website thubmnail of CT Bids
How would you rate CT Bids?
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Maryland
2 reviews
7 helpful votes
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My Experiences...
April 27, 2025

I would be a regular customer, but I am done now after about two months of nothing but what I see as unfair practices by CT Bids. This is my humble opinion, of course. Today was the final straw... The purchase? Several small items, in both price & size, as they were jewelry. The sales/purchase invoice was $95.89, including CT's 18% buyers fee, which they took instantly at auction end. Literally when an auction closes, they take their money seconds later. The shipping invoice comes later - whenever, really - because they already have your money. Now they need to fleece you for more. For this purchase, the shipping invoice arrived today for $76.93. It read: "Box $5.00. Shipping/handling $71.93." You can do the math. $95 with $77 shipping. Terrible. How long does it take to put 4 pieces of jewelry in a box and print a label? It takes me maybe 10 minutes, even if I take a bathroom break. I have owned my company for over 30 years and know that these items did not cost more than $15 in shipping cost & insurance with any US carrier. CT charges whatever they want for shipping and you are stuck with no recourse, except to forfeit your purchase. The overcharging & gouging are the very definition of extortion - forcing an extraordinary unfair payment from someone - a payment that is way more than a person expected to pay on an item you already paid for weeks earlier. On top of that, then CT takes as long as they want to send your package after both payments. Lord knows when I will get these items. I should have been more cautious myself as one of my first purchases in March, under the exact circumstances has not been received. It was one $35 item with $30 shipping. I made 41 purchases with CT over the last 8 weeks and have been waiting weeks for shipping invoices, which I know will gouge me. I have only received 19 of the 41 purchases. In being forthright, some of those were shipped with better pricing, but still overall still not fair. BUYER BEWARE! Think about this... If this is how they take care of their customers who they should want to keep, perhaps you should not trust them to be "caring" and honest toward you and your vulnerable family members. Thank you.

Date of experience: April 27, 2025
Alabama
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Worst Customer Service
February 13, 2025

At first. I thought this would be convenient way to purchase estate sale items for decent prices. Boy was I wrong. It might be okay if you could drive to pick up the items, but NEVER ship them! Between the handing charges (just to have them take the items to the shipping company or post office) have exceeded $100, then you pay for outrageous shipping fees! I made the mistake of questioning the handling fees and received numerous nasty emails from upper management (especially Theresa Murphy). There is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE! In my opinion no one should use this company! There are much better options out there! Save yourself the headache!

Date of experience: February 3, 2025
Mississippi
1 review
0 helpful votes
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Shipping is unfair
February 5, 2025

They are super high on shipping. Its absolutely ridiculous and im thinking of stop buying from them because of this one problem that they will not be reasonable on. I ship all the time and it cost me $5-10 maybe! They have a flat rate of $20-$30 and it will arrived (3 weeks later...thats another problem) and it arrives in a padded mailer with cheap bubble wrap for the padding. I mean I know that didnt cost $20! They are making a killing off Shipping

Date of experience: February 4, 2025
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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CT BIDS USING MISLEADING RULES IN THEIR AUCTIONS. THEY INFLATE SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGES TO RECOUP AUCTION PROFIT LOSSES. CT BIDS USES UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES KEEPING WON ITEMS AND PAYMENTS. WINNERS ARE BLIND SIDED BY INFLATED SHIPPING COSTS WHICH ARE OFTEN 2 OR 3 TIMES WHAT A PERSON WOULD PAY, SHIPPING THE ITEM THEMSELVES. WON ITEMS BECOME UNATAINABLE DUE TO INFLATED SHIPPING AND HANDELING COSTS, BUT WINNERS HAVE NO RECOURSE. CT BIDS ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH THE WINNERS TO FIND MORE AFFORDABLE SHIPPING SOLUTIONS. THEREFORE, WHEN SHIPPING ISNT PAID IN FULL IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME THEY GIVE THEMSELVES THE RIGHT TO KEEP ALL WON ITEMS AND ALL PRE-CHARGED PAYMENTS WITH NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION.

