The Biggest Retail Fraud In American History - Masterminds - Crazy Eddie - Eddie Antar Documentary

Masterminds tells real crime stories about amazing deceptions that brilliant criminals use to pull off seemingly impossible crimes. This new half-hour series combines the mystery of a "whodunit" with the thrill of a "howdunit," revealing the extraordinary world of elite bank robbers, escape artists, impersonators, kidnappers, murderers and frauds.
Eddie Antar is the father of electronics super store chains… and the mastermind behind the biggest retail fraud in American history.

[@fredsinger3894]

I worked for Crazy Eddie for 3 years . Was in 1 of there commercials. Got free records, free concert tickets, Met many actors, actresses, Rock Stars , Crazy Eddie’s was my favorite job . Got paid to listen to music all day long. Crazy Eddie’s ruled 😊

[@kevinwebster7868]

Ya this is totally true because it’s a comment on KZbin.

[@boomcrypto8347]

My Dad had an appliance store in Flint back in these days. You could put a store next to highland appliance and never spend a penny on ads.

[@jasonwebb1882]

Man that is crazy. It will most definitely make for a great story to tell your Grandchildren about and that's for sure.

[@clownworldtimes6434]

I remember going to Crazy Eddies with my dad as a kid and feeling like it was a big event. Insane.

[@JiveCinema]

Got my first cassette player from crazy Eddie back in 84. Good times.

[@jamiegarrett3869]

@@JiveCinema Was he nice to you?

[@JiveCinema]

@@jamiegarrett3869 that crazy dude was never there :) he was just the actor on TV not the owner. The place was wild and crowded and had these little sections of electronics with salesman hawking them. Similar to a radio shack with cameras and all kinds of other stuff too. I recall the salesman moving fast and basically just pulling out two types of radio cassette deck players. One was gold one silver. I was a dopey kid so I chose the gold one. So happy 😁

[@jamiegarrett3869]

@@JiveCinema Heck of a story jive. Be safe up there. Sending love from muscle shoals Alabama...on the river!

[@josepharcuri8693]

As a New Yorker i clearly remember as a kid the Yankees were world champions, son of sam was loose, and crazy Eddie's prices are insane

[@benhall2235]

World champions hahaha you yanks. They play any teams other than USA based ones?

[@josepharcuri8693]

@@benhall2235 Of course not. No other country matters! # New York Yankees dynasty...... 27 x WORLD CHAMPION! Football to you guys is Soccer, most boring game ever. Here in the States our little girls play it! Lol

[@benhall2235]

@@josepharcuri8693 yeah? Well you took our game of rugby but couldn’t hack it. It was too rough for you so you had to allow the players to wear helmets and a suit of padding. Pansies.

[@benhall2235]

@@josepharcuri8693 Football (actual football not nfl) Is one of the most if not the most played sport globally. And I don’t think you should be accusing it of being boring, not when you guys have baseball. That’s a total snoozeathon.

[@benhall2235]

@@josepharcuri8693 you guys can’t even play lacrosse without covering yourselves in padding and wearing crash helmets.

[@DWilliam1]

I had a friend in the 90’s who grew up with and was very close to Eddie and was on his yacht once when the Feds were chasing them. He also wasn’t on the up and up and was himself shut down by the Feds for copyright infringement by selling knock off Disney merchandise wholesale and actually had factories making this stuff in Manhattan and Brooklyn back when they still made clothes here. The last of the Jewish wise-guys, IMO. He had some great stories. RIP, my friend.

[@wifferstess2824]

In future, if they are looking for an actor to play Jeff Bezos, they should hire the guy who plays Eddie here.

[@jamie.777]

Can't wait for the Bezo/bozo epic collapse, grab your popcorn

[@lilibethdoherty295]

Scamazon 's days are numbered and no one even jeffey boy have a clue!

[@babaabba9348]

Do you think Amazon is a true scam?

[@nealbeard1]

I see high streets inside those huge hyper mega super sheds of his. Don't buy from Amazon

[@lilibethdoherty295]

@Frank Skoda-Simmons Just follow the rest of the sheeple over the cliff and pay no attention to anything else !

[@samanthab1923]

Crazy Eddie was the place to go. When my brother got his first stereo, my dad went to the store in East Brunswick on Rt 18 to get it. Receiver, turn table, speakers & tape deck.

[@samanthab1923]

Blue 30's NJ, Middlesex Co.

