Investigation: feel confident about doing business with Park West - commitment to 100% customer satisfaction to resolve any and all issues. Over 1 million clients - the majority repeat customers, excellence in the art industry.

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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

Rip-off Report Investigation:
Park West gets a POSITIVE RATING from Rip-off Report and is fulfilling its commitment to provide excellent customer service. Park West joins the Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program and pledges to resolve any and all legitimate complaints.

Customers can feel confident and secure with Park West. Park West pledges its commitment to 100% customer satisfaction and friendly, personal service. Our investigation found that Park West has had a reputation of excellence in the art industry since its founding in 1969. Over 1 million clients - the majority of whom have been repeat customers. The number of complaints Park West received on Rip-off Report in comparison to the number of satisfied clients is incredibly low Less than one complaint per year posted on our website for every 50,000 clients. Park West at Sea received the Porthole Magazine Reader's Choice Award for the Best Art Auction Program". Park West auctions are a highly anticipated event for many cruise vacationers. All Park West art is certified authentic; an independent audit revealed that Park West has never had to issue a refund based on authenticity!

The Park West call center operates seven days a week with courteous personal attention always putting the customer first. Park West believes one complaint is too many that is why they approached Rip-off Report and requested to join Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. Our investigation revealed that Park West truly cares about its clients, and makes every effort to provide an excellent level of service to each and every one of them.

Read more about Park West and their commitment to total customer satisfaction and why consumers should feel safe and confident when doing business with a member of Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Program.

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NOW TO THE ORIGIONAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED
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Park West At Sea Norman Rockwell art Scam Southfield Michigan

Norman Rockwell art scam-Park West at Sea

While on a recent cruise to Alaska aboard Royal Caribbean, we could not help but trip over the art auction, which was front and center on the boat and extended over several days.

We noticed they had several signed and numbered prints by Norman Rockwell, one of our favorite artists, on display. We were told they were original. We were told they would appraise for XX thousand dollars. Their minimum bid was about 2/3rds of what Park West said they would appraise for. We bid on, and got all three that were available at the time we were at the auction. The frames for the artwork we purchased were quite beat-up. Park West was to reframe the prints and ship them to us.

When we received the prints, much to our surprise, they were not original Norman Rockwell prints but something called a Norman Rockwell Authorized Estate blind-stamp gold seal From the edition of 315 Estate stamped facsimile signature examples. This is a quote from the appraisals sent by Park West. The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockdale MA has never heard of such.

I had an art professor friend look at these pieces. They are essentially worthless as he said the frames are worth more than the prints and even the matting is sub-standard. He offered the possibility that the art dealer could reproduce prints as needed, or had a stock of several, (maybe even hundreds), frame them and send them out. This seems to be what happened to me.

I purchased three original prints by Norman Rockwell. This was not what I was shipped. Park West even admits the prints I bid on are not the ones sent. Mr. Smith from Park West sent me a copy of the bidder card saying, the work you receive may be annotated in a different manner than the example displayed at auction First there was nothing said at auction about the work shipped being substituted for the work I bought.
Second, his response letter noting item 16 on the back of the bidder card conveniently left out The value of the example you receive will be substantially the same as that at the auction. The value of the examples I received is for comparative purposes, worthless. It seems the term annotated is how they feel they can substitute a facsimile signature for a real signature.

If Park West wants to push the issue that I am contractually obligated to buy a work that I successfully bid on, it seems only right that at the time I win the bid, I own the piece. I say again, Park West admits that the 3 pieces I bought were not the ones sent.

I paid for these with a Park West credit card and have no intention of paying the bill. I have filled via certified mail, requests contesting the charges. Their credit card company states I still need to pay the bill, even though contested. Not going to happen. My credit is strong enough I can stand a minor ding but feel this should not happen.

I have offered to send the prints back to Park West, insured at my expense but they refuse to allow this. It seems another recent buyer in Pacoima, California in a similar situation, was offered a refund and a 20% bid credit on future works. This is all I ask so as to put this unfortunate mess behind us. In fact they can keep their 20% bid credit. This will be my only offer.

Michael
Advance, North Carolina
U.S.A.