Clearing House Estate Sales - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Suzanne M.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY. If I could give them negative 10 stars I would. This company is deceitful and hides behind a disclosure in their "terms and conditions". They run auctions that are advertised as "jewelry estate auctions" selling "gold, diamonds, Cartier etc", test the gold and diamonds but don't do a simple rub test to determine if pearls are real or just glass beads. When I called the company today the man literally started screaming at me like a maniac. When I told him I'm glad I was recording the conversation he kept yelling that I should read the "terms and conditions". His "terms" state that they are not jewelers (but they have entire auctions selling gold. Gem stones & diamonds), they don’t guarantee that pearls are real (simple rub test) but they do test diamonds & gold…it also states that the photographs are part of the description however a photograph does not show if something is fake HOWEVER his title and description DO IMPLY that the glass beads are actual pearls. I am attaching the email I wrote to him that he did not respond to which is why I called him.

Good morning,
On Saturday, June 15, 2024 I participated in an action run by your company.

"A Cut Above -June Estate Jewelry Auction - All Gold - Diamonds - Cartier - Shipping Only”

In that auction I bid on a strand of "pearls" that were listed by your company as 14K Yellow Gold Pearl Necklace 23".

You described that item as follows:

"Item Description
This lot consists of a beautiful necklace.It has a marked 14 K Gold clasp.The necklace features Pearls that measure approx. 8 mm in diameter. The necklace is approx. 23" in length.
Condition
Consistent with age and use."

There were 39 bids on this item with my bid of $135 being the winning bid. Clearly I was not the only person that was deceived into believing that these were "pearls" as noted in your title and description. Last week these "pearls" broke and as I was taking them out to bring them to a jeweler to have them restrung, the loose pearl dropped onto my tile floor. As we were searching for it my husband stepped on it. When he picked it up the surface was scuffed. Upon closer examination we saw what appeared to be a white marble type material beneath the surface. So I scratched it a little more with a knife and lo and behold these are not actually pearls but glass beads. I am attaching photos. With shipping, tax and your fees I paid $175 for glass beads that were advertised as pearls with a 14kt clasp. As the seller I feel it is your responsibility to correctly advertise the items you are selling. It is my responsibility as the buyer to examine the photographs to ensure the condition is to my standard. From your photographs there is no way to determine that these were not pearls as stated in your listing and description. The photos show a strand of "pearls" (as advertised) which are individually tied with what is advertised as a 14kt gold clasp (which is correct). So as the buyer it is safe to assume from title, description and photos that these are "pearls" and not glass beads. I have bid on and won many other items in your auctions and these items were always as stated in the listings and descriptions so I came to trust your company. I am hoping you will do the right thing and make good for your mistake as I do not want to have to take this further. When I am issued a full refund I will be happy to return them to you.

I told him to go scream at his mother and wife like that. The man should not be working with the public in any capacity.

Dana G.

Tracy is a kind professional business owner who truly understands her products. She works hard for her clients, ensuring they get top dollar for their prized possessions. Her concept is a step above a typical tag sale, offering an organized and labeled environment where everything is easy to navigate. Participants simply bid, win, and then conveniently pick up their items at the front desk, making the process seamless and enjoyable.

Hamed A.

Be extremely cautious to what you buy from them. They posted pictures of a rug they were selling that was blurry when they showed the entire rug but only posted clearer pictures when the rug was up close and hiding stains and moth damage. I bought the rug knowing I’m going to send it out for wash but didn’t know the entire rug had stains and moth damage. They failed to post this on their listings. I reached out to them and some unpleasant lady Megan answers and was absolutely no help. what a useless employee. She tells me you shouldn’t have picked the item up, but their policy clearly states items not picked up will be considered forfeited. I lost $2500 on the item I purchased. Please be aware of the the scams this company pulls. Even to this day I haven’t been helped. I will add the photos they posted and the photos I took that should’ve been displayed. The first 4 was their pictures and the remaining were the clear ones I took that we as customers should’ve been shown. This company clearly doesn’t care about their name or their customers all they care about is making a buck.

sally R.

CROOKS!
I won an item that was very small 6” x 6” and requested shipping. Per the terms of the shipping policy, I waited for an email invoice from Valley Shipping. Two weeks after the auction was over I called them and was told that the property was returned back to the consignor. They intentionally mislead bidders with very convoluted and confusing shipping instructions. See for yourself.

Allison L.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Clearing House Estate Sales for the auction of furniture and other items from my home, and I cannot express enough how impressed I am with their service. From start to finish, the experience was seamless, professional, and exceeded all my expectations.

Lisa Kohl, the auction manager, and her team were consummate professionals. They were responsive, helpful, and incredibly lovely to work with. Lisa’s expertise and attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the auction was handled with the utmost care and precision. She made what could have been a stressful process into an enjoyable and effortless experience.

The entire team’s dedication to their craft was evident in every interaction. They were always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and ensure that I was completely satisfied with the process. Their professionalism, combined with a warm and friendly approach, made me feel confident and well-cared for throughout.

If you are considering auctioning items, I highly recommend Clearing House Estate Sales. Lisa Kohl and her team are truly the best in the business. They took great care in managing my auction, and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Thank you, Lisa, and the entire team, for your outstanding service!

Susan D.

I've used A&M Estate Sales for 3 separate auctions/sales over a three year period. I can't say enough positive things about Amy and Melissa. They are professional, knowledgeable, courteous and show up on time! They take and post numerous photos and research items to post accurate descriptions which are appreciated as both a seller and buyer. During my last sale, Amy picked up a jewelry item to provide a bidder additional information - now that's customer service. My seller results have exceeded my expectations for all three auctions. Thank you A&M Auction Sales. I will continue to recommend A&M Auction Sales to family and friends.

Christine W.

My experience with Tracy at Monarch Homes was amazing. My items were carefully handled and catalogued prior to pickup. The pickup location was well marked. Tracy and her helpers were cheerful and helpful during the pickup process. I highly recommend Monarch Homes if you are planning an estate auction.

Deborah H.

Clearing House Estate Sales helped us to downsize to 1/3 of what we had previously lived in. They were professional, helpful, considerate, and easy to work with. I will definitely use them again before my next move!