My first 1 on 1 with a White Van Scammer

[Buckeye_Nut]

.....only my scammer was driving a silver SUV...LOL

I've often thought about what I might say to one of these guys if I was ever targeted, and today I got my chance to find out. As it turns out.....it was not much.

I was walking from my car towards the entrance at a super Wal-Mart when two men driving a SUV drove up along side me and stopped me. They asked me if I wanted a nice HT system. I bluntly said "No".... they ensured me it was really nice and they could give me a really good price....I said "No" again, they rolled their eyes and gave me a look as if I was off my rocker for not being interested in such a great opportunity and they drove off with disgusted looks on their faces. In total....I spoke exactly two words to them.
LOL.....I was very close to asking them.. "Shouldn't you be driving a white van", but instead...I just walked away.

Once our encounter was over, I kinda wished I handled it differently. Ya know....it might have been fun to play with them like I was interested so I could hear the sales pitch. Then I would tell them I want to think about it so I could shop other "White Van Scammers" to make sure I got the best deal...or something to that effect. LOL

Oh well...as it unfolded, the entire encounter was over in under 10 seconds. When I exited the store, I drove around to see if they were still patrolling the parking lot, but they were gone.

 

[Adam]

Yeah, for all the cool things that I might think of doing, that's probably exactly what I would have done, too.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I normally say, "Man, I barely have enough money for gas".

 

[majorloser]

Last one I ran into a few months back got PO'd with me when I said "Not interested".

 

[Adam]

I normally say, "Man, I barely have enough money for gas".

"No problem, because you won't need to drive anywhere once you have this sweet set-up. Movies, movies, movies. Your friends will drive to you...and so will all the honies."

BTW, that's what you normally say? How many times have you been hit up by these dudes? I've never even seen one.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

BTW, that's what you normally say? How many times have you been hit up by these dudes? I've never even seen one.

That's what I was thinking!! I may have noticed the White Van guys once or twice before..... but it was the first time I had a direct 1 on 1 encounter with them.

 

[Alex2507]

Tell them you have 19 extra Bose systems in your trunk that you're trying to unload for party money before you get back to the warehouse and your boss takes 'em back. They're worth $2,499 a piece and you only have 45 minutes to get rid of them. Tell them you'll follow them to an ATM if they don't have enough money on them. You might end up with a new carreer.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

"No problem, because you won't need to drive anywhere once you have this sweet set-up. Movies, movies, movies. Your friends will drive to you...and so will all the honies."

BTW, that's what you normally say? How many times have you been hit up by these dudes? I've never even seen one.

***hee***hee
I've been approached 4 times in the last 3 years.

Can't Afford Gas Money.
Can't Afford Diaper Money.

I try to be nice and all. Wouldn't want to make enemies. People have guns these days.

 

[gene]

I have had numerous white van encounters with the following most memorable moments:

I was with a lady friend leaving a resturant when two guys in a white van approached her to buy some speakers. When she said she wasn't interested, they insisted the quality of the speakers and retail was around 5k. I told them to show me the speakers. They had a glossy brochure and from there I analyzed. I told them at best there was about $40 worth of materials for the pair and that it would be a steal for them if she offered them $75. One guy became so steamed that he said he wanted to fight me. I told him he had some serious anger management issues to get all bent out of shape over some crappy van speakers. His friend spun off before it escalated.

The next encounter I had, last year a group of guys again approached me trying to sell a 5.1 system for $500. This time their speakers looked nicer, no carpeted square box, but they were covered in the words "digital". I told him I know their gig, offered them $100 for the 5.1 set and they said they need to get at least $250 for them which of course I refused. They were actually quite nice to me and divulged the whole deal of how you become a white van dealer. Apparantly you have to buy into the organization and stock inventory for mobile sales. Their products are even warrantied and they provided me a toll free# to call for service!

They claimed they've heard about Audioholics and I mentioned we have several threads on the topic, including an article and I'd welcome their contribution. To my knowledge they haven't come on the site to contribute, but at least they acknowledged that this "scam" is highly organized and they target ill informed consumers to make a quick buck.

 

[Alex2507]

"Ill informed consumers" is just about everybody. Consider that on this site I'm like the 2nd stupidest guy around but in the real world I'm like the 2nd smartest guy around. I met a musician with seperates...that makes him smarter.

 

[Davemcc]

Consider that on this site I'm like the 2nd stupidest guy around

I got news for you. The stupidest guy just got banned!

 

[Seth=L]

I got news for you. The stupidest guy just got banned!

LOL, stupid guys tend to get banned, so Alex I think you are fine for now.

(me on the other hand, being the huge troll I am.)

 

[Alex2507]

I got news for you. The stupidest guy just got banned!

I posted after he got banned. Your position though seems clear.

 

[Petro]

My brother (yes, the brother that now subsides on my AV hand-me-downs) got taken by one of these guys, years ago. They sold him some massive junk speakers that almost look like re-purposed PA cabinets. Overjoyed with his new speakers, I never had the heart to let him know that he'd been had and the speakers were junk.

The funny thing? They stopped him in traffic, at a light. At first they tried to sell him some weed, and when he declined they offered speakers. So, one tactic for getting rid of these guys might entail telling them that you're a cop?

 

[Davemcc]

I posted after he got banned. Your position though seems clear.

Naw, I'm just having some fun with you, working with what you give me. Sometimes I forget the smilies, though.

There are no stupid people here. They get found out and banned pretty quickly as a rule. You're alright by me.

 

[Alex2507]

My feelings were hurt for a moment. Those smilies are helpful.

 

[Davemcc]

My feelings were hurt for a moment. Those smilies are helpful.

Now I feel bad for hurting your feelings, even for a moment. I'm sorry for that. But some set-ups just demand that the one-liner be said. Like if my wife ever asks "do these jeans make me look fat", you know I'm going to say "No, it's not the jeans that make you look fat".

 

[Alex2507]

All's well. Missing a smilie isn't a hangin' offence.

 

[Audioholics]

OK, next time someone approaches, me I'm saying "I need to see your license and registration" and then I'll walk around back to write down their license number. When they start freaking out I'll authoritatively tell them to go park "over there" (pick an empty spot) and tell them I'll be back in a minute after I go call this in.

Long as I make sure they don't know where I parked MY car I'm good. Then I'll just go wherever I was headed in the first place...

 

[Seth=L]

OK, next time someone approaches, me I'm saying "I need to see your license and registration" and then I'll walk around back to write down their license number. When they start freaking out I'll authoritatively tell them to go park "over there" (pick an empty spot) and tell them I'll be back in a minute after I go call this in.

Long as I make sure they don't know where I parked MY car I'm good. Then I'll just go wherever I was headed in the first place...

That sounds like a cool idea and all, but if they at any point become wise to what you are doing it could become an ugly affair.