[@rasadams9034]

Damn!!! Your brother is so old.

[@dantesden5263]

Hey, how about records?

[@compassioncampaigner728]

Ha ha I went to the Crazy Eddie in Ocean Twnsp (Jersey shore) and bought stuff.

[@spencejoy]

It was probably all used stuff

[@garrysekelli6776]

LOL I watched this guy`s ads on tv when I was a kid. Never realized that the guy was a criminal or got caught until now.

[@anthonydemarco1745]

Yuppp and we purchased a TV from Crazy Eddies

[@alexanderdewey]

A lot of people thought the guy in the commercials was actually him. I wonder though if the chain would have enjoyed the same level of success without that ad campaign. So memorable and totally over the top. Come to Crazy Eddie’s Christmas sale in July!!! Crazy!!

[@jonasgrumby4393]

@@alexanderdewey ---Not crazy dude, insaaaaaaaannnne!

[@travisk108]

Me 2

[@deathlarsen7502]

Probably didn't realize he was a Skeevy joo too

[@mauricepowers8079]

I worked for one of their stores in CT back in 83' 84'...the whole operation was a hustle...The sales floor was Bait and Switch and every night the name brand inventory would get loaded on a truck. We were told to tell customers that we were out of the name brand items...ON THE DAYS OF THE SALES of them...smfh...the store Managers had to be in on the scam as well. I lasted about 3 months and got wind of a possible scam so I got out. The mid 80's was loaded with scams.

[@jamiegarrett3869]

Your thinking about 78 possibly 79 silly willy..... Mid 80'$ were the steroid epidemic....

[@kevinsysyn4487]

Fascinating series. One common thing among all of these people is they're never satisfied with enough. How many such folks have walked away with a few million$ and never been discovered? They're the true Masterminds.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

Its all about who you steal from. You don't steal from the ones that own everything, the world.

[@jamiegarrett3869]

@@jeffcampbell2710 Will you please give an example Jeffery.

[@pinchasjm]

What a lot of criminals don't know is the bigger you get is the more crime you have to commit to stay afloat.

[@jacksonjacob7791]

You need a plan to exit that sort of life and become legit.

[@FriedGreenCarrots]

Paying taxes is a crime uncle sam is the biggest fraud/theft scam in american history 🤷

[@jeffcampbell2710]

And don't steal from the ones that own/control the world. Their central banks, their Federal Reserve (including Armored services) the Stock Exchange, their IRS, Their governments. Rob the working man is OK. They will spend 20 million in taxpayer money to get their 5 million back.

[@AndrewVelonis]

Back in the late 1970's I memorized a Crazy Eddie commercial and could deliver it just like his announcer.

[@creightonjason]

Im proud of you

[@daveyboy_]

U should get a job on Family Guy

[@jamesmcinnis208]

That's what makes us better than animals.

[@dans9463]

Oh.. wasn't the animated announcer Eddie.?

[@6startrek]

His prices are insaaannnne!!!!

[@robertafierro5592]

Eddie Arce was a legend. That annoying commercial ran day and night throughout my childhood in NYC in the 70's..

[@chadk890]

Annoying? It was cool for me growing up

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@chadk890 The ads are seared into my brain.

[@martinmwenda7214]

😂haha

[@robertafierro5592]

@@martinmwenda7214 inSANE!!!

[@jamiegarrett3869]

@@robertafierro5592 MI Amiga you are clearly thinking about the early 80'$.

[@DS-hy6ld]

I grew up in the area, and remember his commercials vividly. They were phrenetic and absolutely over-the-top! For the longest time, I thought the pitchman _was_ "Crazy Eddie" -- because the dude was just totally insane!

[@jamiegarrett3869]

He was my friend.

[@Geonious]

"The most relentless ad campaign New York ever seen." Hell, I remember seeing Crazy Eddie commercials all the time when I was a kid living in NE PA.

[@cbroz7492]

I'd just gotten back from 2 1/2 years with the army in Germany...this guy was HUUUUGE...TV and radio bith.. m you couldn't escape them...it's nostalgia now...

[@KOVIDGOON]

In L.A. we had crazy Gideon

[@SleekMinister]

He is in Futurama.

[@sharonsekhon9475]

I knew who he was and I live in LA. We had a wannabe - Crazy Gideons.

[@jamiegarrett3869]

@@cbroz7492 Did you see any of Hitler's men? Or were you not in the same area?

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

A citizen does it, it's bad. The government does it and it's no big deal.

