Anyone Else Completely Frustrated with West End Gallery?

[vek239]

We're frequent cruisers but had never purchased art until we did the Disney transatlantic last year. Didn't get our print; one excuse after another, different story each time we called. I politely emailed Disney about our frustration. Got a Money Order refund from West End shortly after that. Will never purchase art this way again.

 

[luvndizny]

It's AWFUL that everyone is being treated this way by West End. I also call bull that DCL isn't doing anything about it by basically saying that they're a third party, blah blah blah. They CAN do something about it and kick them off the boat!! Make West End walk the plank, so to speak. I would be embarassed if I were DCL to be associated with such fraud!!!

Thank you for posting your experiences and warning others. I 'googled' West End and nothing but complaint after complaint came up. Apparently they have an 'F' rating with the BBB as well.

 

[PizzieDuster]

It's AWFUL that everyone is being treated this way by West End. I also call bull that DCL isn't doing anything about it by basically saying that they're a third party, blah blah blah. They CAN do something about it and kick them off the boat!! Make West End walk the plank, so to speak. I would be embarassed if I were DCL to be associated with such fraud!!!

Thank you for posting your experiences and warning others. I 'googled' West End and nothing but complaint after complaint came up. Apparently they have an 'F' rating with the BBB as well.

I appreciate the warning as well. I have friends cruising soon and will tell them to don't even DARE to purchase anything! I hope DCL will help you all with your complaints.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

Well I did speak to DCL about this and they suggested I put it all in writing and email to Shoreside Guest Communications. The gentleman I spoke with said he has had an over abundance of complaints about them just within the last 2 weeks - I wonder what is going on. I sent the email and will keep you posted.

 

[Stacey6274]

Well I did speak to DCL about this and they suggested I put it all in writing and email to Shoreside Guest Communications. The gentleman I spoke with said he has had an over abundance of complaints about them just within the last 2 weeks - I wonder what is going on. I sent the email and will keep you posted.

Thank you for the information - I just called and the put me on hold as they had to go through papaer work......they said oh, that print is out of stock????? So I paid 900.00 for something that goes out of stock?? what the hell was I thinking? Anyway - it should arrive in 7 days and I should have in within 2 weeks....HOWEVER - after ready all of these emails, I have a feeling they were just saying that to try to please me....I think I should contact my American Express card now. I think DCL needs to hear from us all who have had problems, I really didn't think Disney would work with someone like this....Do you have the email for the Shoreside Guest Services, so I can complain too. Maybe they will get rid of West End..

Thanks everyone for your help on this!

 

[Stacey6274]

West End gallery Inc is 888 658-3569
Email is CS@westendgalleryinc.com

Hate to say it but if I am still waiting since September looks like it may be quite awhile longer for a Dec sail date!!!

Thank you for the information, I just called them!

 

[Beachbumpirates]

The address I sent my letter to is:
DCL.guest.communications@disneycruise.com

I received an automated reply within minutes and it states I should be contacted "soon" to answer my question.

We thought we were being financially responsible and paid our onboard balance off the last night of the cruise. Otherwise I would have gone directly to my credit card company and let them dispute this.

My gut feeling after hearing that West End has a weekly budget set for refunds is they are on their way out. They obviously have not been paying their vendors thus not having our art work to send in the first place.

Good luck and please keep us posted. I do believe there is power in numbers.

 

[DisneyPups]

I also bought art back in December on the Magic. My receipt said 6-8 weeks deliver, which I gave. I emailed, and did not hear back, so I called the next day. They had received my email and were looking into it. The woman I spoke with said there had been a problem with their staff and they let everyone go (not sure why she was telling me all this) and were trying to "clean up their mess" and were behind. She called back a week later, and the lady again told me they were trying to get caught up with back orders. It has now been 2 1/2 weeks since my initial call, and thus 10 1/2 weeks since the order. I still want the art, but I will NEVER do business with them again.
I would love to tell Disney that I too have been disappointed with this gallery. Who is everyone calling to complain? They should not allow a vendor on the ship who cannot live up to the Disney name.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

I did finally receive an email back from DCL yesterday (2/24/11) and here it is in it's entirety:

Thank you for your e-mail.

I was so very sorry to learn about the delays you experience receiving
your artwork from West End Gallery. Please know that your comments
about not only the delay but also how that issue was handled by West End
have been taken very seriously and shared with all of the appropriate
executive in order to identify areas of concern to our guests.

We will be happy to process a $215 credit onto the xxxx account
ending in xxxx, which was used to pay for the shipboard charges. The
transaction should appear on your monthly statement within two billing
cycles.

Again, I truly regret any disappointment and hope these concerns will
not affect your regard for Disney. There is magic in the Disney name,
and we hope to have the chance to sail with you again one day soon.

Sincerely,

Joel Hayes
Executive Guest CorrespondentDisney Cruise Line

 

[DisneyCruisin]

In Sept 2010, we ordered 2 small, adorable, simple drawings of Eeyore. They never arrived.

West End was HORRIBLE with responding to messages. They were full of excuses, the best being they were out of packing material to ship the pictures.

And they had misspelled our street, which we corrected it twice.

A few weeks ago, Fed Ex couldnt deliver the pictures becasue the street was still wrong.

When the pictures FINALLY arrived, they were twice the size of what was on display on the ship and what we ordered and wanted. The pictures were supposed to be 6x8in. and are now 12x16in.

