Anyone Else Completely Frustrated with West End Gallery?

[Beachbumpirates]

Not sure if I am crazy or not. We sailed 10/30/10 and purchased a Snow White picture at the auction for our DD for Christmas. They advised it was taking every bit of 4 weeks to deliver, which would have been just fine with us. Called them the week of Dec 20 and they said ""any day now". Long story short - as of 1/3/11 still had not received the print and now they advised me that it should be on the next truck but no guarantee. In my fit of frustration I cancelled the order. They said they would reimburse via check within 7-10 days. That was 3 weeks ago - called this morning and they said they hope to have my check out within the next week or two. While I do realize they are a completely independant company would it do me any good to call DCL for help? This just seems so out of character (no pun intended) for DCL related service. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated or please tell me to relax and just wait patiently for my $250.00.

 

[Billinaz]

If you paid by credit card, I would have disputed the charge long ago.

I definately would contact DCL.

 

[njmom23grls]

There was a thread about this a little while ago - I don't remember if it had contact information or solutions but I found the thread for you to read through
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2627587&highlight=west+end+gallery

 

[Twinprincesses]

I would dispute the charge on my credit card too. I must be one of the few that did not have any issues with them but I will not be purchasing from them on our upcoming trip.

 

[Beachbumpirates]

I would dispute the charge on my credit card too. I must be one of the few that did not have any issues with them but I will not be purchasing from them on our upcoming trip.

Unfortunately we cannot do that as it was part of our onboard charge that we paid cash for before disembarking the ship. Guess my only hope is they will eventually send the check they have promised.

 

[Cruise]

Unfortunately we cannot do that as it was part of our onboard charge that we paid cash for before disembarking the ship. Guess my only hope is they will eventually send the check they have promised.

In that case, yes, I would contact DCL. You gave your money to DCL... they choose to act as a middle-man and pass that money to WEG. If nothing else, DCL should be able to light a fire under WEG.

 

[Stacey6274]

Hi All,
I ordered a 900.00 piece on Dec 6th at the auction on the Magic and was told it would come within 6 weeks, well it's been about 10 weeks and nothing, I misplaced my form, does anyone have a number I can call? Thanks a bunch!

 

[Stacey6274]

Hi There - any luck with your art work? I ordered my 900 piece on 12/6 and I am still waiting, I can not find my form to get a number - do you have a phone number so I can call, thanks! I hope you got your check.

 

[PMDR59]

We were on the Wonder over Labor Day weekend. We "won" at bingo a painting valued at $500 from west end. They said 6-8 weeks for delivery. Honestly I had forgotten all about it until in late December I got a sales call and email from West End about and upcoming auction for their "valued customers". 1st week of Jan I emailed the customer service dept that is on my invoice with all details, cruise date, saleman name, the name of the painting, artist name, invoice # etc etc. NO RESPONSE at all. I just emailed again last week, a very strongly worded email, re the lack of response from the company. At least I got an apology, and the explantion of that they are expecting a shipment from the"artist" within 2 weeks and that I should have my painiting shortly after. ??????? Maybe I dont understand the Art World, but the painting was in West End's hands on the September cruise. Why would it go back to the artist to go back to WE to be sent to me????. I will wait the couple weeks and then will be contacting DCL directly. Since this was a "PRIZE" won during bingo ( DCL Bingo and not a purchase made through the 3rd party) I would hope the DCL makes good on it.

 

[PMDR59]

Hi There - any luck with your art work? I ordered my 900 piece on 12/6 and I am still waiting, I can not find my form to get a number - do you have a phone number so I can call, thanks! I hope you got your check.

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!!!

 

[Beachbumpirates]

I have had so much going on in my life that I actually forgot about this (surgery this Thursday). I just tried calling and got their voice mail. Still have NOT received the check that was promised on 1/3/11. I am now going to call DCL and see if they can help?

Will keep you posted and good luck to all. Let this be a lesson to all NOT to purchase from West End Gallery!

 

[tvguy]

One cruise line , I think it was RCCL, has halted all art auctions on board last year, too many complaints, no matter who the auction company was.

I've never understood them myself. 30 years ago when cruising was a upper class vacation, sure, but now, prices are such that the middle class makes up most of the cruisers, I don't think most middle class folks are in the market for $900 pieces of art.

