White Van Man Scam - another one

BigAunty

Had this mattress seller call round my street Glasgow tonight in a white van with a bed company name on the side, though I'd never heard of this scam until I googled it just now because I knew he was trying it on.

His excuse was that he was about to make a delivery of a complete bed to a neighbour but the glassfibre base was cracked and the buyer would receive a completely new mattress and bedframe, hence the spare mattress going 'free' (i.e. giving me the impression it was free of cost as he claimed he just wanted to get rid of it as it was just taking up room).

By the time I'd reached the van doors (I know, I'm stupid) I saw a whole stack of mattresses with no bed frame of that type in the back that made me suspicious. Naturally enough, these mattresses had huge red stickers on them claiming that the RRP was £500 as they were memory foam ones but he could sell me the mattress for around £180.

Seriously, just so strange and I curse myself for showing interest particularly as there was a voice in my head saying 'if its too good to be true then its usually not'.

The last time I consented to the spiel of a doorstep seller, a landscape gardener, I did get my garden trimmed at bargain cost but suspected that he may have dumped the trimmings just up the road after charging me extra for the council refuse recycling fee.

I am going to put up a sign saying 'no doorstep callers' and just point to it if anyone trying to flog me goods and services ring the bell.

j030428

I was caught by this scam just before Christmas - I needed two new mattresses and thought they looked OK. One of them turned out (7 weeks later) to be faulty - a piece of metal sticking out at the edge. I phoned the guy's mobile number and he promised to pick it up and give me my money back. That's two months ago and I've heard no more - his phone goes straight to voice-mail. The police can't do anything as it's "a civil matter", and of course I don't have an address.....

maninthestreet

j030428 wrote: »

I was caught by this scam just before Christmas - I needed two new mattresses and thought they looked OK. One of them turned out (7 weeks later) to be faulty - a piece of metal sticking out at the edge. I phoned the guy's mobile number and he promised to pick it up and give me my money back. That's two months ago and I've heard no more - his phone goes straight to voice-mail. The police can't do anything as it's "a civil matter", and of course I don't have an address.....

You made your bed, now you have to lie on it.....

Morglin

Carpets are popular with this 'scam' although not sure if it a scam, as such, as the carpets seem ok (from people that have bought them).

Probably knocked off.

Lin

peter_the_piper

Chainsaws, "designer" jackets left over from a show, almost anything is fair game.

grahamt69

This has just happened to me in Liverpool. White van pulled up alongside me, with sleepeasy.com sticker on the side. Quietly spoken driver said he had brand new memoryfoam mattress left over and his boss had told him to get rid of it. Did I know anyone who could use it. Said no and walked away. Trust I was right!

Froggee

Just had one of these shysters in the village where I stay, Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire. Driving up and down he collared my husband who then came to ask me if interested about having a new super king size, well I'm not gullible, never a fool. I typed into google "van driving around" and it finished my quote with "selling mattresses". I clicked the link and it took me to the National Bed Federation and a video where the cretins pic up mattresses out as rubbish and have them recovered and a couple of layers of cheap foam too, in a plastic bag n all new to sell again. Well full of bed bugs, if propped against walls then dogs peed on them etc.... The video on there will put you on your guard and make u sick but sadly as a new user I can't post the link. The van out here was sign written but was a major con, he'd allegedly bought too many for the 'old folks home'

peter_the_piper

grahamt69 wrote: »

This has just happened to me in Liverpool. White van pulled up alongside me, with sleepeasy.com sticker on the side. Quietly spoken driver said he had brand new memoryfoam mattress left over and his boss had told him to get rid of it. Did I know anyone who could use it. Said no and walked away. Trust I was right!

How many bosses would say ""Just get rid of it"" to a few hundred pound mattress? You did right.

Pinkypants

Froggee,

Thanks for the heads up on the video, here's the link for anyone interested.

http://www.sleepcouncil.org.uk/2014/02/the-rip-off-van-scam/

Copello

Just happened to me too (in South Wales), they're poor quality and the 'company' has had their website shut down. It was a young guy, called himself Derek Smith (why does 'Smith' always make me suspicious? lol) - for anyone that's offended - I used to be a Smith too. He was early 20's, brown spiky hair, had a brace and a Northern accent - said he was from near Newcastle. Big white transit van. Said they were left over from an exhibition or something and his boss had told him to get rid, 90% off...as if. Nowt that's any good is as cheap as that.