I've now had experiences with Direct both buying and selling, and overall they are a great outfit. First, after only a couple of visits, people made a point to know my name. To the extent that when I returned to pickup my item they apologized for not remembering my last name! I didn't even know the worker's first name! Class act. The auctions are fun. Ok maybe not "fun" but they can be interesting to the right crowd. So much retail is moving online it's nice to find a place that combines the two. So as a seller you still get the benefit of a wide potential customer base but as a buyer you get some camaraderie in the audience. They even bring in free pizza - the auction goes for hours! Always a nice mix of items. Generally high end but some items can still be picked up for a bargain - particularly the larger items that are difficult to ship read more

I used to like this business. I might've even given them a great review. Not any more. Of the last 3 items I left with them, and that they enthusiastically accepted for their auction, they LOST all 3 of them. They eventually found 2 of the 3-because I emailed often, stopped by sometimes and generally badgered them to find my lost stuff. It took 6 month to find this really cool one-of-a-kind framed item, and that only because I was demanding that they pay me for it, I think. I sent half a dozen of my clients there. Now I need to call and apologize. I've already discovered that one of them has been lied to by Direct. Totally done with them. It's too bad. I was a good source for them. This is a great loss, for them. I will recover. read more

The entire staff are always SO friendly and helpful!! They are always ready for us when we come to pick up, and the items are well represented. This is definitely one of our favorite auction houses! read more

I have mixed feelings about this facility. They have been in the Chicago area since 1962 and their method of selling has probably not changed much over the years. Their website, www.directauction.com, appears to be still using an original design from when .coms were created. Information, "upcoming auctions for Nov. 2022" are 2 months late for Jan. 2023, so I have concerns about the accuracy of the information. As you read through the rules, there are a lot of expensive, "premiums" on both sides of the gabble, seller and buyer. I realize they need to make a profit but some of the premiums are the highest I have ever seen. Read this section carefully. I stopped in to pick up a purchase for a friend and the woman in front of my was extremely agitated because they could not find her pre-paid merchandise. The cashier she was working with was extremely dismissive for a situation that was obviously there faulty. The other side of this conversation is they have some amazing and singular items. I highly recommend you go to the building and see the merchandise because as I said earlier, their website is "old school". However they have very specific rules about when sale items can be viewed so read or call to be sure. My best suggest, proceed with caution. Don't expect a lot and you might be pleasantly surprised. read more

See all

I have been an auctioneer for a major house, I have been a consignor, a bidder and a buyer. In my professional opinion, DO NOT ENGAGE IF YOU ARE A CONSIGNOR. I sent three sets of photos on three different days. First set they said they would get back to me. A month passes. Second set was requested by Gary. Third set was denied by Seth, who sent his communication from someone else's email address. First, they wanted it. Then maybe. Then no. It was appraised by a professional appraiser with an appraisal license and USPAP certification. I was placing a $750 reserve to make it move quick. These aren't business people. They're auction snobs with delusions of grandeur. Luckily, I have registered for the Skokie garage sale weekend coming up the last day of May and first two days of June. It is then and here that I will throw down the hammer on sales and seek my justice! Arghhhh! All auction houses have the same BS responses and excuses. If they only knew I quietly work in professional enforcement. Tweekers! Update: I loved their reply to my yelp. See what I mean about the same b.s.? LOL, you guys made my day. way to sling it back. LOL. ha ha ha ha! read more

They have absolutely everything here! Jewelry, furniture, rugs, collectibles, you name it!! AND, it's so much fun!!!