[@mka4pol]

The gov't hates competition.

[@brianblackwood3120]

Yea the government has the monopoly on theft

[@davidmontoya1400]

Maybe if they didn’t take so much damn taxes people wouldn’t need to do this stuff. Government takes and takes and has no accountability

[@robertafierro5592]

Rules for thee not for me!!

[@ninjawizard3865]

@@robertafierro5592 Politicians motto.

[@henrymann8122]

I remember these commercials on the television every day. Brings back memories

[@antonyrafter99]

Like Uh Oh better get Macco.

[@Yourmomgoestocolledge]

New York is the worst

[@carapo66]

So do I. I was visiting relatives in NYC in 1979.

[@cityhawk]

@@carapo66 So a visit to New York makes you an “expert” on the city? Try living here, or maybe you’re too weak to live here.

[@carapo66]

@@cityhawk I waa 12 years old, idiot

[@jamesbevan9939]

I loved watching this show in college. So glad to see the episodes are still criculating.

[@ryandonovan5205]

The show is called Masterminds. They have a whole bunch of episodes on Amazon Prime. Thought maybe you'd be interested.

[@RawDogTV]

@@ryandonovan5205 all episodes on Amazon Prime?? I’ll check it out

[@jeffcampbell2710]

Looking for ideas was you? Lol

[@drinksnapple8997]

His prices were INSANE!!!! Only The WIZ could compete because....NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ!!

[@wraynephew6838]

sadly neither exist anymore

[@richiebee1984]

I REMEMBER THE DAY I SAW THE WIZ SELLING A NEO GEO AES GOLD PACKAGE FOR $649 AND THIS WAS BACK IN LIKE 1991!!

[@leonbundagejr.1312]

Ha ha 😂😂

[@LIONTAMER3D]

nobody beats the wiz, but crazy eddie was CRAZY! he didn't care that the wiz was literally invincible in every regard, he was INSANE! invincible wizards mean NOTHING to him!

[@SteveHencye]

They're bringing me back, Elaine

[@michaelhoward4020]

The original store was located at 1117 kings Hwy Brooklyn NY. The store was sight and sound electronics.

[@Kevmack124]

I thought it was on Coney Island Ave near Kings Hwy

[@michaelhoward4020]

@@Kevmack124 it's was originally slightly and sound Audio On 1117 Kings Hwy next to the pizza place. When he became Crazy Eddie's he grew out of the original location to Coney island Ave. That was not a second location as he moved to CIA. I knew Eddie's well and worked with many of his relatives and knew of the sales people who worked for the company. Eddie was a good man and hard working person. He well deserved his secess but unfortunately made a big mistake in the later years however never the less was a genius! RIP Eddie.

[@josephlogalbo5876]

Brings back my childhood with all of his crazy commercials

[@treasurethetime2463]

"you're giving it away like crazy Eddie.". I love that joke.

[@johniwan1]

I still have the Onkyo system I bought from Crazy Eddie back in the 80's. He truly did have the best prices.

[@davepollison4333]

I bought a stereo receiver there in the late 70s and it didn't work right (I forget exactly the problem). I remember wondering if it was returned from some previous customer because the box was sloppily taped up, not even a fake "professinal" looking seal like the video implies. Crazy Eddie's had a separate "repair department" so I brought it back and they exchanged it for the same model, but once again the box looked sloppily re-sealed and sure enough this one was damaged too. Went to the repair department and this time they authorized a full refund with no problem. Record department was cool though. Bought an album by The Clash after hearing it playing on the turntable by the cashier. It was brand new. I think.

[@highintrial]

This is the pinnacle of irony. I applied for a job at Crazy Eddie in White Plains NY and was rejected. A polygraph was a required part of the job application. I did not pass. I was 15 and scared to death of the cop that was administering it.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

I lived within earshot of NYC in the late 1970s, as a kid. I remember this guy's commercials!!

[@srobertweiser]

I grew up a stones throw away from Chicago in the '80s, just across the western border, and for some reason I remember this guy. Did they do sketches on SNL about Crazy Eddie? I don't know where else I would remember him from. I certainly don't remember any of his stores.

[@am4793]

I lived in Manhattan as a kid and I remember seeing the adverts on 11 Alive and Channel 5 New York. I wanted to buy a portable radio but only from Crazy Eddie's; so my dad and I went to his main NYC store. My dad, a shrewd lawyer could not stand the guys behind the counter and dragged me out of the store.

