Park West Gallery Verbal misrepresentation is unacceptable, particularly convincing because reputable companies like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises allow them to operate on their cruise ships and this gives them legitimacy Southfield Michigan
My wife and I bought some expensive artwork on a recent cruise after being assured that Park West are beyond reproach in the art world and all the art they sell is authentic and has provenance beyond reproach. So far we have received one piece of art and all the documentation. The latter did nothing to reassure us of the provenance or valuation of the pieces, despite being reassured that it would. PWG obviously do all they can to cover themselves against legal recourse with small print but where they fall down is verbal misrepresentation.
They are particularly convincing because reputable companies like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises allow them to operate on their cruise ships and this gives them legitimacy. The result is a captive, middle class audience who are relaxed and impressionable. They have no access to legal advice on the terms and conditions of sale and no independent recourse with respect to valuations. The cruise ships strongly promote the auctions because they get a large share of the profit and it is appalling that despite the widespread dissatisfaction with these practices, nothing has been done. I think there are more than enough potential plaintiffs out there with similar experiences to put together a class action and get this stopped once and for all.
Whether you spent a few hundred dollars or thousands or you bought the art as an investment or just for enjoyment is irrelevant when misrepresentation is so blatant.
Please contact me if you have interest in taking this further.
Nick
Hinsdale, Illinois
U.S.A.