I purchased an original artwork through a Catawiki auction from an artist in Italy, with delivery to Norway. Unfortunately, my experience with the platform raised several concerns.
Catawiki charged a 25% VAT on the purchase, even though it is documented that original works of art imported to Norway can be exempt from VAT under certain conditions. Despite this, the VAT was included in the invoice issued through Catawiki.
After noticing this charge, I made several attempts to contact Catawiki to clarify the issue and request reimbursement. I also contacted UPS and the artist to try to determine to whom the VAT payment had been transferred. Unfortunately, this effort did not lead to any clear answer, and Catawiki has not responded to my messages.
The lack of response creates the impression that customer follow-up is not adequately handled. As a result, incorrect invoicing can occur without an effective way for customers to resolve the issue.
To be fair, the artwork was delivered successfully and the piece arrived in satisfactory condition. However, the overall experience revealed a lack of transparency in pricing. Additional costs—such as the VAT charge—only became apparent after the auction had been won, making it difficult for buyers to fully understand the final price beforehand.
Combined with the absence of functional customer support for resolving billing issues, this experience has significantly reduced my confidence in the platform. For this reason, I do not intend to use Catawiki again, particularly for higher-value purchases or items imported to Norway.
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