Fact checking the art auction.

[trajan]

As mentioned previously I loved our first RC cruise. Had a blast!

 

One thing about it did disturb me. I had previously attended art auctions on Princess. Never bought anything but it was entertaining. Some practices seemed sketchy (the guy took at least one bid where I could not id that there was anyone actually bidding) and late one night I witnessed how the auctioneer chose what paintings were brought to the auction 'by request.' The requesting was all done by him.

 

At this art auction and beforehand I decided to do some research. I had to listen to a lot of pitch but I got quotes on the value of 7 different works or series, either in person or at the auction. For the in person quotes they showed 1 written appraisal and promised others are available.

 

I then did some simple research on the internet to compare prices. 1 of them I didn't learn anything concrete. In 3 of the cases the prices were 10 to 30% high. In 2 cases the appraised value was 80 or 90% high. In 1 case the print looked like it was probably not authentic. That really surprised me but after a complicated bit of research that's how it looked. The artists house simply does not acknowledge the series.

 

So I concluded the auctioneers were simply lying. Disappointing. I suspected the auctions were a bit of a scam but I didn't think it would be so bad.

[temple1]

We've not attended the art auctions on board the ship, but used to go frequently on land.

 

One thing I noticed - if it was a really slow night - with little or no interest from the crowd the auctioneer would change the order and bring up some pieces to try and spark interest.

[lcguy]

Google "art auctions at sea".... quite interesting reading.

[envy4u]

My advice is to buy art on the ship only if you like it....not as an investment. We have bought affordable pieces. In fact sometimes the value is all in the frame.

[Cheerysmom]

My advice is to buy art on the ship only if you like it....not as an investment. We have bought affordable pieces. In fact sometimes the value is all in the frame.

 

I totaly agree . .. I have bought art from Park West - but only pieces that I really like . .. with no intention of reselling for a profit or investment.

[trajan]

Google "art auctions at sea".... quite interesting reading.

 

OMG! :eek: Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

 

Phantom bidding, gouging, lying, fraud, fakes, lawsuits, employees fired for trying to point this out and help people, items never shipped, etc etc etc.

The guy getting tossed for trying to warn people was pretty funny!

 

lol And I thought I was breaking a big story or something like that.

[lcguy]

OMG! :eek: Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

 

Phantom bidding, gouging, lying, fraud, fakes, lawsuits, employees fired for trying to point this out and help people, items never shipped, etc etc etc.

The guy getting tossed for trying to warn people was pretty funny!

 

lol And I thought I was breaking a big story or something like that.

LOL... And just think, you were able to witness it first hand!

 

Now, if you see a poster and like it and don't mind that the frame is more valuable than the piece as a whole, then go for it! Caveat emptor.

 

What was that P.T. Barnum quote again??????? :D

 

Glad you had a blast on your cruise by the way!

[EmiGirl826]

(the guy took at least one bid where I could not id that there was anyone actually bidding) quote]

 

 

This happens at any kind of auction there is. It's not limited to cruise ships. My dad is a car dealer and says some of the auctioneers at the auctions will take phantom bids from time to time to drive up the price. It's a shame that it can be that dishonest, but unfortunately that's world we live in these days. :(

[Tranquil Waters]

I have sat through a couple of the auctions. There is the free crappy champaigne afterall. :D And a friend really wanted to go. She did not buy anything but I have to say that there was never any phantom bidding. :confused: In fact, there was not hardly any bidding at all. Most of the pieces went back off the "block". Only the few that they offered for like $10 sold. Except for a couple of Tarkay's (sp) and those only had one bid and sold at that one bid.

[CRUZBUDS]

Art action scams??? I'm shocked

[joeyancho]

You are much better off on ebay

[Puffinater]

Whether here or on the ship I provide a one word answer about the onboard art auctions....google.

[marci22]

I just wouldn't buy anything really expensive on a ship, but they completely lost me when they wanted to charge $35 to ship a 'free print' I had 'won'. (Seemed awfully expensive to ship a piece of rolled up paper in a tube.) So I told them no thanks. That was the first and last auction I ever sat through.

[cb at sea]

On vacation, I'm not in the market for "art"...my walls are complete at home...have no need for more decoration. And that's the ONLY reason you should buy anything...it is NOT an "investment"! It's home decor!

[FloridaPhil]

I LOVE attending the art auctions. I stand at the side and watch. And drink. And never buy.

 

What really amuses me is the enthusiasm that some attendees display - they remind me of dogs rolling over on their backs on command. My favorite line is the auctioneers oft repeated "a big round of applause ladies and gentlemen for XYZ artist..." and boy do they clap, sometimes cheer.

 

I just stand there giggling and drinking the cheap champagne. My wife thinks I'm the insane one but it's the little things that amuse me. I have never once seen a 'work of art' that I think is worth anything near the reserve price.

 

Caveat Emptor. Do your research BEFORE you bid. Not after.