 

[Wadekind]

Beware of West End Gallery - just spoke with their accounting rep and was advised that their budget only allows so many refunds per week and mine does not fit in to this week's budget. She then went on to inform me that because we live in a capitalist country and that our country is in crisis, it may be a while before I get my money. She gave me the owner's name - Hossam Antar and suggested I email him. I am FUMING! Next call - DCL.

She really said that? Really? What does DCL say about these ongoing issues?

 

[K8T]

Another cruiseline in the UK used to use West End and we have purchased from them at auctions on board. However, the paintings were always late, sometimes damaged.

This cruiseline, got so fed up the the complaints from their cruisers, that they have replaced West End with another, and I am pleased to say much more efficient and helpful gallery, instead.

If you look on some other cruise boards, you will see a lot of posts from other disgruntled West End customers.

Kate

 

[thechief]

OK. Here we go again.
Our DCL cruise last year we purchased 5 pieces and received the 4-6 week promise. I posted my frustration at the same problem. I called DCL and spoke to someone, don't remember who and I also emailed DCL with my disappointment that DCL would have a company on board that was so untrustworthy. This was going on as I called West End non stop. Once I contacted DCL there was action from West End. West End offered to include a free print that was not our taste. We were able to have them refund all shipping costs.
You have to be a pest with these people. It is your money and you deserve better serve. You should DEMAND IT!

 

[Kangarucci]

I was 'lucky' to win 2 prints on the 2010 September Westbound Transatlantic and had to pay $75 shipping to Australia- still no prints!!!

 

[cmwade77]

I am curious, have you contacted DCL yet? I would call them and let them know what is going on. If you do not get a decent response, I would suggest filling a suit against West End in small claims court, I might even go so far as suing DCL for the money, since they acted as the middle men.

Please note that I am not one that would jump to a lawsuit very easily, but I believe there may be a staute of limitations on this and it may take some time to establish which jurisdiction it would fall under.

I would suggest contesting the credit card charges before a law suit, but since cash was paid, the options are limited and it's just my thought, but really if so many people are having problems with them, someone should do something to try to get things fixed.

 

[trimix]

A few years back my favorite contemporary artist released a painting I wanted but, unfortunately, it was only available in a set of three - and I didn't want all three. So I was very happy to find a "certified" copy available on the ship. In Grand Cayman I compared prices and, although I could have gotten the giclee for $50 or so less online, I liked the frame so I purchased the giclee at West End's auction. Big mistake!

Like everybody else, it took much longer than they claimed to receive the artwork. After 10 weeks I called, and they said they would look into it. After 12 weeks I called back. The next day somebody shocked me by calling back! They claimed that the only copy of the print they had was the one on the ship! I said I didn't want the same one that people had been touching for months, but the woman said it would be cleaned and they would make sure it was undamaged before putting it into a new frame and forwarding it to me.

It took two weeks for them to reframe it. And the new frame was not like the one I thought I had purchased – it was horrid! I used it for firewood!
When I finally received the artwork, 15 weeks after coming home, instead of coming with a certificate from the artist, as with all my other works by that artist, it was a "certificate" from West End – something that had come out of a laser printer. When I called they refused to accept a return, instead they immediately sent the real certificate via overnight FedEx.

One other thing - when I made this purchas I was promised a specific Disney print for free. I received an entirely different print, and when I complained their response can be summed up as, "too bad."

If you are interested in any of the fine art on the ship then, as I have said before, look up the name of the artist and the work (it is on a sticker on the back, or the salesman can tell you) and Google it when you get home. You can find it for less at from a reputable dealer.

And if you are interested in any of the Disney artwork, go to Treasure Ketch and ask. They had a catalog I could look through, and every piece of Disney art in the auction was available in the catalog - plus a lot more.

 

[trimix]

And I did contact Disney; I sent a letter outlining what happened. They sent a polite reply thanking me, saying they would bring it up with West End, but saying that since West End is a third party they don't own that they can't do anything about it.

I am shocked and disappointed that Disney is continuing to allow them to operate on the ships even after all the problems.

 

[Meghatron]

We were on the 1/30 MR and there was a Belle glicée that I really wanted. Luckily it was a Disney Design Studio work, whatever that means, and I was allowed to carry it off the ship. Had I not known that before bidding, I would not have even shown up at the auction due to all the complaints on this board about West End Gallery.