Park West Auctions

[golfadj]

No one really gives you full disclosure with either the Art Auction or Bingo.

 

My guess is that the art stuff has about a 100% profit factor. Spend $200, get $100 in actual value.

 

I would guess Bingo has a profit factor far in excess of 100%, yet the cruise lines never disclose it.

 

I think I know why!

 

I was a statistics minor in college. If you take the time to look around and count the people entering the game you can very easily figure out what is going on. Nobody forces anyone toplay.

 

lWhy would you expect that whoever is running the game to tell people what they should understand for themselves?

[partman57]

I seem to remember seeing a piece on Park West on TV once upon a time. It's been a few years, and it wasn't that favorable of a piece.

 

It was on TV a few years ago. It was a big time deal. I like you can not remember if it was 60 min...but they sure slammed it. I understood some of the lines stopped having the Art Shows..I think they could put a room to better use.

[Alliezona09]

Don't go to the art auction for the art~ just go for the free cheap champagne~ and don't play bingo cuz the odds suck!! Too bad they don't give out free champagne at bingo :p

[luckycruzer]

You are an art expert???

 

Do you have any idea what a serigraph is?

Do you have any idea what a lithograph is?

 

The only process that remotely relates to your post is giclee, but you don't seem to have any real idea of what this is either.

 

 

not an expert..but yes.. I do...tx for your interest in my...get stung did u?

[C Cruise Dude]

From another thread I learned that I was not the only person who might believe that Park West Auctions are less than honorable.

 

A poster advised to Google "Park West" which I did. It's amazing the stories.

 

I learned early in cruising about getting free champagne and artwork only to realize that to get these things you must turn over credit and personal info.

 

We made a purchase and it was damaged in shipping. Luckily, we were able to cancel the purchase and return the piece. That was that.

 

The more I read, the less I like it, though, with others.

 

It's a real surprise that Dateline or 60 Minutes doesn't pick up the story.

 

I know some will tell me to stop cruising or complaining about whatever isn't perfect but some of these stories show well meaning people just trying to enjoy a cruise sponsored activity getting royally taken. Not OK.

 

WHAT? I have attended the free champagne auctions and was not obligated to purchase anything. I won free art and had to pay to ship it home but I didn't have to accept the art. When I did purchase art works, it was put on my sail and sign account as was the shipping. You can attend the auction, drink the champagne and just walk away, nothing out of pocket. :confused:

[golfadj]

WHAT? I have attended the free champagne auctions and was not obligated to purchase anything. I won free art and had to pay to ship it home but I didn't have to accept the art. When I did purchase art works, it was put on my sail and sign account as was the shipping. You can attend the auction, drink the champagne and just walk away, nothing out of pocket. :confused:

 

Very true. Did get a free pice of art once that luckily was just handed to me. Worth every penny of the cost too.

[ccarpenter1963]

WHAT? I have attended the free champagne auctions and was not obligated to purchase anything. I won free art and had to pay to ship it home but I didn't have to accept the art. When I did purchase art works, it was put on my sail and sign account as was the shipping. You can attend the auction, drink the champagne and just walk away, nothing out of pocket. :confused:

 

I think she was just warning the new cruisers that the company doesn't have a very good operation. She never said they held a gun to her head and made her buy something.

[GradUT]

The art auctions are among the best shows Carnival has these days. I had a blast swilling their free cheap champagne and watching the nutty, over-the-top auctioneer and the even nuttier people who were actually buying the so-called "art". It was a whole lot more entertaining that the "Welcome Aboard Show" or some of the comics!

[Almost Packed]

I personally think if anybody really thinks they're going to get a fantastic piece of art on a cruise that they paid $1000 for is smoking something. There's one born every minute so let them have fun. After all, as the saying goes, a good deal is one you're happy with. Personally what I find funnier than the art auctions is people loading up on Tanzanite. If you like the look of it great!! But my god the number of people I hear on carnival buying it because "it's rare" or "running out" just kill me.

 

IMO let them be. They're happy and ignorance is bliss. Never been to the art auction for obvious reasons but I fail to see why Dateline needs to be involved. People shouldn't have to be protected from themselves.

