Complaint Review: Freedom Auctions - Sarasota Florida

I contacted Freedom Auctions in early June for consignment at auction my household furniture. We were leaving the country. This furniture was picked up on June 17 2016. We were told that there would be 2 auctions, one for most furniture and one for the antiques. The first auction to take place the following week and the second antique auction to take place within 30 days. I was asked if I wanted the one check after both auctions or two checks, one after each auction. I elected for two checks Our contact at freedom auction was Brian Hollifield. Mr Hollifield was very impressed with a completely functional and playable 1867 Cottage piano made out of Rosewood to the point where he exclaiming " wow rosewood, you cant get rosewood anywhere, maybe I will get it for my daughter" One of Mr Hollifield employee's stated "He really likes that piano and wants to get it for his daughter. He was also impressed with our antique 1920"s china cabinet and our antique French Provencal sofa and chair. He commented on all of our furniture as very good quality.

Two weeks after the first auction we had to bother Mr Hollifield for our money almost daily, he said I am waiting for an internet purchase to pay, I cannot pay you until we have been paid. Our understanding that there were two auctions and we were to be paid after each auction we were not. It took 20 days of asking for our money for us to finally get it with many comments from Mr Hollifield " I have thousands of people to deal with and I am too busy to deal with you, you will receive your money when I get paid" He was waiting for one item and held off on all of the others. We finally got paid $740.00 ($1100.00 total)for 1876 Rosewood piano whose twin is in Mark Twains home , 1920s china cabinet. Antique French Provincial Sofa and chair. Klaussner bedroom suite (Queen Bed, 2 end tables, Dresser, mirror, Mattress) Hand painted Asian end table, Ashley north shore Bar. Imported Glass coffee coffee table and end table. Ikea Bed room suite (Double Bed, Dresser). when I questioned this total and why the list of items he provided that were sold we inconsistent with what we gave him his comment was "there was no interest in some items so we combined it with others to get interest " He apparently sold two glass tables for $50 and gave the french provincial sofa and chair with the two tables for free. The records he has sent me has the sofa sold for $50 and no record of the tables. When I inquired about the China cabinet, He told me that he combined it with other items for free, when I asked him what Items he combined it with on a Saturday (Auction days) his response was "I don't work 7 days a week" He contacted me later to say that it was sold for $100 and said " old does not mean gold" yet the same items were being sold on ebay for $300+. I still have not received the records for the tables and the China cabinet. In my opinion because of the difficulty in getting our money, records not matching, Mr Hollifields interest in acquiring some items for him self and his knowledge of us leaving the country In my opinion I feel that he has taken advantage of us and did not do his best to sell our items and kept some for himself. PS I have appraised values of our antiques and what they might get at auction 

I contacted Freedom Auctions in early June for consignment at auction my household furniture. We were leaving the country. This furniture was picked up on June 17 2016. We were told that there would be 2 auctions, one for most furniture and one for the antiques. The first auction to take place the following week and the second antique auction to take place within 30 days. I was asked if I wanted the one check after both auctions or two checks, one after each auction. I elected for two checks Our contact at freedom auction was Brian Hollifield. Mr Hollifield was very impressed with a completely functional and playable 1867 Cottage piano made out of Rosewood to the point where he exclaiming " wow rosewood, you cant get rosewood anywhere, maybe I will get it for my daughter" One of Mr Hollifield employee's stated "He really likes that piano and wants to get it for his daughter. He was also impressed with our antique 1920"s china cabinet and our antique French Provencal sofa and chair. He commented on all of our furniture as very good quality. Two weeks after the first auction we had to bother Mr Hollifield for our money almost daily, he said I am waiting for an internet purchase to pay, I cannot pay you until we have been paid. Our understanding that there were two auctions and we were to be paid after each auction we were not. It took 20 days of asking for our money for us to finally get it with many comments from Mr Hollifield " I have thousands of people to deal with and I am too busy to deal with you, you will receive your money when I get paid" He was waiting for one item and held off on all of the others. We finally got paid $740.00 ($1100.00 total)for 1876 Rosewood piano whose twin is in Mark Twains home , 1920s china cabinet. Antique French Provincial Sofa and chair. Klaussner bedroom suite (Queen Bed, 2 end tables, Dresser, mirror, Mattress) Hand painted Asian end table, Ashley north shore Bar. Imported Glass coffee coffee table and end table. Ikea Bed room suite (Double Bed, Dresser). when I questioned this total and why the list of items he provided that were sold we inconsistent with what we gave him his comment was "there was no interest in some items so we combined it with others to get interest " He apparently sold two glass tables for $50 and gave the french provincial sofa and chair with the two tables for free. The records he has sent me has the sofa sold for $50 and no record of the tables. When I inquired about the China cabinet, He told me that he combined it with other items for free, when I asked him what Items he combined it with on a Saturday (Auction days) his response was "I don't work 7 days a week" He contacted me later to say that it was sold for $100 and said " old does not mean gold" yet the same items were being sold on ebay for $300+. I still have not received the records for the tables and the China cabinet. In my opinion because of the difficulty in getting our money, records not matching, Mr Hollifields interest in acquiring some items for him self and his knowledge of us leaving the country In my opinion I feel that he has taken advantage of us and did not do his best to sell our items and kept some for himself. PS I have appraised values of our antiques and what they might get at auction