Interview with Patrick, antique dealer: “Cocolis opens up possibilities.”

His name isn’t Louis but Patrick, and yet we really felt like we were talking to the most famous of antique dealers. From Orléans, this antiques enthusiast allowed us a glimpse into his world and told us how Cocolis has been a part of it since 2015! Warning: heartwarming anecdotes ahead!

Could you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Patrick B., I’m an antique dealer. My daily life is buying objects all over France to resell to my clients. By the way, I’m at the Orléans Mails every Saturday, for those who know…

What are your daily challenges?

Finding the object I believe in—that is, one that will sell—is one of the challenges of my job. I face several obstacles: in online auctions (like Interencheres, Era Enchères, Drouot Digital) which have become widespread over the past five years, it’s not easy to buy based on a single image, which may not be true to reality.

The second challenge I face is finding a courier to bring me these objects found all over France. And that’s where I turn, of course, to my favourite platform: Cocolis!

Every day, I post ads, receive messages, reply to them, and schedule pick-ups, which have to be done at the auctioneers’ during office hours.

Why did you try Cocolis in the first place?

I heard about Cocolis while watching a video on YouTube, where a man shared his experience and was very happy with it. He had finally found a way to send heavy parcels across France! That was in 2015, and you came along at just the right time, as online auctions were booming. To have parcels shipped to me from other cities in France, you were the perfect solution.

What convinced you?

Honestly, I was very happy with Cocolis from the start, because Cocolis gave me exactly what I was looking for. It was a delivery solution that cared about the planet, and allowed people to optimise their journeys by helping others. I think it’s wonderful that someone can make an effort and be rewarded for it.It’s a powerful platform that opens up possibilities. Previously, I simply didn’t buy objects from other regions! But now, with live auctions and Cocolis, I have purchases shipped from Marseille, Limoges… To date, I’ve had more than 300 parcels delivered via Cocolis!

What do you like most about delivery by individuals?

I really like the social aspect. Sometimes you meet extremely friendly, cultured, and intelligent people.

I open my door to people I like, offer them coffee, we chat, they might stay for an hour or two… We never get bored, and since I use the same co-transporters, I sometimes form friendships! For example, there’s a co-transporter who does Limoges-Orléans twice a week, and I see him regularly. I eventually found out he likes mushrooms, just like me! So I gave him a packet of chanterelles. These bonds that are created are essential!

Patrick is so convinced, he even converts his own clients to Cocolis!

I regularly recommend your services to my clients when they ask how I ship my antiques! If they listen to me, they might end up using Cocolis. For example, a client from Beaune who sometimes comes to buy items from me listened to me and later came back to say:

“Oh, I’m really happy, really happy, it paid for my motorway toll!”

Before her last holiday, she actually posted her route!

And you? Have you made great connections thanks to Cocolis? Tell us all about it at contact@cocolis.fr!