Kraft Auction Service is the premier Auction Company in Northwest Indiana, providing services for equipment, estate, farm, business liquidation, benefit, charity, real estate, and consignment auctions. We realize that the thought of having an auction and all the decisions that go along with that can seem overwhelming.
Here is where our 40+ years combined auctioneer experience (and over 60+ years of being involved at auctions) can help you in the auction method of marketing. We are large enough to handle your auction, yet small enough to know all the details that your auction needs. Our goal is to provide our customers with outstanding service.
Here is where our 40+ years combined auctioneer experience (and over 60+ years of being involved at auctions) can help you in the auction method of marketing. We are large enough to handle your auction, yet small enough to know all the details that your auction needs. Our goal is to provide our customers with outstanding service.
Services
Kraft Auction Service is a professional auction service based in Valparaiso, IN. We have been servicing buyers and sellers from around the world since 1976. The company was founded by Conrad Kraft, who is still active in the business today. Conrad built the business on honesty and integrity, forming a strong base for Jonathan to take over in 2005.
With the exception of charity/benefit auctions Kraft Auctions conducts for private charity groups, all our Auctions are open to the public and free to attend. Bidder Number: All numbers issued are permanent numbers, so after you have registered at one Kraft Auction, you can just bring your number with you to the next sale and start bidding immediately!
With over 35 years of experience, Kraft Auction Service has the capability to serve any of your auction needs whether you are a buyer or seller. Kraft Auction Services is fully licensed in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and capable of conducting auctions in any state or around the world. Free Consultations: we can help with appraisals and selecting what type of auction will best serve your needs.
Each year Kraft Auction Service conducts our Anniversary Auction to celebrate the career of Colonel Conrad Kraft who started the business in 1976. This auction features high end antiques, collectibles, automobiles, weaponry and much more. In our 2019, over 20,000 bidders registered online and more than 1500 onsite auction attendees.
Kraft Auctions holds a bi-weekly consignment sale at our auction facility located at 48 N 450 E Valparaiso, IN. These sales will include antiques, coins, collectibles, art, toys, equipment, vehicles, tools, general household items, jewelry and much, much more.
Generally these sales are "non-lotted" which means there is no catalogue, but we often will have a specialty catalogued section that we will run as an online simulcast auction (live as well as online bidding for items).Sales are located at the Kraft Auction Facility located at 48 N 450 E, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
Generally these sales are "non-lotted" which means there is no catalogue, but we often will have a specialty catalogued section that we will run as an online simulcast auction (live as well as online bidding for items).Sales are located at the Kraft Auction Facility located at 48 N 450 E, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
Reviews (26)
Scott Miller
Feb 02, 2022
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Left an absentee bid. They never called to confirm I won. I had to call them. Then they gave me the wrong email address to send information too. Days later I called again after not receiving any follow up. Then sent information to a second email address. Then they couldn't find the email and I'm still waiting to get everything sorted out over a week later. Hopefully someday I'll get my merchandise.
Mr. Kraft followed up with me after posting this review. Item was shipped promptly afterwords. I would still recommend an improved system for customer to provide information. Upgrading from 1 to 3 stars
Mr. Kraft followed up with me after posting this review. Item was shipped promptly afterwords. I would still recommend an improved system for customer to provide information. Upgrading from 1 to 3 stars
Prolific P.
Jan 05, 2022
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I won two lots (one lot of action figures and one lot of vintage stickers) from Kraft Auction Service. Kraft Auction Service lost one of the lots (action figures) and offered no compensation for their error. Additionally, they charged me $17.10 to send the small lot of vintage stickers. I addressed my concerns regarding the lost items and the excessive shipping charges. The man I spoke with showed a lack of compassion, and was very short with me, very dismissive.
I do NOT recommend this auction house.
I do NOT recommend this auction house.