I can only speak from a buyer's perspective, as I see a lot of negative reviews from sellers. I'm a first timer at an auction as well, and I had a fantastic experience. We are moving into a new condo soon, which has this extra door in the master bedroom that we do not need to use. We wanted to cover the door because we don't like how it looks. We thought a mirrored armoire would work because it also has extra storage and is large enough to cover a door. On a Tuesday night, I happened to be browsing Craigslist and came across a listing filled with antiques, with one picture of this amazing looking armoire. It said it was an auction, but I didn't know what that meant. It said it was ending on Tuesday at 10 PM and that was it. So I told my husband at 7 PM we need to drive 30 minutes from our house to go to this random antique auction, which I had no clue what it was. He wasn't thrilled... :D When we got there, there was this vast room FILLED with AMAZING antiques! They are seriously quality items in mint condition. I saw actual paintings (not reproductions) from the 1940s-or earlier-and a ton of mid-century and mid-century gothic furniture and decor items such as mirrors. They had oriental rugs, patio furniture, lamps, fountains, chairs, desks, vanities, dressers, couches... basically anything you could think of. Also, of course, the French armoire I had my eye on. I had no clue what was going on when I got there, so I asked the nice woman at the front desk to explain to me what was going on. She told me I needed a number to participate in the auction and that I would have to put down a $100 deposit. They don't take the deposit from you; it's just for security reasons. If you end up winning an item, you have to pay a series of taxes; I think it comes out to 25%. It's cheaper to pay with a debit card or cash than with a credit card for whatever reason. Once you have a number, you should stand in plain sight so the auctioneer can see you. By the time we got there, they were down to the final third of items and luckily the armoire was still yet to be auctioned off. There were probably around 25 people there, mostly older. I'm in my mid-30s and was by far the youngest person there, besides this duo of guys. When it came to my item, I started to bid and then the duo of guys bid against me. This nice older man in a wheelchair was helping me figure out how to bid when I was outbid and kept telling me when I needed to hold my number up. If you've never been to an auction, it can be confusing! The guys, who ended up being professional furniture dealers, saw that I wanted the item, so they stopped bidding and let me have it. When I won the item, I said, "oh I won?!" and everyone started cheering and clapping. Seriously, everyone there was so nice and helpful. They even had hot dogs and coffee out if you wanted a snack and drink. The best part was that the item started at $1,000 and I got it for $350 (plus taxes) !! The other armoires on Craigslist that are comparable were over $1K! We stayed for maybe another 30 minutes and items were going for low prices such as $35 for really nice antique dresser that was missing the mirror. I mean you have to like antiques, but believe me when I say this, these were amazing deals on unusual items. I love antiques and shop vintage often, or window shop on Etsy as I call it. I have a pretty solid knowledge base of vintage items, and these were quality items. All the items on here are on consignment from their owners, so if I were going to consign with this place, I would definitely ask for an estimate of how much my item will get as I think many things were going for seemingly low prices. I believe that is the point of an auction vs. trying to sell things yourself at retail price. You're going to get a lower price but unload your items faster. New items are ushered in every two weeks, and you can check on their website to browse the issues before the next auction. I will be back as I'm looking for a mid-century credenza and maybe try to nab one of those cool paintings! One more thing... you have to pick up your items by the Saturday after the auction or you will be charged 5%. They have helpers there that will help you take apart your items, but it's up to you to hire a mover, as we will need one since we have a small car. read more

See all

Went in the other day asking about using Direct Auction to sell an estate, an estate with a whole thrift stores worth of items, quite a variety, and perhaps not a typical estate. I spoke with a woman who was very cordial. I regret not asking her name. I rattled off a list of the kinds of items in the estate. She seemed truly interested, confirming that each of these items was indeed something they regularly sell at their auctions. I noticed their website still had the results of the most recent auction visible, and indeed it was quite a mishmash, with many fine items sold, but also many lots containing what might be the dregs of a Midwest baby boomer basement, with numerous lots consisting of totally haphazard arrangements of trinkets, doorknobs, and old electric equipment of the type one might see at a junk store. And these lots were also almost completely sold. I thought this was a very good sign. Just then the woman says, "here's John! John's the one you want to talk to." But if this woman was encouraging, John was the opposite, pushy, gruff and dismissive. I relate that I have a large estate I'd like to sell. Compared to her, his response might as well have been straight out of a Laurel and Hardy routine of "good cop" and "bad cop". I point out that their website says to check the most recent auction for examples of what sells and what doesn't. He replies "don't use that auction as an example" and "we're trying to focus on higher end items." He also mentions that the rates on their website are wrong and that they have raised their commission substantially from what is listed there. I relate that I have a few high end designer items, and a variety of electronic equipment not unlike items they've sold in previous auctions: some of the very same things I listed to the polite and helpful woman. Items that sell for thousands of dollars. But John shoots it down, despite a lot of what I have being in far better condition than the items I see around me, let alone the numerous lots of rusty junk shop detritus sold in their last auction according to their website. John came off as a pushy, greedy, and smarmy weasel of an employee. Not someone I would enjoy doing business with. But a hearty *thank you* to John for being the face of Direct Auction Galleries. With punks like this running the show I have no question I dodged a bullet. read more