Date of experience: January 20, 2025

Overcharge for shipping
November 26, 2024
Previous review

Wanted to charge me 140.00 to ship a 12" x 12" mirror to me. Ive paid 1/3 of that for large packages from Germany 2 day shipping. I dont know if all the vendors are like that but reading the reviews Im thinking maybe it is all the auction houses. Beware!

Date of experience: November 25, 2024
Japan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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I purchased several purses in an auction which cost about $26 but the shipping I was going to be charged was $82. This is quite a profit for CT BIDS DENTON COLLIN COUNTY.

Date of experience: January 20, 2025
California
1 review
5 helpful votes
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I have been an avid buyer on this site for several years, spending over $100,000. While I initially accepted the high shipping costs and delays because I could still turn a profit, my experience has become increasingly frustrating.

The franchise owners often seem disinterested in providing a positive buyer experience. Many are real estate agents more focused on clearing houses for listings than on customer service. Unfortunately, this lack of care extends to how they treat buyers, who often feel undervalued.

I have faced threats of being removed from the site for not paying shipping invoices immediately, despite the frequent delays in receiving those invoices. When I inquired about using my own shipping labels or arranging my own shipping, the response was always a firm "no," often with an unhelpful reference to the terms of service.

Despite my efforts to endure these issues in the hopes of profitability, the combination of high fees, outrageous shipping costs, and overall disregard for buyers has led me to take my business elsewhere. I now source from places that respect their customers and recognize the role we play in keeping their businesses afloat.

If you choose to shop here, be aware of these challenges from someone with extensive experience on your site.

Date of experience: October 11, 2024
Maryland
2 reviews
11 helpful votes
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Olivia from Omaha wanted to charge me $942 in shipping for dolls and doll clothes that I paid $264. She and Joe were very nasty and threatening. I know shipping is expensive but $942 is obscene. Caring Transitions main office didn't care though. Be careful if you want her to ship you something.

Date of experience: August 7, 2024
Oregon
3 reviews
19 helpful votes
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So NOT good!
December 29, 2023

Not a trustworthy site or bidders. When I picked up in Milwaukee my door handle was broken by somebody while I was inside. I called and spoke to Kim and asked if she had cameras. No! She then mentioned there's a bike trail right next to the building! How damn convenient! The door handle will cost me way more than what I picked up. Waste of time, energy and money.

Date of experience: December 29, 2023
South Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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I often bid on CT bids in Charleston South Carolina. I have had nothing but great experience with them. Items are always as described and sometimes they are even boxed up and ready to go when my husband picks up.

Date of experience: March 6, 2024
Florida
1 review
3 helpful votes
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They Have froze me from bidding unfairly. I do not what to bid on their junk,.But to block me from other auctions Is Unfair.I Have been a good customer and have a good record before these two came in to town. V/R David Hawkins

Date of experience: November 28, 2023
New York
1 review
2 helpful votes
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While doing research, I found several bad reviews for Ctbids.com, however, I learned each location is franchised owned. I won 2 auctions with Caring Transitions of Garden City. Rachel Rohn was wonderful. Responsive to emails and questions and even arranged for an alternate time to pickup our items. Upon pickup, all of our delicate items were already wrapped and packaged up. Rachel asked that we open each package and inspect everything. All items were as described and just as pictured. As in all franchises, you have your good and bad. Rachel is part of the good!

Date of experience: November 9, 2023
Minnesota
1 review
3 helpful votes
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BEWARE! Thieves!
November 20, 2023

When you purchase items you intend to ship they do not give you any indicationof what shipping might cost but claim it will be fair. When you win the item they take your money for the item immediately. Then a few days later they tell you the shipping cost. You either pay that or forfeit the original cost of the item. They charged me TWENTY DOLLARS to ship 12 small coins! This website is an absolute SCAM! Avoid at all costs!

