Today I was on my way out of the supermarket when 2 guys in a white van pulled up to the side of the curb and told me that they were trying to get rid of a couple of sets of 7.1 surround stereo speakers for half of the retail price. The driver jumped out and opened the side door while the passenger flashed a catalong showing a picture of the speakers with a $1400 price tag.
They went on to tell me their story about how they were delivery drivers for big audio-visual distributor who ended up with extra inventory and needed to get rid of it. Being that i used to work in logistics and most large distribution warehouses have computerized inventory tracking, I unwittingly asked the guy how they managed to do that without anyone double checking and then it hit me- These guys were running the same speaker scam that was going on back in the 80's.
Apparently 2 guys in a van drive around to shopping center parking lots claiming that they have left over equipment from their daily delivery runs and they just want to make a few bucks on the side. The truth of the matter is that this set of speakers is barely worth $14 let alone $1400 but they make their money by overpricing it at a "discount". I told the guy, "I don't buy hot merchandise" and went on about my business. As I get down the parking lot and to my E30, this pea-brain asks me, "Is that the NEW model BMW?" and I said, "ummm no.. this car is almost 20 years old." and I get in and start the car. Then the guy runs up to the side of my car (and has me blocked in with his van) and says, "Look, we can offer you a great deal on those speakers! How much will you give us?"
The guy persisted for the next 2 to 3 minutes until I asked him if I can take the speakers now and pay him later. That usually deters many street hustlers. Overall I was SHOCKED that people are still doing this. I mean with the internet and other forms of price checking, I didn't know that they were still bold enough to run this scam.
They went on to tell me their story about how they were delivery drivers for big audio-visual distributor who ended up with extra inventory and needed to get rid of it. Being that i used to work in logistics and most large distribution warehouses have computerized inventory tracking, I unwittingly asked the guy how they managed to do that without anyone double checking and then it hit me- These guys were running the same speaker scam that was going on back in the 80's.
Apparently 2 guys in a van drive around to shopping center parking lots claiming that they have left over equipment from their daily delivery runs and they just want to make a few bucks on the side. The truth of the matter is that this set of speakers is barely worth $14 let alone $1400 but they make their money by overpricing it at a "discount". I told the guy, "I don't buy hot merchandise" and went on about my business. As I get down the parking lot and to my E30, this pea-brain asks me, "Is that the NEW model BMW?" and I said, "ummm no.. this car is almost 20 years old." and I get in and start the car. Then the guy runs up to the side of my car (and has me blocked in with his van) and says, "Look, we can offer you a great deal on those speakers! How much will you give us?"
The guy persisted for the next 2 to 3 minutes until I asked him if I can take the speakers now and pay him later. That usually deters many street hustlers. Overall I was SHOCKED that people are still doing this. I mean with the internet and other forms of price checking, I didn't know that they were still bold enough to run this scam.
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