The owner of an Upper East Side antique store is being sued by several customers who claim they were robbed and their possessions thrown away.
The owners of Sara’s Antiques, at Lexington Ave and E. 73rd St., are facing six lawsuits, complaints to police and to the city’s Department of Consumer and Employee Protection about their business selling treasures on consignment.
One disgruntled customer even set up an online group to vent his anger. Others have given the place only one star on Yelp.
In a series of lawsuits, the owners of the antiques accused Sara’s owner, Sayeh Sassouni Khorshad, and her husband Vahid Peter Khorshad, who accompanied Peter, of selling their valuables and keeping the cash themselves, handing back a badly damaged piece, or losing they are completely.
One suing customer, Kimberly Taylor, told The Post she intended to sell her collection of jewelry, art, home decor and furniture, valued at $650,000.
“Peter told me he could start selling stuff and give me a minimum of 5 to 7 grand a month, until he sells everything,” he told The Post.
This diamond encrusted bracelet, with an estimated total value of about $47,000 is reported to have disappeared. Sincerely, Kimberly Taylor
Included in her shiny stash were three bracelets estimated to be worth a total of $47,000, court documents said.
It is an 18-karat white gold bracelet with 12 tapered baguette diamonds weighing 1.05 carats and 234 round diamonds, weighing 4.15 carats, made in Hong Kong and valued at $15,000; ruby and diamond bracelet, containing 12 baguette-tapered diamonds weighing 1.05 carats and 234 round brilliant-cut diamonds coming in at 4.15 carats, valued at $12,000; and another diamond bracelet, made of 18-karat white gold, featuring 33 baguette diamonds, weighing approximately 3.19 carats, and 276 round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 4.15 carats valued at $20,000.
But Taylor said in her suit that Khorshad “engaged in a pattern of self-dealing and lying” and now her bracelet is missing along with another $100,000 in her possessions.
“Nothing was sold for my benefit,” he told The Post. “It was a betrayal to me and a joke to them.”
Sayeh Sassouni Khorshad and her husband Peter were accused of ripping off a string of clients. Their lawyers denied the allegations. Sara Khorshad Sara’s Antiques has earned just one star on Yelp thanks to negative reviews from customers. Yelp
His lawyer William Brewer said, “They are [returned] He has a lot of stuff, but a lot of it is lost and a lot of it is damaged. $150,000 of his property is gone.”
Oscar Michelen, attorney for Sara’s Antiques, told The Post, “We deny any fraudulent activity.”
Daniel Roubeni, a publisher on Long Island, was so unhappy that he created an online group for disgruntled customers.
Roubeni claimed to be owed money for the sale of a mid-1800s Louis XIV table, which he had previously valued at $50,000. He did not file suit.
Daniel Roubeni’s Louis XIV table, which he valued at $50,000. He said he was never paid for it, even though it was sold on consignment. Daniel Roubeni was never paid for his desk and launched an online group where disgruntled customers vented their anger.
“Peter sold it in no time for $20,000,” Roubeni said. “He said he can’t pay me because he has debts with other people. That was in 2018.”
Both parties agree that another sale is going well. Michelen attributed the non-payment to “financial shortfalls caused by the pandemic.”
Another lawsuit, filed on behalf of Nancy Latin-Ryan, alleges that she turned over $420,000 worth of goods to Peter, his wife and third parties; and he also loaned their company $200,000.
According to Latin-Ryan’s lawyer James Toner, he was “promised an above-market return on the loan.”
The complaint alleges that “the items [are] is still retained by the defendant” and that he has “suffered damages of $620,000.”
This consignment agreement puts the Louis XIV table at $20,000.
Michelen replied, “We have tried to resolve this matter. He refused to take [the goods] back. He wants money beyond what he owes on his property.”
And a woman who has an apartment just a few blocks from Sara’s Antiques, and asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, handed over various heirlooms worth, she estimates, $42,0000.
His antiques include a Reed & Barton 72-piece sterling silver set, from 1973, valued at $14,500; a 9-pound sterling silver dinner plate signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, which he described as a “family heirloom from the 1940s” valued at $10,000; and four Tiffany mint julep cups from the 1970s, stamped with Tiffany’s signature, which he said are worth about $4,000.
They were sold, but Peter Khorshad offered them for only $7,500.
He has now asked police in Tuxedo Park, in upstate New York, and the New York City Department of Consumer and Employee Protection to investigate. Tuxedo Park police declined to comment.
A sterling silver dinner plate signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, said to be worth around $10,000. The owner of the plate was offered less than he believed it was worth. The mint julep cup, with the Tiffany stamp, has been sold but the owner has yet to be paid. He was not satisfied with the amount offered.
“He offered me $7,500 [for everything],” the source told The Post.
“I told him I would accept $30,000. He said he would get back to me. It has been exhausting.
“He ignores people and eventually they give up. I was lucky that my apartment was three blocks from his shop. I don’t give up.”
Michelen said, “I am personally trying to solve it [this] claim. [Peter] do not take commission. It is not a fraud or a crime or against the law of consignment.”
Janet Rodgers told The Post that she did not “expect to see” a second payment of $5,000. Courtesy of Janet Rodgers A serving plate from Gorham, which Janet Rodgers believes is worth $10,000. He completed half of that. Courtesy of Janet Rodgers
Another customer, Janet Rodgers, a retired writer from the Upper East Side, sent a set of 100-year-old sterling silver chargers made by Gorham to the store.
Peter offered $6,000 as a cut of his sale. “I said, NO; I want a minimum of $10,000,” he told The Post.
“That’s half of what I thought I could sell it for. He wrote me a check for $5,000 [on September 23 of this year] and promised to give me a second payment of $5,000. I didn’t expect to see it.”
Michelen said of the sale: “I’m sure he’ll pay what he deserves.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