They are sending a shipping label so we can return the pictures to be framed in the original size. But I doubt we'll ever see them again.

DCL is getting a letter.

 

[DisneyPups]

Disneycruisin, your post makes me nervous, b/c I think I bought the same Eeyore drawing. And the charm was in the small size. But at this point, I'd just be happy to RECEIVE the darn thing. I think I will make another call on Monday.

 

[thechief]

We are on the Dream starting Mar 6 and I will have to be diligent in remembering that West End is not trustworthy.

HELLO DCL! ARE YOU MONITORING THIS THREAD?

 

[ppiew]

First Park now West End. I doubt there has ever been a reliable art gallery on ANY cruise line! I think if Disney wants to promote this they ought to do it themselves and use their name too. At least the name has a reliability factor!!! Frankly, scams like this give the entire cruise line a bad name

 

[Beachbumpirates]

First Park now West End. I doubt there has ever been a reliable art gallery on ANY cruise line! I think if Disney wants to promote this they ought to do it themselves and use their name too. At least the name has a reliability factor!!! Frankly, scams like this give the entire cruise line a bad name

You make such a great point! We often wonder why DCL does not eliminate the middle man and do it themselves. They also have access to other memorabilia items (Hannah, Jonas, ABC shows) that could be neat too. Oh if only we ran Disney.

 

[DisneyPups]

I agree, art should just be sold by DIsney. In fact, I only buy Disney art when I'm on the ship. I would even love it if they decorated the "gallery" with art the gift shop sells. I just want to buy my Disney art... is that so much to ask?

 

[csharpwv]

Add me to the list of people who bought in December and haven't received anything from West End Galleries yet.

For me it's been 13-14 weeks since purchase. I was told 6-8 weeks - and that time frame passed WEEKS ago!

I purchased one piece - and bought framing for the free print.

I am on the verge of disputing the charges with my credit card company.

I am with everyone else - Disney Cruise Line needs to give West End Galleries the BOOT off the ships.

it is painfully clear that West End is not a reputable company - and that's just judging by the inappropriate and unprofessional remarks make during several phone calls that have been conveyed to this thread!

Disney could do SUCH a better job of selling their own art. On our first cruise I thought that the "Art Auction" would be Disney works, by Disney artists. Unique stuff, one of a kind items, limited editions, 'clearance' items, end of run items, etc etc. I had expected to find some budget priced items - that's what I'm used to find at an auction.

There is not much fun in spending money on something that I will never see again. And at this point I'm starting to feel that is the case!

Disney could do an incredible job selling THEIR work - and offering cruise line guests unique pieces, true ART pieces, and original works. Disney needs to 'reimagine' their art auctions.

The fact remains that West End Galleries does not live up to Disney standards, therefore they should be dismissed from the ships.

Who wants to create an online petition to send Disney Cruise Line a clear message???

 

[jilljill]

I posted this on another auction thread so I will post it again here:

Please remember on the Dream there is an art gallery and not all items that are displayed are sold by West End Gallery, some of the items are for sale by the Art of Disney. Below is a quick explanation on how to tell if the item is sold by the Art of Disney.

The new ship "Disney Dream" has its own ART gallery. The gallery shares space with WestEnd auction, but a large part of the images hanging are Art of Disney pieces. Each piece has its own vendor that ships out the artwork and they are not associated with WestEnd Gallery. However, the staff at WestEnd Gallery may help write up the transaction, they sale is Art of Disney merchandise. This would include Disney artists, Randy Nobel, Darrin Wilson, David Doss, Larry Dotson, Greg McCullough etc.

If you are in search of Disney artists, please check out the New gallery on the Dream. I have been told that the images are now located in the gallery and not in the giftshops.
Not all the art in the gallery is auction items, again Art of Disney has a large part of the wall space. Inquire, there is a counter book that has the framed images that are available from the Art of Disney and information on the piece for sell and about the artist information.
There is also a chart for the frame size pieces and the US shipping charge rate. Please note, all Disney Cruise Line images are Exclusive to DCL and available only when onboard. Art of Disney stores are involved, please support them and their artists.

 

[DisneyCruisin]

Disneycruisin, your post makes me nervous, b/c I think I bought the same Eeyore drawing. And the charm was in the small size. But at this point, I'd just be happy to RECEIVE the darn thing. I think I will make another call on Monday.

EXACTLY! I totally agree, I loved the size, which added to the charm! It was adorable displayed on the easel.

It was just too big, more frame and matting than picture. Fed Ex picked up the pictures yesterday...fingers crossed.

 

[gmark2000]

Park West (Disney Cruise Line's previous art auctioneer) had such a bad reputation of fake appraisals, shill/phantom bidding, ridiculous 'framing'/shipping/handling charges, side deal auctions, misrepresented artists, etc... -- I'm utterly astonished that DCL's replacement auctioneer is proving to be just as nefarious.

You'll always get reports of happy customers blissfully ignorant that they paid too much for a piece of art but we'll know that's just cognitive dissonance justifying their purchase decision.

 

[gmark2000]

Oh, and to add to my previous post, it was Park West's repertoir to blame the customer for "buyer remorse" when charges like 15-20% bidder's premium was itemized on the end bill of sale. Normal auction houses charge these premiums for consignment items whereas these art auctioneers are charging this unscrupulous fee on items that they already own and are selling themselves. Caveat emptor!