I have been buying and selling at Direct Auction for many years. I have always been satisfied, and sometimes thrilled, with my transactions. As a seller, my items have sometimes sold lower than I expected, but more often higher than expected. As a buyer, I usually go to the viewing and place order bids, rather than attend the live auction. I know they are honest because I get items at a lower price than my "absentee" bid when there is little competition at the auction for the same item. It seems that those who have given negative reviews are sellers who did not do their homework before consigning their items and/or did not listen to the auction staff who were honest enough to warn them that their consignments might not do well. One of the sellers even admitted that her items had been rejected by another auction house before they were taken to Direct. The complainers did not believe the experts, but they believe the "old wives' tales" about dishonest auctioneers. The auctioneer does not determine the sale price; the bidders do. Why would any business that works on a commission basis cheat a seller out of a higher sale price, thereby lowering their own commission? The Direct Auction management and staff are equally courteous and helpful to the low-end buyers and sellers as they are to the higher-end. They have seen everything - from junk to treasures - and know the ever-changing trends and values of antiques, vintage furniture and collectibles. Please believe them if they tell you "your baby is ugly". read more

They are awesome!! Very friendly and always have interesting stuff. We have bought at 3 auctions with them and are very happy each time!

I recommend Direct Auction Galleries very highly for both buying and selling. They are a classic auction house with an amazing variety of things for sale every two weeks. If you are furnishing a house or room, or looking for something special, this is absolutely the place to go! And it's fun! If you don't understand how an auction works, ask for an explanation before you sign up to bid. They will explain the process to you. Or, sit through one auction without bidding so you understand the process. Also, be aware that if you're bidding, you have to make sure the auctioneer sees you and is aware you are bidding. There are people everywhere in the room and it can be easy to miss a bid card--wave it or call out to make sure you are noticed before the item is sold. If you sell at this auction, you will absolutely get what that item was worth, to the bidders who are there, on the day it is being sold. You may get more than you thought, or you may get less. It really depends on whether there are at least two bidders there who want your item. This auction house is also very clear on their terms, both in writing and with verbal explanation before each auction. In addition, their buyers and sellers premiums are much less than other auction houses. This means buyers pay less and sellers get more. I absolutely trust this auction house and the people who work there. In my experience, over several years, they have always acted with honesty and integrity. Each auction is conducted ethically and in accordance with auction standards. Again I very highly recommend them! read more

Not impressed. Very unorganized. I paid for my item over the phone, came in next day to pick it up, and they had no record of me paying. Gentleman I was speaking with was nice and trying to be helpful, but said receipt wasn't marked as paid. Had to wait until the lady I spoke to came in. She gave me the 'oops, I was so busy yesterday I forgot to run your payment through.' Yeah, oops. I won't be returning. read more

Highly recommend Direct Auction in Chicago on Western just north of Touhy. Have purchased many items there, good people. If you don't go to auctions, you don't know what you're missing. Fine art, furniture, bizarre stuff, historic stuff ... a new mix every time. Also a great place to divest yourself of those treasures you don't need anymore. They will pick up items, they have trucks and muscle. read more

We have been visiting Direct Auction for about 5 years. Our first experience was helping a friends mother downsize her EastLake furniture collection. This woman couldn't sell the items online herself so she decided to refer to auction. The staff at Direct Auction is knowledgeable and friendly. If we have the need to sell anything with value we will refer to Direct Auction to help us out, in a flash. Thanks Direct Auction!!!!! read more

Probably the best of all the auction houses. Seldom a minimum and goods of all qualities and types. I always find something of interest among all the merchandise. It takes some work to find the good stuff but isn't that the fun of it? Very nice and helpful staff. I always look forward to each upcoming auction. read more

Be careful with your things here. I recently sold (among other things) a huge lot of vintage housewares. All of the nicest pieces (incl. tons of vintage Pyrex, Fiesta, Hall, etc, etc) were "accidentally" lost with other sellers lots. I informed the staff, but no corrections were made so bidders assumed they were bidding on just the dregs. The lot ended up selling for $25 to a buyer who had no idea they had just purchased more Pyrex and vintage Fiesta Ware than they probably knew what to do with. The house takes $20 for their "services," so I was a bit underwhelmed with my $5 check. I'm a long time buyer and seller here, but I'll take my business to Shipshewana..... read more

Nice old fashion antique auction place. Little John is honest and part owner. Great people. Family run place to buy or sell your antiques. They make you feel warm and part of the family atmosphere. No drama place just good old fashion fun. It's a awesome warm friendly place. read more

