Catawiki

Paying for “Expertise” is a Sham – Gross Material and Sizing Misrepresentation I am writing this to warn other buyers: do not be misled by Catawiki's "Expert Reviewed" branding. I paid a mandatory Buyer Protection Fee for Lot 100501970, expecting the platform to uphold basic professional diligence. Instead, I received an item that is a textbook case of consumer rights violations . The Deception: Material Fraud: The listing was titled "Baronia - Fur coat" and placed in a dedicated Fur Auction . However, the internal composition label clearly states it is 100% Wool (Alpaca/Mohair) . In the EU, a title is primary information; using the term "Fur" for a textile-based garment is a Misleading Action under Directive 2005/29/EC . Sizing Fraud: The seller marketed the coat as a "Size M." The physical garment arrived with a German Size 44/46 tag, which is an XXL/3XL by European standards. Delivering an item multiple sizes larger or much smaller than promised is a direct violation of the Legal Guarantee of Conformity (Art. 129 Italian Consumer Code) . The Failure of "Buyer Protection": Catawiki's support (specifically "Hervé" and "Laurent") has been worse than the scam itself. They are hiding behind their "expert," Ivan Ferretti, who approved this listing. They have essentially told me that their "expert opinion" overrides the manufacturer's own physical labels. They even demanded I hire a textile specialist to prove that "Wool" is not "Fur." This platform prioritizes its 9% commission over statutory law. If you are in Italy or the EU, be aware that their "experts" are a shield for sellers to misrepresent items without consequence. I am currently proceeding with a bank chargeback and a formal file with ECC Italy . Avoid this site unless you enjoy being gaslit by a helpdesk that ignores objective evidence. Analysis of Consumer Violations for your Records: Misleading Commercial Practice (EU Directive 2005/29/EC): By titling a wool coat as "Fur" and placing it in a specialized fur category, the seller and platform engaged in a practice that materially distorts consumer behavior. A buyer would not bid "fur prices" for a "wool coat" if the title were accurate. Lack of Conformity (Art. 129 Italian Consumer Code): The delivered good does not match the description provided in the contract (the listing). A "Size M" description for a "Size 46" garment is an objective factual error, not a matter of opinion. Failure of Professional Diligence: Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) , platforms that curate and verify listings are obligated to act against misleading information. Catawiki's failure to correct a title that contradicted the material label is a violation of this professional standard.

Well, I guess I’ll join the unhappy crowd. I’m active on this platform both as a buyer and a seller. While I’ve been quite lucky when buying, selling has felt almost impossible. My first attempts were rejected for “pricing too high,” with all my arguments simply ignored. In the end, support just wished me luck selling elsewhere. Now I’m trying to sell items that I originally bought on this platform some time ago, and I can’t even set a minimum price — I’m being pushed into a “no reserve price” sale. I honestly don’t understand who this is supposed to work for or how anyone can enjoy selling here. As a private seller, it simply makes no sense.

I had a very disappointing experience with Catawiki. An order was marked as “delivered” by the courier, but I never received the package. I reported the issue the day after the supposed delivery, but Customer Service initially stated that claims had to be made within three days, only to later admit their mistake after the payment had already been released to the seller. No valid proof of delivery was provided (signature, recipient name, or POD), and Catawiki closed the claim without issuing any refund. The so-called “buyer protection” proved to be purely formal. I do not feel protected as a customer and would not recommend this platform for reliable online purchases.

Bought a luxury watch and received it broken with Order #44231525 (see picture of Rolex Boutique technician assessing the issue - confirming it's broken). Reached out to seller and customer service within the 3 days rule and I'm being completely ignore. After some research (not much as it seems to be a massive issue to the point that Reddit has a specific channel with 000s of complains and members), I learned that this is their business model! They are a scam and not trustworthy platform! Let's fight back for our consumer rights and provide them with the feedback they deserve in order to prevent other innocent buyer to fulfil a business model based on scamming people by to taking responsibility for their actions!

The state of the object and the accuracy of what is supposed to be delivered completely depends on the seller, but their customer service is tragically flawed. If I pay for buyer protection with every purchase, I expect a lot more. The seller sent a glass object with zero appropriate protection, nothing in the edges, in a makeshift box with zero structural integrity—so of course it arrived smashed. In order to get a refund, Catawiki wanted me to return the shards of glass to the seller at my additional expense! How does that make any sense? I just took photos of the mess and tossed the package in the garbage because I was getting glass bits all over my house! There is no protection for the buyer here and zero customer service. They want me to “carefully package the item and return it” in order to obtain a refund. Buyer beware!