Auction World.tv's downfall came about because of two reasons - the setting and validity of the guide price, and the ability to deliver items in a timely manner.

The disappointment for buyers was the ineffectual ability of the regulatory authorities to either take action on complaints, or piece together the scale of the failure of the company to trade honestly or provide what they sold.

Viewers began to question the validation of the guide price, which reduced sales and hence Auction World's cash flow.

This created a series of complaints from buyers to both regulatory bodies (i.e. - the ITC and Trading Standards), as well as consumer focused champions (i.e. - BBC Watchdog and the Daily Mirror).

[citation needed] The ITC, which had previously made claims disputing the quality of Auction World, later merged with several other broadcasting regulators to form Ofcom.

Barnes Trust Media, owners of Teddington Studios, were owed many thousands of pounds in back rent.

In April 2005, falling-price auction channel iBuy was created, and launched by Andy Sheldon & Adam Freeman, continuing to 2007.