You know when you find something that you know will change your life, you get that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach? Well, I got that feeling last week. Then I spent the rest of the week deciding weather or not I should share this with Yelp. Well, there's already one raving review up here, why not one more, right? When I went to get my bidding card, they already knew that I was a newbie. Everyone there knew eachother by first name, and I clearly wasn't part of the club. I'm working to become part of this inner circle.... hopefully. All I can say is WOW, there are a ton of great things here going for very reasonable prices. It's worth a trip even if you don't need a thing... it's just a crazy cultural experience to see the workings of this auction and to think about where this stuff came from. This is a must do if you like antiques, interior design, or creepy art dealers. read more

There is no other place like it in the city. I have been going to it for years and consistently find 'new' and exciting pieces. I just love it. read more

In the interest of my purchasing I want to keep the auction prices low here and don't really want to clue anyone else in:) But, seriously go here if you are looking for antiques and collectibles! You'll see alot of dealers here as they are able to buy and resell the items at a profit so that should speak to the prices you will find here. They will only bid up to a certain amount due to their business expenses. So, if there is an item that catches your fancy - bid on it. The price you are willing to pay will probably be far below what you will pay at one of their stores and most likely be above what the dealers are willing to pay. The auctions take place every other Tuesday and you can see the items that are assumed to be their best sellers individually showcased a few days or more on their website.They also have viewing at the location on the Monday before. I also LOVE the room view pictures on their website that are added shortly before the auction takes place as I am now not close and can decide whether I want to come in to the city or not based on the photos. The auction starts with the smaller items (coins and jewelry) and progresses to the furniture and other home items with usually 600 - 800 lots well into the evening. If you have never been to an auction before in the interest of easily over spending it's best to decide what you want to bid on and stick to it before the auction begins. But due to the goodies and prices it is nearly impossible to stick to this plan! Just keep in mind that a 15% buyers premium will be added to the price you bid. You can easily go later if you have no interest in the early items or place an absentee bid if you have no interest in attending at all (but it's just SO MUCH FUN I can't imagine why you would want to do that). read more

Great Antiques, must come see, check every two weeks. I want to be a Top Dog. Good. Luck. Folks. Enjoy. Direct Auction Galleries. Have a hot dog. Great Christmas party, last Christmas read more

This place has been around for a long time, and I can see why, it's a good old fashioned auction house! Nowadays, all the auctions are done online, and you can't get a deal because there's too many buyers, presumably from all around the world bidding. Not the case with direct auction. It's a small cozy crowd of bidders, and items sell for way below even whole sale price. I was bidding on some really nice diamond rings and pendants, and got them for around 20% of what I saw them for at the jewelery store! The jewelry here is really pretty, and there are often high quality items for sale. They also have great vintage furniture, art, etc also at bargain prices. I would definitely check them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

I absolutely love going to this place. Love that they show videos of what will be available ahead of time, and their preview times are very accommodating. One day, if I need to, I will definitely consign pieces to them. Very reputable company and organization. Five stars! read more

I have brought many items to Direct Auction Galleries over the years and have been very satisfied with the results. You get a check in the mail very quickly and most items were sold at a great price. I also like going to their auctions as you never know what you will find that you can't live without! Karen B. read more

Direct Auction is simply the best place to buy or sell quality antiques, collectibles, art, furniture , coins and my favorite,Jewelry. The staff is very knowledgeable and always friendly. If you bring something in to sell , they are honest and will tell you if your item is not going to bring what you thought it was worth. If you do have an item in Directs Auction, they always inform you of the costs etc, so you will know what the percentage is "up front". This Auction House has a complete floor of new items every 2 weeks, Wow, how do they do that ? Excellent, Great place and lots of fun! read more

Never again will I bring my stuff to sell at this place! If you bring your antiques there my suggestion would be not to trust anything they tell you and to make sure you show up for the auction day...failure to do this most likely will result in getting scam by the people there...and receive a very unfair price value for your stuff... read more

We have both bought and sold at Direct and we feel they have been fair on both sides. You never know what is going to happen at an auction, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, it's what makes the auction exciting. This is a fast paced auction with a huge amount of lots to sell in one night with a room full of people. Pay attention it is easy to miss lots. Don't wait to jump into the bidding they have hundreds of lots a night to sell and won't wait for you to slow bid. Make sure you get noticed in the crowd when you bid. There is a bunch of people in a large room and it's your job to get the auctioneers attention. read more

Great place to get ride off old antiques. I own a clean out business and use direct to sell a lot of my MCM finds. Most of the time I am happy with the outcome but you never know sometimes not but this is the game you play with auctions you never know Whos gonna show up start bidding. The staff are very nice and always helpful. I have been On both ends of the game at direct buying and selling. I like this house. read more

