White Van Man Scam - another one

stringman20

Several people have posted that this is a scam but no one has commented on the quality of the product. I have been looking at replacement matresses for a couple of weeks so I am familiar with quality/price. When offered one recently I immediately suspected a scam but after giving it a good look over and feel, I purchased it for £100. OK no guarantee should it fall apart but the matrtess feels well sprung, it supports well and is comfortable. At the moment it feels like a bargain at £100. I would be interested to hear if anyone has slept on one of these matresses for a longer period (say over a year) and how they perform? I feel it is worth £100 even if it only offers me a long trial of a sprung/foam matress before spending considerably more on a store based product.

Azari

stringman20 wrote: »

Several people have posted that this is a scam but no one has commented on the quality of the product. I have been looking at replacement matresses for a couple of weeks so I am familiar with quality/price. When offered one recently I immediately suspected a scam but after giving it a good look over and feel, I purchased it for £100. OK no guarantee should it fall apart but the matrtess feels well sprung, it supports well and is comfortable. At the moment it feels like a bargain at £100. I would be interested to hear if anyone has slept on one of these matresses for a longer period (say over a year) and how they perform? I feel it is worth £100 even if it only offers me a long trial of a sprung/foam matress before spending considerably more on a store based product.

Well, there is always the possibility that any given instance of the 'Whit Van Man' may not be a scam but simply the sale of stolen goods.

It's rather like the 'truth' of those traders that you used to see (I don't know if this still happens), occasionally selling from suitcases: They were either selling stolen goods, in which case they would tell you that they were very good copies, or were selling counterfeit goods, in which case they would hint that you were getting a bargain because they 'had fallen off the back of a lorry'.

charlieann

They are back in the midlands with a blue van this time.
Need new matress but remembered this thread and declined.
He originally asked neighbour opposite us, then us, then next door.

Esoog

A blue van?! That's not allowed, the sneaky gits!

stringman20

After trawling around the internet, I can find plenty of posts from people congratulating themselves for spotting a scam (well done). I have also seen comment from Trading Standards published in local newspapers which state that these mattresses "probably don't meet EU fire safety standards". What I have not seen is any comment whatsoever on the actual quality of these mattresses and therefore if they represent value for money.
As for Trading Standards, they seem to be acting in the interests of big business rather than the consumer. If they suspect that a mattress does not meet standards then don't guess at the quality and alarm people, test them and if this is the case act to get them off the streets.
In the meantime I'm getting a perfectly good and comfortable nights sleep on mine and it still feels like good value at £100. I have seen plenty of mattresses in shops which IMO do not look/feel as good as mine but cost substantially more.
As this "scam" has been going on for at least a couple of years now it would be interesting to hear form anyone that has used one of these for a longer period.

stringman20

Azari wrote: »

Well, there is always the possibility that any given instance of the 'Whit Van Man' may not be a scam but simply the sale of stolen goods.

It's rather like the 'truth' of those traders that you used to see (I don't know if this still happens), occasionally selling from suitcases: They were either selling stolen goods, in which case they would tell you that they were very good copies, or were selling counterfeit goods, in which case they would hint that you were getting a bargain because they 'had fallen off the back of a lorry'.

ashleypride wrote: »

I fail to understand, why anybody would ever consider ever buying anything from a random van.

Isn't that what a car boot sale consists of?

dealer_wins

Saw a man with a van in Kilburn High Road yesterday. Back of the van open, sitting, well lying on top of a pile of mattresses inside the van, and trying to flog them. Fag in one hand, can in the other LOL

JimmyTheWig

dealer_wins wrote: »

Saw a man with a van in Kilburn High Road yesterday. Back of the van open, sitting, well lying on top of a pile of mattresses inside the van, and trying to flog them. Fag in one hand, can in the other LOL

Hope for his sake they passed the fire standards, then!

Azari

stringman20 wrote: »

Isn't that what a car boot sale consists of?

It probably depends on the area.

On the odd occasions I've been dragged (kicking and screaming) to them they looked like pretty genuine odds and ends.

And, apparently TS check on them for fake goods.

johnnyboyrebel

If they are memory foam and you get what the guy is telling you you're getting then there is no scam. Sure they may be stolen as is probably the case (and the obvious first thought?) but that is your choice whether you are happy to buy stolen goods or not. If you are then you get a cheap mattress.

Everyone thinks everything is a scam nowadays, selling stolen goods is not a scam as you get what you pay for. Illegal yes but but scam no. You can see the mattresses in the van so check then out first perhaps? I don't like to state the obvious...