What clients say about William A. Smith, Inc. in Plainfield Township (NH)
William Smith Auction house is fantastic. Whether you are participating in an online auction or in person in Plainfield, NH you will be treated right. If you are buying or selling you want to come here! Not only do things run fair & smooth, the staff are super helpful & friendly. Thank you to Bill & the team (which interact more like family!)
William Smith is first-rate in all respects. They have tremendous expertise in assessing the items that they bring to market. They are accurate and transparent in describing the pieces, which are often of very high quality. And perhaps most importantly, their client service is outstanding. One of my favorite auction houses on the East Coast!!
Love this place. Staff is great and they always put together a great catalogue. Just a friendly reminder, the only way to be certain your bid will get in is if you’re in person. Internet is not always reliable-that’s not the fault of the auction house and it’s clearly stated.
They make it a great experience to be in person too. They provide food, beverages & snacks, it’s cozy to hang out in and they are charming and witty as well. It’s always fun to learn about antiques. I’ve won a few auctions and I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve received. It’s great going to the previews to see it in person before bidding! Thanks everyone! Great job!
This company is very easy to do business with and they have very good customer services ! We not just recommend this auction house but we will keep coming back! Thank you! Attos Santana
Bidding process is not transparent.
I submitted an absentee bid of $600 for a lovely quilt, which sadly I did not get. When I spoke with someone at the office, it turns out that a bidder on the floor got the quilt for $600.
This doesn't make sense. If there are 2 bids for the same amount then one person has to go above that amount to purchase the item.
I thought this was a honest business, and now I don't think that is the case.
The best auction house ever!!! Bill, Troy, Steve, Matt & Leon are all so kind, honest and knowledgeable. Their level of expertise is unparalleled. The contents of their auctions are spectacular, such high quality and unique.
W.A. Smith offers a New England country auction experience at its absolute best... Bill, like his father before him, is such a fine person, you will find the staff (right down to the youngest "newbie") are all treated with courtesy and respect. This is true for the customers as well . . . weather you are a dealer with a 5 figure purchase appetite, or an auction newcomer, hoping for a "good deal" on a box lot.
Pre-bids and phone bids are taken, but Smith's chooses not to broadcast live on the internet, so the action is really right there in the house. (I've been to other auction houses where nearly 90% of the bids come online, so the house is nothing but empty seats . . . very discouraging!)
W.A. Smith's auctions are lively and fun, pieces are represented very fairly. This respected, knowledgeable, highly regarded organization, sets the standard for estate auctioneering in New England. As a result, Bill Smith and his staff are asked to represent the sale of some of the very finest pieces and entire collections to be found anywhere.
Come prepared to have a great time; whether you're looking for period antiques or simply a wonderful day among folks who share a passion for the history, beauty, and enduring value of treasures from the past!
Note: I realize these comments might seem a bit "over the top." Please be assured I have no relation with W.A. Smith other than enthusiasm for their auctions. I'm a long-time regional photographer and artist, with an old Vermont colonial home, and a keen appreciation of quality in both collectibles and people. Look up "quality" in the dictionary . . . you'll find a group photo of Bill Smith and the entire crew.
Leon new manager (?) of auction house is all about the profits....mislabels/ not correctly describe items which is very misleading....auction house has changed since the change in management....cannot be trusted (unlike when it was directly managed by mr smith) that what they sell is what it truly is and attempt / pressure you to buy the item even when proven to be a fake
I have been going to William Smith Auctions for 40 years. I have both consigned and purchased many items from them. In fact all of my jewelry and most of my home furnishings have come from them. I have always been treated with great respect. I can’t say enough good about this company.
I have known these auctioneers for many years and have often attended auctions there . I have NEVER been disappointed or dissatisfied with any of the items I have purchased: the crowd is wonderful and the employees are amazing and knowledgeable! If your looking for a fun time or to find that one amazing piece I would recommend William Smith auction house !
My husband and I have attended many Smith auctions over the last several years. We are both impressed with the entire process from start to finish. There is a high level of professionalism and sound ethical practices which guide the auction. The inventory never fails to be high quality and Mr. Smith always provides a wealth of information and provenance to each item. Smith Auctions remain our favorite auction venue.
One of the best auction houses in New England, honest, they stand behind their sales and couldn't be better on treating their customers well. I've been going there for over 30 years and maybe I'll make it another 30.
I went to my first antique auction with my Grandfather in Rindge, NH when I was eight-years-old during a vacation at their lake cottage. I went to my favorite antique auction thirty years later, on a recent visit to William A. Smith auctions in Plainfield, NH. Where to begin ...
