Park West Galleries ripoff, fraud, dishonest Southfield Michigan

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Rip-off Report Investigation: Park West receives a POSITIVE RATING from Rip-off Report -commitment to providing excellent customer service, pledges its commitment to 100% customer satisfaction - over 1 million satisfied clients - feel confident & secure when doing business with Park West Gallery

I am an ex-employee of Park West Gallery. No wait, I am a PROUD ex-employee of Park West Gallery. I no longer work there because I got married and moved away. First of all, this is a company. Just like any other company out there, there are rules, policies, and procedures. Yes, we do have an all sales are final policy. So do 10 billion other companies. This is art you are purchasing. You can't just return it the same way you return a shirt at the mall. We are a vendor for the cruise lines. For those of you without enough intelligence to realize what this means, it means that when you purchase art on a ship auction, you are not paying us. You are paying the cruise line, who pays us. If you open up a Park West Collectors Card, which is a private label credit card, the bank pays the cruise line, who then pays us. It is a very difficult and complicated process to refund purchaes, and this is also why it takes 1-2 billing cycles to receive a refund. It has to go back to 3 different companies. Why do some of you call after a week and ask where your money is? I'll get to the clients I dealt with during my time at Park West later. Secondly, there is free booze at these auctions, but who is holding a gun to your head forcing you to guzzle it down? I don't think anybody is. Anybody who attends these auctions is at least by LAW an adult and has the capacity to make well informed, responsible decisions. Don't call up and say, "We were not informed all sales are final." You don't need to be informed. It is clearly stated several times on the invoice THAT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE PURCHASER BEFORE THE SALE GOES THROUGH. Who the hell puts their signature on something nowadays without reading what they are signing away to? Do not blame this company for your choice to ignore the so called, "fine print." It actually isn't so fine. Also, don't tell the CSR people that the auctioneer told you whatever you say he told you. The invoice, which is also a legal contract, states that anything promised to you verbally will not override the what is on the invoice in writing. Do some reading before you sign ok? *Jeez* Also, maybe all of you who complain about us should do some research BEFORE you buy artwork. What does this say about you all who look into things after the fact? This is like performing an open heart transplant, then reading online about how to do it. It makes no sense!! When you call to any company with any complaint, the CSR will not want to help you out if you are a total jerk! We are willing to go the extra mile with the clients who state their frustrations and complaints in a calm, professional, and mature manner. I live in California now and am in the same line of work, so this applies to me still. Furthermore, if you are going to get "retail value" pricing on pieces you purchased from one gallery and then call up a different gallery to get a price quote, what on Earth makes you think that the competing gallery isn't going to try to turn you against the former? It's like going to McDonalds and asking an employee which is better, the Big Mac or the Whopper. It MAKES NO SENSE. Framed artwork takes time to pull from stock, send to a different facility for framing, packaged, and shipped to the client. When you go on an overseas cruise, it has to be cleared by customs. You all need to have some patience. Also, if you have received a Park West Collectors Card statement and have not received art, you are MORE THEN WELCOME to call the bank and file a dispute. We have always advised to do so. For anyone that says we do not offer to restore or replace damaged artwork, that is a total lie. We always honor damaged artwork to be brought back and be inspected and furthermore satisfy the situation for the client. Just because you leave a voicemail doesn't mean you are the only person to do so and we don't have 50,000 other clients to call back too! You are not the only person, so be patient! Also, this is not a small mom and pop shop. It is a huge company that frames and ships out 3-7 thousand pieces a week. Please try to understand that it is very possible to make a mistake or overlook something. If this happens to you, call Park West and let them know! They have FedEx or UPS pick up the artwork at their expense, they fix the situation at their expense, and they send it back to the client ALL AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. They care about clients, but they also care about themselves too. If this sounds blunt to you who are reading it, well too bad. If you can't handle the truth when it is in your face then don't read this. Also, if they have lost your piece, (which by the way THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN THEY CAN MAKE MISTAKES!! I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE MADE A FEW THOUSAND MISTAKES IN YOUR LIFETIME, so don't get all hoity toity when somebody else makes one)they do offer to refund your money, let you choose a different piece of art, or offer you a Bid Credit, which is kind of like a gift card. They don't pick for you, its up to you to pick. The point of this is, be responsible for your own actions and take the time to ask questions and read what you are signing. Do research before the fact. Sorry, buyers remorse is not good enough and it is not acceptable. And when you call a CSR, for God's sake, be a lady or a gentleman. Don't call up like a raging lunatic yelling and screaming at them because they are doing the job they are required. They don't make up the rules, they just follow them. They didn't do anything to you, and if anything they are probably the ones that can help you out the most. Not everything is as easy as 1 2 3. Don't all of you have rules you have to follow at work too? I thought so. Peace.

