Buyer beware

celticcrash

Hometec promotions on the Sunday 6th nov at the Greenhills hotel Limerick from (2pm-5pm). Phone number 059 9139550
Got a flyer in the door this morning. Thousands of offers on all kinds of electricals. Sony Vario laptop 16.4" loptop 4 GB ram only 150euro, xbox 360 only 40 euros.
Sold as overstock. Dont belive a word of it because 95% of stock was handed back over faults, not working.
The sale goes like this, They give away small stuff away first, some for nothing to get the place warmed up, to get people used of putting up their hand, than more stuff for a euro or 2, by this time people are more relaxed and are more willing to bid for the dearer stuff.
They tell you that the big stuff is comming later like the laptops and led tvs, than for the last 45 mins they auction some of the bigger electeral stuff, all for a lot more than they were advertised for.
By the time the buyers get home and plug in their goods the sellers have left the hotel.
By the time the buyer gets back to the hotel looking for a refund, the sellers are well gone.
The hotel wont give you a refund, they say they just rented out a room and what goes on in there is non of their businness. Remember the phone no is not even Irish. The whole thing is a scam.
Some people will not know this and think they can bag a bargin.
Pass on the news of this to relatives and friends.

super_furry

These things are always scams and you can be sure that anyone who does get a good deal on a branded item is working with the scammers.

A2LUE42

I couldn't believe people were still falling for these things when I saw the leaflet in the letterbox.

Comhrá

I couldn't believe people were still falling for these things when I saw the leaflet in the letterbox.

+1 Especially where it says across the top of the leaflet:

"Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovator" Permit No. 00518
VAT No. 9717148J"

Makes it look sort of official and Government approved....

On second thoughts - maybe it is - another form of a stealth tax

Twin-go

celticcrash wrote: »

Hometec promotions on the Sunday 6th nov at the Greenhills hotel Limerick from (2pm-5pm). Phone number 059 9139550

The hotel wont give you a refund, they say they just rented out a room and what goes on in there is non of their businness. Remember the phone no is not even Irish. The whole thing is a scam.
Some people will not know this and think they can bag a bargin.
Pass on the news of this to relatives and friends.

Wouldn't touch anything in there with a barge pole but is that not a Carlow number?

bazz26

People will always be blinded by cheap prices.

Berty

Twin-go wrote: »

Wouldn't touch anything in there with a barge pole but is that not a Carlow number?

Google the number. Doesn't make for interesting reading.

manna452121

Do a Google on the phone number,some good stories. http://travelandtickets.info/your-questions-about-hotel-bargains-14/ bottom of post.Vat and commission on all sales.

fl4pj4ck

a similar scam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEDr14_q-wg

I've seen a movie on YT about the hotel version, will post it when I find it

edit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1zdm7ANVw

betonit

im surprised at the greenhills facilitating this. Whether its genuine or not it looks all wrong.

Berty

betonit wrote: »

im surprised at the greenhills facilitating this. Whether its genuine or not it looks all wrong.

I'm not surprised the Greene family are hosting this in their hotel actually.

Money is money I guess. Principles are second. :rolleyes:

bullets

Theres been some of these in South Court Hotel too.

Went to the last one just for the entertainment value and seeing the shills and
and the way the guy doing the talking worked the crowd that thought they were going to get a bargain. They make people wait for quite a while after the
advertised time on the flyers just so they will work up a frenzy before the thing even starts.

Went to another a good few years back in town where they handed out flyers, rented a shop that had closed down for an hour or two and this one was more agressive. They got everyone into the shop floor, and had overgrown muscle men/thugs block the doors and stand around the crowd. The guy doing the talking insisted on taking a fiver off of everyone at the start to recieve a plastic stick (with the line only people with the sticks could bid) He then told anyone without a stick they could not stay and to leave. (Cue loads more people that thought they would stay till the end all of a sudden hand over a fiver just so they can wait for the "good" stuff)
The usual mystery black bin liner bag tricks were used. At the same one seen some people complain or come back into the shop after they realised they were conned only to have the muscle men threaten/indimitate them.