 

Although fwiw there was just an American Greed episode about the art auction company that used to be on Princess. Would you believe they were selling fakes :o ;)

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

 

I use to sell cars years ago...and we had a saying..."If you think you got a good deal, you probably got screwed, and if you think you got screwed, you probably got a good deal". This was soooooooooooo true. I myself could make $2000 in commission on one car deal (not counting what the dealership made) and my customer would leave so happy. On the other hand, I would work work work to make $50 and it would be the hardest sale I would work for, and the customer still thought they were getting screwed lol.

 

but yes, ignorance is bliss. if you are happy with it, what does it matter? Beauty and value are truly in the eye of the beholder.

 

However, I would think that i could purchase a painting for $1000. Would I expect it to be a Monet or Rembrandt, no, but i always hear about the "starving artists" sales. surely one could buy a painting for under $1000 from someone starving? lol.:eek::p

 

and BINGO is the biggest ripoff! I did it once and swore it off after that. i could not believe how ridiculous it was. Soooo many people playing. It's a moneymaker. i cannot believe they don't do it more often on the ship for the sheep & suckers lol. I was not a statistics major/minor in college, but the university of common sense taught me about cruises and bingo lol.

[MomofBoyz]

If an outfit is selling something as a misrepresentation, I think of that as, say, a car dealer rolling back the odometer. True, buyer beware, but on the other hand, some of the purchasers said what I can understand -- they are at sea, in close quarters with Park West and no good way to do research on the piece. Internet is not easily accessible nor inexpensive so it makes sense that a cruiser would trust that any Carnival partner would be on the up and up.

 

This was one of the reasons RCCL dropped Park West.

 

I agree that buyers need to use sense but one would hope that faith in Carnival would go hand in hand with any partner of the line being checked out in advance.

 

Again, I'm not trying to do anything more than give a heads up to those who might be attending an auction for the first time - just google Park West prior to sailing. That will take care of any mistakes.

 

To me it's no different than advising cruisers to book their own excursions. Just do homework PRIOR to being a captive audience.

 

Booking one's own excursions can save hundreds, though, and not getting taken in by Park West could save thousands.

 

It's a tip, that's all.

[aimee0715]

I use to sell cars years ago...and we had a saying..."If you think you got a good deal, you probably got screwed, and if you think you got screwed, you probably got a good deal". This was soooooooooooo true. I myself could make $2000 in commission on one car deal (not counting what the dealership made) and my customer would leave so happy. On the other hand, I would work work work to make $50 and it would be the hardest sale I would work for, and the customer still thought they were getting screwed lol.

 

but yes, ignorance is bliss. if you are happy with it, what does it matter? Beauty and value are truly in the eye of the beholder.

 

However, I would think that i could purchase a painting for $1000. Would I expect it to be a Monet or Rembrandt, no, but i always hear about the "starving artists" sales. surely one could buy a painting for under $1000 from someone starving? lol.:eek::p

 

and BINGO is the biggest ripoff! I did it once and swore it off after that. i could not believe how ridiculous it was. Soooo many people playing. It's a moneymaker. i cannot believe they don't do it more often on the ship for the sheep & suckers lol. I was not a statistics major/minor in college, but the university of common sense taught me about cruises and bingo lol.

 

If what you are looking for is one of those paintings that have the beautiful white italian and/or greek villas overlooking the sea with bunch of colorful flowers thrown in for good measure, then definitely go to one of those Starving Artist sales that they have at your local Holiday Inn occasionally. I was absolutley astonished at how similar those Starving Artist show paintings were to the art auction paintings.

 

I saw a painting hanging in the art auction gallery on our last cruise that I really liked. It was a lot of brightly colored sailboats all grouped together on the water. I thought about going to an art auction for the first time in 8 cruises to see about that painting. However one day I was walking by the art auction, and I saw them hold up one of those waterfront villa paintings that I could buy from Starving Artists for less than $200 and they started the bidding at $3500:eek: I knew then that I didn't need to waste my time looking into that painting any further.

[golfadj]

I use to sell cars years ago...and we had a saying..."If you think you got a good deal, you probably got screwed, and if you think you got screwed, you probably got a good deal". This was soooooooooooo true. I myself could make $2000 in commission on one car deal (not counting what the dealership made) and my customer would leave so happy. On the other hand, I would work work work to make $50 and it would be the hardest sale I would work for, and the customer still thought they were getting screwed lol.

 

but yes, ignorance is bliss. if you are happy with it, what does it matter? Beauty and value are truly in the eye of the beholder.

