American Family Auctions, LLC TOPEKA - Hours, Reviews & Deals

participated in an online auction with American Family Auctions LLC in February and had my items shipped to me. While the auction itself went smoothly, the packaging of my items was absolutely terrible. There was zero care put into how things were packed, and it was clear that no real effort was made to protect fragile items. Whoever packed my order placed heavy and delicate items together without any consideration. The most frustrating part was that a Victorian picture frame was placed directly in the middle of the package with no protection, making it almost inevitable that it would arrive damaged. Sure enough, when my package arrived, some items were broken due to the careless packing. When I reached out to let them know about the issue, their response was basically, “Too bad, take it up with USPS.” I completely understand that things can happen during shipping, but when I’m paying for shipping and handling, I at least expect some level of care in how my items are packed. Instead, I was left dealing with broken pieces and no accountability. If you plan to have your items shipped, be aware that their packing methods leave a lot to be desired. I’d be hesitant to bid again unless they improve how they handle shipping. By the way, it took a full month for the items to get here

I do not recommend American Family Auctions. I made a purchase on April 22, 2025, totaling $277.86 for auction items and $70.60 for shipping. When the package arrived, it was visibly damaged. Several glass items were broken, and multiple smaller items were missing—presumably lost through the gaping hole in the side of the box. The packaging was completely inadequate: a large bowl was placed at the bottom of the box with only newspaper around it, and smaller glass cups and loose items were stuffed inside and around it with no proper protection. I emailed the auction house right away with photos, videos, and a list of missing items, asking if they would file a shipping claim. Four days later, I received a response from Christopher Hess stating, "We do not file the claims; you will have to through the carrier." I replied, explaining that as the shipper, they are the party responsible for filing the claim per standard procedure with most carriers. I gave them 5 business days to resolve the issue, or I would escalate the matter. I never heard back. I requested a refund for shipping and the missing items without the tax or buyers premium for a total of $195.60. I never received a response, phone call or refund. This experience was incredibly disappointing—poor packaging, lack of accountability, and zero follow-up. My next steps are to file complaints with HiBid and the BBB, and I would caution others to avoid bidding with this company unless you're willing to risk loss with no support. This clearly explains why their Google rating is POOR. There was another review posted for this same auction house a month before my post with the EXACT same issues and EXACT same response from the auction house.