Psst, wanna big a big screen TV?
Adam Turner wonders what the world is coming to when you can't even trust some dodgy guys selling televisions from the back of a van.
Walking through the car park at my local shopping centre this week, I saw three guys slowly cruising through the car park in a beat up white van. Every now and then they'd pull alongside someone and ask them if they wanted to buy a big TV or a projector. Surprisingly, they didn't seem to be having much luck. It seems not many people want a television you can fry eggs on.
I thought it was pretty brave/stupid plan, although in some ways it makes a lot of sense. You have to feel sorry for burglars these days, the rise of big screen televisions must be hard on them. Suddenly you need a few mates just to carry the damned thing, and you can't shove half a dozen in the boot and then take them down to the pub.
Resorting to a van is a smart move. If you approach someone in the car park you know they've got their car nearby, which is essential when what you're flogging isn't exactly a cash and carry item. You're also right near the ATMs on the outside of the shopping centre, so you know they can get easily their hands on the cash. If things go badly, you're ready to make a quick getaway.
I mulled over the finer details of their business plan as I walked into Retravision to pick up some gear. As a joke, I said to the guy behind the counter that I was sure I could get a better price on TVs from the dodgy guys cruising the car park. He laughed and said that, as surprising as it seems, the guys in the van weren't trying to offload stolen goods.
Mr Retravision claimed the gear was actually cheap Chinese knock-offs, but by selling them in the car park they were tricking people into thinking they were getting a great deal on hot gear. The Retravision guy said he knew all this because a friend of his did it for a while, getting paid a hefty commission for every television he sold.
I guess it makes a lot of sense, although you'd have a lot of explaining to do if the cops came past. It's still a worry that people would buy a big screen TV from the back of a van, regardless of whether or not it was stolen. Exactly what kind of after-sales service to you expect to get from a guy who is unlikely to give you his real name, let alone a receipt and warranty card? Even if they are pretending to be crooked, I'd still check inside the box to make it wasn't filled with old washing machine parts rather than a big screen plasma.
Being dishonest about being dishonest is just downright dishonest.
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Comments: 1
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sleamer@tpg.com.au
Nov 16, 2008 12:57 AM
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I was doing my shopping at Centro Newcomb last Thursday, and I was approached by exactly the same type of guys. They asked if I would like to buy a full home theater system????? I had just told them to FFFFoff as they were harassing an older guy and seemed to really putting the pressure on until I intervened. It's funny but I am 55 myself but I am 6'4" tall and 180kgs, they seemed to lose interest very quickly, But not 10mins later they were at my car trying to sell me a "Home Theater Setup including a Plasma TV for only $1800, go figure |