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.
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, PARK WEST ART,PARK WEST GALLERY. AUCTION FRAUDULENTLY CONVINCED MY WIFE SHE WAS SIGNING A FORM IN ORDER TO BID WHEN IT WAS IN FACT A CREDIT CARD APPLICATION RIPOFF Dover Delaware And Southfield Michigan
My wife and I were on the Royal Caribbean Navigator the week of May 8th. She attended an "ART AUCTION" and was asked to fill in a form "only so she could bid".
She ended up purchasing a piece and was somewhat excited about it. I attended the "auction several nights later and also aquired a "few pieces".
We received a note from the Principal Auctioneers, Hal & Jae Baxley in our cabin telling us that they were happy to inform us that we had been approved for $15000 yes $15000 of credit on the Park West Collectors Card, and that we should stop by with a picture ID so they could complete the paperwork between 7:30 and 11 PM.
We stopped by to see them and tell them we just wanted to have it it billed to our ships account. We were told it had already been put on the account and that it was much better as there would be no intrest or payments due for 13 months.
I asked to see the bill and was astonished to see that it totaled nearly $10,000. I further examined it and realized that the purchase of the first evening was not on it and there were many I had no recollection of making, totaling the two brought us to almost 12000
They said that they had no time to discuss it at that time but that we could make an appointment, which we did, for the following day at noon.
I simply stated
1) I did not bid on half of the prints.
2) The prices listed on the sheet as "hammer price" were much higher than I recalled and had written down.
3) I would not be able to pay and would be more than willing to have them charge our room for my wifes initial purchase but that I DID NOT want another credit card, and was not willing to sign for the purchases that were being charged to a card that had not been knowingly applied for.
I was told it was too late, all sales wer final and basically the information had already been sent along through the ship and I was out of luck. There I was with a bill of $12,000 and my jaw wide open.
I went to speak with the Savio Lopes of Guest Relations for Royal Caribbean and he could not have been nicer.
He put a call through to Park West from the ship, on the spot as we sailed. I spoke with a woman who would only identifiy herself as Jackie. She assured me that if I was indeed still at sea than it was impossible for them to have sent the paperwork or any info to them and to just speak with Hal.
Well Hal was of no use and though he promised to "look into it "and get back to me before the cruise ended~~~~~ HE DIDN"T.
I confused as to why a great line like RC would even align themselves with such fraudulent, dishonest but who knows.
I'm waiting to see if I receive a bill as i've put fraud alerts on both our SS #s and welcome the battle.
This is a multi billion dollar Co. that defrauds many. The fine print exempts them if they are out of the country (at sea) or if you are over 100 miles from home.
Shame on them, and shame on those of us that don't do our due diligence before we bid.
Sleep well tonight Hal.
Ray
Concord, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Ray
Concord,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
KNOW WHAT YOUR SIGNING? READ WHAT I SAID!
#6Author of original report
Wed, June 06, 2007
I guess you didn't read what I said.
My wife did NOT sign a credit application and did NOT give them her SS #
She did give them her license (Never again)
Park West DID NOT and COULD NOT produce an application for credit and the card was cancelled when we arrived back in Miami.
Park West called repeatedly,at all hours even after I wrote them ,and the credit card company cancelled the card and would not allow them to reactivate it EVEN THOUGH THEY TRIED.
(I had given Hal Baxely my contact info thinking he would work to resolve the situation)
By the way RCC is not a multi million dollar co but as I said a multi BILLION dollar publicly owned co who is smart enough to play both sides of the fence.
RCC makes plenty from Park West and if they beat you and, you make enough noise, it gets resolved very rapidly.
For us the trip was fun but there will be no more of my hard earned dollars going to RCC and certainly not Park West.
If you again read the original post you will see that I was lied to as to their ability to rectify the situation.
I did in fact pick up a Park West credit card application and if you read the fine print you would be a fool to apply and use it ,as it provides the card holder with NO RECOURSE!!!
Why not just put it on your Sea Pass which (in our case ) was backed by an AMEX card?
Because Amex will allow you to charge it back.
No Park West will not take AMEX just for that reason.
Everyone has there own taste and tolorance for being taken advantage of.
My tolorance for being cheated is non existant
My taste in art is much different than what Park West has to offer.
Carolyn
Arthur City,Texas,
U.S.A.
Know What Your Signing
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, October 25, 2005
I have cruised and purchased art work SEVERAL times before from Park West and highly enjoy the auctions and the works of art I have bought and have in my home.
I am not sure who the Auctioneer you dealt with is, as I have not met or dealt with him personally, however in my past experiences, and, just generally, anytime a form asks for my Social Security number and or annual income,( as the Park West Credit Card Application does) I know right away that it is a credit card application. I have the Park West Credit Card and it is a good card to have, if you did collect artwork and don't ever again they will cancel the card after about 9 months, as they did with mine.
