white van crap

My friend just came back from the beer store with a new 5.1 system, he was excited that he talked him down to 200 dollers. he was also excited to show me, I felt bad but was sure i told everyone about this scam. Is this illegal or how does this work? I guess he can't do much as he thought he was profiting off someone's misfortune. I feel bad for him but told him i'll just hook it up and he will have to live with it. I still don't get it, is it refurbished stuff or stolen? How do they get away with putting a name on it? i am sure that company would not honor this product. It felt gross to even touch it, if you had a license plate is it a reportable crime? Shame it has been going on and nobody can stop it, the actual scam hasn't changed since i was offered carpet covered speakers years ago, shitty

it's just one of those things that you can't really do much about but really sucks. Kind of like people who spill hot coffee on themselves just so they can sue McDonald's. There are just people out there who don't "get it" so to speak. They will always be there in the world, plaguing society with unnecessary burdens. It's best just to shake your head and learn not to be so dishonest and unprincipled IMO.

yes, In the same way i feel the van people should be stopped I would have been mad at him if he really did get 4000$ stereo for200$ i am glad i was raised the way i was

Funny, I just had a friend tell me he bought a 5.1 system from some guys that told him this system was worth $2,000. They make the things look nice on the outside but it's crap on the inside. I did'nt have the heart to tell him, he was sooo excited

I've even seen some of these off brand 5.1 & 7.1 systems being sold "supposedly" used off CL & other places. They always state they paid $2000 to $6000 for the system & they're only asking $200-$600 for the system. Most of them state. "At this price, these aren't going to last long" ............... they're probably right about them lasting.

I have a Panasonic 5.1 system on mothballs that I bought for $200 from Overstock.com. Worked pretty decent for movies & TV but sucked when I wanted to play CD's through it.

Went back to running everything thru 2 channel stereo when I moved everything to the "mancave".

I think the only legal concern may have to do with selling merchandise without the proper city permits (and not charging sales tax).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_van_speaker_scam
Below is a list of known white van speaker brands.........



"White Van Speakers List"

Acoustic Response Series 707
Acoustic Image 3311 / 3312
Acoustic Lab Technology
Acoustic Monitor
Acoustic 3312 Studio Monitor
Acoustic Response
Advanced Sound Technologies AST X2 1055
Audiofile 583LR
Audiofile 835LR
Audiofile THX 6.1
Audio Tech
Dahlton KV 1500
Dahlton KV 2500 TI Speakers
Dahlton AV5.1 THX
DanWave DW-6
DanWave DW-606
DanWave DW-607
DanWave DW-608
Dan Wave DW-1000
http://www.divincisound.com
Divinci Sound
DiVinci Innovative Sound & Bass
Divinci Sound D6 D-6
Divinci Sound DV7010 DV-7010
Divinci Sound DV6030 Dv-6030
Divinci Sound DV505 DV-505
Divinci Sound DA6.1 DA-6.1
Divinci D-52
Divinci DV-606
Divinci DV-607
Divinci DV-608
Divinci DV-1420
Divinci DV-1450
Divinci DV-1412
Divinci DV-1450
Divinci DV- 607
Divinci DV-2150
Divinci DV-2100
Denmark
Denmark Loud Speaker E830LR
Digital Audio DHT 5.1
Digital Audio SL-3810
Digital Audio DA 2000SL / 2000CS
Digital Audio 2000
Digital Audio 2002
Digital Audio 2012 7.1
Digital Audio Professional Speaker Systems SL-3810
Digital Audio Skyline 900-SL
Digital Audio SL-3910 Speakers
Digital Audio 2003 DA 5.1 Pro-Series III
Digital Dogg Audio
Digital Pro Audio
Digital Pro Audio SL-T 2.8
Digital Research 5.1 Pro Series
Digital Research DA 5.1 Pro Series III
Digital Research DR-1000
Digital Research DR-2810
Digital Research DR-1610
Digital Research DR-1611
Dogg Digital
Dynalab
Epiphany Audio speakers
Elite Audio
Elite Audio EA-505
Elite Audio EA-608
Elite Audio EA-1620
Elite Audio EA-7012
Epic 800 Home Theater System
Epic Sound 7.1
Fleetwood Audio
Genesis
Genesis Media Labs
Genesis G6.1 Digital Series
Genesis G-505
Genesis G-506
Genesis G-507
Genesis G-608
Genesis G-609
Genesis G-610
Genesis G-1420
Genesis G-1620
Genesis G-1630
Genesis G-2815
Genesis G-2840
Genesis G-2850
Genesis G-2870
Genesis G-2875
Genesis G-2880
Genesis G-2885
Genesis G-2950
Genesis G-2960
Genesis G-6030
Genesis G-6035
Genesis G-6040
Genesis G-7012
http://www.genesismedialabs.com
Grafdale
Hauffman
Image Audio Concepts IA-905S Gold Series
Innovative Sound Digital Pro Audio
Kirsch K3
Kirsch K10
Kirsch Prodigy K803
http://www.kirschloudspeakers.com
Linear Phase studio monitors
http://matrixaudioconcepts.com
Matrix Audio Concepts
Matrix MX-1300
MX-404
MX-550
MX-6160
MX-2060
MX-605S
Millenium
Millenium MTS-2006p
Millenium MTS-2208
Millenium MTS-2328
Millenium MTS-2300
Millenium MTS-2605
Millenium MTS-3100
http://www.mtsspeakers.com
Olin Ross
Omni Audio
PSD (2.8)
PTS PT-5500S
PTS (Precision Transducer Systems)
http://www.ptswoofers.com
Palermo VA 6.1
Paradyme
Precision Home Theater
Pro Audio
Pro Dynamics Pro Platinium Series
Pro Dynamics PD-9600
Proline Acoustic
Protecsound PT-5000 digital surround sound system speakers
RDX
Samurai 518
Skyline AD-900SL
Skyline Digital Denmark 800 or 900 "series"
Studio Tech (Pro Poly Series)
Theater Innovations (Ti 5100)
TI-440MR TI~440MR
TI-440R TI~440R
TI-440M TI~440M
TI-5100 TI~5100
TI-5150T TI~5150T
TI~1250 TI-1250
TI~1255 TI-1255
TI~1300 TI-1300
TI~1650 TI-1650
TI~1655 TI-1655
TI~6000SD TI-6000SD
TI~6100 TI-6100
TI~1750 TI-6200
http://www.theater-innovations.com
Theater Logic
http://theaterlogichomecinema.com/
Theater Logic L5ti
Theater Logic L6
Theater Logic L8TI 5.1
Theater Logic T 2400
Theater Logic T 2450
http://www.trtheaterresearch.com
Theater Research TR-501
Theater Research TR-900
Theater Research TR-1120
Theater Research TR-1400
Theater Research TR-1410 Digital Sound Speakers
Theater Research TR-2380
Theater Research TR-2500
Theater Research TR-2810
Theater Research TR-5210 Professional Home Theater
Theater Research TR5160
Theater Research TR6000
Theater Research TR-6100 Digital Sound/5.1 Home Cinema
Theater Research 8810
Theater Research Pro Series III Professional Home
Ultra Digital Labs

