Dirty & suspicious mind
By cdparazo
@cdparazo (5765)
Philippines
February 27, 2008 7:18pm CST
Lately, we have some dealers coming to my cousin's place and selling them boxes of shampoos and lotions of one of the leading brands here in the market. Surprisingly, they are selling those items very cheap which is about 20-25% of the retail price in the market. My cousin bought boxes and boxes and sold them to stores at a very hefty profit. My parents wanted to buy from the dealers of said items since they are fast selling merchansdise but I prohibited them to buy and do business with those people for I suspected that they may be stolen or fake items. I never met those dealers since they always come to my cousin's place when I am at the office. I asked my cousin that they should not buy also because they might be stolen from the warehouses or fakes, that is why they are so cheap. But my cousin assured me that the dealer told them that they are not fakes nor stolen and only got them in very cheap prices because they buy in bulk. I just can't find any plausible reason why those items are sold very cheaply at 20-25% of the retail price. My cousin gave me one big lotion to use and I found that they were not fake and now I am thinking that they are definitely stolen items. My cousins started not telling me anymore about thier small busines since I tell them that they would suffer bad karma for buying stolen items and that they would be party to something illegal and may go to jail. But they think that I just have a dirty and suspicious mind. What do you think?
8 people like this
8 responses
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
Hi cdparazo! I do agree with you that there is a great possibility that they are stolen or smuggled goods. Any item that is sold that cheap is quite suspicious alright. it is sad because we get to resort to things like this just to earn some extra bucks or just to save. As I was pondering on this discussion, I asked myself if ever I am in your shoes, what will I do. Will I buy and take part of this activity and just turn a blind eye so I can earn a little more? Or will I be suspicious and fear the bad karma? I guess, at first I was tempted that I will grab that opportunity and was tempted to ask you how I can get hold of those dealers...but then as I am thinking about it more..I don't think I will because I am not comfortable in doing something not right. I am a coward when it comes to things that are illegal. Just my thoughts. Take care and have a nice day! :)
3 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
I am really uncomfortable with it and is filled with guilt because all I do now is turn a blind eye. I guess when it comes down to it, I am just like any other person. If my cousins were not the one buying those items and reselling them, I won't hesitate to have my suspicions investigated by authorities. But since they are family, all I do is keep on telling them to stop but im not going to the authorities for fear that if my suspicions are proven true, then they might go to jail with the dealers. It was really tempting because those items are very easy to sell and profit is gained so easily. I know that one day, the day of reckoning would come for them. Its just a matter of time.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
28 Feb 08
People who have been around a bit know that you can't get anything for nothing. Either the product is fake or its stolen merchandise. Either way it should not be sold!Your cousin is risking his good name, and or prison time, if he persists in this fraud.
2 people like this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
it is easy for you to know by calling the said company and ask for their wholesale pricing in various quantity and if they only give out less than what these crooks are offering then definitely these are pilferage items. no doubt about it specially if they don't show any legal receipt for it. i have encountered some fly by night sales people selling magazines for a very whopping 50% discount which i can not contend with and when i confronted them , they simply said they got it in bulk that is why they can put down the prices. i reported them to my supplier and they were spied on their deliveries and tracked them.
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
I have thought about it and other ways to have it stopped but I always end up worrying that my cousins would also be implicated and end up in jail. I wouldn't think twice if they are not involve and would report it without batting an eye. But sad to say they are involved and no matter how they take the dealers assurances that it is all legit, I know that they could end up in jail too if those dealers would be found out. I am really struggling with my conscience now and I know that this could not go on for long and somehow would take some actions to stop it. I am in retail too and I don't want the same to happen to me. As I said in my other response, the day of reckoning for them is fast approaching.
1 person likes this
@vamp6x6x6x (636)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I think you are right to have a suspicious mind about them, because it does sound kind of fishy. Having a suspicious mind about things is a good thing especially now in days.
2 people like this
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I don't think that you are wrong do think that something is weird at all...because when someone comes to you and sells things that cheap there is a very good chance that something is wrong with the product...like it being stolen...and i think that you could go to jail for recieving stolen goods...I don't know why if you don't know..but I THink you can.
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
I am afraid really that I might be implicated if ever it is indeed stolen. However, the one that my cousin gave me was her 'Christmas gift' for me, so I got it for free. I wouldn't dream of returning it either because she would be gravely insulted and might never talk to me again. I only know that one could go to jail if one knowingly buy something that is stolen and I certainly wouldn't buy them no matter how cheap because of my suspicions. Thanks for responding!
1 person likes this
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
1 Mar 08
hi cdparazo! ^__^
i think you were just being paranoid. ^__^ some products can be bought at very low prices when they are bought in bulk, it is called wholesale buying, just like what your cousin said. if we think about it with a common sense, wholesale buying is what most distributors do. they purchase products in bulk and in much lower prices so they can put interest in the products once they sell it. i don't know what the interest is called but all i can think is marked up price. ^__^;;
but on the other hand, i can't blame you for being paranoid because cases of buying and selling fake and stolen items are very widespread in our country. it won't do us any harm if we take extra precautions. better be careful than be sorry in the end right? ^__^
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
3 Mar 08
oh, so you're in that kind of business! no wonder you're that suspicious. ^__^ then i think you're just doing the right thing in following your intuition. ^__^
1 person likes this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
1 Mar 08
I am aware how wholesale buying works since I am in distribution and retail. The ones that they are buying are just unbelievably cheap even if it comes directly from the manufacturer which I don't think is such the case because the manufacturers always have distributors. I am taking extra precations by simply not getting involved even if I am drooling with envy at their profits. LOL!
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Generally when something is too good too be true than a person needs to be caustious. They could get them selves in trouble. You don't have a dirty or suspicious mind. You are being watchful and the only way to stay out of trouble in a situation like this is questioning like you are. Just because the dealer said it was not stolen or phony merchandise doesn't mean he is telling the truth. He wants to sell the stuff and he will say what ever it takes to sell it.
1 person likes this
