Aguttes, Claude Reviews 11

I was very fortunate to win an authentic 1944 Albert Einstein ALS letter to his first wife in their live September manuscripts auction via Drouot app. It was a very exciting acquisition for me.

I was very anxious as it was my first time dealing with Aquttes. But I was relieved to quickly learn of their high degree of professionalism, expertise, and reassurances throughout the process, both from the secretary who would patiently bear the burden of speaking to me in English every time I called, to their manuscript specialist, Quiterie Barietty, who was assigned to me and was always prompt in her communications.

I decided to collect my winning in person and was overcome even more by the professionalism of the company and the expertise of the specialists. I was asked to wait as they retrieved the Einstein letter and then asked to sign a declaration form to confirm it was transferred to me. I was them offered an opportunity to see their other Einstein manuscripts they were preparing for an exhibition and the oppertunity to directly handle them which was an exciting experience.

I was very happy with the care taken for forsuch a fragile and historical document which was in a hard top loader that was the original one used by Christies Auction London when it originally sold there in 2003, and am additional larger sleeve with everything inside.

I deduct one star because the email I received after paying regarding information on collection of winnings was only in French and there was no mention at all of the need to wait for an export certificate, I only became aware of it after I messaged to book an appointment after already making travel arrangements. The default collection email seems to not have the international client in mind, both in the lack of English and in the lack of information on the expert formalities where you cannot simply arrive there and collect your winnings when you wish, if you intend to take it out of France.

Ultimately I had to wait 2 months for the export licence but the company was very good in responding to my numerous requests for updates on the process.

There was no requests for me to pay storage fees while I waited 2 months for the export licence and no fees associated with them making the application on my behalf, which many auction houses charge for. So it really confirms the customer oriented focus on this auction house and means I have to recommend them to international collectors as they really know how to address the complexities associated with international clients and the export formalities.

missing damage descriptions in english language of the live auctions they hold on drouot. in all other language they show it…

They have great items, but very poor service. If you have good things and want to auction them at a good price, please don't choose this auction house.

Nous leur avons confié une 15 aine d'objets pour une communication produit parfois erronée et qui aurait pu être bien meilleure, un contact aux abonnés absents ne répondant que rarement aux mails, publications tardives de certaines ventes (3 jours avant la date prévue), des paiements systématiquement hors délais (à chaque fois avec le prétexte du soi-disant client qui paie tardivement vous étant servi…), des objets qu’ils ont même cassé et souhaité nous les restituer tel quel prétextant qu’ils avaient déjà été restaurés…
Bref, une expérience globalement mauvaise en ce qui nous concerne. Mais il existe d’autres salles de vente sur Paris et même ailleurs en province ou à l’étranger qui semblent heureusement beaucoup plus professionnelles et sérieuses.

We entrusted them with around 15 objects for product communication that was sometimes erroneous and which could have been much better, a contact only rarely responding to emails, late publications of certain sales (3 days before the scheduled date) , systematically late payments (each time with the pretext of the so-called customer who pays late being served to you…), our objects that they even broke and wanted to return them to us as they were, claiming that they had already been restored…
A bad experience as far as we are concerned. There are hopefully other auction houses in Paris or in te rest of France and abroad which which seem to be much more professional and serious.