live auction on late night tv : bait and switch

ComplaintsClothing & Jewelryfive star jewerers and liquidators

Complaint

0
kyle martin
Country: United States
my wife won a 11cwt diamond bracelet on live tv auction for $2000.00'
we were so excited. as they say it was to good to be true. bait and switch
operation!!! SCAM!!! received a 4cwt cheap looking bracelet, after many
attempts to reach company was told they substitute items. beware! if it seems to good to be true it usually is. Dont buy on late night tv auctions
FIVE STAR JEWELRERS AND LIQUIDATORS/FIVE STAR PRODUCTIONS FLORIDA.

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    "Substituting items" on an "auction"?
    That isn't even an auction.

    How did you pay?  If you can, dispute their charge as fraudulent through your bank, since they did not deliver what they represented you were buying.  You dispute under FRB Reg. E, for checking account EFT charges, and FCBA for credit card charges.  FRB Reg. CC covers checks.

    Contact the FBI, as they have investigated fraudulent and fixed "auctions" in the past.
  • 0
    So why doesn't the FBI
    just put this place out of buisines....but then again michael jacksons killer doctor is not behind bars....sorry for your loss to the first 'victim' but the person that answered you here, told you exactly what to do...

    First call the Bank weather it is a credit or debit card, check...I have been scammed a couple of times when i was new to the auctions online and on tv, but never lost a dime
  • 0
    CINDYSTREAZURES
    I MYSELF PURCHASED A DIAMOND BRACELET FROM THIS COMPANY. I LOVED IT.. IT WAS AS DESCRIBED IN THE AUCTION.. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED OTHER ITEMS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DEALS. I HAVE RETURNED ONLY ONE ITEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT I MADE THE MISTAKE OF BUYING A BRACLET THAT WAS TO SMALL FOR ME. I RETURNED IT AND THEY REFUNDED MY MONEY PROMPTLY. I WILL KEEP WATCHING THIS PROGRAM AND PURCHASING FROM THEM.
  • 0
    Lisa
    I just bought from them for the first time. I will wait and see if it is good.
  • 0
    Carolyn Johnston
    I won an "auction" for a diamond (baguettes/rounds) ring for $800.  I had an appraisal done and it appraised for $6,000.  

    However, when I actually put the ring on, it looked like a wedding band, not just a ring.  It looked like it was swirled on tv, but it was not how I remembered it and I wanted to return the ring.

    When I finally (after 4 attempts) got someone on the phone number shown on the tv screen to transfer me to someone who could authorize the return, I was connected to the "live auctioneer".....on the air at that time. I tried to explain that I wanted a credit on my card and that the ring didn't look like it did on the tv.  He said "Wow! No one would ever want to return a 2 ct. diamond ring bought for $700.  This is unbelievable!"  

    He said he would have to transfer me to someone else and then (wonder why???) I got cut off.  I called 3 more times, all unsuccessfully.  Not only did I have to keep the ring, I couldn't get any help from anyone.

