Bidder Reviews for Forum Auctions (48)

Enjoyed our opportunity to participate online auction with Forum. There was a glitch in payment process but was resolved quickly and package arrived promptly and so well packed. The lot we purchased is being given to our local museum. So appreciative of the selection of artwork in the auction. Look forward to participating again!

Reliable and professional Auction House: a Guarantee!!!

Forum, like most auction houses, charges a healthy buyer’s premium-27 %. However, it is the additional fees that are aggregating and add up to significant additional costs for the online buyer. Forum adds an additional 3 % for online purchases. This can really add up on expensive items. For Liveautioneers users, who are all online, this seems particularly inappropriate. It is not more expensive for a business to sell online, quite the opposite-it brings in customers they would otherwise never reach. I purchased an item in the UK from Vancouver; a sale that would have never happened without online access. That is an expected service, not one that I should pay a premium for for. Unfortunately, Forum wasn’t done nickel and diming yet. When I paid for my order by credit card, they were kind enough to add another 3 % surcharge on the whole amount (including their other charges). In total, over 6 % in additional fees-or a 33 % premium overall. I have bought at many, many auction houses over the years and most do not engage in these practices. Top notch auction houses encourage online bidders and treat them as valued customers; it is good for their business. Most online buyers use credit card payments for the convenience and extra security it provides for the purchaser. Paying for another expected service is egregious. After all, service is what the buyer’s premium is already there for. Forum would be wise to change that policy as it makes me somewhat unlikely to purchase from them again.

Nice items, fast and safe delivery! Thanks!

I was impressed with the directions offered by the staff in helping me complete the transaction and making arrangements for the shipping of the item I bought. I should add that the item was of outstanding quality and exactly as described. I’m very satisfied with this transaction. Thank you to the staff at Forum Auctions.

Forum Auctions is the best in the business. There staff is very knowledgeable and they're top notch when it comes to communication. You can bid with confidence!

Forum has been quick to answer questions and e-mails. Their payment and shipping process is very efficient

I'm so grateful for the volume I bid on and received through Forum. Professional service, answered all my questions and it took less than a week for them to ship it from the UK to the US! Thank you!

Excellent experience with forum Auctions

I’m very happy to have won the lot and the bidding process, payment and shipping were all excellent. However, this lot has gone unsold in a previous auction and I contacted the auction house multiple times in December to see if I could purchase the work privately. My calls and emails frequently went unreturned and, when the lot was re-entered into a new auction, no one at Forum even had the insight to contact me to let me know so that I could bid. Seems like a disadvantage to both the buyer and seller (and bad business for the house). I’m thrilled to have won the piece and the rest of the process was terrific, but Forum, your team needs more responsive communication-extremely poor in that department.

I would like to say that I had a great experience. I had no issues with the process of winning by lot, and afterwards the emails that were sent provided all the information I required to pay for my item. Having the items shipped to my address was also very seamless as I was helped out by being provided in house shipping quotes (which I used) as well as links to other courier services if I wanted to arrange shipping myself. I look forward to bidding on more items.

FORUM AUCTION HOUSE SOLD MY ITEM TO ANOTHER BIDDER AFTER I WON THE ITEM THEY STATED THERE WAS A LATE BIDDER, WHO THEY SOLD THE ITEM TO. THIS IS A VERY POOR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. AND ANYONE DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I haven't actually had my piece shipped yet so rating that part of my experience was premature, however every other aspect has been great so I'm very pleased thus far.

extra fees VAT tax 5 %; web fee for payment $35; 3 weeks waiting for an export license. Never had this problem with other auctions from UK

Premium was excessive (including online additional premium). Shipping (arranged through 3rd party MBE) disproportionately expensive for small, inexpensive, non-fragile item.

There has been no resolution to my problem from forum auctions or from liveacutioneers. I have a very sour taste in my mouth on account of the entire situation/experience...

The payment for shipping, even if not depending by the auction house, was made by phone in a very unsafe way (just reading all credit card data....). Also getting information fromthe auction house about shipping was a bit complicated (this was for me the first time with Forum Auctions). A part from those aspects, the item i bought was perfectly corrsponding to what expected following the information read on the auction website.