[sas80]

I find these thread hilarious as it is typically the people who have already purchased who chime in to say "don't purchase art on the ship as an investment"

 

I am always left wondering if they could turn back the clock, would REALLY purchase that piece again. Of course they are now going to chime in and say "absolutely" but I would tend to think that their comments are (of course) biased.

[grand isle joe]

two words : BUYER BEWARE!;)

[joeandaimeesmom]

two words : BUYER BEWARE!;)

 

 

 

AMEN to that!! Hubby and I have a friend that is an artist and when he has cruise with us he gets so annoyed at hearing about the "art auction".. Crappy stuff he says!! tee hee And one time we sat at one of them and with no one bidding the auctioneer got po'ed and ended it.. Too funny it was...:)

[7leagueboots]

We go to the auctions for the entertainment value. Would never think of buying anything. Of course the $5.99 bottlled champagne is OK too.:D

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

(the guy took at least one bid where I could not id that there was anyone actually bidding) quote]

 

 

This happens at any kind of auction there is. It's not limited to cruise ships. My dad is a car dealer and says some of the auctioneers at the auctions will take phantom bids from time to time to drive up the price. It's a shame that it can be that dishonest, but unfortunately that's world we live in these days. :(

 

 

I just wanted to congratulate you on your approaching wedding day and honeymoon!! Hope your day is beautiful and you have a wonderful cruise!! Congratulations. :)

 

We avoid the art auctions like the plague! Hate the set up where they take the entire Viking Crown Lounge or Centrium......the auctioneer is so rude!! :eek:

 

***

[marci22]

Don't you love it when, all day before the auction, they have all of these very valuable artworks sitting on the floor propped up against walls and chairs on the floor, lining the hallways?

 

One time I asked a worker, shouldn't you be taking better care of these? and he gave me a menacing stare but I was just having a little fun with him; I don't think he got the joke.

[Tranquil Waters]

I do have to smile at all the dire warnings I see here. :)

 

It leaves me wondering - have none of those expressing disdain for anyone stupid or naive enough to have ever bought one of the pictures (I will agree they are probably not art) never spent any money on a ship before?

 

Because, let me tell you, you are not exactly striking a shrewd bargain in purchasing those over-priced drinks. Or have you never dropped a hundred or two in the casino? :confused: What about the way over-priced spa treatments?

 

The people I saw that bought something at the couple of auctions that I attended seemed to be having a good time making their purchases.

 

And, at least, when they get home they will have something to show for the cash they laid out.

 

Soooo, I have to wonder is one any more a sucker than the other? :D

[Puffinater]

 

Because, let me tell you, you are not exactly striking a shrewd bargain in purchasing those over-priced drinks. Soooo, I have to wonder is one any more a sucker than the other? :D

 

Have you compared the onboard drink prices to that of a restaurant or night club in a major metroploitan area? If you had you would realize that the prices on the ship are sometimes better than what you find on land. They are not out of line.

 

No one is misrepresenting the drinks, can the same be said about the "art" being sold?

[Tranquil Waters]

Have you compared the onboard drink prices to that of a restaurant or night club in a major metroploitan area? If you had you would realize that the prices on the ship are sometimes better than what you find on land. They are not out of line.

 

No one is misrepresenting the drinks, can the same be said about the "art" being sold?

 

Guess what, many many people do not live in major metropolitan areas. Speaking of another waste of $$$. :D

 

You pick on the drinks, but my point is still valid. Certainly, the sales pitches in the spa and the "promises" of those products are equally misrepresented. ;)

 

And I notice you don't mention the "at home" comparitive value of drink purchases versus art purchases. 2 months later, the drinks are long gone (unless you want to count the effect on your liver :D).

[Mack2]

I've purchased things through Park West while on a cruise... I've been relatively happy with the stuff.

 

I'm bad, too...

There's an art gallery near me that carries much of the same art that Park West carries... I've seen some of my art in the gallery, inquired about the price of some of the serial lithographs I'd purchased... and I can say I'm happy with the result.

 

 

Definitely, a "named" guy's art will tend to be ridiculously expensive... but I have actually saved maybe around 10-15% by buying it on a cruise rather than from the gallery.

 

For example... I purchased something from an artist named Gary Benfield... A work called Verona Nights... Lithograph on paper, numbered, signed, blah blah blah

I decided I wanted to get another litho in the same series called Sienna Nights... went the to gallery, they looked it up... they wanted $400 for it (rather than the $250 I paid on the ship)

 

Never found it again by Park West... the artist retired or something.

 

 

I don't think I'd ever sell it.... don't believe the crap about the works being a big investment that you'll sell to put your kids through college or anything. Art is like jewelry... you pay a premium to get it... but when you take it to a Pawn Shop, you get crap back.

 

But it looks real nice over the piano... a second one would've balanced it out a bit more... but what can you do?