I lived with my wife of 61 years at Ocean Shores, Wa. 98569, until her passing on Feb. 27th of this year from Ovarian Cancer. My wife had been sick for many months and it seemed that no doctors could understand why she had been sick for so many months. She was diagnosed on Feb. 8th with the cancer and passed away 2 1/2 weeks later on Feb. 27th. With just my Social Security income of $838.00 per month, it was impossible for me to continue living at my home in Washington State, and now I am living with my son and his wife in Oroville, Ca. 95965.
I would like to add at this time that throughout my life I lived in Southern and Northern Calif. prior yo moving to Washington State in 2004. During the 1970's and through 2004 I had worked at various times with auction houses as a buyer, seller and general help with the auction. These auction house were mostly selling antiques and collectibles. The auction companys were Sartain & Co, Tip Holloway & Assoc. Live Oak, Ca. and Chico Auction, Chico, Ca. (Jack Harbor), so I'm well aware of the various tricks that auctions perform during the auction such as shills and ghost bidders on the floor.
In March of this year I contacted the Stoke's Auction Co. (LeAnn Boardman), as to auction off the contents of my home full of antiques and collectibles that my wife and I has collected throughout the years. The company was unable to pick up the furnishings until June 2nd (my birthday), and with my three sons and myself made plans to be at the home on that date. On June 2nd the auction truck arrived (18ft) and with two workers began to load the truck. With my sons we had only 1 1/2 days to completly clear the home of all furnishings, as my sons had to return to work in Calif. The auction loaded the best of the furnishings and collectibles and the remaining antiques and collectibles were load twice into our 18ft rented truck and taken to the dump.
The auction company never notified me of the date of the auction or any advertising that they had done for this auction. I believe on the 27th of June I received a letter with the statement date of 6/19/2017 Final Statement for June Consignment Auction a check for the amount of $1176.87 for the complete auction. I still have the photographs of some of the antiques items I sent to the company and the Final Statement letter. The $1176.00 was used to pay for my wife's burial.
I believe this auction company took advange of my loss and grief that I was feeling from the death of my wife in the selling of my items. One piece of antique furniture comes to my mind, and that was a solid 1/4 oak (tiger oak) sideboard, well over 100 yrs old. It had a two door compartment, with two drawers, crarved pillars which held up the mantel, that had large beveled mirror. This piece was sold at this auction for $250.00 less commission, which is far less that what I paid for it over 50 years ago.
I still have the original photographs I sent to the auction company as well as the letter of Final Statement. I have never complained over the years about buying or selling any items, as being in the business I realize that items go high and low, but at the end of the auction everthing evens itself out, but I don't believe is what happened here. I believe my items were purchased at a low price to be sold at a later date for profit. Would appreciate any help you can give me.
Stokes Auction Reviews
I lived with my wife of 61 years at Ocean Shores, Wa. 98569, until her passing on Feb. 27th of this year from Ovarian Cancer. My wife had been sick for many months and it seemed that no doctors could understand why she had been sick for so many months. She was diagnosed on Feb. 8th with the cancer and passed away 2 1/2 weeks later on Feb. 27th. With just my Social Security income of $838.00 per month, it was impossible for me to continue living at my home in Washington State, and now I am living with my son and his wife in Oroville, Ca. 95965.
I would like to add at this time that throughout my life I lived in Southern and Northern Calif. prior yo moving to Washington State in 2004. During the 1970's and through 2004 I had worked at various times with auction houses as a buyer, seller and general help with the auction. These auction house were mostly selling antiques and collectibles. The auction companys were Sartain & Co, Tip Holloway & Assoc. Live Oak, Ca. and Chico Auction, Chico, Ca. (Jack Harbor), so I'm well aware of the various tricks that auctions perform during the auction such as shills and ghost bidders on the floor.
In March of this year I contacted the Stoke's Auction Co. (LeAnn Boardman), as to auction off the contents of my home full of antiques and collectibles that my wife and I has collected throughout the years. The company was unable to pick up the furnishings until June 2nd (my birthday), and with my three sons and myself made plans to be at the home on that date. On June 2nd the auction truck arrived (18ft) and with two workers began to load the truck. With my sons we had only 1 1/2 days to completly clear the home of all furnishings, as my sons had to return to work in Calif. The auction loaded the best of the furnishings and collectibles and the remaining antiques and collectibles were load twice into our 18ft rented truck and taken to the dump.
The auction company never notified me of the date of the auction or any advertising that they had done for this auction. I believe on the 27th of June I received a letter with the statement date of 6/19/2017 Final Statement for June Consignment Auction a check for the amount of $1176.87 for the complete auction. I still have the photographs of some of the antiques items I sent to the company and the Final Statement letter. The $1176.00 was used to pay for my wife's burial.
I believe this auction company took advange of my loss and grief that I was feeling from the death of my wife in the selling of my items. One piece of antique furniture comes to my mind, and that was a solid 1/4 oak (tiger oak) sideboard, well over 100 yrs old. It had a two door compartment, with two drawers, crarved pillars which held up the mantel, that had large beveled mirror. This piece was sold at this auction for $250.00 less commission, which is far less that what I paid for it over 50 years ago.
I still have the original photographs I sent to the auction company as well as the letter of Final Statement. I have never complained over the years about buying or selling any items, as being in the business I realize that items go high and low, but at the end of the auction everthing evens itself out, but I don't believe is what happened here. I believe my items were purchased at a low price to be sold at a later date for profit. Would appreciate any help you can give me.