VECTIS Auctions!!!

dailo007

I fear I may be opening a can of worms here, but has anyone received an item from a Vectis sale only to discover it was not as listed, or even close!

I don't want details or to start a witch hunt (yet!), I just need an indication of how they dealt with it.

I would really appreciate an email/PM if you have.

Thanks

dailo007

I finally have an acceptable response, this post can be deleted.

cris_19010689

I did once buy an item from Vectis online. It was a rare variation of a much more common corgi bond model, and the one I got was indeed the common variation. I got in touch with them and they asked me to return the item, which I did. I then got the original item I paid for, and apology and a reimbursement of my return postage, so can't really say anything negative on how they dealt with the situation. I have since bought more items from them, but more often than not choose to actually go to their sales and take the items home directly from the auction, as I live about an hour away from their place in Thornaby. Sometimes the catalogue descriptions differ to my own view on the conditions, but it's like anything - it's a subjective thing an only the "valuers" opinion on the day.

Youknowthename

My first shipment from Vectis is on its way, so I'll have to wait and see. Guess you'll have to rely on the pictures mostly, or go in person as cris_19010689 suggests. The only slight letdown so far is the total cost: a hefty 20% commission, VAT and firm shipping / handling costs, plus extra charge for using a credit card. This doesn't matter so much when it comes to rare or hard to find items, but for general items you'd better turn to ebay.

AdamCarterJones

Vectis have been good with us too, so no problems.

As regards to commission etc in post #4, 20% is high but it's not 25% like some auction houses charge.
And remember, Vectis only charge between 10-12.5% flat commission to sellers (no hidden costs) and they even pick up your gear. Other auction houses can charge for insurance, photography and anything else they can think of taking the overall sellers charge up to a staggering 40%!

Their credit card charge is 2% which will no doubt be more than what they are charged, but is commonplace amongst auction houses and travel firms and if you are prepared to pay, no problem. I actually work out the overall cost including credit card charges and set my limit from there.

Postage is a little high from what I have been told. But I always pick up items from Vectis.
I also picked up a poster for a friend and then posted it to him as Vectis were going to charge £15.00 - the cost was £8.50.

Bond Collectors' Weekends

2% is probably what they're paying the card companies. Their ship to me was VERY well packaged and mind-numbingly quick! Their service was terrific!

Youknowthename

Bond Collectors' Weekends wrote:

2% is probably what they're paying the card companies. Their ship to me was VERY well packaged and mind-numbingly quick! Their service was terrific!

Yes, the stuff I received was handled with great care and securely packaged too - credit where it's due!

PoorMansJB

Earlier this year I won a non-Bond item (probably the first non-007 I've ever bid on with them) from Vectis. Though I had read the description thoroughly, it wasn't until after winning that I began thinking there was another way of interpreting certain details. I wrote Vectis and they assured me that the item had been thoroughly examined but if upon receipt I found there was a problem, to please contact them.

As it turned out, there were indeed repro parts included in the set that had not been identified in the description. Vectis made a substantial adjustment to my winning bid. Was it enough? Not really but, frankly, short of returning the item -- which, given its size and weight, wasn't the best solution -- it was probably the best that could be done.

In short, I've always found Vectis extremely reasonable, never once questioning me as the customer (unlike my experience with some other houses, one in particular comes to mind). I do think their descriptions lack depth but I think they generally do a decent job.

Still, this incident is a large part of why I chose to attend the recent Burchmore sale in person; I was looking at some three dozen lots (some being alternates to others, etc.; that is, I wasn't necessarily bidding on all) and if I had been bidding online and even a couple fell short of their descriptions, I wouldn't have been happy; better to inspect first hand.

BTW, Vectis were exceedingly generous with their time and assistance while I was there, really going out of their way for me, which wasn't at all expected and very much appreciated.

If you've never seen their facilities -- I certainly hadn't -- here are images from that auction:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151733283253657.1073741853.653423656&type=1&l=f2bdd20a6a