Robert Musselman
Dec 22, 2021
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My biggest complaint is the buyers premium. Why separate it if your not goin to acknowledge the difference between a debit card and a credit card???? 10% bp 3% card fee for cc. And not necessarily their issues but having to pay sales tax on buyers premium is just wrong. And descriptions could be a little more detailed especially for us that live farther away. away
Julie Douglas
Nov 23, 2021
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Jonathan was the auctioneer at a recent fundraising event for our non-profit organization. He was wonderful to work with and made the whole process easy. Thanks to him, our organization was able to raise a lot of money from our live auction. He did a fabulous job of selling the items we had. We could not have been more thrilled with the outcome!
Brent D.
Nov 12, 2021
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HorSe FAmiLy
Oct 18, 2021
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Tim D.
Sep 24, 2021
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I'd give them zero stars if I could. These people are crooked. I find their business practices to be unethical and immoral. I advise anyone that chooses to do business with them to keep an eye on their bank statement after the fact. They robbed me of nearly 100 dollars after I left the point of sale.
Ggs Craft Shack
Aug 31, 2021
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Kraft Auctions is top notch. I have dealt with many auctions and this is a place I will be returning to shop. The attention to detail to packaging my items was amazing and I couldn’t be happier with how fair the shipping was and the turn around on my items was very quick! If you see something you like with this company don’t hesitate to buy from them based on experience with other places because they know what they are doing here!!
Jeff M.
Aug 10, 2021
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My wife and I have been very loyal to kraft auctions. Things were great until recently. Warehouse personnel are awesome. But, the people running the outfit seem to have forgotten what customer service means. No one knows what the other is doing. Is the product in valpo or somewhere else. They cksum to have reasonable shipping rates on their trailers. Not the case. It seems they have grown so fast and making so much money they forgot how they started and how to treat people. Buyer beware.
Steve Whittenberger
Jul 17, 2021
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I have never bid at an online auction, but thought I would try yesterday. First, I sent my tax ID # to their office and heard nothing. Next , I filled out all information to bid and it kept saying my credit card # was not valid. I checked it 6 times and tried to submit. I was never able to register. I thought the entire process of finding the auction and filling out the information was confusing. I don't like the 15.4% buyers premium either. I want the old fashioned on premise auctions back!!! I will continue to attend them!
Kim V.
Jun 23, 2021
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I bid at several auctions all over the country. The last auction I won 16 lots, from Kraft. I love the shipping Dept. They are on the ball. They have always taken the time to remove the items I don't want to save me shipping fees. I asked for some fabric to be taken off the bolts before shipped, she was very accommodating, I felt like it was not a problem at all. Great communication. Personal service. I very much appreciate the extra effort. My items come nicely organized and arrived very fast. And I appreciate that the photographer takes the time to take several photos of the items and not just
Cindy Hawes
Jun 13, 2021
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We always find amazing treasures! You never know what Kraft will be selling next- their service attracts incredible collections from a wide variety of sellers. I never miss an opportunity to preview their auctions. We have furnished our home with high-end lovely antiques and have also been able to sell as a consigner with Kraft. Their staff took meticulous photos of our pieces, and we were 100% delighted with the prices our items fetched. They are gracious, helpful and thoughtful folks. I highly recommend Kraft! In fact, we are seriouls considering selling our home with Kraft!
Edward B.
May 29, 2021
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The furniture we were attempting have Kraft sell/auction on our behalf is dated, but in immaculate conditions. They had no interest in 1960-1980 furniture even if high quality and very clean. They stated that era furniture has no value. It could be they don't have the buyer demographic for it.
We did not have enough pieces for an estate sale. Our Realtor and the estate sale team recommended Kraft so our experience may be an anomaly.
We did not have enough pieces for an estate sale. Our Realtor and the estate sale team recommended Kraft so our experience may be an anomaly.
Baja B.
May 12, 2021
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Gerry B.
Feb 26, 2020
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This is the absolute WORST auction house I ever seen. I bought a sign, they said nothing on the auction site about not being able to ship it, after it sold they told me to wait awhile for them to pack and ship it then after several weeks they said they would not pack it for me so I was on the hook to find someone 1700 plus miles from me costing me days on the phone and headaches then my other sign after a few weeks more they told me they lost it, when I called back to find out what the heck happened the extremely RUDE ladies there all they would do is hang up the phone, they continued this for
Robert B.