 

However, I would think that i could purchase a painting for $1000. Would I expect it to be a Monet or Rembrandt, no, but i always hear about the "starving artists" sales. surely one could buy a painting for under $1000 from someone starving? lol.:eek::p

 

and BINGO is the biggest ripoff! I did it once and swore it off after that. i could not believe how ridiculous it was. Soooo many people playing. It's a moneymaker. i cannot believe they don't do it more often on the ship for the sheep & suckers lol. I was not a statistics major/minor in college, but the university of common sense taught me about cruises and bingo lol.

 

Good post.

[cruisercrazy69]

i wonder what a Lithograph of JH in his underwear blogging would go for at a park worst auction ? LOL

[larkz]

Park West has a long a sultry record.

 

Of all the non-essential things that you can avoid spending money on while you're cruising, auctioned art is the very top of the list (or the bottom of the swamp, as it were). Not far behind that scam are the great products they push in the spa, the terrific Internet access, essentially any other product they sell in their shops, and the suspicious odds that you get in the casino.

 

While I appreciate all those people who blow lots of money and subsidize a third of my cruise price, I strongly urge frugal people to stay frugal while cruising for the greatest level of satisfaction. Smile nicely at the big spenders, and take comfort in your own wisdom.

[kona_wahine]

Ive been on one cruise. I experienced the art auction, free champ, and got a small piece of "art" for free. I also experienced a couple games of bingo. Our second cruise is coming up in February and I will skip both!

[golfadj]

i wonder what a Lithograph of JH in his underwear blogging would go for at a park worst auction ? LOL

 

Ask him if he will autograph it for you

[Pee-ah]

Wonder why every thread has to include a slam against JH. I'm not a cheer leader but it's getting tired jmho

[Pee-ah]

I bought a walk off from Park West on my first Alaska cruise. Still very happy with it.

 

When I was on the Glory almost bought another one till they told me what the shipping costs would be back to Canada. Declined the purchase. No regrets!

 

Last two cruises didn't even go to see what was offered :)

[glrounds]

park west has a long a sultry record.

 

Of all the non-essential things that you can avoid spending money on while you're cruising, auctioned art is the very top of the list (or the bottom of the swamp, as it were). Not far behind that scam are the great products they push in the spa, the terrific internet access, essentially any other product they sell in their shops, and the suspicious odds that you get in the casino.

 

While i appreciate all those people who blow lots of money and subsidize a third of my cruise price, i strongly urge frugal people to stay frugal while cruising for the greatest level of satisfaction. smile nicely at the big spenders, and take comfort in your own wisdom.

 

exactomundo ! !

 

[SHICHIDAN]

The term " Fraud" and bingo do not go together. Selling 1 or 100's of bingo cards at an advertised price with a stated award for winning is certainly not Fraud by any definition of the word.

[tea4ular]

....but it fits here as well:

 

About the 2 jerks working in the art gallery on NCL's ship in May 2008 NYC to Bermuda...as my D and I were walking around it, enjoying the art, these 2 jerks came in and never even looked around just kept talking...one said to the other, "I can't wait for the auction, so we can screw these people." The other just laughed and laughed. Until D & I walked around the corner and then saw us.

 

:eek:

[dave_k63]

Read the second "Cruise Confidential" - it's the true memoir of an art auctioneer on the Conquest and Ectasy. It's by Brian Bruns and is called "Ship For Brains"

[larkz]

Read the second "Cruise Confidential" - it's the true memoir of an art auctioneer on the Conquest and Ectasy.

 

I read the first one, and will surely bring the second along for reading on my next cruise.

[MomofBoyz]

Maybe eventually CCL will drop them as well.

 

Reading about Park West training and employment practices has opened my eyes. Many of the "auctioneers" wind up actually owing Park West money at the end of their employment...far different than the salaries promised. There are several stories from former auctioneers who are speaking out.

 

If CCL did that to their employees, cruisers would be outraged. One of the reasons we enjoy cruising is that we believe CCL treats its employees well.

 

So, even over and above buyer beware is the ideal that all employees should be treated as promised. This is another mark against Park West, in my opinion.

 

Yes, there are companies everywhere who do this but it's OK to give heads up to cruisers.

[dave_k63]

Bingo is a suckers game I will admit but certainly not fraudulent. If people were smart they would consider their bet and the number of people purchasing cards and realize the payout is incredibly small.

 

They make the choice

All casino gambling is a suckers game - with the exception of poker - and even with that - the house takes a very large rake.