I paid $45,000.00 for a Picasso that is worth $10,000 - $12,000.00. The aggressive Park West sales team on board my Celebrity Galaxy cruise (Aug 22nd - Sep 1, 2008) said they had documentation that the Picasso is worth at least $66,000.00 and that it would be a great investment.

They supplied us with wine, beer and champagne as they lured my fiancé and me into purchasing "a great investment" I kept telling them I didn't really like! (I don't even appreciate Picasso).

I have been battling with Park West Galleries since I returned from this eastern Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity Cruise Lines. I have informed Park West that I would be going public with their deception. After a week on the phone with customer service rep, Leslie, they offered to cancel my order for a fee of $5,000.00 plus....

I told Leslie I was not paying $5,000.00 to cancel an order that has not even been shipped yet and that I want a full refund or I will pursue legal action and publicity of their misrepresentation of the value of this artwork.

But the "customer service" representative, Leslie, became very defensive and said that I had threatened them and because of my "threats" (and unwillingness to provide her with names of galleries, websites and class action suits I told her I have contacted), she refused to give me anything in writing about our conversations or their offer to cancel my order for the $5,000.00 "re-stock fee."

As far as re-stocking, I sent her a copy of my invoice from Park West upon her request because the order had not reached the Park West computer system and had not been entered into their database (nor had been shipped to me) when I called to cancel.

I consider this an outrageous misleading scam, deceit, trickery, sharp practice, and breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit to gain an unfair and dishonest advantage.

I also contacted Celebrity for assistance with this fraudulent scheme, as their policy was supposed to be to assist with any problems regarding the vendors and stores they recommend.

But Celebrity Cruise Lines said I'd have to take it up with Park West. I called Celebrity a second time after a few frustrating conversations with Park West and told them I had talked to Park West without success and they "took my complaint."

I asked what they were going to do with my "complaint." The Celebrity Cruise Lines customer service rep said they were going to send my complaint to Park West, but refused to share any of the correspondence with me because it was "an internal issue" and only Park West would receive the info.

I asked the Celebrity cruise line rep if my customer complaint could go anywhere within the cruise line chain of command, but she said no; she said that Celebrity Cruise Lines "would not get involved." I told her they were already involved as I was misled on their ship by a vendor they endorsed. We went around and around until I did just what they wanted: I gave up (for that day only).

I am exhausted from this mess, and so amazed that Park West Galleries has been allowed to cheat so many people and remain an American business!

If you have any insight on dealing with a scheming company like Park West who has successfully perfected the art of swindling and cheating, I am open to suggestions! I intend to get my money back from these scam artists (no pun intended).

By the way, their "40-40-40- Customer Satisfaction Policy" advertised on their website and on ripoffreport is also a scam... obviously. They didn't even offer THAT! False advertising (oh what a shock).


I sent the above account to ripoffreport and this was their reply:



After posting my complaint and receiving the above correspondence from ripoffreport, I was contacted by another customer service representative, Laura (9/25/08). Laura said that she was sorry that the person (Leslie) I first dealt with at Park West did not know to offer me their 40-40-40 plan, etc..

So she offered me their plan of only paying $1,000.00 to cancel my order.

I asked that she send me the offer via E mail – so I will have it for my records. I have no intention of paying this company to cancel an order that had not even been processed or entered into their database when I requested cancellation. I have received nothing from Laura as of 9/28/08.

I told Laura I don't want to pay them for canceling something I don't want, and that all I want is to simply cancel my order, but that I will look at the offer and get advice from my attorney whom I am certain will laugh at it. She said they have incurred costs from this transaction, etc. I explained that I canceled before it was even processed through their system and that my costs for time, cell phone usage and missed work while dealing with this were adding up too.

I have spent weeks not working, trying to document, research, cancel and end this nightmare! I have told them not to send the artwork; I do not want it and will not accept it. Meanwhile, my credit report has a $46,074.00 debit to GE Finance/Park West.

9/20/2008 – I called GE Money (866-396-8254) and closed my account on the automated phone service. My credit account/credit line was closed on 9/20/08, confirmation number 2000.

The automated voice said No additional purchases will be allowed, but that my balance was $46,074.95 and at this time, no payment is required.

So I called to dispute an account, and the automated system said to dispute in writing to:
GE Consumer Finance, PO Box 981438, El Paso, TX 79998-1438 with my name, account number, date and amount of transaction and details of the transaction. (which I have done)

This was the same day my account was activated by GE/Park West.

I called GE to dispute the account by phone and talked to a customer service rep who said he would mail me a dispute form (where the artwork is supposed to be delivered to) which I will reject delivery of. (This was 9/20/08 and as of 9/28/08 I have not received his "form for dispute.")

To cancel my relationship with Park West and get my credit back from GE. To continue to this end, I have filed a complaint with the FTC, FAR, and plan to contact the BBB in my state and in every state PW has a gallery.

To would-be buyers of art at on-board art auctions? Go to the auctions (I did not)... but do go and enjoy their champagne and hors d'oeuvres, learn what you can; it should be lots of fun... BUT if you see someone who seems gullible like I was - help them not to make the embarrassing mistake of purchasing from Park West. The cruise line already reams you for money at every turn once on board. All of the "inclusive" classes and fun things to do have gone away. It had been 10 years since my last cruise. I was very disappointed in the food, the entertainment, the service and way they overcharge for everything onboard.