    I should have called the FBI, CIA, Underdog, etc.  I won't purchase from them again.  Be forewarned!
  • 0
    Skeptic
    I think you must be related to this whole business.  No one else would post something like this.
  • 0
    Crazy Mad in California
    I thought this was a scam after I got a message machine and no one would return my calls. I bought several things totaling about $13,000.00, all within the space of about a week! When the first item came, a tanzanite and diamond bracelet, it looked like a cheap-[***] (excuse my French!) version of the one on TV. When I finally got someone to call me back, the guy (George) acted like I was stupid. I told him it looked cheap, the diamonds were chips, and the bracelet didn't look like the one on TV. He said of course it didn't, that the TV makes everything look different. He was belligerent when he gave me the RMA#. I had to go through that for all the crap I purchased in that week. I called the credit card company and ,at first, they credited my account. Now they are telling me that it is the policy of Five Star to only give in-house credita!nd they put the charges back on my account! This thing about in-house credit only is a total lie!On their invoice it says that you have the option of in-house credit for the total amount or if you want a refund on your card you have to pay a 10% restocking fee! Why would I want in house credit from those [***]! Also, they don't tell you up front that they have a 10% restocking fee! You only find that out when you receive the merchandise. What happened to truth in advertising? I just called their number today and it seems that they are off the air right now. Their answering machine says they are negotiating for airtime!I left a message that I would see their business go down in flames! I think everyone that has been ripped off by them should do everthing they can to put them out of business. I'm going to take the suggestions of tj plus don't forget this could come under mail fraud if you sent the stuff back by the US mail. Also, what about small claims court? Don't let them slide! They'll just keep doing it to other people. I think that they are the scum of the earth.
  • 0
    Phyllis
    They owe me over $10,000 AND I CAN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM . I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. I NEED MY MONEY BACK ITS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS AND I CANT FIND THEM
  • 0
    pHYLLIS
    I have been buying from them for a while and had to keep sending things back because they were damaged or was told they was what i ordered. Once they told me I paid a $1000 more than i did. George was always nice to me and said he would take care of things and he did, but also gave me house credit at times also. The last time i talked to him he said they would be off the air for 2 weeks then would setlr things with me that was the last of June and thry have not came back on channel 315 or answer the phone.I don't know how to get in touch with them and they owe me about $10,000 does anyone know where they are at? I'm ready to take a trip to Florida to find them
  • 0
    martin hochfeld
    I bought several items frim them over the years adn was pleased excet fot 1 braclet to return, How does one contact then,  mhochfeld@yahoo,com
  • 0
    mhochfeld@yahoo.com
    how to get in touch with then?D
  • 0
    Phyllis
    mhochfeld@yahoo.com  did you find away to get in touch with 5 Star Jewelers? If you did please let me know at evans737@aol.com  Thank You
  • 0
    aaron saxton
    live auctioneers is a total scam - stay away - I got ripped off from Western Asset Reserve and liveauctioneers - they factually altered my financial records and then said I provided them with a bad address - they totally lied.
  • 0
    Peevedbuyer
    Well they are located in Hawaii or at least their warehouse is.... Supposedly they are moving and dumping all inventory. For over two weeks basically 24/7 auctions literally--soon as one ends another begins and that's including 2am!!
    I bought from them about a year ago, item "appraised" for 39,000. If I chose to get rid of it, I'd be LUCKY for $500 back!!! Not at all what the picture looked liked but I came to realize I did bid so left it at that. Unfortunately I found these reviews too late! My husband just bid on $20 worth of junk and total cost was $50 even though it could easily come first class...actually waiting on delivery as I type this, I'm now dying to see what [***] I get!! Needless to guess several items totaling only $20 will most likely be a joke considering what we got before which cost much much more!!!!!

    I must say, I knew something was fishy when the silver and gold bars were going well over value plus factor in buyers fees & shipping..... Usually real buyers leave room for profit of meltdown value.............fake bidders too huh????  Business practices are shady for sure when you see floor bidders taking anything that looks decent at 3am (even with time changes) how is that possible?? Since 2010 live auctioneers have changed, now it looks like a total scam, even their bidding system changed, you also have no volume and floor bids and Internet bids change every micro second, how does that work out when it does take time for bids from the floor have to be at least punched in online by someone???? Everything is lightning fast and gone is seconds but useless crap, valueless or through the roof expensive sit till you almost fall out of your chair due to boredom!!!!!! Basically begging anyone to bid!!!!! Their is no in between with this company or website, they are out to screw you, nothing is fair and I'm pretty sure I believe the bait and switch people are complaining about, I didn't think they can do that, or I would have totally returned my previous purchases!!!!!!
  • 0
    Peeved utter
    Forgot to add, did anyone ever get their jewelry and gemstones appraisals????? Still for months trying to figure out who j.e.m appraisers are!!!! Thinking an inside appraiser from the auction house, the only thing online I could find was a reality appraiser with that name. You know you can find anything and everything online and nada, like the appraiser does not exist.... I wanted to see how legit the company was and how reputable my appraisal papers are, right now, useless!!!

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