How do you tell a friend he got scammed

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skrilla

Senior member
Oct 22, 2004
833
0
71
I got some cologne I can sell your friend. Brand name stuff. Real cheap. What kind does he wear?
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
Originally posted by: Savij
Your friend paid $300 for $30 speakers.

fixed

cut and paste from one of the articles in the google link above

"The latest White Van Scam brand is Genesis Media Labs- just took a look at 2 sets bought from a E Bay power seller who should be ashamed of themselves. The buyers thought they got a good deal and even left positive feedback for the seller. We had them listen to a Yamaha home theatre in the box bought at ... Marshalls !!! ....for less than for 1/2 ($ 250) of the price the victims paid on EBay ($ 539) for the Genesis - once again, no contest, and some very unhappy Genesis owners- too bad feedback cannot be modified. I took a couple of measurements which confirmed that regardless of the name- Genesis, DiVinci, Kirsch, Dahlton, Theatre Logic, Theatre Research, Ashton, Digital Logic, Digital Audio, Digital Dogg, Digital Research et. al - this stuff is not worthy of the term hi fidelity. The problem with the Genesis name is that there was a very good American made speaker brand of that name in the mid 80's, that went of business- the White Van scammers change brands often. New report:
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/6074001.html

If you would like to see what hobbyists think of this stuff see the Dollars and Sense discussion at audiokarma.org - we get a laugh out of reading the ad copy, but getting scammed is no joke."
 

FeuerFrei

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2005
9,144
929
126
I was approached outside Home Depot a few years ago. I told the guy with the van I wasn't in the market for speakers. Besides, there's no way in hell I'm buying them from the back of a van. Come on. It's got "shady" written all over it.

I did, however, spring for the imitation cologne from the trunk of a car when I was back in college. lol
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
I didn't bother reading the thread. Me telling a friend would sound something like this:

You dumbass, you got jipped.
 

tranceport

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,168
1
81
www.thesystemsengineer.com
I didn't fall for this type of scam but I did gather all of the information I could. I got their license plate and their copy of the invoice showing they "picked up 4 but were sold 2."

I called the police who sent 2 cops to my house. I showed them all of the documentation and picture of the van. They laughed at me and said there was nothing they could do. I showed them on the internet where it was a scam. They laughed and told me have a nice day....

Thank god I didn't fall for it or else I would have been pissed. The speakers were audiovox or some crap like that. Same gig... $5000 in speakers for $500 bucks.
 

mpitts

Lifer
Jun 9, 2000
14,732
1
81
Originally posted by: tranceport
I didn't fall for this type of scam but I did gather all of the information I could. I got their license plate and their copy of the invoice showing they "picked up 4 but were sold 2."

I called the police who sent 2 cops to my house. I showed them all of the documentation and picture of the van. They laughed at me and said there was nothing they could do. I showed them on the internet where it was a scam. They laughed and told me have a nice day....

Thank god I didn't fall for it or else I would have been pissed. The speakers were audiovox or some crap like that. Same gig... $5000 in speakers for $500 bucks.

What did you expect the police to do?
 

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
What's funny is they still sell them out of a white van...it's become a cliche. They could at least get a different color or put them in a pickup truck or something.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
I don't know what's worse, those who actually buy this stuff or the people who think anyone is getting "scammed." I mean come on, call the cops?

As long as you received the product you agreed to buy for the price you agreed to pay, there has been no scam.

Getting scammed would be getting your box of speakers home and finding bricks packed inside.

Caveat emptor.

Viper GTS
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I don't know what's worse, those who actually buy this stuff or the people who think anyone is getting "scammed." I mean come on, call the cops?

As long as you received the product you agreed to buy for the price you agreed to pay, there has been no scam.

Getting scammed would be getting your box of speakers home and finding bricks packed inside.

Caveat emptor.

Viper GTS

So, if somebody sells you something, represents it as a high-quality, and expesnvie product, but it turns out to be junk, that's not a scam?

If that's the case, then I have some really great stuff to sell you.

From dictionary.com

a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, esp. for making a quick profit; swindle.

Seems to be a scam to me...
 

UF Matt

Member
May 20, 2007
125
0
0
Gainesville, FL here. I've had this scam tried on me twice over the past 6 years or so. Both times in the Target parking lot. Told them I wasn't interested and walked off. Shady is an understatement.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
Genesis Media Labs 506

2000W total system power
5.1 AV receiver, 500 W sub
Satellite, Center, 1500 W (5 x 300 W)
10" long throw active driver
Digital audio input, digital output
Bass, treble, full function remove control
Digital AM/FM LCD display
Color: Black piano lacquer finish
Includes 1 Blue volume and 1 blue function control

MSRP $3,999

You know - if you were careless googling, you could actually think they were good speakers and that you were getting a good deal.