I had heard high praise for the auction house over the years. Living primarily in Boston and Washington, D.C., I never had the opportunity to make the trek up. Online or absentee bidding is always an option at most auction houses, but there is much to be said for attending in person. It’s kind of like baseball – I can watch the Red Sox on NESN, and avidly do - but you just can’t replicate the sights and the sounds of being at Fenway.
Anyway, I was interested in an early 1800s tall case Grandfather Clock. I submitted an inquiry via the website. To my surprise, within the hour, I received a personal phone call. The clock was a stunner, but not without flaw. (What is after over 200 years of use?) And, again, to my pleasant surprise, Ken (an affable and longtime employee at the auction house) spoke firsthand and forthright about every one of them – some I hadn’t even noticed.
Integrity, personified.
Not only did I buy the clock, I bought ten other items. From a beautiful cherry highboy to a classic Connecticut River Valley chest of drawers – all with wonderful provenance. I had planned to stay at the auction for an hour; ended up staying for six. I bought myriad beautiful pieces – and did so with absolute peace of mind.
Side note: a congenial woman seated next to me shared a story. She has been attending auctions there for years. She once bought a lot of jewelry for upwards of $500. A bit wary of her purchase after the fact, Bill (the proprietor) said: "I tell you what, if you should find that you did NOT get good value on that purchase, bring it back and I will refund your money - no questions asked." She later brought the lot to a jeweler ... where it appraised for roughly $5,000. Not too shabby.
Bill Smith is a seasoned and esteemed auctioneer. He introduces each piece with intricate information, and does so with a rare and appealing brand of candor and humor. If a piece has flaws, he highlights them. If a piece carries not only perfection but provenance, he humbly touts it. And if a piece is, well, that occasional dud, he will present it as such. No surprises. No false advertising.
I have long worked in politics and marketing – with the scars and wrinkles to show for it. Without exception or excuse, Bill meets my definition of credibility: saying what you mean, and meaning what you say. From top to bottom, his hardworking team is forthright, fair, honest, and infinitely kind.
Heck, even if you’re not in the market for antiques, an auction there makes for a relaxing road trip and day right out of Yankee Magazine or a Garrison Keillor monologue. No matter where you’re coming from, odds are you will cross the Connecticut River on a picturesque covered bridge, traverse some tranquil country roads, and come upon their quaint auction house. Right out of a Winslow Homer painting.
As serene as it gets.
Family run businesses are, sadly, a vanishing entity – but they remain firmly a part of the fabric of America. The best part, really. I assure you: there is a reason this one is still going strong after over half a century. The quality. The people. The place. It is quintessentially American; uniquely New England.
I have long attended antique auctions in cities up and down the East Coast. There is none finer than W.A. Smith in Plainfield, NH.
Best burgers for miles, to boot.
Ben Clarke - Massachusetts
I love going here to buy everything from furniture to jewelry at a fraction of the retail cost! Bill often has very nice custom furniture - not everything is an antique! We love our Cherry Pompanoosuc Mills TV cabinet... There is always something for everyone and every budget. The auctions are a fantastic place to outfit an apartment or house!
I have done business with Bill's auction house for over 20 years and I have never been an unhappy customer. They sell incredibly good quality items of every kind and origin, and everyone at the auction house is a pleasure to work with.
I gave this auction house an antique French writing desk, a full muslin covered couch with matching dual chairs and ottoman from one of our best local designers, a Pottery Barn Pine armoire, a professional stainless steel dining table plus six covered leather stools, two full bedroom sets admittedly of limited value but for all this I got a check for $400. DO NOT use these folks. I had an offer of $900 from Ernie’s in Bradford and that didn’t include the 4 pieces of living room furniture. DO NOT use these folks! Use Ernie in Bradford. He is honest!
Great place to do business with. Honest and upfront. I had 2 ship models that they sold for me and I was very pleased with the interaction. Was a little more of a drive for me (in W. Mass) but it was worth it.
Bid $4,000 online with description offered by the auction house. When the bookcase arrived at my home, the lower half was covered with MOLD that someone at the auction house had tried to wipe off for the two photos posted. I got no response to my emails raising this as an undisclosed condition. The "original" finish on this antique has been ruined and its value greatly reduced. Surprised that no one from W.A. Smith cared enough to respond to my inquiries.
We are happy to see Smith's are coming down here. We have done business with them in NH and enjoyed the auctions there. Excited to see what they have in Sarasoda. I hope Kenny is still helping Bill. Would be nice to see all. Fun fun. Candy and Alan Howland
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