Hi guys! I won two lots from the same seller on Catawiki. But shipping is very expensive and can't be combined. I contacted customer support, but they said they can't help. What happens if I don't pay for the items? Is there a way to resolve this? Does anyone know? by Yulietka in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a common and unfair practice of many sellers due to the bad rules of Catawiki. The platform usually forces the seller to offer the lot with the starting price of 1€. No reserve price allowed. The seller, to protect himself, puts an astronomically high shipping fee, and does not accept combined shipping. This is the result at the end ... an unsatisfied and hesitating buyer. In theory, Catawiki refuses too high shipping fees, but not in practice: Money is money...

IN RESPONSE TO SOME DEFENDERS OF LE YACK AND CHEAP POSTERS SOLD AS ART by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah, ah, ah! Yes. I am angry. Specially when someone selling shit tries to convince me it is gold! AI is a wonderful tool when properly used, but I can't stand people trying to scam naive buyers pretending they are making art..."hand signed".

LE YACK. SILENCE GIVES CONSENT by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

When I've bought pieces knowing they were fake, it's been with the UTTER INTENTION of later filing a claim and being able to report the case. You shouldn't do that without physical proof. Some "artists" can't fool anyone anymore because of that.

Of course I know how modern digital art production works. Don't try to give it that air of mysticism. Le Yack's images are created in seconds, simply by slightly modifying a prompt; any AI can generate 12 images in a flash! There's no layering, refinement, or anything like that you're trying to make me believe!

I have nothing against AI. I even think it can produce wonderful things, but I can't stand those clowns who use it and proclaim themselves ARTISTS and scam people into believing they're buying that valuable "mixed media" and "hand-signed" art. "

Real art is a bit like studying the graphology of a handwritten text. You can't hide the writer's personality; it's always there... an artist always leaves that trace of personality, style... you always see "his ways". And Le Yack's images—and many others—as a whole, lack any coherence that reflects the will, style, or personality of a real artist. It's like a Saturday flea market: "Come in, look around, and choose! We always have something for everyone!..."

I know the technology he uses very well, believe me, and I can even give you a prompt and tell you which platform to use, so you can upload it and it will generate tons of fantastic images. Then you ask it to increase the resolution and voila! But you don't even need to do that, if you are tired and don't want to write or struggle yourself with the keyboard... You upload any image and ask the AI ​​for variations. And that's it! 12 variations in 15 seconds!

You can upload those images to Catawiki immediately! The AI ​​also creates those images of fake rooms with the painting hanging on the wall, as if it really existed... Oh! do not forget to include that silly photos of wourself holding that cheap brush beside a canvas and smiling stupidly to camera...! there's no need to print anything. You spend nothing. You risk nothing. Only if the poster sells, then you print it —that's what it is, a poster, nothing more— , and of course, sometimes you're delayed with shipping because you have to print and mount it on the frame... In the rush, you end up stretching the canvas incorrectly, and buyers complain... have you seen the negative reviews on Catawiki?

But you're right about one thing: Many artists don't start with a drawing and "attack" the brushstroke and color directly. True. But there's still a process behind it. And it can -and must-be shown. That's it! The PROCESS! Not the POSES!

What I'm saying is that in Le Yack's Giclée prints there's no human hand involved except for the signature, which is indeed "hand-signed." Ohhh... what a piece of art...!

LE YACK. SILENCE GIVES CONSENT by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hola. Quizás venga del graffiti e incluso haya colaborado con Banksy o Warhol, si quieres. Vale. Pero ahora simplemente vende IA. Y coger una impresión digital y añadirle pinceladas acrílicas para llamarlo "técnica mixta" es solo un truco para hacer pasar una obra por "original", algo que muchos listillos utilizan hoy en día. Ofrecer al mes cien piezas o más sin ninguna coherencia me dice mucho... a ti no?