The two I was at, both had an english bloke doing the talking with the kind of
accent you would hear on the UK TV ads where they are trying to sell you wonder glue, or the slicer and dicer, or the magic car polish, same banter, accent and cringeworthy jokes. The shills all had english accents too, as if they travelled from the UK as professional scam artists to tour the place.

Loved the camera that was shown on one of the vids on you tube. Seen the same one used on the two mock auctions I went to, and have seen the same one being sold down the market out of the back of a truck.
It looks sooo fake I dunno how anyone could be fooled into thinking it was a bargain...or even real.


~B

celticcrash

Criminal Investigation Branch Block D,
Ashtowngate,
Dublin 15 01 8277500 01 8277682 mbeagan@revenue.ie
I have emailed the flyer to this branch, hopefully they will check the vat no.
And also look at permit no

Will also be dropping into henry st.

daveob007

I am glad someone has highlighted this as I was just going to post it myself.
please pass on the word to anyone you know,even post it on facebook.
it's true that all items are faulty returns that are bought up by these scammers and sold on to us as bargains.
as the old saying goes IF IT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE THEN IT IS.
save your money and don't but it.

btw the prices on the flyer are only starting prices,the bigger items all get auctioned off starting at that price and are all returns that have sometimes dangerous electrical faults,,don't risk your life for a bargain....

acalmenvoy

I'm up for a group of boardsies going down, stand outside, and warn people before they go in, hate these fcukers...

Itsdacraic

No surprise they are hosting this, the Greenhills have hosted some notorious scams and criminal outfits in the past.

Itsdacraic

Friends mother bought about £300 (at the time) worth of furniture from a "tradeshow" type thing there in past.
Her furniture, along with loads of other people furniture, was never delivered and the "company" had disappeared with the cash. This was around 1999.

Itsdacraic

.

daveob007

Itsdacraic wrote: »

Friends mother bought about £300 (at the time) worth of furniture from a "tradeshow" type thing there in past.
Her furniture, along with loads of other people furniture, was never delivered and the "company" had disappeared with the cash. This was around 1999.

not surprised at that at all,,this weeks scam is offering white goods like dryers etc,just wondering if its going to be the same thing??

skyguy19

celticcrash wrote: »

Criminal Investigation Branch Block D,
Ashtowngate,
Dublin 15 01 8277500 01 8277682 mbeagan@revenue.ie
I have emailed the flyer to this branch, hopefully they will check the vat no.
And also look at permit no

Will also be dropping into henry st.

how did you get on in Henry st

im going to this in the morning with my dad

Comhrá

Are you planning to spend money?

Mc Love

The video seemed very likely that Mad Bid website. Anyone ever use that?

thesimpsons

passed there about 10.30am this morning - big queue out the doors.

Berty

thesimpsons wrote: »

passed there about 10.30am this morning - big queue out the doors.

Hopefully they don't get shafted and for those who do get shafted maybe they will learn the phrase "there is no such thing as a free meal".

I'm convinced Live 95fm were advertising this on Friday afternoon outside Brown Thomas on Thomas Street. Guy with an English accent giving stuff away for €5 calling it "the greatest deal you will ever get".

tippman1

tippman1 wrote: »

Are you planning to spend money?

was just out there avoid people

stupid people paying for toothbrushes and plates lol its an auction you guys and plsu what you buy they add 35% more 20 per cent tax & 15 per cent sellers fee

i asked him where does it say on the flyer that this is and auction he ignored me i said excuse me i asked you a question he asked me leave

i told him that you are coning the public and so close to christmas where people are stuck for cash and hoping to get a christmas present for there kids

i left then

highlydebased

Went to something like this in the Raddison a few years ago. Saw people part with 600-700 euro for 22" tv's, madness.

bazz26

Fools and their money soon part. You would think in these times that people would have a bit more cop on.

daveob007

this will be an interesting read from tomorrow after the fallout,just looking at the flyer where it states that visa laser etc are accepted,god help anyone who gives those scumbags their credit card info.
going up later armed with camera,might get some interesting shots.

also posted on facebook to all my friends so hopefully the message will reach some at least but there are plenty of stupid people out there.

watch this space.

bazz26

Be very careful, these type can be heavy handed, I'd doubt you will be left in with a camera.

celticcrash

I dont think many people are going to come on hear and put their hand up
And say that they were caught, Pride will not let them.
And theres a awful lot going to be caught by this evening.

