Luther Auctions

This place is a joke! Not my first time here and what a waste. Came back last night from the ""new years"" auction, where magically, an absent bidder #42 generously bought up 25% of the 500 lots for sale. Hey Tracy, it's called a reserve! Be a man and announce it ahead of time. If you want to pay over retail and fight the mysterious house bidder, than this is the auction for you. more

""Just Because Someone Is On TV, Doesn't Make Them A Star""\r \r The reason I write this review is to share my experiences with Luther Auctions In North Saint Paul.\r If you want to have a terrible auction experience, try consigning with Tracy Luther Auctions, they are rude and act like snobs, and what ever you have is garbage. I don't care if it's the Holy Grail, It's garbage. They won't want to consign it ""because it won't do well there"", they would say. I guess they are doing so well that they can turn away business, ""Or they don't want to junk the place up"". I once brought in a pair of crystal lamps and told them I understand all the risks, that if it don't sell for more then $20 I would get nothing, and was turned away, so I sold it at another auction for $225, It's just weird to me for a business to turn down money, but they are stuck in there little bubble. If you can somehow break down the wall and consign with them, they will get you good prices, I once seen a box of yarn sell there for $35 that someone consigned, but my stuff is not good enough.\r If your a buyer there, I hope you don't mind a sore back side.\r After the sales tax and the buyers premium it comes out to be 22%,\r So if you win a item for $100, you would have to pay $122.\r The items here usually sell for top dollar, but every once in a while, if you do your due diligence and show patience, you can make a nice score. I once picked up a biscuit tin for $42 and sold it online for $500.\r But it's OK. if you don't mind a speed auction and bad jokes, they have some good stuff, if you can keep up with it. Also find out what ""times the money"" means, It could save you some problems. Arrive early and inspect the items, they are usually flawed, and sold under the pretense ""sold as is"". more

I drove up with some nice things, Tracy is now gray and crazy and says we'll only do lots. I had nice things. He doesn't remember me. We used to do do business. He even commented that I drove up in a Mini cooper and said I must shop at ikea. The man has lost his mind. Times are tough. Sorry to see you like this and the biz like this too. I will never bring anything over to you to sell again! You are a dinosaur I tried to do biz with! Forget it Pros: he's still in business Cons: He will tell you a story and take your stuff more

Someone once said you cant judge a book by its cover, thus is the case I think with Mr. Tracy Luther. On the outside Mr. Luther looks honest, as a matter of fact he is the first one to tell you just how honest he is. (red flag one).\r I being a serious auction house junkie (much to my wifes dislike) have visted Tracy Luthers auctions. I found the hall where he holds his auctions to be small cramped & lacking in valueable antiques which I am willing to pay for. What I saw week after week Close-out junk & his own things, that he has either purchased, or bought at a closeout price or typical garage sale junk. I see very few things I can honestly say that came from somones estate, NO grannys attic treasures at this auction hall.\r I will say the staff is A+ in everyway, nice helpfull, pleasant to deal with in everyway. I have visted Luthers Auctions 3 times thinking I would see better, not the case. In my opinion he is selling his own stuff, same old same old week after week. Some of the items look to me to be from a local popular warehouse here in St Paul, where you could purchase for far less than at his auction house prices. I will also tell you that there is a pizza place accross from the auction hall, Don's pizza I believe, very great pizza, spend your time there, good pizza is worth your time, Luther auctions are not.\r J.M.O. Randall St Paul Mn Pros: A very helpfull & polite staff. Cons: Seems like most of the auction is Tracy Luthers own things. more

Tracy Luther is very knowledgable on a wide variety of items from toys to art glass to primitives. Best of all, I've found him to be honest. He will provide bidders with his honest opinion as to age and condition. The merchandise comes from a wide variety of consignors so most anything is apt to turn up. Prices can be high on items but there are many bargains available. It's been fun to listen to gasps at what the crowd thought were high prices on some items, only to see those same items surface on ebay a short time later and have them bring significantly more. His auctions are online, so bidders can preview them and visit in person to check out any items of interest. Absentee bids can be used with only a $1 charge per won auction lot. Unsuccessful absentee bids cost nothing. The only downside is the 15% buyers fee tacked on to the hammer price. Tracy keeps the auctions moving and about 500 lots will sell in about 4 hours. Pros: Great variety, helpful staff, few reserves Cons: Buyers' fee. more

Luther has been around a long time. He calls it like it is. I've been to many auction houses and the stuff that comes through this auction house can probably pass a old junk. Even when they have the fine antiques sale, things aren't all that great. Over the years, this place has become popular and finding things cheap is nearly impossible. The hall is rather small and get over crowded with people standing just about anyplace that is open. There are seats to reserve but they go quickly. There is a 10% sales charge for the house and also if you are an absentee bidder, there is another fee tacked onto your final winning bid price. The staff is courteous and helpful and know their stuff. Overall, the items in this auction are usually old junk, and sell for very high prices. Pros: Long viewing hours, workers are polite, free parking in lot Cons: small auction house, high prices, mostly old junk more