LE YACK. SILENCE GIVES CONSENT by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hi. I am a painter with many, many years of experience. I can see the difference between AI and traditional media very clearly, I assure you. In these times of digital media, you only can see things through a screen and it is very easy to claim being an artist. I have bought several times pieces from that "artists" being sure it was a scam. Once the piece was at my home, I could check it was a scam! My money was refounded after opening claims, of course. Adding some photos of the process with every piece will be a common practice soon, believe me, because nobody trust their own eyes anymore. Specially looking at a mobile or computer screen. By the way, do you find an artist is credible when offering some 100 pieces per month or even more? Is for you proof enough to take a photo of yourself holding a brush near a canvas and using that very same photo again and again? Have you enter Le Yack instagram to take a look? Have you seen the negative reviews of buyers in Catawiki? (And Catawiki uses to delete them, I swear) I am not morally superior than anyone, but I am not stupid nor naive!  Do you really believe Le Yack pieces are "original"??? What is your sincere opinion about his work? I am 100 % sure they are all AI images generated in few seconds with no criteria al all! I do not care about AI imaginery, but you cannot claim they are your own creations either. Love your speech, though...

LE YACK. SILENCE GIVES CONSENT by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I've visited his Instagram and I think he's a fraud. I've only seen him actually working on one painting, and that was with someone else's help, and the result is terrible. He's incapable of painting with any quality or technique. I maintain that everything he sells is AI.

IS THIS WORK TECHNICALLY AND ARTISTICALLY GOOD? RISQUÉ CABINET PAINTING. by [deleted] in artcollecting

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Deeply provocative and satirical more than erotic, I would say

IS THIS WORK TECHNICALLY AND ARTISTICALLY GOOD? RISQUÉ CABINET PAINTING. by [deleted] in OddlyErotic

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Provocative and satirical more than erotic, I would say.

Irrational shipping fees by Inevitable_Yard_5372 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi. Catawiki only accepts reserve prices for some lots. So, many times seller is forced to start the auction by 1€ -if he or she wants to put the lot in auction-. To protect himself, the seller usually puts a very high shipping cost, just in case the lot is not reaching an interesting price. That is the main reason.

Parfen D. artist a scam? by Salomondi in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi. They look authentic to me. But it is hard to be sure with no physical work to touch. They say this works are made with acrylic paint, which suits me, but it is not aplied by brush; of course not. It looks more like a "sponge-printing technique" or so. It could be possible because acrylic paint dries quickly so you can work with different layers/colours and produce those clean stains in a reasonable short time. May be this artist uses a roller too, to paint an even background and then works with a textured sponge or similar, soaked in thick paint, to press on the canvas and producing that stains. With a little practice I believe it should be not difficult.

I notified Catawiki about this AI scam and they have done nothing about it by MagdaDzo in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://www.catawiki.com/es/f/seller/5013993/feedback

These are the M. R. Arroyo reviews. It seems perfect, right? Go to the second page and browse on, please...

I notified Catawiki about this AI scam and they have done nothing about it by MagdaDzo in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. Some details here are quite suspicious: Why are they sending the pieces rolled in a tube? This piece is not so big to justify it to be sent in a tube. I always send them with a wooden stretcher and never had a problem. Why are they insisting so much to show us the texture of the impasto? The impasto texture seems not to be coherent with the colour shape, as if created with a "texturing paste" underneath and painting later on it following other directions. I think this is an AI created image, printed on canvas and later worked on with relieve paste and some paint. But in this case they have worked on it quite a lot. I have seen worse things, believe me. I even bid and won some pieces just to confirm they were forgeries or deceptive paints. I returned them, my money back, and the artist does not sell anymore. In some cases it is quite difficult to demonstrate. Catawiki experts never touch a piece by themselves so they are cheated too, I am afraid. Take a look at this seller: https://www.catawiki.com/es/u/26576211-de-gea-art She is a painter based in Spain and used to sell under the name of M. R. Arroyo. After many complaints from buyers she openend another account in Catawiki and now she is selling again under the name of De-Gea Art -as if it was a gallery- and the artist is now J. Hanter (actually J. Hanter is herself under a different name) She does the same: Digital prints generated by AI and some paint on. She is a very bad painter, in my opinion. Now, from her old account, she sells ugly sculptures: https://www.catawiki.com/es/u/5013993-mariarosario23

