Carolina Dollar Discount And Auction ripoff poor business practices and publicly embarasses customer Gastonia North Carolina
I had the misfortune to deal with an auctioneer that advertises in the Gaston Gazette as Carolina Dollar Discount and Auction located at 1310 E. Ozark Ave, Gastonia. The auctioneer is Eddie Ray Lambert, license #7910. I found him to be a person of poor character and business practices.
Occasionally, I try to make some extra money on weekends selling items at a flea market; the easiest way to make any semblance of profit is to buy a pallet load of return and overstock items at auction and sell them individually. Finding an auction with appropriate merchandise usually involves driving a long distance and spending several hundred dollars.
While visiting relatives, I met a man that auctioned off the type of items I was interested in. He said he held auctions every Friday and Saturday night and that he would be conducting one in two weeks, when I would be in Gastonia again.
Two weeks later, I hitched up the trailer and drove with a friend to his place of business. The auction house was unattended, the door locked, and a note provided a disconnected phone number. Inquiries in the neighborhood revealed that he also had another business, one of those variety stores with everything priced at $1.00. I drove there and happened to arrive at the same time he did.
I followed him into the store and, catching up with him, asked if he was going to hold an auction that evening. He replied rather rudely that he was not going to hold one, as he had made an announcement at the previous week's auction. I told him that, being from out of town, I hadn't attended the previous week's auction and that the announcement should have been advertised in the newspaper just as the original auction had been. He replied that that was my problem. I asked if he was willing to sell any pallets of items outright as I had spend $70.00 on gas and would like to try to make it worth the cost of the trip; he got loud and belligerent; I wont print what he said. Rather than make a scene, my friend and I simply left, quite upset. I made every attempt to be reasonable, but was in return treated very badly in front of a number of customers in the store.
I have never had any problems with any other auctioneers in North Carolina, and hope that the experience with Mr. Lambert is an isolated incident.
Tim
Shallotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Eddie
Charlotte,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
No Rip-off at Carolina Dollar Discount and Auction
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, October 12, 2004
The personal attack on my character and business practices by Mr. Timothy Earl Street of Shalotte, North Carolina is unfounded and troublesome.
I am sorry that Mr. Street tried to attend an auction on September 24, 2004 that was never officially scheduled or advertised in the newspaper, but in no way does that constitute a rip-off.
There are several inaccuracies in Mr. Street's story that need to be addressed:
1. Mr. Street stated "He said he held auctions every Friday and Saturday night..."
An announcement was never made that auctions were held every Friday and Saturday. The tentative schedule was every other Friday for salvage and every other Saturday for personal property. I encouraged the bidders to confirm future dates via newspaper ads and on the billboard sign in front of the warehouse.
2. Mr. Street stated "and a note provided a disconnected phone number."
The phone number posted on the warehouse door connects to the Carolina Dollar store, where it is answered by an employee Mon-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat 9am-9pm; Sun 1-6pm. After business hours customers can leave a message on the voice mail system. The phone number has never been disconnected and is still in working order.
Moreover, at the first auction Mr. Street attended on September 10, my cell phone number and email address were listed on the lot sheet that was distributed to each bidder.
3. Mr. Street stated "the announcement should have been advertised in the newspaper just as the original auction had been."
There was never an ad placed in the Gaston Gazette for an auction on September 24; therefore no cancellation ad was placed.
4. Mr. Street stated "I made every attempt to be reasonable, but was in return treated very badly in front of a number of customers in the store."
Mr. Street was understandably frustrated that there was not an auction taking place on September 24. When he approached me at the store, I apologized profusely. He was not satisfied with the apology and demanded to be taken to the warehouse and allowed to purchase the merchandise. I informed Mr. Street that would not be possible. Mr. Street then became beligerant in front of my customers and staff and demanded $50 to reimburse his gas expense. I declined and apologized again for his inconvenience. After several minutes of me apologizing and Mr. Street making demands, I finally asked him to leave the store.
In addition to these inaccuracies, Mr. Street alludes to the fact that he made a special trip to Gastonia from Shallotte for an auction on September 24; however in his third paragraph, he states that was going to be in Gastonia anyway at that time.
In conclusion, I contend that there was no rip-off or poor business practices on my part. And for Mr. Street to make a personal attack on my character speaks more to his character than to mine.
Eddie
Charlotte,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
No Rip-off at Carolina Dollar Discount and Auction
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, October 12, 2004
The personal attack on my character and business practices by Mr. Timothy Earl Street of Shalotte, North Carolina is unfounded and troublesome.
I am sorry that Mr. Street tried to attend an auction on September 24, 2004 that was never officially scheduled or advertised in the newspaper, but in no way does that constitute a rip-off.
There are several inaccuracies in Mr. Street's story that need to be addressed:
1. Mr. Street stated "He said he held auctions every Friday and Saturday night..."
An announcement was never made that auctions were held every Friday and Saturday. The tentative schedule was every other Friday for salvage and every other Saturday for personal property. I encouraged the bidders to confirm future dates via newspaper ads and on the billboard sign in front of the warehouse.
2. Mr. Street stated "and a note provided a disconnected phone number."
The phone number posted on the warehouse door connects to the Carolina Dollar store, where it is answered by an employee Mon-Fri 9am-8pm; Sat 9am-9pm; Sun 1-6pm. After business hours customers can leave a message on the voice mail system. The phone number has never been disconnected and is still in working order.
Moreover, at the first auction Mr. Street attended on September 10, my cell phone number and email address were listed on the lot sheet that was distributed to each bidder.
3. Mr. Street stated "the announcement should have been advertised in the newspaper just as the original auction had been."
There was never an ad placed in the Gaston Gazette for an auction on September 24; therefore no cancellation ad was placed.
4. Mr. Street stated "I made every attempt to be reasonable, but was in return treated very badly in front of a number of customers in the store."
Mr. Street was understandably frustrated that there was not an auction taking place on September 24. When he approached me at the store, I apologized profusely. He was not satisfied with the apology and demanded to be taken to the warehouse and allowed to purchase the merchandise. I informed Mr. Street that would not be possible. Mr. Street then became beligerant in front of my customers and staff and demanded $50 to reimburse his gas expense. I declined and apologized again for his inconvenience. After several minutes of me apologizing and Mr. Street making demands, I finally asked him to leave the store.
In addition to these inaccuracies, Mr. Street alludes to the fact that he made a special trip to Gastonia from Shallotte for an auction on September 24; however in his third paragraph, he states that was going to be in Gastonia anyway at that time.
In conclusion, I contend that there was no rip-off or poor business practices on my part. And for Mr. Street to make a personal attack on my character speaks more to his character than to mine.