Public Auto Auction Company Kruse Getting Complaints
I have written several posts over the year about public auto auctions and classic car auctions held at the
Kruse Auburn auto auction. I write them mainly because I love old cars and attending antique car shows and auto auctions. In my last post few posts about the Kruse auto auctions there have been several comments complaining about not getting paid or having issues with selling through this Indiana auto auction compay. I had previously mentioned in the comments that this public auto auction company had a
“F” ratingfrom the BBB.
I was reading one of my favorite classic car forums today and ran across all sorts of people that are dissatisfied with their experience with the public auto auctions held by Kruse. It seems that Kevin Pierce from Tucson Arizona has been waiting over 70 days to get paid for a car he sold through consignment at the Feb. auto auction held by Kruse the Tucson Convention Center. A Tucson newspaper had a very big write up on his story that you can read at the classic car forum under the
Kruse auto auction seller beware topic. Kevin wasn’t the only one that was not thrilled with the service he’s received after the sell of his car. There are many different stories of people that have sold through the car auction that are worried about not getting paid. I love attending the auctions and really hope they do something to improve their customer relations as it give a bit of a black eye to the entire auto auction industry.
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16 Comments
What is really disappointing, reading up on this here, is that Old Cars Weekly and Hemmings Motor News have no mention of this problem in their publications – probably b/c Kruse Auctions advertises heavily in those publications.
My Dad purchased a Mustang Shelby through Kruse auction at their January auction in AZ. He is STILL waiting to receive a title for the car that he paid for, in full, for 5 months ago. He cannot license the car, nor sell it without the title in hand. He has called them more times than we can count, to which he continued to get the same reply from Kruse representatives, “The title is in transit.”. Kruse finally stopped answering their phone altogether and won’t return phone calls when we have left messages. My Dad finally got through to someone at their Corporate HQ last week and they said that they would look into it – after he told them that he has filed a complaint with the Attorney General and is going to contact the local News – “3 on your Side”. The lady that called him back assured him that he will receive the title by this coming Friday and she slipped up when talking to my Dad and said that they hadn’t paid the original car owners yet, which is why the titles weren’t sent out – and this is again FIVE months later!! Where is all of the money from the autcion?! Buyer and Seller BEWARE! I can certainly tell you that no one in our family will ever purchase or sell a car through Kruse again!!
its has been over 60 days and still no payment on a 30k car sold in spring auction at kruse indiana. i call everyday and get a stupid remark that Dean Kruse will be back next week and so on and so on. i believe there in big trouble. will no longer consign cars with them. BEWARE FOLKS
Well over 60 days, still no money !!!! Dean Kruse Is nothing but a low budget Bernie Madoff.We sold our 55 t bird at the spring 09 auction. Nothing but lies and B.S. from this band of thieves . Do not trust these people with a pinto let alone a true classic car. Tell everybody you know to not deal with this S.O.B
I have a friend who worked the spring auction at Auburn.Took 3 mo. to get paycheck. It bounced!!
As of last Friday only 700 cars consigned this year (normally several thousand0.; not a SINGLE one on the lot yet. Who knows how many will actually show up – it appears the word is out.
Kruse paid a bill that I sent them after stonewalling me for 10 months, then gave me a bad check for $500.
I have turned the matter over to the county prosecutor in my home county in Michigan.
Anyone who would trust these people with anything is insane. What a bunch of flakes and frauds.
Jeff Disappointed in Michigan
Yeah they had a big write up in the auburn or fortwayne newspaper about the financial troubles that the auto auction is having before the auburn auto auction. I hope they get it resolved for all those involved.
We been getting the run around, why in the heck hasnt the FBI closed em down if there committing fraud? we called the sherif he told us to get a Lawyer and that its a civil matter. We argued with him that it was criminal. On monday were going to file with the prosecuter in toledo and in Aubern for criminal charges of theft, fraud, false advertising and anything else we can think of.
its a cryin shame the way these people have beat these folks out of their cash. sad fact is anyone cashin cars in this economic climate climate are only doing it cause they need the cash. now they don’t have their asset or cash. criminal to say the least. been a dealer for 30 years and attended auctions since the get go. you get weaned real fast at dealer only auctions, but when you let the public in on this type of sale it is absolutly frightening the schemes they throw at them. as far as b/j auctions, thats just a party for rich folks to try to show each other how little money means to them. not an indication of the market at all. when times are boomin they let the little guy join in and make some money, but when the market takes a dump they remind you that you were out of their league and not welcome anymore.