I am not surprised with the complaints about this art auction company. I have cruised several times and have watched them operate. I enjoy auctions and have een to many, both good and some questional. Park West fits in the latter.

First, the auctioneer manufacters bids. The ones that I watched were no even very good at doing this. I stood by the recording desk during the last auction I attended on a RCL cruise. I noted that when the auctioneer got a price he wanted, the buyer's name and number was recorded. When he didnot, the numberof the winning bid was called and the recorder ignored the paperwork.

Second, Park West prices the art at very artifical prices as many customers have found out when they had the art appraised. I know that they say that the art is appraised but it is by one of their people.

Buy any art if you like and do not expect to be getting anything of value. Most are by artists who are not known and probably never will be. Listen to see who wins the bid and be very careful if one number whens several bids.

You sound just like the people I talked to at Park West Galleries, sad, you all are so sad and brain washed. I talked to Phyliss Brown in Client Services. When I told her that they violated Florida State law in not returning my sales tax she was very condescending. That is how your rebuttal sounds, condescending.

On a cruise ship it is hard to fully research the providence of a painting. I relied on the fact that Carnival Cruise Lines assured us that we would be protected from fradulent dealers and I let my guard down. I believed the incentive driven sales pitches, my first mistake.

When I returned to Tampa I contacted a representative of the Peter Max company. I told them what Park West Galleries claimed and THEY told me I had been lied to, that is fraud and I will not be defrauded.

Your "company" refunded the cost of the painting, but kept $1200.00 which included $342.00 in sales tax, $110.00 for a bad copy of a bogus appraisal and $650.00 as commission for a fraud. That is a very big offense in Florida and the tax bureau is very interested in your former employee.

Ms. Brown from Park West Client Services was very condescending to me about the Sales Tax. Saying that of course they had to return it to me. I got a refund for the painting in January, and on March 18th I still don't have my sales tax. That doesn't sound to me that it is their policy to follow the law. If it is the practice of Park West to refund sales tax, it would have been done in conjuction with the original refund, not months later.

Wake up ex-employee if that is what you are. You can now look at your reflection in the mirror and not see guilt. These people are not to be trusted.

Ok, Joyce in Tampa, FL, let me respond to your absurd alligations. First of all, the contract stated all sales were final. Just because you decide AFTER the fact you aren't comfortable or let your guard down because you relied on the cruise line to protect you, does't mean Park West is going to pay for your, "mistakes," as you like to call it. You shouldn't be so stupid, to depend on anybody but yourself to protect you. *duh* I don't see guilt when I look in the mirror. I never did anything wrong. I just did my job, I followed the rules. I'm far too intelligent to be brainwashed, so sorry that argument won't hold up with me. Plenty of people have a restocking fee! It isn't like my former employer Park West is the only one. You made a choice, you signed the contract which stated the rules, (you probably didn't read a word of it before you signed it though) and you had the option of canceling the sale before you got off the ship. You didn't do any of that did you? You are one of those procrastinators, who does the research AFTER the fact. What good does that do you? It doesn't, does it? As far as the taxes being returned to you, if they say they will be returned, then they will be returned. Like I said in my previous rebuttal, BE PATIENT! It takes time. By the way, wake up! A company isn't going to be in business for almost 45 years AND have a facility in Miami, FL such as Park West does if they are violating Florida state tax laws left and right. Just face it. You went on a cruise, you bought art for the first time and then came home and talked to a whole bunch of competitors then based your judgement of a valid company like Park West, and decided you had been, "lied to." So by making those stupid choices, you lost some money. By the way, an appraisal does not cost $110.00. That's a damn lie right there. I highly doubt Peter Max studios would tell you Park West lied to you. Park West and Peter Max studios have had a special exclusive relationship for years. By the way, its not Peter Max Company, its Peter Max Studios. If you make a mistake, it isn't up to the company to fix them for you. Its up to consumers to be smart and educated about where their money is going, to read all legal contracts they sign their name to, and to ask plenty of questions and do much research on things before they buy them. End of story.

