Complaint / Review
Josephi selling Emporio Collezione
Emporio leather jacket ripoff

I am walking north on Yonge St.in Toronto (near Finch Ave.) and a guy in a large, black sedan (North American manufacturer) pulls up. He said his name was Josephi. It was raining a bit.in any case, he rolls down the window and says that he needs to go to the airport, if I could direct him. He seems like he knows very little English and has a 'Italian' accent.

After I point him to the way to the airport, he says that he is flying out and that he has these leather jackets that he is going to pay a lot of taxes on. He'd rather get what he can than pay taxes at the airport. He had four jackets in a bag. Each jacket is in it's own plastic bag. One was a ladies jacket. He let's you feel the jacket and says that this fine Italian leather. It looks good, feels good and you sort of go along with it (what can I say this guy was good at his con). He says that the jackets are worth hundreds of dollars each. Then he wants to give you all four for the price of one. I didn't want it I told him and was not willing to pay any price like that. He says what money do you have etc etc. When I told him I only have $20 then he says can you go to a bank and get some money out.

I got sucked into it (instead of walking away). We agree on $200 but he still wants more. (I am such a good negotiator to get it down from thousands to $200:)). So I get him to drive me to the bank. I took the money out. I came back and he still haggling for more. Finally I ended up giving him $220. I got the jackets home. They don't fit and it stinks like synthetics. Nothing leather about these jackets. The labels for content have been cut off. Essentially man made materials.

He said that the other bag he was taking back for his brother. He also said that he worked at Harry Rosen at the Yorkdale Mall. He is going back to Italy but will be back to the store in July.

It sounded too good to be true and it was. I would describe 'Josephi' as small made, thin, well dressed. He said the car was a rental and that he was dropping it off at the airport. I did not get the license plate.