Apr 23, 2019
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Noty B.
Jan 21, 2019
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Tim A.
Jun 01, 2018
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After 12 years of giving them business and promoting kraft, today (5/31/18) is what I saw when they Unnecessarily unloaded the trailer I spent 4 days carefully loading. It is my sincere belief someone in kraft employ intentionally left me with this ??? damaged mess. I am so convinced, I've filed a police report and will seek prosecution of the person responsible. See Pics and determine if you want your property handled by kraft. See google review for sickeningly criminal handling of my property
Vicki G.
Nov 11, 2017
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I bought a car through Kraft Auction Service at a Wednesday night consignment sale. Turned out to be a great purchase! I decided to sell a car at a Wednesday night sale. It was an easy experience and I got way more for the car than I ever thought I would! Great team at Kraft Auction Service. Jonathan is s great auctioneer and I would highly recommend!
Brittany M.
Feb 09, 2015
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I would not recommend Jonathan Kraft or his auction. We purchased two vehicles from his auction. One we received a title for and the other we never did. I contacted him and he said he would look into it and call me back. He also said I should have called sooner and he could have helped? What is that suppose to mean. I never received a call back from him. I tried contacting him again and left messages and no response at all! I later had my attorney send him a letter requesting title within 10 days or we would be returning the vehicle and refund money and expenses occurred. He never responded to
Jay C.
Feb 09, 2015
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When it comes to antiques, collectibles and vintage items all the way to heavy equipment I am continually impressed with the knowledge Jonathan has on the items he is selling. I have seen him market and sell assets on many different platforms. There is no doubt when the time comes for me have an auction, Jonathan Kraft will be the first person I call. If you have time, go to one of his auctions and see first hand.
Samantha R.
Jan 13, 2015
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Dealing with John Kraft is a nightmare. Not sure about being his customer as I've never been on that end. But He was a customer of ours the last position I had, and he was the rudest most unprofessional person I've ever spoke to (I have been in customer service for 10 years) He was unhappy about a piece of equipment he bought from us. His secretary or assistant (not sure) called to place a call for us to come look at his equipment at 4:30 in the after noon (our office closes at 5) so I let her know someone would be out the next day. She was very nice and said that would be fine. Not ten
A. N.
Nov 20, 2014
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I would never recommend using Kraft Auction services. Jon gave very little info, I had to ask about contract and itemized list. They missed first appointment to pick up with no notice. They arrived to pick up without packing materials to secure things in truck and piled and jammed them in scratching things. Could not get all in first truck which Jon knew upon first contact--said they would come back same day for second truck but workers said they had to be somewhere else so did not come back until morning of auction. One walkthru with Jon and three days of my time to pick up---we received
A. EstateSale
Oct 14, 2014
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Pamela H.
Jun 03, 2014
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Mr Kraft came to my deceased Mother's estate and said the only way for them to make money was to not only take the big stuff but also to take all the little stuff. Well, I haven't even gone through all the boxes at that point so I said "not at this time." Two weeks later I call him to say I think I need his services. I called him at 10:15 am, he was getting ready to start an auction and asked if I could call later that evening. I called him at 8:31 pm and left a message. It was late, I gave him a pass on that result. Then I thought maybe on Sunday he takes off since Saturday
Tommy A.
Feb 07, 2013
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Jonathan and the Kraft Auction Service team sold my grandmother's items after she passed away. Honestly, it was a godsend that we found them, we were left with all this stuff with which we had no idea what to do and no way to move. Jonathan came to our house and went through the stuff with us so we would know what was valuable and what wasn't. He cleaned out the entire house and even hired a dumpster for the trash. A couple of the other auctioneers we spoke with only wanted to take the good items, which still left us with a house full of stuff. The team moved everything for us, so
