Does anyone really buy the artwork??

[PlanoTim]

On our last cruise I was really surprised at how many leaflets, cards, invitations, etc., were left in our room for the art auctions. I think it was at least 2-3 a day. It sure seemed like a waste to me.

[NightOne]

This is an older article from the New York Times but does a pretty good job of explaining what Park West and cruise ship art auctions are about:

Art Auctions on Cruise Ships Lead to Anger, Accusations and Lawsuits

 

http://nyti.ms/vulMFQ

 

Personally, I have a real issue with self-appraised items.

[elliair]

This is an older article from the New York Times but does a pretty good job of explaining what Park West and cruise ship art auctions are about:

Art Auctions on Cruise Ships Lead to Anger, Accusations and Lawsuits

 

http://nyti.ms/vulMFQ

 

Personally, I have a real issue with self-appraised items.

 

A few years back maybe 7 years ago, I posted an article here about Park West and people suing them. Looks like some couples are reopening their lawsuit against Park West. As always, buyer beware!

 

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130909/BLOG011/130909878/lawsuit-reinstated-against-park-west-over-art-sold-on-cruise-ships

[skittl1321]

A few cruises ago we decided to just go see what it was all about. The prices were ridiculous! Do Carnival cruisers really pay $12000 for an unframed painting?

 

The purpose of the $12k painting is to make the $500 or even $1,000 ones seem like a good deal...

[richstowe]

I don't get why people would spend money at these "art" auctions but if the rent they pay helps

keep my cruise price a little lower (or stops it from going higher) , I'm all in favor !

For better or worse my wife enjoy's the auction as a little down time on the cruise in the afternoon. Some like absorbing rays that age the skin and sucking overpriced drinks.

 

I've been on a cruise where I did actually see stuff that was valuable and seen people spend serious bucks. I guess some like their suites and others like their art.

 

Could never figure out why people pay for nasty tasting alcohol too sometimes... Different strokes for different folks :D:rolleyes:

Thank you for showing me the other side . I however will be "absorbing rays that age the skin and sucking overpriced drinks." :D

Considering how long Park West has been in business, they must be moving product.

 

I don't see why anyone goes to port talks, wastes port time "shopping" at the stores that give Carnival kick-backs, drinks to the point of becoming ill, likes "private islands" etc.

 

To each his own.

How dare you bad mouth private islands . Seriously , how dare you .

[vwrestler171]

Never thought about going to the auctions, I hear too many stories of people being ripped off by them.

[Maraprince]

I do not drink so the free champagne doesn't thrill me. However, you can learn a lot about different artists at the actions and get to see various works.

 

Some passengers go on a cruise just for the art auctions and do purchase a lot of art. On the Miracle, there was a father and his son who competed against each other during the auctions. The son had purchase a new house and wanted to purchase art for the new rooms. His father already had a large collection of art. My guess is that they really didn't care about the cruise/ports just buying more art for their homes. What they spent during one auction would have been more than enough to purchase 7 cruises!

 

MARAPRINCE

[Cinders411]

I attended one of them. Believe it was on the Dream maybe? Anyway, one was enough. Really did not enjoy it at all.

[cruzeluver]

How dare you bad mouth private islands . Seriously , how dare you .

 

Tee-hee-hee. :p

[fuddrules]

Wish this guy would show up on a cruise :D

 

[kdinkus1]

I have already posted on this subject when the thread first began but feel the need to add something else. Many here seem to think that the art pieces bought are not worth the prices we paid. I have found that not to be true in our case with the art that we have purchased but I have no doubt that this could be true. My concern is how many people on the boards voice their dislike for the auctions and question the worth of the art pieces, yet have never attended or bought anything. Without purchasing and having the pieces appraised, how does anyone know what the art is worth? And what does it matter whether it's 'real' art or not? Luckily for us, our buys have either stayed the same in price or increased in worth. And it's nice to have something to see and enjoy once we are back home. (unlike those who spend hundreds (to thousands of dollars) in the casino or on alcohol) To each his own...

[NightOne]

gammy3gks,

 

First, art is only worth what someone will pay for it and not what it is appraised for. Next time you get a piece appraised ask them if they will buy it on tne spot fof that amount. When they say no, ask them what they will offer and don't be shocked when it is 20% or less of their appraised price. (i.e. $200 on $1000)

 

Second problem with Park West is seld-appraisals. Would you prefer to buy my home at the price I say it is worth or at the price a respectable trusted 3rd party appraiser says it is worth? Self-appraisals are worthless and if not clearly disclosed border on fraud in my opinion.

[near the beach]

We have purchased three pieces of artwork and have received two free. There were many item that were out of our price range.

 

We go and enjoy seeing the art for sale. Don’t like champagne so that doesn’t make a difference to us. The events always seem to be filled to capacity.

[near the beach]

Double post.

Edited May 14, 2015 by near the beach

[makeda]

i have several pieces i purchased years ago and had framed (at a reasonable price at home)...i learned a lot about the copying process, and used the free prints to learn how to mat and frame at home

 

the selection has become very limited, i have not seen any african-american artists represented in years, so i no longer attend art auctions...did learn a lot about the copying process, but never ever drink the "champayne" stuff...if i want an original, i attend art galleries at home and meet the artist...more fun that way (less expensive, also...one artist did the framing for me, while showing me how to do it)!

