NEW YORK, NY.- A shop/gallery in Sommieres in the South of France called French Cab 1930, who specialize in Art Deco bronze and other decorative items from the 1930’s is wrongfully and intentionally withholding a refund to steady American customer James Sliman in New York City, citing Trump and other exuses.

In regard to the art world and online commerce, all this brings up the questions….Do overseas merchants or dealers now resent their American customers and treat them unfairly because of Trump and his tariffs ? Should American collectors think twice before buying anything from dealers like French Cab 1930 in France ? Is the transaction going to work out ? If there’s an issue or problem, will it be taken care of fairly ? Or do you want to spend the time looking into getting help based on Consumer protection Laws on online commerce in the EU ?

In e-mails, shop owner Jean Noel Cabanettes actually responds to his steady customer that a problem with shipping was due to “Trump decision to tax imports. Trump decided to put this customs clearance at $800 USD level.... and as always changed his mind few days later. But we cannot be responsible for politics decision”.

But this package was only valued at $635, not the $800 temporary regulation. When Sliman complained about French Cab’s procedures on this purchase, Cabanettes rudely replied “We're used to customers confusing Amazon with the world of antiques” and then strangely said “In France we have a proverb: “when you want to kill your dog you say it has rabies”.



In another e-mail he goes on to say, “And of course I am not responsible for US Customs, clients changing their mind, caprices for 3 days delay etc.” He then contradicts himself by stating that “It would have been so much easier to write to me and say “I have decided that I no longer want this sculpture,” after just saying “I am not responsible for clients changing their mind”. In another e-mail Cabanettes says to his customer…..”I will of course call the French president or even perhaps your president to obtain an explanation on this matter”.

The main concern here is that French Cab 1930 is refusing to give the customer a valid refund, with the purchase being made over 30 days ago and the sculpture in question, an Art Deco black metal panther on a marble base from the 1930’s never being delivered to Sliman in NYC.

Cabanettes shipped the item via UPS close to 3 weeks ago, after Sliman specifically told him in writing to only use DHL. He ignored that request and went to UPS. The package has been held in a warehouse at De Gaulle airport in Paris ever since, with no explanation as to why French Customs is holding it. UPS insists Cabanettes did not include a commercial invoice, which he denies.

Even though Cabanettes is the seller and the shipper, and he was paid in advance for shipping costs, he is insisting that the customer has to handle this problem himself and is refusing a refund. UPS has made it very clear that the package will be returned to the shipper and is not being delivered to the customer in the U.S. Even so, Cabanettes is still refusing a refund, which is very unreasonable under the circumstances.

“Based on my experience with the unethical, unprofessional French Cab 1930 gallery, American buyers and collectors should be very careful these days who and where they buy from, and what payment method they use”, says Sliman.