We have purchased lovely things here. We have picked up paintings, jewelry, rugs, a mink coat, nicknacks, a bike. As with every auction, things go high and things go low, depending on what buyers are in the house on any particular evening. The staff is efficient and nice. Every auction has something for everyone. Really fun! Highly recommended. read more

Good place to buy or sell medium to low end stuff. lots of antiques, coins, paintings, rugs. Fun place to visit. Some times the auctions go on for a long time & sometimes parking is an issue. Its old school raw capitalism, winners and losers. read more

I went to this place many times and always found some treasures. The staffs were very helpful, courteous and professional. Thank you so much! I will definitely recommend this place to others. read more

Did a clean sweep of my knick-knacks, 15 boxes of stuff, with Direct Auction Galleries, who bundled most items for their August 26, 2014 auction. I packed all 15 boxes and they came and picked the stuff up for $100 at the day and time agreed upon. Everything sold. Everything. Got a whopping $1,000+ check within days of the auction. Am I happy? You betcha. Would I contract with them, again? You betcha. Is John nice to work with? Yup. read more

This place is incredible. Great group of people run this establishment and the folks who attend are extremely friendly and helpful. A great place to learn about almost anything and the fees are fair. read more

i know they would take some money for them self when my stuff was sold but i did not think they would take that much they did not want every thing i offered told me a lot of my stuff was worthless but is it realy sure i did make some money here but i was a bit disapointed in the way they do things i can under stand taking out a little percent but not as much as they did im not going back it is one of those things in life that went sour for me i used a lot of money this month for so many things i had my hopes high that things would not go like this [ saddened ] read more

I used them to sell a table and chair set, and a walnut table. It's a long story, but by the time that transaction was finished, words like cheated, gyped, swindled, etc. were zooming around in my mind when I thought of them I will not do business with them again. read more

Buyer beware as well!... as with some of the seller reviews...They take care of their friends and seller/partners. Some sellers bid up their listings against the unsuspecting retail buyers. It is easy to overpay. They occasionally don't recognize some people who are trying to bid so they can declare 'sold' to their chosen buyer. I have seen this numerous times.....their response is always they same.... "sales are final...sorry I didn't see your card."..I have watched people storm out ..they don't restart the bid. I recently held my card up continuously while the auctioner...an owner..took two bids never acknowledging my card. declaring sold hundreds of dollars below value....The guy with him on the podium shrugged his hands to me and bent his head..seeming to say...'don't ask me" People around me said...I can't believe that.....especially since I was seated right in front of the actioner read more

This place will auction your valuables. They offer an extreme variety of stuff. Everything from antiques to xylophones. I bring merchandise there fairly often. They are quick & concise. Direct will take really expensive items but they will take the more affordable things too. So you don't have to be a millionaire to bid on their merchandise. Really honest & down to earth owners. They will treat you well. Give them a try if you want to auction something. Give them a try if you want to buy something. You are in control of your bids, so you can get some really good deals. If you work with them often (like I do), they will permit you to put a reserve on the items you are selling. That's why I use Direct for all my auction needs. read more

I heard about this place from a dealer at the Lincoln Antique Mall. I was hesitant to check it out because as a regular shopper I thought it might be intimidating. I sure was wrong! This place is awesome! The staff was very nice when I mentioned it was my first time there. I met a lot of friendly regulars that gave me the scoop on items that usually go for cheap. Overall I bought one thing but I will definitely be back! I had so much fun. Tons of great deals to be had. That said, it's definitely a buyers market here. If you are trying to earn a bunch of money for your furniture or knick knacks this isn't the venue unless they are truly valuable. But if you're trying to liquidate an estate and just get rid of stuff, this place is great. read more

I love this place. I do agree with another review that the pricing for jewelry lots is a little crazy but they usually have quality items. It would be nice if they had auctions on Sunday since I work on Tuesday but I guess they are not going to change just for me :( Be warned that if you are planning to preview right before the auction is about to begin it gets very crowded. If you are going to leave an absentee bid try to get them in a couple hours before the item is about to go up. The staff was super friendly. I had a broken arm the last time I was there and they helped me fill out my absentee form. read more

They have some really good deals on some things, like rugs and some knick knacks, but it's always a bit surprising what goes for a lot! There's a really fun community there, and the 50 cent Dr. Pepper is great. They have a steady supply of interesting things and seem to be a good place if you're interested in antique furniture, rugs, and 70's oil-paintings (I'm always astonished at how high some of the pretty bad art sells for). read more