I was driving in a shopping center car park to meet a friend. I had to drive around a few times as i couldn't see him. I went to the Bank Car park to turn around and as i was leaving a '05 Audi A4 stopped in front of me. A Really clean cut guy in a suit got out of the car and came and asked me where there was a good shopping center. I told him the one he was in was ok but there was a better one about 3 miles away.
He started a conversation and then told me he worked for an italian company and he is here to make a few deals with BROWN THOMAS (a very expensive store). He told me he lived in california and had to stop here on his way back to Milano for a meeting in Dublin and one in Cork. He then said he was flying back to milan tonight and that he had too many sample suits and Jackets to bring with him. He did not want to pay the charges for excess luggage and did not want to pay the VAT when entering Italy. He asked me if i would like tto make an offer for them. They were Gucci and Armani. I was waiting for a friend anyway so i said ok.
He showed me 3 Armani suits, 2 black leather jackets and a brown suede jacket. The suits were armani and the jackets were all Gucci. He told me i could have the lot for 600. I lost interest right away and i told him i wouldn't even insult him with an offer as i could not afford it. He then said to no offer would insult him as he has to get rid of them. I told him the most i could give would be 150, i was bluffing obviously. He then said that if i gave him 300 that he would give me 3 coats and 1 suit. I told him that i would give him 250 but i would have to go to the bank. He told me he would wait. When i went to the bank i decided i would not pay that much so i went back and told him that the bank wont let me take out anything because i was overdrawn already. I told him that the most i could give him was 190. He shock my hand and said thank you anyway.
As i was walking back to my car he drove up to me again and said that he would give me 1 leather jacket, 1 suede jacket and 1 suit for the 190. I asked him for a business card frist to show some kind of proof that they were real. He gave me a Card and i had a quick glance at it. It looked ok, so i gave him the 190 and he gave me the bag with the clothes in it. I got into the car and had to drive around the shopping center to meet my friend. When i passed the bank about 10 minutes later i noticed he was driving around the bank car park again. This is when i started thinking. I got home and pulled out his card. When i looked at the back of it i saw the words KODAK PROFESSIONAL PRINTING PAPER printed lightly on the back. I knew right away he made the cards himself.
When i looked closer at the suits i realised they didn't have the same logos that i had seen on Armani and Gucci clothing before. The armani had the Eagle and the letters R.G.A. On it. The gucci jackets both had the G symbol but had a small E inside the G. And it Said NEW COLLECTION. There was no sign of the word GUCCI on the jackets aand no sign of the word ARMANI on the suit. Only similar logos.
I checked on the internet and found this sight. I rang the police right away and told them waht happened and gave a description and told them where he was. They are sending someone that way as i type. It only happened about 20 minutes ago so i am going to go back out and see if i can find the guy and call the police to let them know where he is.
I dont think i got ripped off that much as the clothes are good quality but i wouldn't have paid it if i knew they were fake. I mean, the guy even had aligator boots on and really fit the part of the Italian Fashion designer or something. I will let you know if i find him and if i do what happens next. Off to find the guy now.
Hope soeone catches him.
P.S. I wonder is this a world wide thing or is it the same guy as the previous complaints. He did tell me he just came from California after all.
Jamie
Cork
Ireland
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