Ellicott W.

My relationship with this company came to an end this year when I was blocked for asking a question of an auctioneer and following up a week later asking why I'd not been replied to.

THEY THEN BLOCKED ME AND HELD MONEY OWNED TO ME FOR ONE MONTH AS PUNISHMENT!

They didn't even tell me they were doing this and refused to reply to my emails during this time. I am only just being paid for auctions that ended TWO MONTHS AGO!

My advice, with over 20 years of experience buying and selling online, AVOID CATAWIKI. You are seen as a cash cow, nothing more. They make 21.5% commission from your sale. If you are outside the EU you also have to accept the extremely poor conversation rate they use when sending you YOUR MONEY. Money, but the way, which can also held for weeks on end after the auction ends.

As you can see from the response below, Aramis Rugby hold little or no regard for their customers. My order was pre-covid19 closedown. It has been completed and apparently ready for delivery but the factory is closed due to government guidelines. However, there are no such guidelines.
I find it cheap and disrespectful to make any suggestions this is about the goods rather than the current crisis. This is about a company that is untrustworthy with very poor communication.

Is it wrong to expect an confirmation of an order? How about an email telling me they can't deliver of the items are delayed?

Just read the response, do you want to deal with a company like this?

Taken directly from the website:
"All orders are being taken and processed as normal including printed rugby balls & customised clothing."

I have never dealt with a 'business' with such poor communication. I placed an order for tour shirts in early March and did not receive confirmation of payment. Emailed a week later only to receive an extremely unprofessional email advising 'they are in production'. Nothing more!
With the UK shutdown taking place I would also have expected updates, no. Nothing until I chased again when advised there was no expected date and they 'would not put staff at risk' - Now, a month overdue, still nothing yet the website states everything is being processed as usual!

Reply from Aramis Rugby
2 hours ago
We are sorry that you feel this way, but due to Covid-19, we as most businesses have been forced into lockdown and productions halted. I am sure you will appreciate that we will not put lives of our staff at risk and break the law just to manufacture your customised clothing.

Unfortunately your stated facts are incorrect as written email proofs of all correspondence with yourself exists including the latest one on 10th April.
We are taking new orders for customised clothing and processing them as stated on the website but actual production and despatch of those can only happen once the lockdown is lifted and the govt allows us to function.

We are sorry that you seem to be more concerned with the goods rather than being concerned about actual lives of people making those goods for you during this pandemic.

Ruined a Christmas present last year. Purchased a bottle of expensive champagne, vintage the same year our son was born. Received one 4 years younger, a lesser vintage and around £40 cheaper. NO REPLY from the company despite several emails. Phone just rings or engaged, no one answers.
Eventually left a review, to which they responded as I would expect, apart from suggesting it was normal business to supply 'alternative' products if not in stock (BTW, still selling the older vintage online even today!). Contacted them on the details supplied, NO REPLY! This company should not be allowed to trade and I would urge anyone thinking of using them to go elsewhere.

This is from my personal experience with this company around 2/3 years ago.
Conned me into taking 'interest free, pay when completed' option - if you take this you need to use their solicitors, who in turn charge hundreds of pounds more to use than normal. Why? Because they pay a huge fee to purplebricks!
The agent, and I'm not kidding here, actually left 2 potential buyers in the house, by themselves, to look around! BY THEMSELVES!
You get a stream of rubbish coming from the agents about viewings, open days etc. However, the stream of potential real buyers is more an effluent flow of people trying to low-ball you on price.

Avoid these people!

Frustrating money machine - that's all catawiki is. 'customer support' are pointless drones, looking for the easiest solution with them keeping as many of their fees as possible.
I've received items back (claimed not working or damaged) that are completely different to the ones sent out, I have to pay seller and buyers fees, plus postage in both directions. On an item costing e.g. 100 eur, that's around 20 eur in postage costs and another 25 eur in fees. So you receive back something that's not working, damaged or different and you get to pay 45 euros for the convenience!

Go elsewhere as a seller.