did the one scarf get added in Tennessee?).

I was very, very disappointed in one item. It was to come in its original box. Oh, what a hot mess! Someone had jammed what was probably a pristine box into a zipper bag (the kind you'd use in a feezer). The bag was way too small for this box (American inches for bag vs Europen mm for the box?). The box was wrecked -- out of shape, flaps torn, flattened. What the heck! I couldn't even get it out of the bag; I had to tear the bag to prevent further damage.

BUYERS BEWARE. This is a very, very bad "service" and online storefront. BAD!

Appalled by the service received from Sotherby’s over the past 6 months.

Sold one large item as part of the estate for a deceased relative.

Misrepresented their fees - they took approx 33% of the price that the buyer paid for our item.

Lost our payment - we have still not received payment 5 months after the sale. Despite them advising us that the money had been transferred 5 months ago.

Bombarded myself and our solicitor with huge numbers of unnecessary emails, costing the estate large amounts of unnecessary legal fees.

Unhelpful and entitled attitude from all of the Sotherbys staff I have dealt with ( but they do all have v posh accents!)

Avoid Sotheby’s and sell privately is my advise. They are shisters and snobs of the highest order.

I needed advice before selling my items so i Called Sotheby’s left messages…no reply….sent email no reply…
This is suppose to be a reputable company. .like all the other one stars.I can only give it one star..
reply to your customers Sotheby’s….

Unbelievably bad business 🤦‍♂️ what is going on Sotheby’s? (which I THOUGHT was a reputable business) can even be bothered to do what they say they will.????? €15000 watch missing and noone cares????? I will make it my job to spread the word what an absolute disgrace of a company you are. Jumped up, snotty, rude staff with a chip on their shoulders....👏👏👏👏👏 well done Sotheby’s.

Vaguely helpful, but largely rude. Did not adequately evidence appraisal as it contradicted one I had gotten elsewhere. Representative was very curt, bordering on caustic, in tone. Would not want to deal with them in future.

I recently sold a watch there. The auction was an online one over 2 weeks. The description of the watch and accompanying paperwork was totally incorrect, and 6 or 7 emails later, still no photographs of all the 'extras' - leather straps, box, papers, booklets , until the very last morning of the auction. It seems to me as though someone had their eye on it and they did get it ( for bottom bid). Not one apology to me from anyone. Stay well away from them, for as soon as you sign the selling agreement ALL of your rights go up the swannee.