I guess what I am saying is... as a general rule, know what you are signing before you sign it!! Also concerning the artwork you say you did not bid on... My auctioneer was very clear at the beginning that All sales are final and called the #'s out very loud and clear... the auctions were fun, but I also knew I was at an auction so I left my bid card in my lap unless I really wanted to bid...I have always had very positive experiences with Park West Auctioneers not only have they taught me about art but they do offer Fine Art at very good prices, so I would not say that RCL is remiss to have Park West on board, perhaps you got what they say is a "bad apple", and I am not saying that you did not have a bad experience I am just surprised that it was! RCL is a multimillion dollar company and they are smart enough to know who they are in business with... and for At Sea Art Auctions in my opinion Park West is the best!
Carolyn
Arthur City,Texas,
U.S.A.
Know What Your Signing
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, October 25, 2005
I have cruised and purchased art work SEVERAL times before from Park West and highly enjoy the auctions and the works of art I have bought and have in my home.
I am not sure who the Auctioneer you dealt with is, as I have not met or dealt with him personally, however in my past experiences, and, just generally, anytime a form asks for my Social Security number and or annual income,( as the Park West Credit Card Application does) I know right away that it is a credit card application. I have the Park West Credit Card and it is a good card to have, if you did collect artwork and don't ever again they will cancel the card after about 9 months, as they did with mine.
I guess what I am saying is... as a general rule, know what you are signing before you sign it!! Also concerning the artwork you say you did not bid on... My auctioneer was very clear at the beginning that All sales are final and called the #'s out very loud and clear... the auctions were fun, but I also knew I was at an auction so I left my bid card in my lap unless I really wanted to bid...I have always had very positive experiences with Park West Auctioneers not only have they taught me about art but they do offer Fine Art at very good prices, so I would not say that RCL is remiss to have Park West on board, perhaps you got what they say is a "bad apple", and I am not saying that you did not have a bad experience I am just surprised that it was! RCL is a multimillion dollar company and they are smart enough to know who they are in business with... and for At Sea Art Auctions in my opinion Park West is the best!
Carolyn
Arthur City,Texas,
U.S.A.
Know What Your Signing
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, October 25, 2005
I have cruised and purchased art work SEVERAL times before from Park West and highly enjoy the auctions and the works of art I have bought and have in my home.
I am not sure who the Auctioneer you dealt with is, as I have not met or dealt with him personally, however in my past experiences, and, just generally, anytime a form asks for my Social Security number and or annual income,( as the Park West Credit Card Application does) I know right away that it is a credit card application. I have the Park West Credit Card and it is a good card to have, if you did collect artwork and don't ever again they will cancel the card after about 9 months, as they did with mine.
I guess what I am saying is... as a general rule, know what you are signing before you sign it!! Also concerning the artwork you say you did not bid on... My auctioneer was very clear at the beginning that All sales are final and called the #'s out very loud and clear... the auctions were fun, but I also knew I was at an auction so I left my bid card in my lap unless I really wanted to bid...I have always had very positive experiences with Park West Auctioneers not only have they taught me about art but they do offer Fine Art at very good prices, so I would not say that RCL is remiss to have Park West on board, perhaps you got what they say is a "bad apple", and I am not saying that you did not have a bad experience I am just surprised that it was! RCL is a multimillion dollar company and they are smart enough to know who they are in business with... and for At Sea Art Auctions in my opinion Park West is the best!
Carolyn
Arthur City,Texas,
U.S.A.
Know What Your Signing
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, October 25, 2005
I have cruised and purchased art work SEVERAL times before from Park West and highly enjoy the auctions and the works of art I have bought and have in my home.
I am not sure who the Auctioneer you dealt with is, as I have not met or dealt with him personally, however in my past experiences, and, just generally, anytime a form asks for my Social Security number and or annual income,( as the Park West Credit Card Application does) I know right away that it is a credit card application. I have the Park West Credit Card and it is a good card to have, if you did collect artwork and don't ever again they will cancel the card after about 9 months, as they did with mine.
I guess what I am saying is... as a general rule, know what you are signing before you sign it!! Also concerning the artwork you say you did not bid on... My auctioneer was very clear at the beginning that All sales are final and called the #'s out very loud and clear... the auctions were fun, but I also knew I was at an auction so I left my bid card in my lap unless I really wanted to bid...I have always had very positive experiences with Park West Auctioneers not only have they taught me about art but they do offer Fine Art at very good prices, so I would not say that RCL is remiss to have Park West on board, perhaps you got what they say is a "bad apple", and I am not saying that you did not have a bad experience I am just surprised that it was! RCL is a multimillion dollar company and they are smart enough to know who they are in business with... and for At Sea Art Auctions in my opinion Park West is the best!