Auction Review: IRA & Larry Goldberg
BECOKA
Posts: 16,961 ✭✭✭
I dealt with this company for the first time a few weeks back and wanted to share my experience.
Things got off to a rough start. Their website is not user friendly. I ended up calling to get an account setup since every attempt on the website did not take.
Once the account was setup through e-mail, I promptly put in a bid on one item I had serious interest in. Again the website was difficult. I put the bid in and then the following page said nothing about confirming my bid. I could not find a user account page to see my bids etc... ( I later found out if you visit the auction item page again you can check your bids for that item if you are logged in )
After this I gave up and just relied on the phone and e-mail. This route was very efficient and they were very helpful and prompt in response. They confirmed the bid went through.
Two weeks later it's auction time. I called the next day to confirm whether I won my auction or not and happily I won the item for below my maximum bid.
I received an invoice one day later through e-mail, I replied with credit card info and 3 days later I get an express mail with the item.
To make a long story short, these are great people and everything is great working through the phone and e-mail but their website needs a lot of work to be user friendly. I tried it with Safari, IE6 and Firefox.
Hope this helps anyone that considers bidding with them from afar.
Things got off to a rough start. Their website is not user friendly. I ended up calling to get an account setup since every attempt on the website did not take.
Once the account was setup through e-mail, I promptly put in a bid on one item I had serious interest in. Again the website was difficult. I put the bid in and then the following page said nothing about confirming my bid. I could not find a user account page to see my bids etc... ( I later found out if you visit the auction item page again you can check your bids for that item if you are logged in )
After this I gave up and just relied on the phone and e-mail. This route was very efficient and they were very helpful and prompt in response. They confirmed the bid went through.
Two weeks later it's auction time. I called the next day to confirm whether I won my auction or not and happily I won the item for below my maximum bid.
I received an invoice one day later through e-mail, I replied with credit card info and 3 days later I get an express mail with the item.
To make a long story short, these are great people and everything is great working through the phone and e-mail but their website needs a lot of work to be user friendly. I tried it with Safari, IE6 and Firefox.
Hope this helps anyone that considers bidding with them from afar.
0
Comments
I've seen some, including an online brokerage, that were terrible.
JT
I collect all 20th century series except gold including those series that ended there.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>It's nice to read about a positive transaction experience every once in a while. >>
Actually, I read that as a positive people experience. In 2009, if you're going to
offer a web site, it should work!
After seeing this photo on another thread, I am completely and thoroughly cowed and intimidated by the Goldberg operation. What could they possibly have that a lowlife like me could afford?
<< <i>Actually, I read that as a positive people experience. In 2009, if you're going to
offer a web site, it should work! >>
Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I would consider this a positive transaction when compared to most of the train wrecks described in this chatroom.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>
<< <i>Actually, I read that as a positive people experience. In 2009, if you're going to
offer a web site, it should work! >>
Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I would consider this a positive transaction when compared to most of the train wrecks described in this chatroom. >>
I wonder how Becoka would have felt about their service if he wouldn't have won the coin?
(OK, no more mock cynicism done in the name of humor...)
I wish Goldberg's had the kind of website features as Heritage, but really they're a botique operation compared to Heritage and offer a different kind of auction house.
BTW, there were plenty of low-value coins in Goldberg's pre-Long Beach sale a few days ago.
My experience with The Goldberg firm however was excellent.I called and mentioned to their rep that I was going out of town and he said"wow,we better get this out today for you".The package arrived the next day in NY.Two thumbs up for excellent service.
Just my 2 cents(even though I purchased 2 1/2!)
Shoedog
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Actually, I read that as a positive people experience. In 2009, if you're going to
offer a web site, it should work! >>
Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I would consider this a positive transaction when compared to most of the train wrecks described in this chatroom. >>
I wonder how Becoka would have felt about their service if he wouldn't have won the coin?
(OK, no more mock cynicism done in the name of humor...) >>
Actually there was enough phone and e-mail interaction that I would have still considered it positive if I lost. I put a strong bid in and would have been fine if someone wanted this rare variety more than myself.
<< <i>Actually there was enough phone and e-mail interaction that I would have still considered it positive if I lost. I put a strong bid in and would have been fine if someone wanted this rare variety more than myself. >>
Ben, in all sincerity, I'm glad you had a positive experience and decided to share it. And thanks
for the heads up about the web site issues, as well.
While I did not bid in the last sale, I called on a coin that did not sell, to see if it was still available. Spoke with both Larry and Ira, and they went to the consignor to see his lowest price. Communicated that back to me the same day.
Re the auction prices realized, it is different from the other houses. With the catalog in hand, check the list of prices, and write in your catalog the final hammer price.
Without a catalog, click on the lot you wish to see, and at the bottom, the price realized will be noted. If no price indicated, the lot did not sell.
hearing a positive on a business in the coin industry,
I have been at this a long time and more of the experiences
for me have been less than exceptional, my life has depended
on giving "Superior Customer Service", and I hate to say it,
coin dealers spend to much time grading and not understanding
the customer service end of the business.
It makes me very happy on your positive experience....
will look forward if finding a coin IM interested in with them...
It also shows excellent judgment your compliment on their service....
"Because I can"
myurl The Franklin All Old Green Holder Set
<< <i>After seeing this photo on another thread, I am completely and thoroughly cowed and intimidated by the Goldberg operation. What could they possibly have that a lowlife like me could afford? >>
I went to their office to preview some lots a number of years ago. Although I'm hardly a big spender and the coins I was interested in were not all that expensive, they were very helpful in making sure that I was able to see everything that I wanted to see. Afterwards, when I was back at home and ready to submit my bids over the phone, they were most accomodating in handling a couple of conditional bids I wanted to make. I never got the feeling that they thought anything less of me, even though I wasn't bidding big bucks. All in all, I was very pleased with their service.
Unfortunately, since I can't generally get out there to preview lots, I haven't been too successful with my bids lately and they no longer send me catalogs.