Judging by actual reviews, it seems the ultra-inflated MSRP is just a scam to make people think they are getting a good deal.
 

yowolabi

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,183
2
81
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I don't know what's worse, those who actually buy this stuff or the people who think anyone is getting "scammed." I mean come on, call the cops?

As long as you received the product you agreed to buy for the price you agreed to pay, there has been no scam.

Getting scammed would be getting your box of speakers home and finding bricks packed inside.

Caveat emptor.

Viper GTS

They show you a picture of $2000 speakers in a magazine and an invoice for that amount to prove that they are high quality parts. Instead you get speakers that are worth less than a hundred and different from the specs listed on the box. How is that not a scam? They outright lie to you about what you're purchasing, so you don't have any idea of it's true value. They know it's a scam, and that's why they usually give refunds to the people industrious enough to track down their warehouse.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,531
17,969
126
oh, oh, how about "Dude, You got Bosed!" Using that Dell Dude voice of course.
 

RedBeard

Diamond Member
Sep 29, 2000
3,403
0
76
Originally posted by: 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.

Yeah, It happened to me in my bank's parking lot.

"We just removed these fine speakers from a rich guys house during an upgrade...."

Riiiight....
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
Originally posted by: Mark R
Genesis Media Labs 506

2000W total system power
5.1 AV receiver, 500 W sub
Satellite, Center, 1500 W (5 x 300 W)
10" long throw active driver
Digital audio input, digital output
Bass, treble, full function remove control
Digital AM/FM LCD display
Color: Black piano lacquer finish
Includes 1 Blue volume and 1 blue function control

MSRP $3,999

You know - if you were careless googling, you could actually think they were good speakers and that you were getting a good deal.

Yeah, if you have no idea what kind of specs matter :p
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Originally posted by: Mark R
Genesis Media Labs 506

2000W total system power
5.1 AV receiver, 500 W sub
Satellite, Center, 1500 W (5 x 300 W)
10" long throw active driver
Digital audio input, digital output
Bass, treble, full function remove control
Digital AM/FM LCD display
Color: Black piano lacquer finish
Includes 1 Blue volume and 1 blue function control

MSRP $3,999

You know - if you were careless googling, you could actually think they were good speakers and that you were getting a good deal.

Yeah, if you have no idea what kind of specs matter :p

What are you talking about? It's got 2000W!!! That's like, 30 light bulbs worth of power!

EDIT: Sweet Jesus, it's even got a display! Too bad it's not compatible with LPs.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Mark R
Genesis Media Labs 506

2000W total system power
5.1 AV receiver, 500 W sub
Satellite, Center, 1500 W (5 x 300 W)
10" long throw active driver
Digital audio input, digital output
Bass, treble, full function remove control
Digital AM/FM LCD display
Color: Black piano lacquer finish
Includes 1 Blue volume and 1 blue function control

MSRP $3,999

You know - if you were careless googling, you could actually think they were good speakers and that you were getting a good deal.

Judging by actual reviews, it seems the ultra-inflated MSRP is just a scam to make people think they are getting a good deal.

oh good lord no. Those "specs" can be made with a tincan and a 9 volt battery.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Originally posted by: UF Matt
Gainesville, FL here. I've had this scam tried on me twice over the past 6 years or so. Both times in the Target parking lot. Told them I wasn't interested and walked off. Shady is an understatement.

I got asked in the BestBuy parking lot in Gainesville.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
I was approached by, literally, an old white van a couple weeks ago, and sure enough, the dudes wanted to know if I wanted some speakers.

I had heard the "white van" stories for years, but that's the first time I had actually had it happen to me.
 

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,983
1,179
126
they sound decent, good - nope but for $300 it's not like you're getting raped. For people saying they're worth $30, show me an equal setup, even GPX or some total sh!t brand that comes with a receiver and all the speakers for less then $100. I can't say I'd pay $300 for these but I would be highly suspect of anyone who believes they're only worth $30 or even $100. They sound okay me friend bought some, ended up giving them to his GF's son who loves em.

in So Cal the people sellin them don't have white vans they typically have a nice SUV like a Tahoe or something.