Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Park West art auctions?

jargey3000

By jargey3000,
in Ask a Cruise Question

 Share

Recommended Posts

jargey3000

jargey3000

Posted
Posted (edited)

What's the deal on these art auctions run by this Park West outfit on all the cruise lines?

I'm no connisseur (but I know what I like:classic_biggrin:) and most of the stuff offered seems pretty kitschy to me.... how many paintings  by Peter Max ARE there anyway?! We go to kill a bit of time & for the "free" (cheap) bubbly offered, but some people seem really into it. Not much ever seems to actually get sold. Am I missing something?

Would like to hear comments from cruise critic-ers on this.

Edited by jargey3000
Link to comment
Share on other sites
champagne123

champagne123

Posted
Posted

I recently inherited a painting by a well known artist.  Spent a lot of time doing research on it.  Via websites, I contacted many art dealers in NYC..and EVERY ONE of the websites stated  "We do not appraise Park West paintings and have no interest in purchasing them"     Just saying.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
John Bull

John Bull

Posted
Posted

The auctions are good........

- for a free drink, if you have time on your hands or the nerve to grab a drink & leave.

- for keeping cruise price down because they pay rent.

- for a laugh reading complaints from the unwary / unsavvy about how they were ripped-off. 

 

But they're bad

- when the stuff clutters-up seating in a bar.

- when someone on your table at dinner enthusiastically tells you they've just "won" a painting at the auction. It takes an expert at conversation-changing to get out of that one. :classic_biggrin:

 

JB :classic_biggrin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NLH Arizona

NLH Arizona

Posted
Posted

Apparently they sell more than $300 million on the cruise ships.  I remember reading a story where a man purchased two numbered prints for over $70,000 and when he returned home he found out that Sotherby's sold two of the same numbered prints for $10,000.  My advice to anyone, research, research, research, before you purchase anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Krazy Kruizers

Krazy Kruizers

Posted
Posted

A few years ago 60 minutes had a report about people being ripped off by the art auctions.  Then Park West disappeared for a while and a British firm moved.  The British firm didn't deliver many of the paintings/art work -- many complaints and they were gone.  For a while it was great not have the art auctions (for some us).  Now Park West is back -- same old stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jargey3000

jargey3000

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, John Bull said:

The auctions are good........

- for a free drink, if you have time on your hands or the nerve to grab a drink & leave. :classic_biggrin:

 

JB :classic_biggrin:

what "nerve"? if they're offerin'.....I'm takin'..lol

and, waddaya mean "a" glass? i stay till the rounds stop comin'......hahaha

we've also collected a bunch of the free prints they pass out for attending the shows.......

 

Edited by jargey3000
Link to comment
Share on other sites
leaveitallbehind

leaveitallbehind

Posted
Posted

They also tend to be relentless in their pursuit of you during the cruise.  Make the mistake of stopping to look at something and suddenly every day there is the next letter of invitation in your stateroom.  If you walk by there display they will recognize you and come out to stop you, etc.  PITA IMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nic6318

Nic6318

Posted
Posted
45 minutes ago, jargey3000 said:

is it true they use "plants" to bid, in the audience?

 

Hi

 

It isn't a real auction. There is no real bidding. They tell you what the price is, that's where the "bidding" starts. That's where it ends normally. They have hundreds more of the same pieces that they will sell next week for the same price.

 

They aren't real paintings. Mostly, lithographs, serigraphs, reproduction prints, "embellishments". I believe they make most of their money from frames and delivery charges. Like anything else on the ships, understand what you are buying. If it is something you like, then go ahead, make the purchase. These aren't original works of art. That's why they can have them lying around on chairs, hanging without glass protection, where anyone can touch them with their grimy hands. In the past, what I have noticed is that once they "sell" what I gather is their needed quota, they will give away any given number of prints.  At that point, all they want is you to pay for the delivery and framing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Suzieanna

Suzieanna

Posted
Posted (edited)

These things used to be good fun when they used to have raffles.   I remember one time I won a day in the spa, a key ring, a t shirt a photo of the ship, a casino match play  and a few other things.

 

now they keep you prisoner for ages and bang on and on about the ”Painter of Light” AKA Thomas Kinkade, the wonder that is Peter Max, and then there is great excitement when they bring out the painting of the tree.... you can hang this upside down and it’s a different tree!!   

 

Havent done a decent raffle raffle in I don’t know how long.  If you are lucky you might get a picture of a lion or something.    

 

I do enjoy them though for the people watching experience!!! 

 

(when I studied art history we were told the painter of light was Rembrandt!).  

Edited by Suzieanna
Typo
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kartgv

Kartgv

Posted
Posted

We went to a couple of auctions in our earliest cruises, none in 20 years or so!    Our most entertaining auction memory:   One large family group bid for almost every item that came up and 'won' most bids with much celebrating.   A couple of days later, we pulled into a port and watched the first group off the ship - the entire family being escorted off with all their luggage, right into the hands of local authorities.    The story was that they had attempted to pay for everything with a credit card that had been reported stolen.    

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ashland

Ashland

Posted
Posted

Cruised for many years on RCI and for the first time this past September while onboard Freedom we actually stood in the back and watched an auction going on......OMG.... people were paying outrageous prices for what we thought was junk and would never have any of these in our home.......What's the deal with these people...too much cheap champagne :classic_wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...