Barrett Street Auctions Beware Barrett Street Antique Center ! Virginia Beach Virginia

 I took a lot of comic books to Barretts to be sold. I did not recieve what I had expected. I also took a Large Map to which I have pictures of that was dated from 1939. He has since said when I went back to pick it up that it went out in a truck for Charity. I have a contract that states any unsold items are to be returned to seller. I want to know what recourse I have since I was told that they would  call and locate the map that  had just went out on the truck shortly  before I had arrived to pick it up. I have not recieved a call and everytime I call I either get excuses or that they will have one of the owners contact me. I am afraid that they are stalling because there might be a time limit of me having any recourse. I am a woman with very little income and depended on tbhis comic book money and this map money to pay some bills. Please let me know what steps I need to take. Thank you. I am sick over this. Should have known better by the way they acted and handled things.

Darlene Virginia Beach, Virginia

Tom used to complain up on the podium about prices going too cheap.  Until his son Rob, who runs the thrift store, started bidding too.  This has appearances of collusion as Tom also is a partner of the thrift store.  So it appears that Rob is a "fail-safe" mechanism against items going for a decent price for the buyer.  For those who consign with him, be warned that he charges 50% commission!!!  And ask for an itemized receipt of all that you consign with him. 

First of all I can't believe the ranting of this woman against Tom and his Auction company.  I have been buying and selling things through Tom and Sandra's auction house for years.  Never...has there been anything but professional assistance and complete honesty from Tom and Sandra. 

So what if Rob has a thrift store in Norfolk, you couldn't find a nicer guy.  And so what if he bids on items at Barrett Street..if you are not the high bidder than you don't get the item.  If Rob wins the bid then by all means he should get it.  He is buying things for his thrift store (not running-up bids) and I see Rob buying at many auctions.  It seems to me that he is not going to pay too much for the items, or he wont make a profit on the items he bids on.  If you want to pay nothing for the items..then you should not be there.

I am not a close friend of Tom or Robs but I know both of them and would like for you all to know.... you are talking about two very hard working men that give their best everyday.  Also, if Betsy called Tom and gave him a false impression of the items she had, that's not Tom's fault.   Especially if he got there and found mounds of junk that even the Salvation Army would not take.  She should have told him that she had that kind of trash.  Tom and Saundra have guidelines so where the disconnect happened...who knows, but knowing them like I do...it wasn't their fault...they are too well put together for that.  I can't see that happening because Tom is a man of his word and he and his wife will go out of their way to help you.  Once I had a hurt arm and I was trying to carry something out to my car that I won in their auction and Tom and Saundra took the item from me and insisted on putting it in my car.... even though they were very busy.  Tom is always putting his customers first.  Thank you Tom and Saundra for always being the best at what you do.

Lee H

A friend of mine informed me of "Auctioneer" above who mentioned that not accepting certain items is the norm. But what "Auctioneer" doesn't know is Barrett Street Auction Center advertises "Complete Pickup and Cleanout" in their Yellow Pages ad that Betsy saw. If there were any non-allowed items that Tom Giroux/Barrett Street will not pickup, then they should have said so when Betsy called and be upfront and ethical.

After I reported my experience at Barrett Street regarding Tom Giroux's son bidding (shilling) on items, I've learned that some people who consign their estates to Barrett Street don't get paid for all of their items. One friend told me he suspected that a silverware set went "missing" because it wasn't on the list of items he got paid for. When he called Barrett Street about it, the woman who answered asked if he gotten a list of items that he consigned to Barrett Street. Well, my friend assumed Barrett Street itemizes consigned items and regrets not doing this on his own. He couldn't to pursue court action since he didn't have proof that the silverware set went to Barrett Street. Likely Barrett Street Auction Center isn't the only auction center that does this.

I am an Auctioneer from the Midwest, and I wanted to let your readers know how things work. I have never been to the auction house you wrote about, in fact the last time I was even in your state I was in 2nd grade and am now 50 years old.

You said
"We do not take any particle or press board office furniture" he said, pointing to a two year old Computer desk that cost $299.00 at Office Max."We don't take electronics" he said, referring to the office security video monitor worth about $150.00 We don't take office chairs, metal desks and files cabinets, etc" and . "We don't take used couches or recliners" "We can take the old hardback books, but not any paperbacks" He went on and on until he finally narrowed down what he would take to Antiques and high dollar items only.


