Buyers As Victims of Public Auctions

People have bought articles only to realise that they are defective.

Auction sales organised by sheriff bailiffs have always been appealing to Cameroonians. In Yaounde, many people prefer to buy their household equipment, especially electrical appliances, in auction sales because it is cheaper. What has been the cause for worry is that this equipment does not often meet the expectations of the buyers.

Henri Kenfack, a Yaounde inhabitant is disappointed. He said he bought a mobile telephone FCFA 12,000 and a grinding machine FCFA 10,000 during an auction sale organised by sheriff bailiff's cabinet. When he arrived home, he discovered that the telephone was not functional while blender functioned for only one week.

The story is similar that of Brigitte Okala, another Yaounde inhabitant. She said she bought a mobile phone and went back home only to find out that the handset had no battery. She had no option but to be contented with what she bought because she could not recover her money. Reacting to some of these mishaps in auction sales, Sheriff Bailiff, Victor Atangana says one of the major conditions for auction sales is that there is no guarantee for goods sold since they are seized property from debtors. Thus, the goods may be in good or bad shape. "We don't give clients the possibility to verify the quality of the goods," he said.

Usually, auction sales are carried out by sheriff bailiffs according to rules governing the organisation of public auction. Sheriff Bailiff, Sylvain Bernard Foumane Fam says auction sales remain the best means to oblige a debtor to pay his debts. He said when the debtor has not been able to pay his debt after summons by the bailiff and there is no amicable settlement thereafter, the bailiff goes ahead to seize the belongings of the debtor.

However, he regretted, the effect of the seizure of belongings no longer has much weight because the OHADA law protects the debtor. He said before the coming of the said OHADA law, when goods seized were taken away and then sold. With the OHADA law, the belongings are still left to the care of the owner for 30 days, to enable the debtor find a buyer. The consequence is that the auction sale procedure is longer.

Simultaneously, there are sales which done by shouting by some traders who have no idea about the profession of bailiff. They pose as bailiffs organising an auction sale whereas the latter is not. These individuals gather goods, especially electronic appliances which are almost deteriorated, from shops and sell as auction sales. He advises the public to avoid buying goods from auction sales which are carried out on roadsides. He said bailiffs conduct auction sales in front of their cabinets and other popular sites and sales are done only on Saturdays. Buyers should ensure that stamps of the bailiff are put on the receipt given them.