Vectis Toy Auctions Reviews 

Regularly buy from Vectis spending thousands a month at times and generally they are good, but recently purchased a Dinky toy from the 1930's with cast fairings etc for a fair amount. Unfortunately that was the only things which were fair, extremely poor packaging caused the near on 100 year old item to freely bounce around the box and against the other more substantial and modern items also housed within the box and it arriving as just the shell. If it appeared even an attempt was made to prevent it from being damaged I would say fair enough, but to not even attempt to protect it is extremely poor

After contacting Vectis and having to send numerous emails, photos and descriptions. They turned around and said it was listed as "fair condition" in their grading and despite buying it as complete with no description of faults other than the general age related paintwork it was acceptable for me to expect it to be arrive in pieces and beyond repair despite it not being protected.

Poor service, and as I say isolated incident, but still can't get over how one of the worlds more prestigious and renown auction houses can pride themselves on service like that. Was amateurish how it arrived bearing in mind the age and delicate nature, and to then be told it was listed as fair and that it was acceptable for them to send it how they did and arrive in pieces is a joke in all honesty. I will certainly not be rushing to use them again

In response to your reply…..

You emailed offering 10% as a ‘gesture of goodwill’. Which in all honesty was an insult more than a goodwill gesture to say it was graded as fair, and basically saying it was acceptable for it to arrive as damaged beyond repair is laughable. I did reply to the email kindly declining the 10% refund as think it was more of an insult to say it’s a goodwill gesture that poor packaging is acceptable for items to arrive broke and we should basically accept that is reasonable to expect

I have been a Vectis customer for 15 years or so, but not used them for a year or two until 4th December 2025. The main reason for this was due to having to wait too long to receive my items, usually a couple of weeks after payment. Other auction houses I have been using in recent years have been far quicker, one as good as next day despatch. On this occasion, Vectis took my automatic payment and despatch cost on the same day of the auction (4th Dec), but I only received my items on 7th Jan 2026. Even allowing for the Christmas period, that is far and away too long to wait, given they took immediate payment. Vectis’ continued success is starting to be to the detriment of their customers. For example, I have noticed that they have 16 auctions running in January 2026, that is 4 per week, so maybe 2500 - 3000 lots to despatch each week. Many of these lots also have large numbers of items in one lot. Given current despatch time lag from the auction date, Vectis clearly don’t have the despatch staff numbers to cope with that high volume, and the successful bidders will no doubt have to wait in a very long queue to receive their items as a result. On the plus side, I am happy my purchases were as described, and they were very securely packed. My advice to Vectis as a long standing customer is to try harder to balance your success against your obligation to deliver paid for items promptly. I realise Vectis’ terms say up to 2 weeks, sometimes longer to despatch, but I feel that It is not acceptable for it to be the norm to pay for something immediately, to then wait 3-4 weeks to receive your goods. Always remember that returning customers are the lifeblood of any business. Despatch times need to improve, as they have clearly deteriorated over the years that I have been a customer. I am not saying I would not use them ever again, but at least 3 other specialist toy auction houses I also use will get my priority from now on as their buyers fees are on par with Vectis, and the overall customer end to end experience a lot quicker and enjoyable.

Very easy to bid online using the Vectis website which has lower fees than using other bidding platforms. Automatic invoice issue and payment on completion of auction. Very acceptable shipping fee.

The website provides regularly updated information on which auction date is currently being packed for despatch.

Email notice received when the item had been packed and shipped, via Royal Mail 24 hour service, which was indeed received the next day

The items were exceptionally well packaged in a very sturdy outer box with plenty of packaging materials around the items. Everything was received in perfect condition.

I can highly recommend Vectis Auctions, a great purchasing experience from beginning to end. Thank you to everyone at Vectis Auctions.

The Best toy auction site in the UK. Outstanding company with the most knowledgeable expert valuers I have ever come across. Exceptional packaging by the Dispatch Dept. taking care of the most delicate of objects. Utterly professional & totally trustworthy.

Lovely service, great dispatch turnaround, I buy several lots each quarter from this auction house and everytime the packaging of individual items is stellar.

Everyone is so professional and helpful. They have wonderful items and are totally trustworthy

Vectis are the best at selling toys.
Professional, they will get the best for you as a seller.
Payments are prompt
And you can view how your toys are doing before the sale day.
I sold six lots in total over 2025 from toy soldiers , toy cars , train sets and others.
Use these people you will not be disappointed.

I won a number of Lots in the Vectis auction on the 18th November. It is now the 1st December and Vectis still have not shipped my items. I spoke with their despatch department a week ago and they said they were going to send the items, but they didn't. I spoke with them again today and they said they would ship the items today. Again, I have to wait and see!

On winning Lots you are expected to pay Vectis more or less immediately. And are then left languishing, waiting and having to chase them up to actually receive your goods. Wholly Unacceptable!

