The 'speakers from a van' sale, now in Tucson

[FrustratedUser]

I've heard this is a scam and the speaker are POS.
Bevare, seen in Tucson today. 15mins ago.

The sale is not from a white but a blue van this time.

 

[ThaGrandCow]

It's all the same scam, it happens all over the US.

The speakers are worth MAYBE $100, if that. Definitely not worth the $400+ they are asking.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

This is a fascinating phenomenon - apparently they operate in Australia and the U.K. as well. I find the psychology behind this marketing strategy really interesting - people just love the idea of beating the system by getting a great, shady deal. The speakers in question are called Dynalabs, and you can read about them here.

 

[ElFenix]

a friend of mine bought speaks off a truck before. ebayed em for 4x markup heheh

 

[MazerRackham]

I had guys try to sell me crap speakers out of a van like that nearly 10 years ago now here in Irvine. They came up and said "You'll never believe what just happened- we are supposed to deliver 2 sets of speakers, but they gave us 10 sets by mistake!!" "You want to buy one of the extra sets?"

The speakers were branded as AR, but instead of being Acoustic Research (which is a legitimate company), they were "Acoustic Resonance" speakers. LOL. Anyway, I told them to go to hell and take their POS speakers with them.

The golden rule is if it seems to be too good to be true, then it is!

I feel bad for the elderly people that always fall for the old roofing-repair scam.... those guys that do that have no honor whatsoever...

 

[Harvey]

Call the cops. It may not stop the next guy from doing it, but it could take this group of bad guys out of circulation for awhile.

 

[FrustratedUser]

These speakers were called AudioLine. Never heard of them before.

Call the cops, is there something illegal going on?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< Call the cops, is there something illegal going on? >>



I'm not sure that this is illegal, unless it violates some local ordinances about selling from a vehicle without a license or something similar. It is clearly a deceptive sales practice, but the product is substantially what they claim it is (i.e., it is a set of speakers, even if they really suck), and I am not sure this violates any consumer-protection statutes. I imagine most state Attorneys General would take an interest in this, but as a practical matter it is probably tough if not impossible to track down these kinds of roving scam artists.

 

[Entity]

It's a scam, but it's not illegal.

Rob

 

[gopunk]

<< It's a scam, but it's not illegal. >>



how is that possible? i thougth deceptive business practices were illegal.

 

[Harvey]

Entity -- Most of these deals involve merchandise acquired from < ahem > "Midnight Merchanise Company." He should call the cops and let them sort it out.

 

[Viper GTS]

<<

<< It's a scam, but it's not illegal. >>



how is that possible? i thougth deceptive business practices were illegal. >>



How have they deceived you?

They offered you a product, at a price.

You agreed to the price, you received the product.

That sounds like a fair transaction to me.

Viper GTS

 

[gopunk]

<<

<<

<< It's a scam, but it's not illegal. >>



how is that possible? i thougth deceptive business practices were illegal. >>



How have they deceived you?

They offered you a product, at a price.

You agreed to the price, you received the product.

That sounds like a fair transaction to me.

Viper GTS >>





how can it be a "scam" if they didn't deceive you?

 

[Entity]

<< Entity -- Most of these deals involve merchandise acquired from < ahem > "Midnight Merchanise Company." He should call the cops and let them sort it out. >>


Actually, Harv, most of these deals involve young, ambitious, dishonest people putting together el-cheapo speakers on their own (their are "scam" companies which sell the kits), and then making up a creative story about how you are getting a great deal. Very few of the "white van specials" involve stolen material of any kind, no matter what they claim.

Dishonest, yes.

Illegal, no.

Rob

 

[Viper GTS]

<< how can it be a "scam" if they didn't deceive you? >>



If it's a scam then so is Monster Cable.

Both separate the gullible from their money, but both provide exactly what they claim to.

Viper GTS

 

[Evadman]

I doubt they are paying sales tax on it, so they can be busted that way.

 

[Entity]

<< how is that possible? i thougth deceptive business practices were illegal. >>


It's actually quite simple. If I tell you that my computer is worth $8000 (which I built myself from crap parts), and you agree to pay $1000 for it, even though I am lying, and scamming you, in essence, I am not doing anything illegal.

The scam has continued a long time for a reason.

Rob

 

[gopunk]

<<

<< how can it be a "scam" if they didn't deceive you? >>



If it's a scam then so is Monster Cable.

Both separate the gullible from their money, but both provide exactly what they claim to.

Viper GTS >>




well i don't know if it is a scam... i am just asking how it can be a scam but not illegal.

 

[AaronP]

Harvey, how can someone as old as you get fooled by that. None of their crap is stolen. They like to sort of hint and imply that its "hot" to make it seem like they really are good speakers and you're getting a great deal. These speakers are really cheap and built like crap, and they're not stolen. It's just a sales scam.

 

[gopunk]

It's actually quite simple. If I tell you that my computer is worth $8000 (which I built myself from crap parts), and you agree to pay $1000 for it, even though I am lying, and scamming you, in essence, I am not doing anything illegal.

i believe you are incorrect. i am pretty sure that false advertising (what you just described) is illegal.

 

[Harvey]

AaronP -- << None of their crap is stolen. >>

< Ennn-n-n-nh !!! > (game show buzzer sound) Wrong answer. I'm sorry, Aaron, but I've witnessed cops busting acts like this, before. I'm not saying all such cases involve stolen goods, but that's why I said he should call the cops, and let them sort it out.

Tell our contestant about his consolation prize, Charley.

 

[gopunk]

Title 15, Chapter 2, Subchapter I, Section 52

It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, or corporation to disseminate, or cause to be disseminated, any false advertisement - By any means, for the purpose of inducing, or which is likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase in or having an effect upon commerce, of food, drugs, devices, services, or cosmetics.

 

[Viper GTS]

<< It's actually quite simple. If I tell you that my computer is worth $8000 (which I built myself from crap parts), and you agree to pay $1000 for it, even though I am lying, and scamming you, in essence, I am not doing anything illegal.

i believe you are incorrect. i am pretty sure that false advertising (what you just described) is illegal. >>



I don't think that qualifies as false advertising, value is a very subjective term.

Just like in our very own FS/FT, caveat emptor.

Viper GTS

 

[Entity]

<< or cause to be disseminated, any false advertisement >>


Unless you consider speech a form of dissemination, you'll have a hard time arguing here that what they're doing is illegal, and an even harder time in court.

Rob

 

[Entity]

<< should call the cops, and let them sort it out. >>


Harv,

The big thing here, though, is the fact that most cops - we've run into this in Seattle - will simply tell you that they can't do anything about it.

Rob