Print the value of index0
Chad McCarter Auctions Advertise Things They Don't Intend To Sell Sevierville, Tennessee
When you are advertising large, somewhat expensive items for an auction, you should actually SELL them or attempt to sell them. Last saturday, they made a big deal out of a huge auction, one item being a retro jukebox that played 45s. It was hyped on the websites, in newspapers and on the actual listing sheet IN the auction. We got there about 20 minutes before start time. Auctioneer did the usual introductions and of course, prayer at start time of 5pm. When the item came due (#117) the auctioneer put something else in the auction and completely bypassed the jukebox, saying nothing about it, even though the item was on premises. When I went up front a few minutes later to ask about it, you would have sworn I committed a top secret crime. They mumbled about having said earlier that it wouldn't be auctioned because "something was wrong with it." They never told the crowd what my inquiry was. Having come to the auction ONLY for this item, it left me less than happy.
Shortly after, the auctioneer took a break and actually approached me in the crowd pretty angry. He asked what time I had arrived and I told him. He said they made an announcement before the start saying there was a working issue with it...it worked, then it DIDN'T work. Ummm, no. They didn't say ONE word to us. Well, this was an absolute auction, meaning as-is, etc. The coke machines they auctioned were not guaranteed to work so, why would they pull THIS offering? He was mad when I put up the defense that we had been there with no announcements made. Besides, when it came time to accept bids, why would you not tell people that had arrived later that there was something wrong with the jukebox? Why avoid mentioning the item all night long? To me, it was shady, like they had maybe decided to keep the item themselves on a buy or made a deal off the bidding floor. They never plugged it in, never even tried an explanation, just passed it over. It's not the 1st time I have been there but will be the last. If you take them any item and it sells individually for under $200, they keep a whopping 35% commisssion. PLUS, they get 13% buyers premium so every item they sell, they make about 48% of the purchase price.
This auction house is horrid. Employee and buyers kids run through the place carrying on. The food is way overpriced.They supplement some older auctioneer when cowboy takes a break and it's mumbling and sooo slow and they miss people waving their arms. When they have regular items, it can go fast but if it's expensive items, they beat em to death with time, trying to squeeze the last dime out of people. It's painful to watch and they make people feel horrible if they don't bid what they think they should get. The guns there end up selling above true value, as does most every item. There's no such thing as a bargain here and certainly not for a seller losing most of his money to their pockets. I swear, some people have never been to WalMart. Used items go for higher bids than buying new would cost retail. There are alot of dealers buying and the average person looking for a decent, fair price stands no chance, let alone a good buy. It drains all of the fun out of going. I have been to many auctions and gotten good deals...not here. The auctioneer was really rude, letting us know that he didn't need our business. Stinks when he gets caught cheating the customer base. He was a nervous wreck. Also, they talk down to women. If you go and see anything that involves the kitchen, sewing, jewelry, etc, watch the "little lady" comments. They want the ladies barefoot and cooking, for sure. The women all around us groan and count down waiting for the demeaning comments to begin. Save yourself a loooonnnngggg drawn out night of waiting through boring comments and elongated bidding. They want your money and take their time getting it but they shouldn't do false advertising. Going to complain now to consumer affairs for TN. Those "jet black" loose diamonds were the funniest things I've ever seen, too. You should have seen cowboy stomping mad when those "genuine rare" diamonds weren't going above 60$. He was mad at the crowd. Ummm, genuine REAL black diamonds aren't officially called "jet black" nor are they sold in bulk to an auction house in 1 cent ziploc bags.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
terry seale
sevierville,Tennessee,
No Jukebox for YOU!
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, June 21, 2014
Jukebox Man must have missed something. I am a customer of Chad McCarter and have seen him several times withhold an item that doesn't work. It is good business to do so. He has also re-auctioned items that were purchased but not paid for. The place is homey and family but very professional and accomodative. There have been a couple of occassions where an item required repair (fully disclosed) or was missing a key. Obviously a jukebox cannot be repaired if the key is missing. You need to find the key or get a locksmith. All the other remarks by Jukebox Man are gratuitious and mere character assasination without foundation. I have picked up many bargains at Chad's, which in several cases I sold for twice or three-times as much on eBay. Other items, I overpaid for. My own fault. Furniture is invariably a good bargain at McCarter's. I have a perfect like new wing chair for $35 that would cost $250 new. I have a perfect, large $120 microwave oven, like new, for $5. Lots of art, tools, and housewares. An auction is an auction. The prices are set by the bidders alone. There are no reserves, no shill bidding, no unreasonable delays in waiting for bids, no misrepresentations, and no nonsense. In fact, on a couple of occassions, Chad closed the bidding a little too fast for me and I didn't get my bid in fast enough. That can't happen if the auctioneer is "milking." As for Lee, he is a treasure, a widely well-respected, charming, former business executive, a friend to many, and a joy to be with. $3 for a hamburger and $1 for a can of soda is clearly not overpriced. At the close of the auction, Chad gives away about five or six silver coins to bidder paddle numbers pulled from a bin. Jukebox Man has some other personal problem, I expect, that gives him so much energy and this compulsion to make a mountain out of a anthill.
