Brie's Estate Sales

Brigid McAlpin
Brie's Estate Sales
700 E. Busse Ave
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-3454

I'm sure you must realize how extremely disappointed we are in the result of the estate sale that Brie's conducted on our behalf, Sept 20-23, 2018 in Elgin. There are so many factors that could have resulted in a better outcome for us and for you. Many of these were covered in my Sept. 24 email to you, however, based on the results, you must know the pain runs deep. We wanted to once again share our experience with you, so that you may have insight into those representing your company, to prevent other grieving consumers from being equally disappointed, angry and feeling ripped off.
For our total sales to be $6, 297.60 and for us to net $1, 518.49 is almost criminal and seems unethical for so many reasons. We would not have taken on the aggravation and stress had we been realistically been informed. During our initial meeting, your ball-park estimate was that we would sell close to $10, 000, therefore we expected our net to be more in the $5, 000-$6, 000, understanding there were a lot of items and set-up staff would be a little higher than would be covered by the $3, 000 that would have been the 30% commission. After consulting with you, we even invited family to bring items to help us reach the $10, 000 target. We know that an enormous quantity of items was sold, even before the 75% off day. Yet, sales were only $6, 297.60. It doesn't add up.
The breakdown of $4, 431.43 labor charges is absurd. There could have not been that many people working that many hours. If there were, there should have been more discretion taken in how their time was spent (maybe focusing on the highly sellable or pricey items). As you know, one of us was there every day and there were not that many people involved. One day Adam came when he wasn't scheduled because another outdoor worker didn't get as much as he should have.
Your sales pitch and marketing were good. Your marketing encourages property owners to have friends and family "shop" which we did. And the horrors they saw. Even though they were reported, it didn't change the outcome.
We really believed your company could have provided a much better outcome for us and you. It appeared neither you, or us, had control of the event.
1. It was obvious on multiple occasions that there was not an on-site supervisor. On the few times that Mark showed up, the staff suddenly started to look busy. (Caveat: Anita was good).
2. Most of the staff didn't seem to work with a sense of urgency. In fact, there were times when staff was spotted sitting looking at their phones and not engaging with customers.
3. We were there Wednesday night and Saturday night for several hours unpacking items your staff left in boxes and filling in many open holes on tables. One day (photos and emails were sent), boxes were sitting by an empty table all day.
4. It was obvious on pricing day, inexperienced young people were given sheets of price stickers and were told to put them on items, without regard to the item or its value. For example: the Vintage 1955 ABC Milwaukee luggage in good condition (You looked at it on your visit and were impressed it still had the covers) was marked at $10.00. The same price as the Walmart softside roller luggage. A crock jug was priced at less than $10.00. Although Section 4 of your contract states "Owner acknowledges that errors can occur in the identification, appraisal and pricing of items offered for sale, which is an inexact process. Brie's agrees to use its best professional efforts to identify, appraise and price items correctly, but Owner agrees that Brie's and its individual owner and helpers will not be held liable for errors in identification and pricing and Owner specifically waives all claims concerning such errors in order to obtain Brie's agreement to conduct the Estate Sale. We firmly believe giving young people stickers to randomly place on items was not using your best professional efforts.
5. Employees giving ½ price discounts on the first day. We know of at least one instance. How many more could there have been that would have provided a higher gross?
6. The gross sales for both of us could have been higher if employees remained engaged and active and putting out extra stock.
7. Final day of sale, there was a discussion among staff about who was going to pick up signs because they were unfamiliar with the area. We offered to go pick them up but was told they would handle it (and we further overheard them stating an extra hour would be going on their time sheet for the sign pick up). It could be accomplished in 15-20 minutes.
Your offer to "have my mom put jewelry on cards" and priced should have been a bit more clarified that it would be billed. You made it seem like your mom helped you. However, for you to charge labor to put $1.00 or $2.00 prices on cheap items is ridiculous. Labor charges to price should have been for worthy items.
Attempting to communicate with you throughout the sale was frustrating, and the on-site service delivered by Brie's was delinquent. If we were to grade the over-all company, it would be a c- . We compared trying to communicate with you or your gatekeeper Melinda as trying to talk to the Great Oz. One of you responded only occasionally to our repeated questions. And seriously, you charge for the occasional email too?
I understand you take some estate sale items to sell on Ebay, Etsy and Anything But the House. Please let me know what you still have to sell and when we can expect to receive the funds from the Ebay, Etsy, etc. sales. Some items we expected to see displayed for sale were not out as of Wednesday night, Sept. 19.
Additionally, Adam mentioned he took some metal to scrap for us before the sale. I'm sure we were charged for his hours, but I don't see the income for the metal on the results page. Can you please confirm the income from the metal?
I saw Adam load the redwood furniture in his truck on the last day, but am unable to locate said sale on the summary sheets.
We believe if you truly knew how your company was being represented, you would be embarrassed by the service provided. If your bottom line is all that matters to you, then mission accomplished.
As previously mentioned, based on our meeting with you, and your ball-park of $10, 000 in sales, we expected a $5, 000-6, 000 net instead of the $1, 518. Your contract may protect your estimates, but this sure feels like your intent is to rip off grieving families.
Although your contract probably protects you from all the above, we request you reimburse us another $2, 500 (bringing us up to a net profit of $4, 000 as a compromise) which still doesn't make us whole but would help make up for the humungous overcharge on staff costs and items that were clearly not marked or sold at an appropriate price. While your contract may appear to protect you from the actions of your employees, they are your employees and represent your company.
We respectfully request an answer to the questions above, and a response to our concerns by December 31, 2018. Although we saw the negative reviews, we gave you the benefit of the doubt, knowing that not everyone can be happy. However, we are fairly easy to please and your company fell extremely short of the implied expectations. We truly believed your company could have provided us a much better result.
Patricia Huffman, Trustee, Troy and Nancy Moore Estate