[kdinkus1]

gammy3gks,

 

First, art is only worth what someone will pay for it and not what it is appraised for. Next time you get a piece appraised ask them if they will buy it on tne spot fof that amount. When they say no, ask them what they will offer and don't be shocked when it is 20% or less of their appraised price. (i.e. $200 on $1000)

 

Second problem with Park West is seld-appraisals. Would you prefer to buy my home at the price I say it is worth or at the price a respectable trusted 3rd party appraiser says it is worth? Self-appraisals are worthless and if not clearly disclosed border on fraud in my opinion.

 

I appreciate you taking time to post on my comment however I guess I didn't explain well enough. The 'appraisals' we have received are from very reputable art appraisers. Plus, we don't go in and tell them what we paid for our art in advance. We let them do their work and have found that either the art appraised for about the same amount of money or higher than what we purchased them for.

 

I have never felt the need to ask them if they would purchase them for the quoted price but I would assume that they would say yes. Any reputable dealer would know that their appraisals would have to match the true price of the art piece. Otherwise, they could be sued for fraud.

 

I do thank you for your thoughts on this subject but I can reassure you that we are happy with our purchases. :D

[rtap23]

Wish this guy would show up on a cruise :D

 

 

If he shows up I might freak out a little since he is dead.

[VASOXFANN]

Never have

 

Never will

 

I have no problem grabbing a glass of free champagne and leaving :p

Edited May 15, 2015 by VASOXFANN

[Earthworm Jim]

I have zero interest in art auctions, but I think they are great! Anything that gets other people to subsidize a portion of my cruise cost: art auctions, the casino, $500 bar bills, etc., I'm all for.

[spearnreel]

Never have

 

Never will

 

I have no problem grabbing a glass of free champagne and leaving :p

 

...same being that goes to all the DI and Cariloha shops at ports to get the free plastic charms and color changing whatevers.

 

Looking through this thread, it appears that those that have not and do not attend the art auctions seem to me the most critical towards those that do.

[kdinkus1]

...same being that goes to all the DI and Cariloha shops at ports to get the free plastic charms and color changing whatevers.

 

Looking through this thread, it appears that those that have not and do not attend the art auctions seem to me the most critical towards those that do.

 

 

Exactly

[xeroxme]

Ok so just getting off my 9th cruise and here's the big question I generated on this one:

Does anyone really buy the Park West art?

 

They put out so many flyers on it and frankly it is the one thing on a cruise that I have absolute 0 interest in and can't fathom anyone being excited to buy the art on a cruise.

 

Anyone?

 

 

I have bought artwork in ports and had shipped home. Never more than $1500. I have been to their onboard auctions but haver never bought and would be afraid to spend big money without research first. If artwork is inflated as much as beer or booze onboard im afraid you couldn't live long enough to break even. Lol. Like most of us i have went. Had the champagne but don't intend to go back

[NightOne]

I appreciate you taking time to post on my comment however I guess I didn't explain well enough. The 'appraisals' we have received are from very reputable art appraisers. Plus, we don't go in and tell them what we paid for our art in advance. We let them do their work and have found that either the art appraised for about the same amount of money or higher than what we purchased them for.

 

 

 

I have never felt the need to ask them if they would purchase them for the quoted price but I would assume that they would say yes. Any reputable dealer would know that their appraisals would have to match the true price of the art piece. Otherwise, they could be sued for fraud.

 

 

 

I do thank you for your thoughts on this subject but I can reassure you that we are happy with our purchases. :D

 

 

There are people who appraise things every day for insurance purposes and other reasons but again the truth is that many of these appraisals are inflated. Most of this is subjective so over-pricing something on an appraisal would not open someone to a fraud prosecution. (but maybe some of these are indeed)

 

Happiness doesn't equal good deal. For example, I can go down to the car dealer and pay $2000 over sticker price for a new car and I may be very happy with my purchase. However, did I get a good deal in that situation? i would say no.

 

I have attended an art auction on a cruise. However, I have not or would not purchase from one of them.

 

We can respectfully disagree about this and enjoy our respective cruises. :)

[Cruise a holic]

Ok so just getting off my 9th cruise and here's the big question I generated on this one:

Does anyone really buy the Park West art?

 

They put out so many flyers on it and frankly it is the one thing on a cruise that I have absolute 0 interest in and can't fathom anyone being excited to buy the art on a cruise.

 

Anyone?

 

I find it horrible that people purchase cheap posters and think that they are getting art work. Some of these prints are made with special copiers so the print looks really good- and some have some actual paint on them. I find it terrible that the cruises lines sell this junk.

 

However to each his own, I also do not understand why people spend money in casino. Whatever makes you happy.

[DAFNVA]

Yes, people do buy art from the ships. I have purchased many - to include Marc Chagall, O. Trasnyanski to name a couple artist. Some pieces of art are set up as a single item and you cannot put into a lot ( two pieces or more) if you like more than one, ask to see if they can go together - this will bring your opening bid down. I have been lucky a couple times and no one bid against me and got a great deal on art. I also know when it is time to stop bidding. Also - my very first "blind" auction was a steal. just watch your limit on bidding and have a general idea of what artists art go for. this is the biggest tip I can give.