[@kennethsmith8968]

wpix played them all the time.

[@angeloiodice9304]

I had an opportunity to meet and hang out with Eddie, his dad and family for many hours and many days. I found him to be a very gentle, kind and respectful person to those that were not threatening to him. I even found out that unbeknownst to myself, Eddie spoke to my superiors on my behalf, to my advantage. I liked him very much and enjoyed his company. He got me a copy of "On The Waterfront," with Marlon Brando. He told me that it would be good for me to watch it. I was younger than him and just married and starting out in life. I showed him a picture out of the newspaper of a rundown, two bedroom cape in Bayside, New York that I wanted to buy. He urged me to buy it and to offer $20,000 less. I followed his advice and it worked out. I have very fond memories of Eddie Antar.

[@findinglela]

Good experience there

[@dhennessey1970]

nice memory. Eddie was nice to those who were nice to him, and an a-hole to people who were a-holes to him - just like pretty much everyone else. Not sure why people are crapping on him for wanting to make more money, and pay less tax, or fooling around with a younger woman - Under different circumstances Eddie could have been president.

[@angeloiodice9304]

@@dhennessey1970 You are right. And, I know that money was quite important to him, as it is for almost everybody. But, it seems equally, he valued friendship, and loyalty, He was a very interesting fellow, with a real lust for life.

[@dhennessey1970]

@@angeloiodice9304 well said, and godbless.

[@angeloiodice9304]

@@dhennessey1970 God Bless You, Too, Buddy.

[@wparo]

Greed is how most conmen are caught. Could have just taken his first few millions and retired.

[@JackSmack999]

But then we would have never heard of him.

[@coreaccount4376]

It doesnt add up to ppl who don't understand that it's not about the money.

[@lawrencechursinoff8932]

L

[@hustlenut7910]

Very true, you would think after like the 1st 10 million he would live the life,, but for conmen its not about the money its about the game andthe pure excitement and adrenaline rush that keeps them going 😉

[@italianwaterice9594]

@@hustlenut7910 no.. they usually have huge vices

[@mercoid]

My sister worked for Citi Bank at the time of the Crazy Eddie investigation. I not sure how they were involved but she told me the files and paperwork started as a couple of cardboard file boxes and quickly grew to overwhelm the room in which they were stored that they needed to rent a large storage unit to house the records. She worked on the auditing. Said it was a complex nightmare.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

Citibank is owned by the same ones that own the Stock market, federal reserve, governments, and the world. If he hadn't stolen from them, he'd probably gotten away. Ever notice how if someone steals 5 million from an armored car service, they'll send the FBLie, Secret Service, and spend 20 million taxpayers money to get it back?

[@ericheine2414]

Getting busted was part of Eddie's exit strategy. He walked with 20% got 10 years and did 2/3 time. He knew what he was doing. He's what we call a gracious loser.

[@josemichel7655]

Oh and you’re a winner eh?

[@chele-chele]

He burned a bunch of other jews and that's why he was arrested and extradited from Israel, they seized his assets just like the Swiss froze his accounts. He lost it all and fucked his own family leaving Sam to take the initial fall but Sam ratted him off for leniency. Yeah, a real winner LOL... He died pennyless in 2016, great exit strategy pfft...

[@PatricioGarcia1973]

@@chele-chele I thought you couldn’t get extradited from Israel. I know some people that owned pharmacies doing shady business and all of a sudden they fled to Israel

[@JohnSmith-eo5sp]

He got 8 years

[@rayeisenstein4245]

@@PatricioGarcia1973 gangster Meyer Lansky was deported from Israel

[@wesleyy2502]

How he got arrested was hilarious lol

[@fugginchit1]

I can't believe she wasnt wearing underwear.

[@brendanwood1540]

Why is the actor a bald guy when he really had full head of hair and a beard?

[@utoobah]

Maybe the female police officer is also called Debbie 😂

[@michaelalmoznino1768]

Was it the Israeli police 👮‍♀️ who came up with the idea to plant a half naked woman with her car stalled next to eddies house

[@dans9463]

He should have had better hindsight

[@johnsononey]

Old school documentaries and shows are the best !

[@kimchilum338]

He fools the crooked at wall street!!? Awesome

[@vincentwinkleblech3614]

I did deliveries for years for Crazy Eddie’s...... The Place always reeked of shady dealings

[@micjakes1]

So you know every street in manhattan and brooklyn? Did you deliver to the bronx too? Yikes!!!