What I would do, is i would try to file a motion with the courts in Florida, basically a temporary restraining order against the company to do business in Florida. I would speak with an attorney. And also file a civil complaint with the state of florida and michigan, where their home base is. Granted you signed a contract, but, a bankruptcy court judge can void that contract and/or change the terms of the contract.

I bought many art peices from parkwest and had
no complaints. You as a buyer must know what you are buying, canvas, lithograph, serigraph, mixed media and the artist. I buy art that has good resale and also you must like the painting you are buying. Some of the painting I own have more than doubled in sale price and three fold on the appraisal value, But not for sale. thanks parkwest.

My husband and I have been purchasing art (both graphic art and originals) through Parkwest since 2002. We have purchased on cruises, land auctions and at the VIP events. We are completely happy with Parkwest and the level of customer service that we have received from them over the years. In fact we just returned from an event in Detroit where be bought 4 original pieces and they were all dedicated to us personally by the artist ( all of which were there for the weekend).

All of the personnel that we have had contact with are very nice and extremely professional. We have had the pleasure of meeting Albert(the owner) and his wife on several occasions and they are wonderful people.

Last October, we purchased several pieces and were excited to receive them. Parkwest usually ships their items within 4-6 weeks. I called the customer service department in December because we still had not received 3 pieces that we purchased. I was told that the pieces were in Florida for framing and that due to the hurricanes their operations had been shut down completely for 3 weeks. I told the rep that I was really looking forward to having all of my art hung by the time company was arriving for Christmas. She said that she would put a rush on it and guaranteed my that I would have it by Christmas. On December 23rd the Fed Ex guy knocked on my door and was delivering the last three pieces as promised.

I have read alot of the posts on this web site and it appears that alot of the people complaining have nothing but buyers remorse. I personally spoke to Fanch, Linda and Anatole this past weekend at the gallary and all of them were very happy to have the relationship with Parkwest that they have. Do you really believe that these artists would put their reputation on the line by dealing with a bad company? I don't think so!!!!

My husband and I love Parkwest and we will continue to do business with them.

I just wanted to share with everyone out there that my husband and I have been on 4 RCC cruises and have seen PW auctions at all four. We have been fortunate enough to purchase a few pieces of art from each auction and we are pleased with our purchases and the professional relationship that we have with PW.

In one instance PW actually ran out of copies of a lithograph that we wanted and they contacted us with an apology letter and offered us an opportunity to choose a different piece at the same price or to have a refund. We received a refund in a very reasonable amount of time (within 2-3 statements). The pieces that we had shipped to us arrived suprisingly fast.

We thought we were going to have to wait 4-6 weeks for them, but we got them much sooner. We actually just got back from a cruise this past weekend and found that some of the pieces that purchased in our earlier cruises have gone up in value.

I highly recommend purchasing from PW and to remember to only purchase items that you like. It's very important to purchase pieces that you like. Buyers remorse is no reason to report a company as fraudulent. These pieces are investment pieces. Much like real estate or jewelry.

BTW, if you are that nervous about purchasing, then don't do it. If you love the piece and think it's worth it, then buy it. It shouldn't be this complicated to make a purchase.

I think in some states, a person that is intoxicated does not LEGALLY have the capacity to enter into a legally binding contract, the same as a minor. (you would have to ask a lawyer) The way I'm understanding your explanation, your saying this is a contract, also you hand out free alcohol at these functions. Last I knew, 2+2=4?? You may want to reconsider lettng people sign the purchase contract that have been consuming alcohol. They may be able to come back later and say, "well, I was drunk and don't even remember signing that". Anywhere with an open bar is bound to have at least 1 alcoholic. You cannot disprove that. Most alcoholics have family and friends that have known their alcohol problem for years.

My wife and I have been cruising for a number of years now and over the last several have been buying artwork from Park West Galleries at Sea. I must say we are COMPLETELY sastisfied with the professionalism of the sales staff and the quality of the pieces we purchased. Just as an example...we purchased a Peter Max mixed media "Peace on Earth" from the 911 series on board ship for $6,100 in Dec. of 2005. In Feb of 2006 we went to an art gallery in St. Petersburg Fl to meet Peter Max as he was there signing paintings. The SAME style and size Peter Max 911's at the gallery were selling for OVER $12,000 - so we got a GREAT deal + Peter Max signed the back of our painting (obviously authentic).
We also bought a Dali from the Destino collection #74 for $3071 in Dec 2005 and the same piece (and last one Park West had) sold on board for over $7,000 in Aug 2006 - we love the piece.
B