Insect Overlord

The Greenhills carpark is full this afternoon anyway!

celticcrash

skyguy19 wrote: »

how did you get on in Henry st

Spoke to the sargent down there. His view was, these guys get the permits,
And that these guys are spot checked. but he personally wouldnt buy something there himself.

Reply from revenue :
I have received your email and have forwarded it to the appropriate section for processing. A reply will issue in due course.

hightower1

celticcrash wrote: »

Spoke to the sargent down there. His view was, these guys get the permits,
And that these guys are spot checked. but he personally wouldnt buy something there himself..

So in other words ... they dont give a flying one.
How typical. I mean realistically its the middle of the day I am sure there is one garda in the city free to be dispathced to be out there. Even to sit in a car in the car park just so the clowns running this know they are being watched closely. The car could be dispatched to the surrounding areas even if needed so its not like they are down a man in an emergency.

Sorry, I guess that would have been too pro active for the guards. :rolleyes:

skyguy19

I didnt relise scam artists needed a permit these days, were can i get one lol, typical guards none around when you need them

ABEasy

In fairness I don't think this is a matter for the Garda. I can't see how it is a criminal matter. You go to auction, you buy something, your not happy with it (faulty or whatever), you take a civil action against the seller. As the title says buyer beware.

v3ttel

ABEasy wrote: »

In fairness I don't think this is a matter for the Garda. I can't see how it is a criminal matter. You go to auction, you buy something, your not happy with it (faulty or whatever), you take a civil action against the seller. As the title says buyer beware.

Fraud isn't a matter for the Gardai these days?

daveob007

went out around 8 last night with the intent of getting some video or pics but was refused entry because it was just closing,,supposed to be closed at 9,by the looks of it they were probably sold out of stock judging by the huge crowds filling car boots with stuff,i hope my christmas pressie was not bought there bud sadly loads of parents did the santa shop seen loads of gaming stuff for xbox and ps3 being carried out.
we probably saved some people the heartache by posting here and facebook but with the numbers of flyers they send out it was impossible tp get the message accross to many many people.

Delphi91

Rooney10 wrote: »

Fraud isn't a matter for the Gardai these days?

OK, please don't shoot the messenger here - I haven't seen the flyers nor have I been to the auction - I'm just curious about the whole thing. I've seen this type of operation in London on Oxford Street (no less) about 20 years ago where it was perfumes on sale. Everything was handed out in black refuse sacks and there were a few gorilla's minding the door in case anyone got a bit narked over the contents of the plastic bag.

Based on the flyers alone, can anyone explicitly state that there is fraud going on? If a flyer says that items will be sold FROM €x that doesn't mean that they will be sold AT €x. It's entirely possible that while they are chosing their words carefully.

daveob007

i have been to a few and all i can say is that the goods are usually faulty returns from high street stores,many tv fly on the wall shows have proven the same thing,just look at youtube for evidence its very clear.

ABEasy

Rooney10 wrote: »

ABEasy wrote: »

In fairness I don't think this is a matter for the Garda. I can't see how it is a criminal matter. You go to auction, you buy something, your not happy with it (faulty or whatever), you take a civil action against the seller. As the title says buyer beware.

Fraud isn't a matter for the Gardai these days?

Not trying to defend these guys, I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole. But what makes what they are doing a fraud?

They are selling goods at an auction, it's buyer beware. Surely anybody going to one of these auctions should show extra care when buying!

bazz26

Rooney10 wrote: »

Fraud isn't a matter for the Gardai these days?

The Gardai can only work within the boundries of the law. It's the law that needs to be changed along with more stringent measures by the authorities who issue these permits in order to make it harder for these scammers to operate.

