I went up to view several lots at the early August auction and was disappointed at how little information there was available on the lots, especially the firearms, old and modern. Almost all the s.58 weapons were defective, with broken or missing parts, none of this being mentioned in the sales information. I should have walked away then, but was reassured by the helpful young man on the reception desk and decided to place various bids then and also later via the online system. The following Monday I went up to collect the four items I had successfully bid for, one of which was a .22 pistol, for which I had an authorised space for on my firearms certificate. I was told this was not correctly entered and I could not have the pistol. Back at home, an hour of calls and emails confirmed that Stuart Maule, the auctioneer and supposed expert was wrong and that my 60 mile round trip on a day taken off from work had been wasted because of his lack of knowledge or research about the pistol. I waited for some response, but it was several days before they eventually rang and told my wife that there had been “a technical hitch” but it was alright to collect the pistol now! I emailed Stuart Maule to politely express my concerns about their handling of the sale and this is where it became clear just how Harper Field really treat their customers, especially if they dare to complain. The reply, from Lyn Bowkett, wife of the owner, was rude, patronising and then threatening. She completely ignored my main complaint and tried to scare me off with suggestions that I was not a suitable person to hold a firearms certificate. I replied and she then threatened to cancel the sale – a transaction that was already done, dusted and paid for days earlier! I can see why this firm had to rebrand and relocate, the only surprise is that they are still doing business. BE WARNED!