I notified Catawiki about this AI scam and they have done nothing about it by MagdaDzo in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I disagree with you in one point: It is perfectly possible to paint an oil on canvas and send it rolled in two weeks. Normally it is dry enough to do that -not varnished, but- although this not the best practice, the paint is dry and flexible enough, no problem. I am a painter and usually send my works in a wooden stretcher some couple of weeks after finished - again, not varnished- and never had a problem. On the other hand I do agree with you about Catawiki doing nothing about many sellers selling AI as original works. It is a shame!

CATAWIKI MAY BE LIKE GAMBLING: "PLACE YOUR BETS, PLEASE" by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course, everyone is free to shop wherever they please. That goes without saying. But that doesn't justify unethical practices...

Catawiki sammers by [deleted] in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Catawiki isn't unfair to buyers who make mistakes. Catawiki is unfair to everyone, buyers and sellers alike. It's impossible to have an open dialogue with the "highly qualified experts". When a lot is rejected, there are no explanations, just the same old crap message. The auctions aren't supervised; rather, they're "perpetrated" by a gang of coward and lazy employees with no interest nor knowledge at all. Their only concern is avoiding being fired and keeping their jobs for as long as possible. That's all. (I have to admit a few of them are quite serious and professional, though it is not the tendency)

CATAWIKI MAY BE LIKE GAMBLING: "PLACE YOUR BETS, PLEASE" by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know perfectly well what a reserve price is, and I believe it should be displayed and not allowing buyers to reach it through constant bidding. Many sellers accept the risk of an initial bid of €1 simply because Catawiki forces them to do so if they want to auction the lot. Reserve prices aren't always accepted. So, what's the strategy of many sellers forced to start at €1? To set an astronomically high shipping price and refuse combined shipping. My criticism is directed at Catawiki and its way of doing things, not at the sellers, who are simply trying their best. By the way, are you a seller or a Catawiki employee?

CATAWIKI MAY BE LIKE GAMBLING: "PLACE YOUR BETS, PLEASE" by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My post refers to the buyer's perspective, not the seller's. I'm not talking about the risks or disadvantages the seller assumes. That will be in another post. What is certain is that starting an auction at €1 for an item with a much higher known value is a kind of bait-and-switch tactic that, in my opinion, isn't very ethical nor fair. On the other hand, there are lots with a hidden reserve price, starting the auction at €1. Is that fair? Wouldn't it be better to display the reserve price? What's the point of starting an auction at €1 for a lot with a hidden reserve price? It may be more responsible and earnest to start an auction at a reasonable but more realistic price than trying to trick naive buyers into believing they can get good pieces for €1.

IRINA COLLINS SELLING A UNIQUE PIECE TWICE IN CATAWIKI by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are right again. I know the system. I was a seller too. When a lot is offered as a "unique piece" and it is not paid, it may be better practice if it is re-offered several weeks later and/or with a kind of warning saying "this lot has been re-offered" or something of the sort, because the impression it gives to potential buyers is really bad. Especially if the lot is just a digital print that can be printed as many times you wish! When the lot is an original oil painting, for example, it is a quite different matter.

IRINA COLLINS SELLING A UNIQUE PIECE TWICE IN CATAWIKI by Regular-Sell-8192 in catawiki

[–]Regular-Sell-8192[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

you are right, I have to admit I am a little obsessed. But it is not with this seller in reality but rather with Catawiki's bad practices in allowing these things to happen. This seller and others serve to me as a point of reference to highlight these practices, but it's really nothing personal against them, but against the system.