How do you tell a friend he got scammed

[LegendKiller]

A really good friend of mine in Orlando called me up. The conversation went something like this...

Friend(F): "Dude, I got an awesome deal on some speakers!!! $300 for a 2,000 watt system with a 500w subwoofer and an amplifier!!!"

Me: "Really, did you get those Klipsch that you were talking about?"

F: "NO!! This dude came up to me and said that his brother had ordered a set of $4,000 speakers, but accidentally sent two, he's trying to get rid of this pair to defray the cost of his new pair"

Me: "Really, what type of speakers? High-end Polk or something like that?"

F: "No, this company called Genesis Media Labs"

Of course, at this time I was completely suspicious. I knew about White Van Spakers but wasn't sure about the name. Of course, getting 4,000 speakers for 300 is nothing short of too good to be true. Not to mention 2,000 watts? I have a 250w HSU sub that cost 300 alone, a 840w Pioneer Elite receiver that cost 1,100, and a set of Infinity speakers, 3 of which have 150w 8" powered subs. If I add up all of that power I still don't even hit 2,000 watts. I was, needless to say, a bit skeptical.

So I went online, did a quick google, and sure enough, they were White Van Speakers. I really hated to break it to him, but I did, gently. He's a damn smart guy who just got caught up in the excitement of a great deal, too bad he fell for it.

Some of the comments online about how crappy these are are pretty funny, not to mention the supporters who go to any length to justify their craptacular build and sound quality.

I kinda feel bad for deflating him, but man, if it's too good to be true, it usually is. Although, it's kinda funny at the same time...one more thing to give him crap about .

 

[Looney]

I'd point and laugh. It's only $300, not that expensive a lesson.

 

[imported_Imp]

My question is how he trusts 'wares' out of ANY white van in the first place... That and there's some karama in it: he knowingly bought 'stolen' goods.

 

[Raduque]

It's a widely held opinion that those White Van Speakers are usually about worth 300-500 anyway. He could probably put some stuffing in the cabinets to help them sound a little "better".

 

[MercenaryForHire]

You're welcome!

- M4H

 

[Demon-Xanth]

"I got some new speakers."
"Did you buy them out of a white van?"
"You heard, eh?"

--actual conversation between myself and a friend who bought some Dahlton speakers.

 

[ivol07]

I fell for that about 6 years ago. They even showed me a "high end audio magazine" with an ad for those speakers. I think I talked them down to around $200. I still use them everyday to this day. They aren't too bad. He shouldn't feel too bad, I've heard stories of people paying thousands for them.

 

[sdifox]

send him the google search here

Linky

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Raduque
It's a widely held opinion that those White Van Speakers are usually about worth 300-500 anyway. He could probably put some stuffing in the cabinets to help them sound a little "better".

Surely you are not talking american dollars, but Rupees? They are not worth 300-500....

 

[spidey07]

Tough call.

Do you be a good friend and tell him they sound great or do you be an even better friend and make fun of him for a good year and tell everybody else?

If it was a really good friend, I'd probably do that latter. Nickname him white van chump and let it stick for a year or more.

 

[pontifex]

had that happen to me in a officemax parking lot a few years back. i was smart enough not to fall for it. not that i had the money to buy them anyway.

 

[Savij]

Your friend paid $300 for $300 speakers.

 

[zinfamous]

my brother got some Acoustic Response floor speakers several years ago from some of these guys. I had them up until last year, when I Craig's listed them for free.

They worked well enough for several years. And since he had the cheque that he wrote in payment for them cancelled, they were free
(dudes were supposed to roll by and pick them up...but they never showed)

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: ivol07
I fell for that about 6 years ago. They even showed me a "high end audio magazine" with an ad for those speakers. I think I talked them down to around $200. I still use them everyday to this day. They aren't too bad. He shouldn't feel too bad, I've heard stories of people paying thousands for them.

LOL i got approached from one as i was leaving the bank parking lot. He pulled up beside me, rolled down the window, and yelled at me... i rolled down mine, thinking he wanted direction, but then told me he had a $5000 speaker system in his van and he's trying to sell it for $500. I laughed and gave him the finger and drove off. Next time though, i'll call the cops (tell them i'm calling to say i'm late), and keep them occupied until the police come.

