Is Park West at Sea (onboard the Magic) defrauding Magic passengers?

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I bought a Trevor Carlton PRINT (not an original) from the Park West art auction folks called "Making Waves" on the recent double dip. Carlton himself "dedicated" it to us in a nice autographed card and we took some photos with him. Total price: Approx. $300. We are happy with the purchase (assuming it arrives as promised) - and given the artist was present, we're relatively confident that we'll get what we ordered. (Our risk is small given the price, too.)

I am now shocked to find some horrendous stuff about Park West on the internet. (Google "Park West at Sea") I'm even more shocked that Disney allows Park West to lease space from it given the stuff all over the internet.

In any event -- BUYER BEWARE - do some research before purchasing from these folks on board the Magic!

 

[Mjasp]

I just googled it and the first link I click on has to do with the Disney Magic, here is the link

http://www.fineartregistry.com/articles/far_investigates/parkwest-disney-auction.php

 

[Olga]

Earlier this year there was an article in one the the New York newspapers about this company, there was a link here on the forum. Buyer beware is correct.

 

[Olga]

sorry, double post

 

[gmark2000]

Read these threads and learn the truth about Park West and its shady business!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1569149
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23183082
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23146881

As well, some articles about Park West and their dubious reputation:

NYT:Art Auctions on Cruise Ships Lead to Anger, Accusations and Lawsuits: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/arts/design/16crui.html

Cruise Ship Art Auctions: Disasters at Sea: http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=22282

Cruise Ship Art Auction Scams: http://consumerist.com/consumer/consumer-alert/cruise-ship-art-auctions-scams-333427.php

Also read the ongoing articles submitted at the Fine Art Registry website too.

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

Please forgive my ignorance on this, but we are going on the Magic in January and I was thinking about getting a couple of the Disney cells for my children's rooms. Are there pieces that are sold outside of the auction at sea? Are they also sold by this company? Obviously I do not want to purchase from them and am SO glad the "warning" came out on this site!

I hope Disney is monitoring the site, as I have been told they do, and think again about their reputation with this company!

Thanks for the warning!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Please forgive my ignorance on this, but we are going on the Magic in January and I was thinking about getting a couple of the Disney cells for my children's rooms. Are there pieces that are sold outside of the auction at sea? Are they also sold by this company? Obviously I do not want to purchase from them and am SO glad the "warning" came out on this site!

I hope Disney is monitoring the site, as I have been told they do, and think again about their reputation with this company!

Thanks for the warning!

I would definitely avoid purchasing artwork from the Park West auctions. You can purchase Disney artwork and cells through other outlets, although they are not available on board. They do sell a small number of framed pieces (photos, posters) but no cells or other Disney artwork. I know that there is an Art of Disney store in EPCOT and there was also one at Downtown Disney.

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

I would definitely avoid purchasing artwork from the Park West auctions. You can purchase Disney artwork and cells through other outlets, although they are not available on board. They do sell a small number of framed pieces (photos, posters) but no cells or other Disney artwork. I know that there is an Art of Disney store in EPCOT and there was also one at Downtown Disney.

Thanks so much for the info!! We are going to Downtown Disney before the cruise and will purchase them there...I do appreciate the information!

 

[ngnear21]

We had an interesting experience with Park West...

We went to one of the art auctions and won a free print in a raffle. When we went to turn in our winning ticket and give them our shipping information, they invited us back that night to talk through some of the special pieces they had on board. We said we would think about it, but that the time they wanted to meet was during our dinner rotation.

Well, as cruises tend to go, we found something more fun to do (dinner and Diversions) instead of going to meet with them. Lo and behold, no print got shipped in the mail. This has been almost 2 years now and we never received it.

 

[Tink rules]

Often you can find the same works of art (if they aren't limited too much like single pieces) at otherplaces to purchase... I just took their catalog and then looked online to see where it was avail.

The only things that they had onboard the PC Repo cruises were the Ducky Williams Originals that were auctioned off that I may have been interested in, but they were too rich for my taste...

 

[tomspixie]

We have bought through Park West as well as other galleries...we have been successful with Park West. The links to the negative articles all filter through one website....hmmmm?! Well...if you want specific Disney art, yes...there is a gallery in EACH of the theme parks and at Downtown Disney. Some of the people in the galleries know a little about the artists or the work or the type...but most don't.
Something to think about with Park West is that you have artists like Peter Max, Scott Jacobs, Romero Britto, Tarkay, David Willardson, etc. that work WITH Park West. Do you think these artists would risk their reputations with a shady gallery? Same with Disney artists...we just sailed with John Rowe and Harrison Ellenshaw...and they work WITH Park West. In fact picked up a Chiarograph of Beast's Castle by Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw for less than half of what it cost at the gallery at Downtown Disney. Don "Ducky" Williams enjoys working with Park West, and they with him. We were lucky enough to pick up an original of his...at a fraction of land cost. Same with an orginal Harrison Ellenshaw!
Do your homework on what you are looking for...at what the pieces are costing. If you think it is a good deal, go for it. If you love the art, and the price is in your budget...great. If you feel you need to go another route...great too. The bottom line is that you should simply enjoy art...have a few pieces.
What we have found with most auctioneers at Park West is an unpushy opportunity. For us, we have fallen in love with art. It has led to a program different than Picture Lady...it is Fine Art Fridays. We take our collection in to the schools. Because of it, we have spoken with Romero Britto and David Willardson and Tomasz Rut, and a few others. They have offered support to the program and for the kids. And they did it because we bought art through Park West. If you sail and you get Chris and Amy, take the time to get to know them. Very fun and talented....they love what they are doing...and they will not force you to buy anything. There were two that were a bit shady, but they have not been on Disney or with Park West for quite a while.

