I got a great offer to buy Speakers from some installer who had leftovers from a job (or some guys who had some extras the boss didn't know about). They came up to me in a white van, and offered really great brands like DOGG DIGITAL. Are these a good deal?
NO!
Run away! These are widely known as "White Van Speakers" because they are sold by guys in white vans on roadsides all over the US (and the World).
I honestly think that if you haven't been approached by the white van speaker people (or know someone who has)- then you are in the minority. I have seen stories of this from as far away as Australia.
See also:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=91046
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=85580
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=84535
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=80581
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=75504
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=74718
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=68133
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=60753
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=15451
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=15391
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=27237
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=41012
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=39478
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=39478
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=97795
http://www.scamshield.com/
http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/...aker_scams.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
Speakers Sold as:
Acoustic
Acoustic Monitor
Acoustic 9901
Audio File
Denmark
Digital Audio
Dogg Audio
Dogg Digital
Dynalab
Epiphany
Omni Audio
Paradyme
PSD
Note that they use "sound alike" names to popular speaker brands (Paradigm, Acoustic Research, PSB, etc).
The WHITE VAN phenomenon is so common, The HBO skit commedy "Mr. Show" even did a spoof of the guy selling speakers out of the back of his van.
In my town, the guys have given up on cheap speakers and now try to sell you steaks out of a cooler in the back of their truck. MMMMMMMM, cuts of beef from hairy guy in a rusted out toyota pickup- nothin' like it!