There are several points I would like to make. Nobody in the auction business will pick up and move partical board furniture, you can't even sell it on-site. It falls apart when you move it. If it is still in the box you can sell it, but once it is out of the box, you may as well throw it away. Nobody cares what you paid for your stuff, if you think stuff is worth what you paid for it I have a closet full of Wamu stock I'd like to sell you, oh and perhaps some Enron stock as well. If you honestly think anyone can see a used particle bord desk for what the owner paid for it you need to visit a few auctions and see what they really sell for used. I have never sold one for over $5.00 and I have been at this game a long time. A used video monitor is hazardous waste, Goodwill will not even take them,
I quote from Goodwills FAQ http://www.giveit2goodwill.org/donations/faq#17
"What is Goodwill unable to use?
Auto parts, mattresses and box springs, building materials (sinks, toilets, etc.), lumber, carpet, paint, hot water heaters, large appliances, computers CPUs/Monitors, swing sets, or Venetian blinds. For a complete list, please check out our Donation Guidelines."

they have been regulated since 2001. Don't take my word on it do a google search on hazardous waste monitor or just look at http://www.rivcowm.org/faq/faq_hhw.html. By the way Goodwill will not take most couches or stuffed chairs (recliners included) as they may harbor fleas or bed bugs.

It is very common for people to call an Auctioneer when they find themselves with an looming deadline and expect us to do a magic trick and make junk disappear. We can often help, and we can pull of some amazing stuff (I sold a house and contents today with less than 2 weeks to adverise it and got a very fair price for everything) but some people have called the wrong craft to help, they need a guy with a magic wand, not a gavel.
Midwest Auctioneer

I started recently going to Barrett Street's auctions. I usually bid on furniture and some nice dishes, old toys and a few other items and I noticed that one man seemed to be my main competitor on a number of things I bidded on. I noticed in later auctions here this one man seemed to have a wide variety of interests such as music records, furniture, glass stuff, bunch of what they call "tray lots", etc. He is usually the first one to bid low on stuff and many times won.

This past auction, after Rob won yet another item, I heard some chatter from a couple of ladies behind me and they were shaking their head about this man and I asked them who he was. They told me that his name was "Rob" and he was the owner's son! I was aghast! I asked them isn't that shilling and illegal?? They said that Rob owns a large thrift store in Norfolk VA that he brings the stuff he wins at Barrett Street auctions to his store. They also said that they were sure that the auctioneer Tom, who is Rob's father, is also part owner of that store! To me, that is an indirect way to shill your own auctions! It's like, "If it goes cheap, it's going to my store!!" I got my wife and we left immediately and we are not coming back!

I believe both parties could have gone about this a better way. The women trying to sell her items should of planned better to have the merchandise sold in a proper time frame, or better yet to sell the items herself.

Being a business owner myself I can understand the frustrations of customers, but to put a negative comment on a website such as this is not very professional and does not help make your business or its practices look any better.

Maybe future customers should provide a list of what they have with some digital photos to the company, this would give the auction center a chance to review what is in stock. That should eliminate many problems or issues.

What is wrong with this lady she sold a business and only left 9 days to clean it out she is in fantasy land and needs medication for what she thinks about me and the horrible things she said about the way I do business. She should be ashamed of herself this lady needs to grow up and make better plans for such moves in the future. I'm not her parent and do not need to clean up her mess she is irresponsible and does not understand the value of things let alone others feelings. We will pray for this sad lady I'm a good person and very proud of how I do business. This lady was out of her mind I would have never done the things she has said. She was just looking for someone to take out her anger on in a very abusive way.

What is wrong with this lady she sold a business and only left 9 days to clean it out she is in fantasy land and needs medication for what she thinks about me and the horrible things she said about the way I do business. She should be ashamed of herself this lady needs to grow up and make better plans for such moves in the future. I'm not her parent and do not need to clean up her mess she is irresponsible and does not understand the value of things let alone others feelings. We will pray for this sad lady I'm a good person and very proud of how I do business. This lady was out of her mind I would have never done the things she has said. She was just looking for someone to take out her anger on in a very abusive way.

What is wrong with this lady she sold a business and only left 9 days to clean it out she is in fantasy land and needs medication for what she thinks about me and the horrible things she said about the way I do business. She should be ashamed of herself this lady needs to grow up and make better plans for such moves in the future. I'm not her parent and do not need to clean up her mess she is irresponsible and does not understand the value of things let alone others feelings. We will pray for this sad lady I'm a good person and very proud of how I do business. This lady was out of her mind I would have never done the things she has said. She was just looking for someone to take out her anger on in a very abusive way.