Date of experience: November 20, 2023
Virginia
1 review
7 helpful votes
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Don't buy from Winchester VA
December 5, 2023

I purchased earrings and it took over a month to receive them. I had to email or call to get them to create a shipping invoice, then to put the charge through on my credit card, then to create a shipping label, and even then it took nine days, two emails, and a complaint to CTBIDS customer support for them to finally take it to the post office. Never once did they answer my emails or phone calls.

Date of experience: December 5, 2023
New Jersey
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Should be shut down
December 6, 2023

Had a problem with one of their franchises not shipping items I've won. Ctbids themselves have brain dead support that didn't help at all and stopped responding and started playing dumb. Not only are a lot of the franchises garbage, ctbids themselves are garbage and should be shut down

Date of experience: December 6, 2023
Arkansas
1 review
1 helpful vote
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NOT GOOD
January 30, 2024

Do not buy from Moore Ok. The lady's last name is Gonzolas. She said they charge 15 dollars to pick up the item. My item was kitchen spatulas etc. Outrageous. I cancelled my item and she said she would give me half of my bid $ back but have not heard from her. I think I should get it all back. So they charge 15$ per pickup per person...wow. CTBIDS OKLAHOMA MOORE

Date of experience: January 30, 2024
Wisconsin
1 review
7 helpful votes
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Description of item was completely wrong, they charge for everything $10. Just to drop off at a shipping center. When I tried to work something out. (Being a nice guy) they only screenshot their shipping policy. Not once acknowledged there fault. Anyways stay away at least the CT in VA.

Date of experience: July 1, 2022
Massachusetts
1 review
2 helpful votes
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Recently, I was the winning bidder for some high end audio equipment in an online auction conducted by Favaro Auctioneers how after the sale the owner, Keith Favaro refused to take my money and ship the items to me. Because of the high resale value of the items I purchased, I suspect that he either took the items and sold them himself or sold them to someone post-auction for more money. Either way he is a crook. BEWARE

Date of experience: May 5, 2024
Indiana
1 review
9 helpful votes
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Not buying from them anymore, I used to buy since 6 years ago but now the charge $10 to $20 for "handling" plus shipping. Don't get me wrong, I know shipping has gone up buy last time, shipping 2 cuffs and a pin (maybe 8 oz total lot weigh at most and each cuff no larger than 3" x 1") the "shipping charge was $29.90 and not shipped carefully just put in a plastic bag with paper on top and bottom.
They specify "Shipping is expensive" instead they should say "Shipping has increased but we will overcharge you"
Be careful if you buy and need shipping, once you buy you don't have another option than pay or lose your items

Date of experience: April 27, 2023
Missouri
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
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Poor site - promises things that never will happen - incomplete pages, esoteric, at best.
Question: Who profits from unworkable sites? Do you, somehow, gain from user's frustration?
P.S. - I have a 'proof of purchase' but it's a. PDF. You don't accept these..

Date of experience: October 26, 2021
Florida
2 reviews
10 helpful votes
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Clearly stated on their website to contact said person for any questions. Made multiple attempts to do so...crickets.

You want to charge a 15% buyers fee? Thus was designed for auction houses to help pay the bills. The majority of items are on-site. What additional fees do you incur? Imagine going to an estate sale and being told there is a 15% buyers fee. Oh yes, plus an additional 7% in taxes. Pure rubbish.

You can bid, but the pickup is on Wednesday between 1-3. Seriously? Most people are doing what they call "work" during these ridiculous windows.

Please consider a traditional estate sale company for your needs. Nine out of ten estate sale goers agree.

JC

Date of experience: December 31, 2022

Overview

CT Bids has a rating of 1.7 stars from 91 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with CT Bids most frequently mention customer service and estate sale. CT Bids ranks 164th among Auction sites.

service
51
value
49
shipping
35
returns
20
quality
41