Business ProfileforJ. Levine Auction & Appraisal

In July, 2019, BBB investigated J. Levine Auction & Appraisal’s business practices. This investigation was prompted by the volume of complaints and consumer inquiries. It is alleged that the business fails to honor advertised consignment terms referring to payments, and fails to honor contracts by withholding payments for consignment services. 

An example of complaints received, “Consumer signed contract with business so they could auction 17 fine art. The auction was supposed to be held on December 2, but they had received an email on November the 27 with the auction results stating they received $1,040.90 out of the $24,000 of the appraised art work. The consumer stated they tried to get back several of the property that wasn’t sold but the business stated they had been shipped out. The business didn’t provide them with the remaining art work or funds owed to the consumer.”

BBB reviewed an Auction Contract and Auction Disclosure from J. Levine Auction & Appraisal which were provided by a complainant.  It should be noted that in both documents it states in slightly different language that the 'seller authorizes and gives Auctioneer the right to donate on behalf of Seller any part of the property to a nonprofit charitable organization if, at any time, Auctioneer deems, in its sole discretion, such property unsalable."

Regarding payment the Auction Contract and Disclosure forms state that "payment for all items sold at auction by J. Levine Auction & Appraisal, LLC may take 30 to 45 business days to process."

BBB contacted J. Levine Auction & Appraisal regarding the business practice concerns as well as the pattern of complaints. The business has not responded to BBB as of August 7, 2019.