Go and enjoy...have some fun...laugh at the jokes...and learn a little bit about some artists you might not have known.

 

[nick262]

Excellent post Tomspixie!

I live in San Diego and bought 2 Scott Jacobs prints 3 years ago on board the Magic from Park West. I too was worried about them after reading the negetive information. I call The Scott Jacobs gallery that is located here in San Diego, and was fortunate enough to speak to Scott himself (very very nice man). I told him which prints of his that I purchased and he confirmed that I got an AWESOME deal. One was bought for 1300.00 that now sells for 3000.00, per Scott. WOW. He also confirmed that the negative information is coming from one company that Park West refuses to do business with. Scott also said that, due to his long relationship with Harley Davidson, that if any of it were true, he would not be doing business with them so as not to damage the Harley Davidson image. He did say to purchase pieces that you do like and not to buy for investment. The current artists such as Scott or Thomas Kincade can be purchased for great deals.

We did find that the Disney items could be found cheaper then on board, but the Scott Jacobs and the Thomas Kincades have both been proven to be great deals.

I am looking forward to my upcoming cruise to see if I can snag one of Scotts new prints to add to my collection for alot less then what is shown on his website.

Please just remember that in any purchase situation, the buyer must always beware. If you dont want the free prints, walk away.

 

[gmark2000]

The links to the negative articles all filter through one website....hmmmm?!

Can you elaborate? The New York Times is not affiliated with Inside Edition. The Consumerist website is an independent consumer blog of the Gawker Media Network. The Fine Art Registry is an independent site that registers works of art and discusses provenance and value.

If it weren't for your post history on DIS, I'd think you were a shill for Park West.

As well, sounds like Scott Jacobs doesn't want to speak poorly of a probably lucrative wholesale customer. What is the name of this said company?

 

[ronunc]

My opinion is that this "art auction" is beneath Disney. I was not impressed with them aboard our Med cruise last summer. I felt like I was being hawked by Carnival types.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I too wish Disney would use the space in a better way. It just doesn't fit having them there, but I guess DCL is making money off of them or they wouldn't be there.

 

[nick262]

Can you elaborate? The New York Times is not affiliated with Inside Edition. The Consumerist website is an independent consumer blog of the Gawker Media Network. The Fine Art Registry is an independent site that registers works of art and discusses provenance and value.

If it weren't for your post history on DIS, I'd think you were a shill for Park West.

As well, sounds like Scott Jacobs doesn't want to speak poorly of a probably lucrative wholesale customer. What is the name of this said company?

And you sound like you work for the other company.

I am not discounting that they do overcharge for some of the items. But you DO NOT HAVE TO BUY IT. Of the four pictures that I have purchased, ALL OF THEM have been independently appraised by outside sources that state they are worth more then I paid for it. Scott Jacobs would do nothing to damage his relationship with Harley Davidson as his affiliation with them has been much longer then his with Park West. As for Scott just telling me what I want the hear, I am not stupid, and I have done other research on my pieces and found that I got 9000.00 retail worth of art for about 6000.00. THIS IS BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH, not just on what Scott Jacobs had to say.

There is good and bad in all companies. Some people think that Disney is a rip off (see thread from yesterday) and others see the value. TOO EACH HIS OWN. I only came on here to give a view of the other side. But if that makes me a shill then I guess I need to stop sharing my experiences with all companies.

 

[gmark2000]

And you sound like you work for the other company.

I'm not and I don't even know what this company is. Do you know? I didn't call you a shill.

tomspixie was quoted in my post and I wanted her to elaborate on her statement "The links to the negative articles all filter through one website"... since as far as I can see, they don't.

Congratulations on your smart investments.

 

[kmaclou]

I personally just go for the free cosmos and martinis.

 

[nick262]

I'm not and I don't even know what this company is. Do you know? I didn't call you a shill.

tomspixie was quoted in my post and I wanted her to elaborate on her statement "The links to the negative articles all filter through one website"... since as far as I can see, they don't.

Congratulations on your smart investments.

The answer to what company is in your own post, Fine Art Registry. But since you think that Park West is so evil, Look at this update from rip off report: http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchr...7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search!&q5=Park+West+

Sorry, but with all of the cruiselines they are on and all of the years they have been there, this is not a lot of complaints. And even though their contract state that they do not have to, they are doing the right thing by their unhappy customers.

Again, just like when you are buying anything else from anywhere, some of the items will be deals and some won't.

 

[gmark2000]

...since you think that Park West is so evil, Look at this update from Rip Off Report...

Thanks for that tidbit. It seemed a bit disingenuous to offer such a glowing rebuttal on that site, so I did some further research and this is what Wired Magazine had to say about Rip-Off Report:

"Magedson [Rip-Off Report] is basically extorting money out of clients who pay to become to members of Rip Off Report's "Corporate Advocacy Program." The program works like this: A client [i.e. Park West at Sea] pays an undetermined fee, and Magedson "investigates" the complaints on the site. After all the complaints are resolved, the business gets a clean bill of health from the "Editor."

Rip-Off Report publicizes complaints and with SEO (search engine optimization) gets these complaints to show up high on Google Searches. After the companies "pay off", the complaints are no longer promoted with SEO. By appearances, it looks like Park West themselves were blackmailed.

Here is another article about Rip-off Reports tactics: Accusations that Rip-Off Report just an Extortion Business