Smooth communication and prompt replies to questions asked. Shipping to The Netherlands turned out to be very affordable; much to my suprise. Last but not least packing was state of the art.

Models (Budgie diecast) not just accurately described but the packing and shipping was superb, with everything arriving perfectly. A masterclass in how to ship things. Well worth the additonal cost.

I won a set of parts for a Matchbox Yesteryear Pre Production Sumbeam Motorcycle and the parts arrived in perfect condition all wrapped separately to avoid damage. Very happy!!!

Have dealt with Vectis many times over the years, but my most recent purchase was the first one in quite a long time. Service levels remain high, excellent communication throughout the process. Yes, shipping takes a little while, but given the volume they go through that is hardly surprising. Website easy to navigate, live auctions function well even on my phone. High recommend.

I am returning customer but always get bad experiences from this auction. This time is the last time I purchased collectible item from them. And I do not recommended them. I won teddy bear on Vectis auction on 03/09/2025. After a month waiting, the item came with wrong certificate.

Their data administrator clarified like this: "I have spoken to our teddy bear specialists and they apologise but they only describe what has been sent in to us so we must have received the teddy with the wrong certificate. They did advise that you write to Steiff and they will send you the correct certificate free of charge. I hope this helps, any queries regarding this please get back to me".

It's credulous, their Teddy specialist did not inspect the item before sell it in auction. And they did not report honest condition of the item in the descriptions and photos in their auction website. It is so unprofessional.

Thus the staff suggest me to contact teddy company for certificate replacement as their specialist suggest it. and they said it will be free.

Since i am also club member of this teddy company, I knew that to replace a new certificate we must pay for the cost for new certificate and they just update the cost into €50 few years ago. Once again as teddy specialist they don't update their knowledge and advice a wrong suggestion.

Then I wrote message back to the staff and want refund for the replacement certificate €50. Because i already paid expensive import tax and shipping. Until i write this reviews, I get no more reply from them although I already write twice. Don't buy any item from this auction!!! I do disappointed!!!!

Edit: they tried to remove the same review in google map by marking my reviews. I escalate the case to google and google keep the reviews a live in their google map.

First & last time I bid/buy from Vectis Auctions. £30 fee per item, plus £16 postage for what should be Royal Mail Tracked 48 Small Parcel postage, which costs £3.35. Even if they added £5 for the postage box, which would still be expensive, that would be £8.35. Yes of course, you have to make A profit, but £30 an item is unacceptable.

Great company, obviously world wide known. Good to sell and buy rare and highly collectable items.

Shipping time could be bit better but price are very good!

***** Starts all day long

Great auction, well packaged and staff with a vast knowledge and great communication thankyou. I will most definitely be bidding again.

Can I say what a positive experience I have had with Vectis from start to finish. The best experience by far from any auction house I have ever used. I would definitely recommend Vectis to anyone & everyone and will definitely be using them again in the not to distant future.

As a previous customer, I was very disappointed that items won on 17th September still haven't been despatched by 2nd October. On kicking up a fuss they have agreed to move it to the head of the queue and send it tomorrow. If I hadn't complained it would have been nearly a month from payment to delivery. I have customers waiting for items in this shipment.

Unacceptable service and no mention of a reduction in shipping costs etc. Very chippy on the phone and seem to think they are doing me a favour by sending the stuff at all. Avoid.

Honest pros and cons ...
if your a reseller buying to put on ebay etc , think twice unless you have plenty of money to have tied up , advertised delivery 14 days 28 days worse case, average i would say a month once i waited 3 months for delivery then they delivered in person,

also if buying to resell need to buy a few lots not one , reason for this is descriptions are poor some lots will be damaged unchecked that you will bin, i get maybe 20 percent items unsellable or not as expected , vectis are not very good at grading they do not professionally check items so people including dealers put back there junk into auction be careful..so how i work is you will find bargains but lots of junk so you tend to take purchase got over a sale not a lot, as there will be lots that are money losers.. i have made 5k on a £25 lot at vectis but also bought 6 top end models all boxed all with missing parts that went straight into storage incase i need parts so 400 pounds in bin basically.

ok onto pros...

loads of choice and whilst there market leaders there staff turnover and understaffing actually helps you as a buyer as they miss so many rare items they just put in big lots. so can hit some big profit

there lot sizes of general sales or brilliant, and better than other auction sites

overall i am happy dealt with them years , but as a new bidder maybe shocked with there slow service and poor grading,

I’ve been a customer of Vectis for several years but they currently seem to have issues with shipping. Considering the invoice was paid on the 2nd September (which included shipping), they still have not been shipped nearly a month later. Taking payment up front for a service they can’t provide within the published timelines (10-15 days) is questionable ethics. When I contacted them, they were very dismissive directing me to their website which allegedly tells buyers which auction they are currently packing. When I asked for a date for my items there was no response.