SPECIAL UPDATE: January 9 2013: Park West Gallery remains committed to increased customer satisfaction and has improved their business practices over the years to better serve their customers. Park West Gallery is truly dedicated to making sure their customers are satisfied and that any complaints which do arise are addressed promptly and fairly.
To date, Park West Gallery has made good faith efforts to resolve all complaints reported on Ripoff Report. Based on our experience, the member business has proven to be among the top members of the Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program as a Verified Safe Business.
Over time and since becoming a member, Park West Gallery has remained actively engaged and improving the way they address customer service complaints. As an active and current member of the Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program we are happy to report that now more than ever Park West Gallery remains committed to improving customer satisfaction.
Remember, no company or individual can ever satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. There are no products or services that will always be perfect for everyone and even the best companies will receive complaints from time to time. However, by participating in the Corporate Advocacy Program, the member business has made a commitment to working with its customers to resolve complaints quickly and fairly whenever possible.
Please keep in mind that as a consumer you have some responsibilities as well. Success has many definitions that based on your past experiences, current situation and your perceived expectations. Success with any product or service is always based on the proper application and understanding. The fastest car will not run if you never turn the engine on. Look at how you used the product or service that was provided in relation with the instructions that you received. The Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program will help you get your voice heard but please be prepared with documentation and fair representation of your concern, also have an idea of how the company can fix your concern. Can they offer additional services, extend warranties, offer a fair refund or just get you talking with someone that can help. ..let them know and let us know!
*Any consumer not receiving satisfaction from a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program should email us at [email protected]
Evangeline
Torrance,#2Consumer Comment
Mon, June 12, 2006
I realize that because of the nature of the website you'll only have negative reports about them. I have had a positive experience with them (perhaps due to the reports on Rip-off they're trying to improve?) but even so I have some caveats. I ended my cruise with RCL about 2 weeks ago, and my boyfriend was wondering when I would get the print that I had "won" from them, so since I didn't have the receipt right on hand I decided to look them up to see the policy. When I googled them I saw the link for Rip-off with all the negative reviews I began to stress out over it (I had to pay a $35 shipping and $35 "appraisal fee") but thank god, the very day I read the reports (today as I am writing this rebuttal) the print came. It was what I had chosen, came with the appraisal and was shipped within a very large container and well protected inside, I don't know if it was worth the $590 appraisal (can check the internet, a good thing to make up for the bad-the unnecessary worry!) but I know from the quality of the print it's well worth over $70!! I am saying all this to reassure someone who DID purchase something, is awaiting the purchase and stumbles across this site. Having said all this, however, I probably wouldn't recommend buying art this way. Unless you want to pay cruise ships outrageous internet charges (about .50 a minute) it's hard to research the actual value. And I don't know if this is the practice at most galleries (having never bought art before) that you can't get a refund, that at least give you a cooling period, but their no refund policy DOES bother me. I was not too happy that I had to pay for my prize, but I liked the artwork that I could choose, and felt that my artwork was worth more than what I paid. But I would not discourage people from attending the auctions for these reasons. First, to promote the auctions they often go to other venues, like the trivia games or the shopping presentation and to get people in the mood, they hold mock auctions, for spa treatments, Russian dolls (I was on the Baltic cruise) and other paintings. Some people like me were confused and didn't bid not wanting to have to pay for the items, but FYI, the ones who bid the highest, got the items for free (except for the painting which like me probably had to pay for shipping and appraisals) so play along (you know it's free when they don't ask for the cruise card when they give you the item!) Then if you go to the auctions, you get the free champagne, the print for attending which usually are nice, and they often have raffles or auctions or some way that you can get spa services and other cruise ship services or products at much lower costs then their original prices. Most of the auctions have a theme and it's often about the artists or various styles of paintings so it can be informative. Last but not least, if you really like the painting and can afford it and not planning to sell it (which is the only time the appraisal was important-I didn't like when they said that the painting was worth nothing without the appraisal) go ahead and buy it, you may not find it elsewhere. Although perhaps their appraisals may usually be higher than found elsewhere, occasionally there are probably bargains where you CAN get a good deal.