steve
seymour,Tennessee,
United States of America
auction no bargins
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, February 16, 2013
I have attended McCarter auctions several times and have found the employees and staff very courteous and friendly. It is true, that generally, there are very few deals to be found. Often times, used items sell for as much as one could purchase new. Guns and collectibles particularly sell for a premium. I think this is largely due to the large turnout of bidders and the resulting competition, plus perhaps people just don't do their homework before arriving at the auction. It is fun to attend and look at the stuff for auction, but I have never been the winning bidder for anything because, with some exceptions, the bid prices are just too high. East TN is the capital of flea markets and junk shops so it seems odd that bidders are willing to over pay at auctions, but I suppose that is the nature of large auction houses. steve
lisajean32
sevierville,Tennessee,
United States of America
In response to the gentleman making a bogas complaint
#6Consumer Comment
Sun, January 06, 2013
We have been going to Chad McCarter auction for a year now and before every auction he reads all the rules and any changes to the sale. Then he has a prayer to start the auction in good spirits. In the rules he states that there is a 13 percent buyers fee if you use a credit card and 10 percent for cash. If you do not like his fees you can leave and not stay at the auction. In previous auctions he has had to change an item that he is selling due to it not working properly. He has stated that he would refuse to sale any item unless he knows it works properly. He likes to stand by his word and not sale things that do not work. He is a good christian man. I was there the day of the sale you are referring to and chad did state before the auction starting that the jukebox was not going to be sold due to it not working properly. Also i don't think I have ever seen Chad get angry. As to the mumbling old man as you say is Chads father who also is an auctioneer and has been for many years. It is a family environment where families can come and bring their children. Not many places allow that. As for the sellers fee if you do not agree with what they charge go some where else. Many people don't have a problem with their fees other wise there would be no auction. These are some of the finest christian people I have ever met, and any one who has a problem with the way they run their auction is just trying to cause problems.
MimiT
Sevierville,Tennessee,
United States of America
Chad McCarter Auctions
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, October 27, 2012
My husband and I have attended the auctions at Chad McCarter's Auction Center since the first auction. We have found that they are fair, honest, and always willing to make things right if something isn't as it was advertised. I would rather have known that the jukebox wasn't working before the auction than it to have been auctioned; got it home and it didn't work. Also, the first poster needs to understand that sometimes, for whatever reason, a consignor may pull an item after the advertising has gone out. The auction catalog is usually done days in advance and takes a lot of work to put it together and to get it printed so that it will be available the day of the auction. My husband and I have been going to auctions for 30 years and this is the first auction company that provides a catalog of the items to be auctioned for every auction. As for the commission that is charged when an item is consigned---the contract states in plain English what the commission will be when the item sells. If a consignor doesn't like the commission structure, then they are not forced to sign the contract and to have their item auctioned. Yes, many times items sell for far more than the true market value, but that is due to the bidders rather than the auctioneer. No one is forcing people to bid---the bidders make the choice whether they are willing to bid or not and how much they are willing to bid. This is a family friendly auction where all are welcome. My opinion is this is one of the best auction companies that I have ever been to and I have been to auctions in Alabama, Georgia (I worked for an auction company there), Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. If the original poster thinks Chad's auction is bad, he should attend one in New England, then they would know what a bad auction is.
meg
dandridge,Tennessee,
United States of America
Chad McCarter Auctions is a great company
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, October 10, 2012
I was at the auction on that night. Chad announced that the jukebox was not going to be offered because it needed to be repaired. He said it more than once that night.
I go to the auctions almost every week and it is always conducted fairly and ethically. Chad is always polite and respectful to everyone-women included.
There are kids present, mine included, but they never are out of control. The auctions run for about 5 hours, can kids be expected to sit motionless for that long??? Of course not, they move around, and so do the adults.
As for the "older auctioneer" who takes over...that is Lee, the owner, Chad McCarter's, father. Lee is the 2nd generation of this 3 generation auctioneer family. His style may be different than his son's, but it is certainly professional.
The commission charged is posted in large print in multiple locations, so if you don't want to pay it, don't consign or bid on items.
One of the things I like best about this auction house is that it is family run and has a family atmosphere. Chad and his wife own the company, his parents work there, her parents work there, their daughters work there. If I wanted impersonal, I would go somewhere else. I want family, so I spend my money with the Chad McCarter Auction House.