botrytis said:

In some states it is illegal to sell them at all - like Pennsylvania. You hould really fill in where you are located - some AKers might be around you.

Click to expand...

I've always wondered why I've never seen any "white van" sellers here in PA. I had no idea it was illegal in PA. Should I consider it compensation for the PLCB (PA Liquor Control Board)?

there is someone selling and epic system on craigslist Albuquerque right now. they want 750.00 for it crazy.
someone RE'd them telling them that was crap and for people to stay away.

rifftrax said:

it's just one of those things that you can't really do much about but really sucks. Kind of like people who spill hot coffee on themselves just so they can sue McDonald's. There are just people out there who don't "get it" so to speak. They will always be there in the world, plaguing society with unnecessary burdens. It's best just to shake your head and learn not to be so dishonest and unprincipled IMO.

Click to expand...

I'd recommend using Google to study that example, you're extremely wrong.

botrytis said:

In some states it is illegal to sell them at all - like Pennsylvania. You hould really fill in where you are located - some AKers might be around you.

Click to expand...

Worth looking into - a number of jurisdictions have laws against these scammers.

I picked up a WV 5.1 off CL for my nephew. I connected it to his Playstation.
It sounds great with games. I think I paid $20.

I was over to their house the other day, and was still cranking out the sounds.

I think the WV 5.1's are well worth $20.:yes:

Rob

Sam Cogley said:

I'd recommend using Google to study that example, you're extremely wrong.

Click to expand...

That particular case may be different then I remember hearing it but I know where I work there are people who allow their children to ride on the front of shopping carts so that when they cause them to fall off and break their skull they can sue the store for millions of dollars. We are dealing with one such lawsuit as I speak. It's despicable. I was just using an example - it's the principle of the thing.

Robisme said:

I picked up a WV 5.1 off CL for my nephew. I connected it to his Playstation.
It sounds great with games. I think I paid $20.

I was over to their house the other day, and was still cranking out the sounds.

I think the WV 5.1's are well worth $20.:yes:

Rob

Click to expand...

Had a couple of WV speaks a while back. Got them used off a neighbor. Big three ways. Sounded bad. Stuffed a PE 'on sale' three way crossover in them and they were much better. Gave them to the nephew for him to play with and he loves them

At best, a white-van system will sound mediocre. At worst, it can damage your amplifier. Some are "designed" with no regard to impedance, with no real crossover and many drivers wired in parallel, creating an unreasonably low impedance (unless you're using Krell or Mark Levinson).

But, I do hold the opinion that if you disregard all common sense and let greed get the better of you, you deserve exactly what you get.

Good reading and good points. I have been approached many times with this crap about "just returning from a trade show" yada yada yada. BTW, white vans also love to sell (P)leather jackets.

Whew, I was scared my speakers were on the list

c-ya
ToddG

I would like to know where these scammers are buying this junk. Maybe i could get a system wholesale.

may be a group buy?!

I was at work once (I work at Lowe's) and under the Lumber canopy when this Black Escalade came rolling up with shady looking people with sideways hats. The same "We have the multi thousand dollar system, blah blah blah, you cna have it for only $200!" I was stunned. it was my first encounter. I just said "No way, I have a good system at home already."

About a month or two later I saw in front of the store and they had someone roped in. They were blasting the system, I guess they had a power inverter in their car. Poor guy was about to buy it I think.