Questionable watch auctions
AUCTIONATA: No cancellation and return policy
The Austrian e-commerce company AUCTIONATA starts the first luxury watch online auction in late June 2011. Luxury watches from renowned manufacturers such as Breitling, Ebel, IWC, Rado, Rolex and Zenith will go to auction. The watches will be delivered, amongst others, by the watch dealers Oliver Deneke and Mario Gensicke.
Potential bidders and auction participants must register in advance. Initially, this appears to be safe, but the risk of manipulation, e.g. by hackers, could be extremely detrimental for bidders. Monitoring by the audience, as is the case at a public auction, is not given. In addition, the purchaser has no right of return unless the seller decides to be obliging. This substantial disadvantage is found hidden to buyers in the sellers general terms and conditions, Paragraph 7.1 of AUCTIONATA, as of January 31, 2011.
7. No right of cancellation and return to consumers at auctions!
7.1 In spite of the lack of the personal presence of the bidder, the offerings from AUKTIONATA are auctioned and there are no cancellation or right of return for these long distance sales contracts.
If the seller grants the right of return, it is a matter of luck. In this case, the commission paid to AUCTIONATA will not be reimbursed. Read Paragraph 7.2 of the general terms and conditions as of January 31, 2011:
7.2 The registered dealers and promoters are free to grant buyers of their goods a right of cancellation and return. Please see information on the respective offer page. If a return is made, the commission paid to AUCTIONATA will not be reimbursed.
Also, with respect to the high AUCTIONATA commissions, it is not expected that watches will be offered at rock-bottom or bargain prices. So, there is something to say for purchasing watches directly from the watch dealers, to negotiate hard and to save the high amount of the AUCTIONATA commission and so with, not have to waive a cancellation right or right of return for what is purely an online purchase.
Conclusion: Dangerous and consumer-unfriendly online offerings are simply unnecessary!