Evangeline
Torrance,#3Consumer Comment
Mon, June 12, 2006
I realize that because of the nature of the website you'll only have negative reports about them. I have had a positive experience with them (perhaps due to the reports on Rip-off they're trying to improve?) but even so I have some caveats. I ended my cruise with RCL about 2 weeks ago, and my boyfriend was wondering when I would get the print that I had "won" from them, so since I didn't have the receipt right on hand I decided to look them up to see the policy. When I googled them I saw the link for Rip-off with all the negative reviews I began to stress out over it (I had to pay a $35 shipping and $35 "appraisal fee") but thank god, the very day I read the reports (today as I am writing this rebuttal) the print came. It was what I had chosen, came with the appraisal and was shipped within a very large container and well protected inside, I don't know if it was worth the $590 appraisal (can check the internet, a good thing to make up for the bad-the unnecessary worry!) but I know from the quality of the print it's well worth over $70!! I am saying all this to reassure someone who DID purchase something, is awaiting the purchase and stumbles across this site. Having said all this, however, I probably wouldn't recommend buying art this way. Unless you want to pay cruise ships outrageous internet charges (about .50 a minute) it's hard to research the actual value. And I don't know if this is the practice at most galleries (having never bought art before) that you can't get a refund, that at least give you a cooling period, but their no refund policy DOES bother me. I was not too happy that I had to pay for my prize, but I liked the artwork that I could choose, and felt that my artwork was worth more than what I paid. But I would not discourage people from attending the auctions for these reasons. First, to promote the auctions they often go to other venues, like the trivia games or the shopping presentation and to get people in the mood, they hold mock auctions, for spa treatments, Russian dolls (I was on the Baltic cruise) and other paintings. Some people like me were confused and didn't bid not wanting to have to pay for the items, but FYI, the ones who bid the highest, got the items for free (except for the painting which like me probably had to pay for shipping and appraisals) so play along (you know it's free when they don't ask for the cruise card when they give you the item!) Then if you go to the auctions, you get the free champagne, the print for attending which usually are nice, and they often have raffles or auctions or some way that you can get spa services and other cruise ship services or products at much lower costs then their original prices. Most of the auctions have a theme and it's often about the artists or various styles of paintings so it can be informative. Last but not least, if you really like the painting and can afford it and not planning to sell it (which is the only time the appraisal was important-I didn't like when they said that the painting was worth nothing without the appraisal) go ahead and buy it, you may not find it elsewhere. Although perhaps their appraisals may usually be higher than found elsewhere, occasionally there are probably bargains where you CAN get a good deal.
Evangeline
Torrance,#4Consumer Comment
Mon, June 12, 2006
I realize that because of the nature of the website you'll only have negative reports about them. I have had a positive experience with them (perhaps due to the reports on Rip-off they're trying to improve?) but even so I have some caveats. I ended my cruise with RCL about 2 weeks ago, and my boyfriend was wondering when I would get the print that I had "won" from them, so since I didn't have the receipt right on hand I decided to look them up to see the policy. When I googled them I saw the link for Rip-off with all the negative reviews I began to stress out over it (I had to pay a $35 shipping and $35 "appraisal fee") but thank god, the very day I read the reports (today as I am writing this rebuttal) the print came. It was what I had chosen, came with the appraisal and was shipped within a very large container and well protected inside, I don't know if it was worth the $590 appraisal (can check the internet, a good thing to make up for the bad-the unnecessary worry!) but I know from the quality of the print it's well worth over $70!! I am saying all this to reassure someone who DID purchase something, is awaiting the purchase and stumbles across this site. Having said all this, however, I probably wouldn't recommend buying art this way. Unless you want to pay cruise ships outrageous internet charges (about .50 a minute) it's hard to research the actual value. And I don't know if this is the practice at most galleries (having never bought art before) that you can't get a refund, that at least give you a cooling period, but their no refund policy DOES bother me. I was not too happy that I had to pay for my prize, but I liked the artwork that I could choose, and felt that my artwork was worth more than what I paid. But I would not discourage people from attending the auctions for these reasons. First, to promote the auctions they often go to other venues, like the trivia games or the shopping presentation and to get people in the mood, they hold mock auctions, for spa treatments, Russian dolls (I was on the Baltic cruise) and other paintings. Some people like me were confused and didn't bid not wanting to have to pay for the items, but FYI, the ones who bid the highest, got the items for free (except for the painting which like me probably had to pay for shipping and appraisals) so play along (you know it's free when they don't ask for the cruise card when they give you the item!) Then if you go to the auctions, you get the free champagne, the print for attending which usually are nice, and they often have raffles or auctions or some way that you can get spa services and other cruise ship services or products at much lower costs then their original prices. Most of the auctions have a theme and it's often about the artists or various styles of paintings so it can be informative. Last but not least, if you really like the painting and can afford it and not planning to sell it (which is the only time the appraisal was important-I didn't like when they said that the painting was worth nothing without the appraisal) go ahead and buy it, you may not find it elsewhere. Although perhaps their appraisals may usually be higher than found elsewhere, occasionally there are probably bargains where you CAN get a good deal.