The general public also need to play a part, be more vigilent and have a bit more common sense. Obviously yesterday they didn't and that is how these scammers have plenty of business. Alot of people are simply dupped by cheap prices and have no cop on to ask why?

hightower1

The gardai would have certainly been within their right to be there should anyone of the "bouncers" try to stop anyone complaining about goods they purchased. Every person is entitle to a refund repair or replace, entitle to complain about what they bought to a seller and THATS what they gardai should have been there for as it IS illegal for anyone to physically stop a consumer from returning to a place of purchase.

ABEasy

hightower1 wrote: »

The gardai would have certainly been within their right to be there shouldanyone of the "bouncers" try to stop anyone complaining about goods they purchased. Every person is entitle to a refund repair or replace, entitle to complain about what they bought to a seller and THATS what they gardai should have been there for as it IS illegal for anyone to physically stop a consumer from returning to a place of purchase.

Think your wrong here, the seller has a right to refuse admission (e.g. bouncers in a nightclub/pub) Gardai would be more likely to arrest the purchaser for breach of the peace if they insist on making a scene. The right to a refund, repair and replacement is a civil matter, if this is refused by the seller the only comeback is a civil case. Finally there are alot of 'what if's' there, Gardai are busy enough in Limerick without worrying about 'what if's'.

guns4fun

ABEasy wrote: »

Not trying to defend these guys, I wouldn't go near them with a barge pole. But what makes what they are doing a fraud?

They are selling goods at an auction, it's buyer beware. Surely anybody going to one of these auctions should show extra care when buying!

but where the fraud comes in is when you are offered goods and not told that they are mostly faulty returns from the shops,these goods are sold as overstocking,surely this only applies to old stock that cannot be sold at sale prices,many of the goods at that sale were new products to the market and with christmas coming no shop would overstock these. xbox 360/ps3/platstation move to name but a few,and i also noticed that most of the boxes had been opened and not sealed like new items,,this stinks of scam surely,people cannot see beyond the cheap prices when things are tight and thats how these sales operate by duping the public into thinking that we are getting bargain of the century.

Builderfromhell

As yet no one has come on here admitting to being scammed or to know of anyone who has been scammed so the whole thing is conjecture.

Delphi91

guns4fun wrote: »

but where the fraud comes in is when you are offered goods and not told that they are mostly faulty returns from the shops...

And you know that they are mostly faulty returns from the shops, how?

guns4fun

Delphi91 wrote: »

And you know that they are mostly faulty returns from the shops, how?

everyone who posted the warnings here either have expierienced directly or indirectly or have some sort of educated knowledege of how these things work,otherwise we would not have posted our comments.
if you can prove otherwise please do so and stop questioning our comments.
are you somehow involved in the trade? or what.

mgbgt1978

The main reason these events are advertised as an "Auction" rather than a Sale is that the Laws regarding auctions are a lot more lax than a proper retail sale.
You have very little (if any) comeback with an auction. Unless you are expressly told that an item is faulty, and what the fault is, then there is absolutely no onus on the "Auctioneer" to replace the item or refund you.

If anybody really thinks that they can buy a PS3 or 42" plasma TV for €30 or so then they are one of the following;
(a) mentally unsound
(b) buying a faulty item:p
(c) buying a stolen item;)

dr.fuzzenstein

I went to one such "auction", but it was way back in '98 or '99 (not sure now).
It was in the hotel that for a short period of time was the Hilton (don't know what it was back then, must be getting old).
I bought a widescreen LG TV with built in satellite tuner for a couple of hundred bucks, the price wasn't too bad in fairness.
After I brought it home, it turned out it had a fault, the volume would turn itself down to zero every now and then, had to crank it back up, 10 minutes later, back down to zero.
Since I knew those guys where long gone, I opened it myself and found a chip that wasn't inserted all the way, pushed down on it and it worked.
I was very lucky it was such a small fault and I was able to fix it myself.
That telly actually worked for 10 years without a fault, until the cat got sick on the back of it, it ran inside and fried it.
All in all, I got lucky, but I'd say be very wary.
I remember one thing about that auction, the English guy said "Pro Logic" about 25 times in a sentence.
I should have seen it, but I was young and naive.

ABEasy

It was jury's hotel, went to one back around then aswell.