Classic Art Gallery — Attraction in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Do NOT leave a deposit with these thieves. This gallery has stolen thousands of dollars from us at a time when we were going through medical issues and tough financial times. We simply wanted OUR $$$ back. That’s not how they operate. we were excited to purchase a home in the area. We placed a downpayment for a sculpture. The sculpture arrived many months later and the face was absolutely atrocious. We did not want that particular one because the face did not look like the sculpture we had ordered. They said that’s how they would all look at that size. Since that time, we lost 2 parents … we had to leave the state, one of us got diagnosed w a benign tumor which had to be removed… and our financial situation changed drastically. They have never given back $5,000 deposit. That’s right - $5,000. They have taken an interest free loan off our backs - correction, not a loan bc they have NOT aid it back. We have provided routing and acct #s and they simply refuse to send the money back. These are NOT art loving ethical people here. We would NEVER EVER have anything g to do with them. They are COMMON THIEVES. New email requiring address when we have sent 3 emails with our electronic account info. It would be too convenient for a check to be lost...

The gallery itself has some really beautiful pieces, and quite a few I was genuinely interested in purchasing. The saleswoman Diane Smiley was a bit helpful at first, but proved to be very condescending and plain out disrespectful. We had quite a pleasant conversation at first, but she kept trying to push a particular artist towards me named Elizabeth, I don’t even know her last name. I had not expressed a surmountable amount of interest in this artist at all, but Diane kept trying to push me towards her because of my “budget”. However, I had not discussed any budget with her, and regardless, one should not push a client towards an artist because of the price range. That is the opposite of what purchasing art is about. Additionally, I heard her and the other salesman speaking in whispers literally right behind my back about my boyfriend and I, saying that we would not be making any purchases. Unfortunately for your gallery, I actually had my eye on a piece by Soon Ju Choi...

It's hard to impress me, especially with paintings, but I was truly mesmerized by the beauty of the artwork here and the incredible talent of the artists behind them. The atmosphere in the store is relaxed, allowing you to take your time and truly appreciate each piece. The staff is not pushy at all, which makes for a calm and thoughtful selection process. It's the perfect environment to make a considered choice, and I couldn't have asked for a...