What's the deal behind these classified ads?

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

I'm always checking the classifieds for good deals on things I need, and occasionally when finances allow, I start looking for good deals on bedroom furniture. I've noticed a breed of ad that smells of some sort of rip-off, but I can't figure out what exactly - I've tried calling the number(s) attached to the ads before, only to get a voice mail (more on that in a sec). I've seen them in several newspapers across the state (don't really read other states' papers too often so I don't know if it goes beyond CT, but I'll bet it does), and while the numbers and details vary, they're immediately recognizable: The ads read, with little variation:

Furniture & Accesories:
All New Bed Rm: cherrywood sleighbed, dresser/mirror, chest or armoire, nt stand, pillowtop mattress set, dovetail drawers, must see! cost $8500, sacrifice $1550 can deliver. Mike 203-555-1212

The dead give away that these are "that type of ad" are the "sacrifice" and "can deliver" - they appear far too frequently, and the deals are always, of course, far too good to be true. Just for the sake of illustration, here's another from the same day, same paper.

Furniture & Accesories:
ALL New cherry wood Bdrm, Sleigh,6 drssr, mirr, chest or armoire, 2 nt stands. -all w/dovetail, velvet lined drwrs. Never used still in box. MUST SEE. Cost $8500 sacrifice $14500, can del. Joe 203-555-1213

I've called the numbers attached to the ads before - out of curiosity as to what kind of outfit this is, but I get voice mail that goes basically like this:

"Hi, you've reached Mike [or Joe, or Lance or Schmedlap]. If you're calling about the furniture, please leave me a message and I'll get back to you."

Left a message once, never heard back, and never pursued it again because, well like I said, the whole thing reeks of a scam somewhere.

Anyone know the scoop?

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

Just want to add that I just did a google search on

must see! cost , sacrifice can deliver

And pulled up tons of the same types of ads across the country.

[Indygrrl]

Not sure about those ads, but there are ones around here advertising brand new mattresses for cheap prices. I called, and it turns out they just get a ton of them wholesale and sell them cheap. I got a Queen size pillow-top mattress for $350. I haven't had a problem with it.

[Tamex]

I've called the numbers attached to the ads before - out of curiosity as to what kind of outfit this is, but I get voice mail that goes basically like this:

"Hi, you've reached Mike [or Joe, or Lance or Schmedlap]. If you're calling about the furniture, please leave me a message and I'll get back to you."

Well, gee, that is odd indeed. When you called the first number (Mike 203-555-1212), you should have reached "Directory Assistance".
:D Sorry.

I don't see any ads like that in my local paper that follow that pattern, though. Some say "can deliver", but none say "sacrifice".

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

What's funny is, I just noticed the second ad I quoted contains a rather major typo - instead of saying "sacrifice $1450" as I imagine it wanted to say, it says $14500.

And no, I'm pretty sure that's not the scam ;)

Indygrrl - They often have the same type of ads for mattresses -and some really good deals... I dunno maybe I'm just being paranoid - if they were for real it would be a great deal.

Tamex - I was waiting for someone to use that against me :P

[LifeOnWry]

I know nothing about this, but I thought you'd like to know that the same ads have appeared in my local paper for at least the last fifteen years, continuously. I did call once, a long time ago, and the phone was answered by a human.

Me: I notice you've had this ad for this bedroom set running for a while now...
Him: Oh you have, have you?
Me: Errr... yes... um. (thinking, THAT was an odd response...) Can you tell me a little bit more about it?
Him: Let me get your phone number and address and I'll call you back in five minutes.
Me: Um. Never mind.
Him: Fine <click>

Whenever I've checked the classifieds since, I routinely tell the WryGuy "That weirdo still hasn't sold that cherry bedroom set."

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

Me: I notice you've had this ad for this bedroom set running for a while now...
Him: Oh you have, have you?
Me: Errr... yes... um. (thinking, THAT was an odd response...) Can you tell me a little bit more about it?
Him: Let me get your phone number and address and I'll call you back in five minutes.
Me: Um. Never mind.
Him: Fine <click>



That only strengthens my suspicion that this isn't so much on the up and up - why on earth would someone need your address to call you back with info? Very odd.

[Green Cymbeline]

I am intrigued. There must be something behind this, I wonder what it is?

[Green Cymbeline]

I did a Google search and found a ton of ads, just like TellMeI'mNotCrazy said. These are from papers all around the country. You will notice the following additional similarities:

* Cherry wood sleighbed
* Mention of dovetail drawers
* Mention of velvet lined drawers
* Still in box

Maybe it is a national furniture company placing these ads? It's just so weird!

BEDROOM - All new! Cherrywood, sleighbed, dresser/mirror, chest or armoire, night stand, pillowtop mattress set, dovetail drawers. Must see! Cost $8500, sacrifice $1550. Can deliver. Mike (203) 247-9459

BEDROOM - ALL NEW
CHERRY WOOD
Sleigh, dresser, mirror, chest or armoire, 2 night stands, all with dovetail & velvet lined drawers. Never used, still in box. MUST SEE. Cost $8500. Sacrifice $1450. Can deliver. Call Joe, 203-247-2965.

DINING RM - All new! Cherrywood, dbl. ped. table w/2 lvs, 8 chippendale chairs, hutch & buffet. Dovetail drawers. Must see! Cost $9300, sacrifice $1550. Can deliver. 247-9459.

DINING ROOM
All New Cherry Wood
Dbl. pedestal table. 63” to 96”, lighted hutch, buffet, all dovetail/slide glide/velvet lined drawers, 8 Chippendale or Queen Ann chairs. Gorgeous. MUST SEE! Cost $9300. Sacrifice $1450. Can Deliver. Call 203-247-2965.

QUEEN BED - Cherrywood SLEIGH w/ orthopedic mattress and box. Both new, still pkgd. Cost $1749, Sacrifice $495, Can Deliver. 512-647-4874. (11/1)

Cherry Sleigh Bed. Solid Wood. New. Still in Box. Worth $750. Sacrifice $200. Can Deliver. 310-350-3814.

BEDROOM SET 10 pc. Cherry Wood Sleigh, Bed is Gorgeous! Dresser/Mirror, Men's Chest & 2 nightstands. All Dovetail/Velvet Lined. Includes Quilted-top Mattress & Box. New in Boxes. Cost $6,100, Sacrifice $2,100. Can Deliver (4post bed avail.) 919-841-0898.

CHERRY SLEIGH BED
Brand New! Still in box. Can Deliver. Sacrifice! $299 719-391-2130

BEDROOM SET, solid cherry wood, sleigh bed, 2 nightstands, dresser, mirror, all dove-tail, superb condition, Cost $6,200, sacrifice $1,650. Call 446-4864