 

[jpeyton]

Which one did he buy? :laugh:

 

[ivol07]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: ivol07
I fell for that about 6 years ago. They even showed me a "high end audio magazine" with an ad for those speakers. I think I talked them down to around $200. I still use them everyday to this day. They aren't too bad. He shouldn't feel too bad, I've heard stories of people paying thousands for them.

LOL i got approached from one as i was leaving the bank parking lot. He pulled up beside me, rolled down the window, and yelled at me... i rolled down mine, thinking he wanted direction, but then told me he had a $5000 speaker system in his van and he's trying to sell it for $500. I laughed and gave him the finger and drove off. Next time though, i'll call the cops (tell them i'm calling to say i'm late), and keep them occupied until the police come.

Calling the cops probably wouldn't do anything, I think on some level they are legit. What's weird is that they give you a receipt with them. Or at least they did for me. I could have returned them within ... 15 days ... I think. I even called to make sure.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Which one did he buy? :laugh:

he got the 506

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: ivol07

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: ivol07
I fell for that about 6 years ago. They even showed me a "high end audio magazine" with an ad for those speakers. I think I talked them down to around $200. I still use them everyday to this day. They aren't too bad. He shouldn't feel too bad, I've heard stories of people paying thousands for them.

LOL i got approached from one as i was leaving the bank parking lot. He pulled up beside me, rolled down the window, and yelled at me... i rolled down mine, thinking he wanted direction, but then told me he had a $5000 speaker system in his van and he's trying to sell it for $500. I laughed and gave him the finger and drove off. Next time though, i'll call the cops (tell them i'm calling to say i'm late), and keep them occupied until the police come.

Calling the cops probably wouldn't do anything, I think on some level they are legit. What's weird is that they give you a receipt with them. Or at least they did for me. I could have returned them within ... 15 days ... I think. I even called to make sure.

what was their address? van in the parking lot?

 

[Special K]

Heh, some of my friends in college got pwn3d a few years ago from the same story. I would have fell for it as well, except I couldn't even afford their "discount" prices, so I passed. I even made a thread about it:

link

 

[Dacalo]

A few times, I had guys asking me if I needed speakers. I found it shady so I declined every time. No way in hell I would shop for speakers from an unliable source.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Which one did he buy? :laugh:

he got the 506

The site mentions 5.1, but makes no mention of Dolby Digital or DTS.

Is it just 5 channel stereo?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
"I got some new speakers."
"Did you buy them out of a white van?"
"You heard, eh?"

--actual conversation between myself and a friend who bought some Dahlton speakers.

I'd have fallen over cramped and laughing.

 

[AStar617]

This page made me rofl

Be sure to click the offsite link :laugh:

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: ivol07

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: ivol07
I fell for that about 6 years ago. They even showed me a "high end audio magazine" with an ad for those speakers. I think I talked them down to around $200. I still use them everyday to this day. They aren't too bad. He shouldn't feel too bad, I've heard stories of people paying thousands for them.

LOL i got approached from one as i was leaving the bank parking lot. He pulled up beside me, rolled down the window, and yelled at me... i rolled down mine, thinking he wanted direction, but then told me he had a $5000 speaker system in his van and he's trying to sell it for $500. I laughed and gave him the finger and drove off. Next time though, i'll call the cops (tell them i'm calling to say i'm late), and keep them occupied until the police come.

Calling the cops probably wouldn't do anything, I think on some level they are legit. What's weird is that they give you a receipt with them. Or at least they did for me. I could have returned them within ... 15 days ... I think. I even called to make sure.

Around here, you better have a visible vendor's permit if you are attempting to sell something on the street, above-board product or not. Not a felony, but fully actionable by cops... and the fines are probably enough to make it not worth their while to get caught.

 

[mrjminer]

ROFL

I knew a guy in HS that did this to people from other high schools at out of town sporting events. That dude banked.