I once answered a want-ad for a job “Installing High-end Home Theater and Stereo Equipment.” It turned out to be one of these “white van” operations. I was so pissed off at having my time wasted- I had been out of work for two months at the time-that I had one of those rare moments, when you just don’t give a shit anymore and you let somebody have exactly what they deserve. Rare for me anyway. I called this scumbag every name I could think of, and left the paint-peeling, drywall-crumbling, no-sign, no-employees, one-phone, rented-this-week storefront so-called “office” wishing there was more of a Charles Bronson streak in me so I could really do some justice.
shep proudfoot, the first rule of posting on the Straight Dope is “Don’t be a jerk.” After reviewing some of your posts, I am giving you warning. Do NOT engage in being a jerk on these message boards.
Lynn
For the Straight Dope
So I have to agree with the majority viewpoint of the people on this forum, or I’m the jerk?
If I am trying to conduct business with someone and another person butts in to interrupt my sale, I am going to be very angry. The OP had no right to do what he did.
You know, there is too much political correctness on this board. We are supposed to be lovey-dovey and respectful. Lynn, life just doesn’t operate that way.
SP
Heh. I thought he was named after a hobbit. 
Especially if you are trying to screw someone out of money for crap products masqueraded as … well, anything else.:rolleyes: Or were some of the words in the OP too big for you? dictionary.com … learn it, love it, become its sex slave.
Oh, this is just too precious. Sugar, Lynn, having one of those Banning Sticks of Power, can ensure that this board just doesn’t operate that way for you. And you know the funny thing? All you have to do is just keep being yourself! You don’t have to change a thing, darlin’!
-Therein lies the rub.
In case you’re not familiar with it, Mr. Foot, the “white van speakers” situation is in fact a low-grade scam. “Scam” in this case, meaning a more or less fraudulent business transaction.
The speakers are junk, the housings shoddy. Their sound quality is put to shame by a set of tossed-in-with-the-package Dell computer speakers.
They are sold out of a van, by hucksters, because if they sold them out of a storefront, their “customers” would be returning them within hours because they’re worthless pieces of crap. The van schtick allows them to not only do their usual “overstock stuff not on the invoice” speil to the sucker, but also keeps 'em mobile so the pissed off customers can’t find them readily.
It’s a scam, pure and simple. It’s probably not a crime per se, as there’s no law against someone paying far too much for some shitty speakers out of a van, and thus the already overworked police don’t put a whole lot of effort into stopping them.
However, it is still a SCAM. Pilot was very much justified in doing what he did- I’d have done the same thing, especially since I ran into the exact same scam several years ago (white van, boxes of supposedly high-end speakers, the kid saying the boss loaded them with more speakers than the invoice called for, etc.)
The only thing that went wrong was Pilot should have expected retribution- If I were him, I would have gotten back in my truck and driven straight to the police station. (Even if he didn’t make a report, at least to make sure the van didn’t tail him home.)
These people were not- let me repeat that, NOT “businessmen”. They were scam artists. To defend their side is not an act of political correctness, it’s an act of stupidity- you might as well defend the Nigerian Investment Scammers, Pyramid chainers and Ponzi schemers.
Two things I find quite surprising. Buying quality Hi-Fi speakers from the back of a van (I mean, WTF, at the very least it is stolen) and this:
How could you not think of keeping an eye on your truck?! I’m only surprised they didn’t smash it and/or scratch the painting, probably too risky under the circumstances.
Anyway you did the right thing, congratulations.
shep proudfoot – You are asshole personified. Jesus Christ asswipe, I imagine you being one of those fuckwads selling stolen property out of the back of the van…not only that, you DARE to go against Lynn…HAHAHA, it was nice knowing you.
Wait, never seen you before but it was nice seeing you in this thread.
As the owner of a business, I understand that selling something carries with it a measure of legitimacy, or SHOULD.
Perhaps you and the white van crowd have all of the following:
Business privilege tax/license for municipalities served
General liability insurance
Commercial motor vehicle insurance
Federal EIN (presuming entity in the US)
Legal registration of fictitious name (White Van Speaker Sales)
Vehicle DOT registration (if operation is interstate)
Customer service line (preferably toll-free)
If you do, my objection is moot. If not, you’re not selling, and the proudfoot of the law should scrape off the excrement which you likely are into the closest jail that can be found, once it has stepped on you.
No, I’d say a tendency to exude ignorance is tantamout to acting like a jerk.