OK, folks, a little background here. I've encountered the "guys in the white van" once, in 2001. I didn't buy because 1.) I really had no money 2.) I thought the speakers they were selling were hot & I didn't want to be involved in a police sting (which is what I thought it might be) & 3.) If I really wanted to buy audio equipment I'd have gone to an audio store.
If you bought something from these people, here's a few things to think about. They probably told you it was an inventory mistake; they didn't want the boss to know about it because he'd keep them for himself; yada, yada. So, essentially, they were telling you that they stole the speakers from the boss. That's point one.
They quoted you (and showed you bogus invoices, magazine reviews, whatever) a price on the equipment of at least $1,000.
That's point two.
Point three (and this is the kicker): if everything they had told you was true (and you probably didn't believe it anyway) you would be a receiver of stolen property valued at over $1,000.
That's a felony offense. And it's not as if you didn't know BECAUSE THEY TOLD YOU THAT IN THE SALES PITCH.
So who, really, deserves the kick in the ass? You got ripped off & you're pissed because you thought you were ripping somebody else off!
It's really the perfect scam, and its completely legal. They normally have valid sales permits. You can call the cops and sometimes they get busted, but it's NOT because of the business. They'll hit them with trespassing or find outstanding warrants, suspended drivers' licenses, fake ID's, etc. After all, anybody who does this for a living is more than likely not a registered member of the local chamber of commerce. For all I know, they live in cardboard boxes underneath freeway overpasses.
Sometimes you can get your money back & sometimes you can't. You can try & sell the crap on e-Bay (I found over 20 listings on a search last night under the various "brand" names these guys sell) or you can grin & bear it.
This company is a rip-off, don't buy from these people.
Caveat emptor!
John
Waconia, Minnesota
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