Just for your information, here are several facts that never get mentioned.
1. Dean Kurse is the Dekalb County(Auburn, IN) Republican Chairman.
2. Among some of the many tricks that have taken place over the years have been. Switching titles, switching VINs, Hiding cars and reporting them stolen (the Beatels Bently in the ’80s).
3. Kruse received several million dollars of taxpayer money from pork submitted by Congressman Mark Souder (R, IN) for his WWII museum.
4. Kruse reported that a briefcase containing several hundred thousand dollars that HE CHECKED on an airline was stolen on the way back from Phoneix a number of years ago. The local deputy (now dead) that supposedly investigated was a close friend and fellow Republican.
5. The county road in front of the Kruse Auction Park is currently being FOUR LANED at taxpayer expense (it has had in the past heavy traffic one week out of the year. the remainder of the year, you guessed it, not much)!
I’ve attended several auctions (none of this crooks, though) and have NEVER been able to remove my purchase from the auction site until the bill was paid in full. And, as a point of Indiana Law, a dealer cannot legally sell a vehicle without having the title for that vehicle in the dealers possession and, properly assigned to his dealership. How does a auctioneer get away with selling cars without titles?
And for “Mike” above. You want get the local sheriff (Republican) to give you any help. Most of his deputies work for Kruse in September helping provide “security”.
They get paid right away I’m told. Remember, I told you Kruse was the County Chairman. The Sheriff reportedly has a “box full” of legal process he has not served on Kruse.
My comments ditto all.
I’m a collector car enthusiast and have attended several Kruse auctions. I attend for the entertainment.
For me, Kruse auctions always fail the “smell” test. Now it does seem DeKalb County courts are starting to abandon him. I’m sure more than a few elected officials are getting nervous ! I’m sure ole Kruzee, like J. Edgar Hoover before him, knows where all the bodies are buried.
Kruse car auctions routinely misrepresent a lot of “junk” cars accross the auction block. Of course Kruzee’s disqualifier is the information presented is all based on seller information. This is El-Toro-Poo-Poo. Shame Kruse and the total lack of ethics. All the people he’s ripped off over the years now may have their indirect payback now ?
I hope those that have gotten the wrong end of the deal here get some sort of justice from the auto auction company. Its a shame that kruse is giving a profession like auctioneering get such a bad wrap. I know many auctioneers and most are above board and would never put themselves in this type of position.
My name is Rodney, and i too am a victim of Kruse Auctions. They chose to, and still after over 4 months, have not payed me for my car they sold. This seems to be quite a re-occurring experience, them not paying people. I have posted my story in my blog where i hope more people can post their experiences and eventually get something done about this ongoing saga. I welcome anyone here to come read it, and or post your Kruse auction experiences. Look forward to hearing from you.
http://www.kruseauctionripoff.com
Kruse Auctions .
We also attended alot of auctions with Kruse.We had the same proplem ,took 8 months to get paid for a 66 Mustang i sold.It also took 10 months to finaly get a title and doucumantaion for our 2007 Shelby GT-H Hertz we purchased.In 2009 we took a couple more cars to sell ,I played there game,I held the title,s Cash ONLY.They were also very eager to have us enter a car with no entry fee.We attented the spring 2010 Auburn Auctin sale On my terms.No entry fee,I hold the title (CASH ONLY).It,s to bad they took the fun out of attending these auctions.We met alot of good sound family people there from all over the country including Canada.The word in the car world travels faster than you think.I would like to see Auburn,Ind. back on the map as a good safe honest place to sell cars and enjoy your self ,with out the worry of getting ripped off.
Stan Wilson-Michigan
Well, Kruse has “sold the farm”. No word on how much his Canadian friend paid for the Auction but Kruse says he “MIGHT” have enough to pay the folks he’s stiffed so far. Oh yeah, he’s not the Republician County Chairman any more. He was rather quitely removed from that office.
My money is on more people losing more money that he will ever pay.
Time will tell. Come to Auburn for Labor Day. Thier only concern is how much money you spend. Not what you get for it!