Without quality customer service, these beautiful paintings are trash!
At one time I truly valued the inspirational Christian messages thatthe Painter of Light was sending out. I purchased many of his beautifulcanvas pieces because I liked the message and the man behind thepaintings of light. I went to a convention and listened to this familyman talk about his cherished family and Christian beliefs. Now afterdealing with several of his Signature Galleries, I find myself asking this question. Is Christianity or greed being sold in these galleries?
After trying to sell secondary market pieces that I purchased over 7years ago, I am finding a new kind of Christian message that is beingsent. Some of the statements that I have been told by Signature Gallery ownersinclude, "Take your artwork and get out, I do not have time to talk toyou now, I forgot your check at home, and Your secondary market piecesare not worth what you paid for them! And most of the time the salespitches that were given to me were not even consistent ones that weregiven from the different gallery owners. I have heard that my secondarymarket pieces that I purchased over 7 years ago are not worth what Ipaid for them. I wonder why anyone would fall for the sales lines thatthe new pieces are worth so much if you buy them now. Heck, they onlyprinted 980 of the pieces that I own, and they came in one size only! Isupported and purchased these pieces when this artist was becoming wellknown. The paintings now come in 3 sizes, the total numbers releasedare much higher, and you can buy all kinds of Thomas Kinkade items. Ithink spreading Christian messages is really wonderful if people aretreated with honesty and respect.
I have had more than one bad experience with the Galleries, but in myopinion I would of received better customer service from a used carlot than at the Gallery in San Luis Obispo with owner Richard Smith. This was absolutely the worst experience my fianc or myself has everhad with any retail establishment. After driving 219 miles one wayafter an arranged deal was made, the owner was too busy for us, whichhe stated bluntly before even making an introduction, and he forgot ourcheck at home, after claiming he would have cash ready for us. He askedus if we might hang out and wait for him to return after he visited hisother Morro Bay gallery which was obviously much more important to himthan any customer that purchased Thomas's secondary pieces or had justdriven 219 miles.
I could not even get 800.00 for my oldest secondary market piece thatis currently sitting on the Signature Gallery walls with a price tag ofover 1,700.00. Heck, I couldn't get my arranged 700.00 that waspromised to me by both emailand telephone prior to the trip. We drove 10 hours in the car, over 400total miles, wasted 2 tanks of gas, lost a day of pay, and we weretreated so rudely in San Luis Obispo, that I am currently requesting mymoney be returned to me for my secondary market pieces from Light HousePublishing, Media Arts, or any gallery that will treat me with respect. All I want is my money back!
I am a divorced mother of two children. My children mean the world tome, and because I chose to stay home and raise them, I returned back to collegewhen I was 38 years of age to earn a BA in Business. From what I havelearned so far, Customer Service is the success and driving force ofany business. I have also learned that business should be ethical andhonest. Or it should be for any company that wants to succeed. So wheredid this talented artist get off track? Did he hire the wrong companyto handle his business affairs? In my faith and Christian beliefs I donot believe we should be lying, cheating, or mistreating people in anyway or form, no matter how much a company is profiting from sales.
I am empty inside because I feel like I have lost an idol and a personthat I truly believed in. I adored this artist and the messages that hesent to my family and me. So many times Thomas's beautiful paintingshave brought serenity to my life. Due to financialdifficulty with going back to college only, did I decide to sell mybeautiful artwork. Now because of the way that I have been mistreatedby more than one of the Signature Galleries, I just want to get back mymoney for the pieces that I purchased long ago. If the galleries make aprofit off me again, so be it! It just doesn't matter anymore. I havelost much more than any monetary value; I have lost what was once mytrue inspiration.
I have sent out numerous emails and letters requesting a refund fromLight Post Publishing or the galleries for my two secondary marketpieces. So far I have gotten nowhere. I am so angry and hurt that I donot wish to keep them in my home any longer no matter how much money Ihave lost.
If you do not believe my nightmare story, just try to go to the galleryowners and try to sell your secondary market pieces back. Also take alook at the prices they have your secondary market pieces listed at ontheir walls. You will be very surprised when you ask them to purchaseit.
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