I feel like an idiot. This just happened to me at the Brentwood Mall in NW Calgary.
I was asked by a guy for directions to the Calgary airport. He asked if I spoke Italian. After giving them directions the driver started a friendly chat and explained me the purpose of his trip to Calgary (we were in the Parking lot at the Coop). He told me that he was an 'Armani' representative and he had a fashion show the night before.
He also mentioned to me that he didn't want to take all the clothing he was carrying with him back to Italy. He proceeded then to show me some leather jackets that according to him were from the 'Emporio' collection 2006 and worth more than $400Euros each.
He said that they didnt want to take them back to Italy with them as they would have to pay duty and taxes and it wouldn't be worth it. But they would sell them to me and then they could buy a small gift for their wives as a souvenir from Canada.
He asked me for $1000CAN and he would give them to me (3 jackets). He said that he didn't like the idea of doing business on the street but he had this time constraint for going to the airport, he indeed showed me plane tickets and passport. So I bought 2 leather jackets, 1 suede jacket and a suit for $500.00
I never suspected a thing until my wife got home. When I told her the story, (he was in a White Escalade and his name was Vincinzo and I didnt get his accomplices name) she went and checked the jackets and said it wasn't real leather or suede. She also said the suit material was of inferior quality. She couldn't confirm the labels or where they were made and said I got ripped off.
So to prove her wrong, I told my son what a good deal I got. So he did a check on the Internet and said Armani popped up all over the place so we assumed it was legit. I think he misspelled it cause when I googled the Emperio Collection, this post came up.
I'm going to contact the Consumer Advocate at CFCN & Global TV to see if they want to do a story on this. This is bigger than I thought. (I'll ask if they will disguise my voice and face so that it will protect my stupid putz identity.
Gene
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
0 comments