NOT RECOMMENDED

Brie's Estate Sales NOT RECOMMENDED. She disrespected the memory of my parents and desecrated my family's estate. We were extremely disappointed in an estate sale conducted on our behalf, Sept 20-23, 2018 in Elgin. We want to share our experience, and hopefully prevent your disappointment, anger, and feeling of being duped. Our SALES were $6, 297.60 - $4, 431.43 LABOR = $1, 518.49 our NET. It doesn't add up. THEY EVEN CHARGED US FOR EMAIL RESPONSES! Brigid McAlpin - Owner
In the initial meeting, the ball-park estimate was $10, 000 (other dealers concurred), therefore we expected our net to be in the $5, 000-$6, 000 (30% commission) . We understood there were a lot of items & set-up could be a little higher. We also know that an enormous volume of items sold. 3-story home + 2-car garage + sheds. PACKED.
We had friends and family "shop" the sale. THE HORRORS THEY SAW!
• There was no on-site supervisor, her staff took full advantage of this.
• Her staff did not unpack boxes sitting by empty tables all day. Her staff was sitting in the shade, face in their phones, or smoking. Not engaging customers. Did not restock tables or fill holes.
• Her staff had spent hours pricing and charging us labor to put $1 or $2 prices on each and every item. This was ridiculous.
• Her pricing was erratic, amateurish and often oddly wrong.
• Her staff OFFERED 50% discounts on DAY ONE. Our "shopper" had exact cash, her staff insisted and gave change!
• During sale there was no staff on every floor. Sometimes only one staff person in the house. "Shopper" reported customers stuffing their purses.
• Communicating with a supervisor throughout the sale was difficult & frustrating.
• We saw her staff load OUR stuff into their private vehicles, yet there was no sale record of those unique & high-end items.
• We were forewarned to be visible and keep an eye on things. Apparently, there is a history.
• They wasted our time and money. NOT RECOMMENDED.