Complaint Review: David C Turner estate sales - Dallas Texas

As a weekly estate sale shopper with business relationships with many different esate sale companies I see this type of thing at least every other week.  It usually happens when the the estate sale company refuses a ridiculous offer and wont give in.  It is a well known fact that immediately a bad review will end up on Yelp! or the Facebook page of the company.  Reputable estate sale companies dread these reviews.  Had this consumer been able to get all of these items at what he knew was a ridiculously low price do you think he would have gone in and gave a positive review? 

I watched a woman literally screaming at an employee at a sale because an antique sewing machine was not being discounted and was marked "firm".  She went on and on about how everything was overpriced and the company was trying to rip people off by charging too much.  Generally creating an embarrasing scene for everyone.  I happened to be loading my car when I overheard this woman talking to someon e on her phone.  She plainly stated that the she was a reseller and that the price marked is exactly what she was intending to charge for it.  I heard later that she came back the next day and repeated the same behavior about the same item.  At some point the sewing machine sold for full price.  She actually went  back and demanded to know what it sold for.

  I witnessed a man come in from the garage at a sale to pay 100.00 for a 1903 Ice Box in perfect condition.  He was bragging to others in line what a steal he was getting.  The estate sale owner asked him what ice box he was buying and he described it.  She went to the garage and sure enough, the owners had put the icebox in the garage overnight and written a note that said "NOT FOR SALE".   A customer told the employee in the garage that the item wasn't priced and if they would take 100.00 for the icebox.  The employee said to go check with the estate sale owner.

Instead of doing that he went in and was going to pay and then take the receipt out in order to be able to load up.  The owner had no idea where the ice box had come from since it just appeared overnight.  When she called the owner of the property he explained he had clearly marked the ice box on neon orange paper.  Upon closer inspection the neon orange note was found wadded up later in the day inside of a flower pot. 

This guy followed the estate sale owner around screaming that he had a verbal contract and he was going to give her bad reviews and ruin her business etc, ad nauseam.  After a while of trying to appease the man she said "you know good and well that ice box was not $100.00"  his reply?  "I know that is why I wanted it, so I could sell it."  

It is extremly hard to set up an estate sale and it takes days to do it right.  Sometimes inexperienced employees arent aware of an items value or dont know what it is so they dont bring it to anyone's attention.  Even when a walk through is done to make sure everything is priced, something is always missed and items that are in with multiples of like items are sometimes just not seen.  I have also seen honest shoppers bring things to the cashier or owner and tell them that they had missed the mark on an item and needed to price it higher.  

I know there are horrible estate sale companies out there.  I know enough not to attend those sales.  The sales that I attend are held my reputable companies that help many families in need.  Im much more ashamed to be associated with the crazy shoppers that I see than be lumped in as a "friend" of the estate sale company.  By the way, if items are being sold to friends they would never be seen in the actual sale and are not advertised.  I know one company that allows it's employees to purchase items at FULL PRICE before or on day one of the sale and then they get the same discounts as everyone else.  The ones that really want something gladly pay rather than to hope the item makes it to the last day.  

Estate Sales, Garage Sales have been a fun and sometimes profitable hobby of mine for thirty years. During that many years shopping sales, you get to know all the Good Estate Sale groups. Dave Turner is one of the Good Guys. I have been going to his sales for nearly three decades. He prices his sales fairly and consistently, lots of fabulous finds and good bargains.

I have done a few sales as well and Mr.Turner is one of the people I look to as an example of how to have a good sale. All GOOD estate sales people are concerned about three rhings. FIRST, taking care of their clients and getting them the best price. That way you get a referral for future business. SECOND, being helpful and fair to ALL their customers and giving them a clean sale environment that is positive so they come back and pass the word along to friends. THIRD, be honest, fair and helpful to everyone so you have a good reputation in your professional as well as public community.

All of the Estate Sale people that are bargain hunters or professional pickers that I know  think nothing of sitting in rain, cold or heat when they know a good dealer and can see online its going to be a good sale. That is part of the fun and adventurer of the hunt.

I have seen this complaint for a while and it gets on my nerves everytime. IF the price was not marked or marked incorrectly it may have been an oversight not a plot to slight or cheat you. Plenty of stuff going on in a face paced environment that would take too long to stop and explain. And nothing wrong with a loyal, longtime customer advising a dealer that an item is way UNDERPRICED. Plenty more bargains out there. GET A LIFE AND KEEP SHOPPING!

  Well
 I was at this sale also, in other words the employee that wrote this rebuttile  actually knows more than the boss ? I seen every minute of this, The fellow that wrote the report was so ripped off That I have yet to see anything like it and to this day it is still talked about with the Dallas Estate sale crowd, If this employee  is who it has to be " Lady "  you are the one that was helping him ? after he told you he was buying all them tapes ? and getting him boxes to put them in.  and at that point they were sold in everyone's eyes except 1 guy What you fail to say is what happened to the tapes ? would the name George ring a bell with you ?  well everyone already knows where they went. and what went down. why this guy did not sue it is beyond me ? he had so many witnesses on his side he would of got a settlement for sure. I am also tried of the Estate Sale people that cherry pick and have people come in that they are friends with, that get the best deals, Most of the estate sale people own flea market or antique store booths, Gee  I wonder how they fill them up with items for sale ?  yea I bet they are looking out for their client , Maybe you eneded up with a cut of the pie  would not suprise me in the least.  and this is none of my business but I did send the guy an email from his statement he also put on Craigslist. it was just a sad sad deal for a guy that waited outside for at least 2 hours, I have only wasted my time at 2 more sales since I seen this, Do not blame the guy for writing this, I would of had also.  and I know a few others that feel the same,  not worth going to the sales anymore.  why not Just call your friends and sell stuff to them save everyone the trouble. Maybe your clients should take a better look at what your prices are marked at,  or I guess its better to just change them as you go along on the fly if you all of a sudden decide something is to cheap, after it is sold  Heck I even heard you smart off and swear at the guy as he was going out the door, you do have guts lady as your boss does.

I am the female employee about which the complaintant speaks.



First let me state that my job as Mr. Turner's employee is to make the best money I can for our client, i.e., the family who own the estate sale merchandise that Mr. Turner works hard to sell.



When I brought the box to said complaintant and saw how much the tapes were marked, I went to Mr. Turner and asked if he was certain that $1.00 per tape was the best we could get for the client. Just about that time, while no customers were about, the client called Mr. Turner, they spoke of this and other things and the client decided that he wanted to look at the tapes before we put them back out to sell.



If you ask around I know you will find that everyone that David C. Turner deals with knows him as a firm, fair and honest business associate.