Complaint Review: Kist Auctions

I participated in one of this company's auctions - Kist Auctions - hosted by Proxibid. The auction ended March 26th.I won 5 items and the next day I received an e-mail from jamie@kistauction.com invoicing me for $40.26.

Thank you for participating in the following auction:

Kist Auction
Early photograph\postcard & paper ephemera Auction, Selling Marriage, German Frakturs from the 1800's, as well as early photographs, postcards and paper ephemera. BID increments of $1.00
2/3/2009 - 3/26/2009

Your Bidder number for this auction: 14

Please review your auction invoice and remit payment to the auction company address below:

BILL TO:
Bidder name / address
United States

ITEMIZATION OF AWARDED ITEMS

Lot # Quantity Lot Title Buyers Premium % Hammer Price

109 1 XXX 15.00 $30.00
111 1 XXX 15.00 $1.50
112 1 XXX 15.00 $1.50
118 1 XXX 15.00 $1.00
119 1 XXX 15.00 $1.00

Sub Total $35.00
Other Charges
Shipping $0.00
Internet Buyer's Premium $5.26
Sales Tax @ 0.000% $0.00
Total (USD) $40.26

I responded with an e-mail telling them to charge the CC they already had on file, registered for this auction. I received a short answer: "will do".

After one week, because I didn't receive the merchandise, I called'em at the number provided with Proxibid and with Kist Auctions' website as well in order to find out what happened with my items. The operator who answered told me that they ARE NOT the company's operators, but they are hired in order to take a message and forward it to Kist Auctions.

Very strange, but I left a message asking about the items won. Never received an answer. From April 7th till today - April 16th - I called the company every day and I sent them e-mails in order to find what's going on. Never received a phone call back, never received an answer by e-mail. Typical Bait-and-Switch example - such companies should be denied to do business!

Claude
New Rochelle, New York
U.S.A.