Cordier Auctions & Appraisals David Cordier Owner Ellen Miller Licensed Auctioneer/Certified AppraiserDirector of Catalog & Specialty AuctionsCordier Auctions & Appraisals Deceptive, incorrect and fraudulent auction listing description Harrisburg Pennsylvania

Purchased a rug online November 13 2016 from Cordier Auctions through online bidding site Invaluable. Paid $375.00

Auction title said; Lot 655 Persian Hereke Silk Prayer Rug.

Description as written by Ellen Miller - Licensed Auctioneer/Certified Appraiser Director of Catalog and Specialty Auctions Cordier Auctions and Appraisals read; 

"Persian silk prayer rug, probably Hereke, having double columns and full field floral decoration on an ivory ground. MEASURMENTS 3' x 4'8". CONDITION Minor wear."

Sounds very informed and professional so far right?

Well, Ms Miller turns out to not be so well informed because Hereke is a well known type of rug made in Turkey. Persian rugs are from Iran not Turkey.

When the allegedly Persian or Hereke carpet was taken to Boft Fine Rugs in Calgary for cleaning the owner, Mr Ali Keshvari an Iranian rug dealer with years of experience immediately pronounced the rug to be of obvious Chinese manufacture. At least is was real silk and not the usual Chinese mercerized cotton often mistaken for silk.

We contacted Cordier and were given two days to fill out a return form over the holidays that we were unable to do. We then requested a phone call from David Cordier that was not returned. We were later contacted by Ms Miller who took no responsibility for her incompetence in accurately describing the carpet. She  stated that a buyer has ample time to review the listing and ask questions.

The fact that buyers have a reasonable expectation to rely on the accuracy of descriptions and representations by so called Certified Appraisers as she claims to be was totally lost on her. She was argumentative, defensive and disputatious and quoted her inability to offer compensation for her misrepresentation by saying that the consignor had already been paid out. This after we had offered to settle for a return of the 20% buyers premium, a measly $75.00.

One can't help wondering just how deep Ms Miller's lack of understanding of good business goes.