[@robertaguilar1042]

Are they hiring. 😆 9

[@sanansa4567]

like a lot of the electronics stores in Manhattan. they preyed on ignorant tourists (especially visiting from countries where they didn't have easy access to a lot of the goods being offered). But they would pull all kinds of scams (bait and switch, etc). And they didn't take returns. So a lot of people were stuck with it (since a lot of people used to pay in cash or check, years ago).

[@janicejacome]

@@sanansa4567 I live in Midtown temporarily and l pass by these well - put together windows in shabby electronic stores that anybody w any street smarts could SEEEE are a rip- off waiting to happen!

[@Animal-Reaction-Clips]

I worked for crazy George in the uk another shady company

[@chrismorgan7494]

Those old commercials were iconic and ubiquitous back in the day!

[@MarceloRomero360]

Another scam the stores perpetrated that wasn't discussed here was the '3 year warranty' which they would charge the customer above the sale price.

[@TheBalterok]

That’s all over the world...

[@r.williamcomm7693]

It’s hard to feel sorry for the Wall Street types who fleece ppl’s retirement accounts everyday.

[@edwardmunson3896]

R W C: You got that right.

[@SleekMinister]

...and gamble on shovels..

[@BOND19951]

Don't feel sorry any of those assholes. Lol

[@joblessbum7]

I went to school with this dude Jeff, who's father worked for crazy Eddie. All he would talk about was crazy Eddie. Jeff's father was high up in the company. No doubt he knew it was all a scam. Everytime crazy Eddie had dinner at Jeff's house, we would hear about it for days. Thank god it wasnt a weekly dinner party.

[@FinishTheRaceVL7]

😆 🤣 😂

[@trippen4391]

Lol

[@rhocke4590]

They need to make a movie about this! Never heard of the guy but pretty dang impressive.

[@dans9463]

I saw this movie, Wolf on Wall Street

[@NewBluesBros]

You're either not from the NY, NJ PA area or you were too young. We were seeing his commercials for a couple years before they came to my area in South Jersey.

[@arfriedman4577]

@@dans9463 wrong person. Crazy Eddie was not the wolf of Wall street. crazy Eddie was long before in 1970s.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

I'm surprised a movie hasn't been made. AL Pacino would've been goid in his younger years. He's freaking crazy himself, for real.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

​@@dans9463Wolf of Wallstreet is a different person and totally different scam.

[@stingray4real]

It takes a crook to fleece the Wall Street crooks.

[@DiHandley]

Wall Street...the epicentre of greed!

[@TheBluepunk75]

I hate it when I have so much money that cash is falling from the ceiling.

[@Phil_Melone]

Me too!

[@garygerard4290]

'ol eddie was quite a guy he'd have done well in politics

[@mikedawolf95]

Lol

[@davoid96]

This comment is underrated

[@vernwallen4246]

Or on the board of the Federal Reserve.💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

[@dwightbetten8918]

As a Republican.

[@ronaldhernandez6866]

@Jay Jonson as Donald Trump

[@brando36922]

The irs doesn't deserve my money lol..🤣👌

[@ahuxley123]

It's strange how the government is mad that they don't get their cut.

[@rsprockets7846]

A piece of the action. The. Feds Are the biggest. Crooks

[@gverhoeff39]

@@rsprockets7846 These people learn it from the government in the first place ..this happens every in today's neighborhood's is called a " Hustle or Game " . Who has the best hustle ETC .. go Hustle up some way to pay the electric bill that week ETC ..they live off a Hustle not a paycheck , where did they learn this ? The Government taught this to it's citizens ..

[@GrenOulio]

Naturally.

[@marybetheby5184]

Only ok if they profit from it...like marijuana.

[@Tmanaz480]

Yeah...they also want us to stop just because a light is red. What's that shit about? Tyranny!!!

[@robertplatt643]

Early July, it's 95 degrees, the streets are sweltering, the air is hot and sticky. It's time for Crazy Eddie's CHRISTMAS SALE!!!!

[@middletech]

If he played it straight, he probably could of thrived financially.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Could of

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@Steven Attanasso Thanks. Is it difficult?

[@garbo8962]

Lived in New Philly all my life but forget where crazy eddies store was near us. Think I was only in it once.

[@rkstr9965]

Only 8-year prison sentence for stealing over $100M plus almost $1B in other damages... Seems like very little punishment and deterrence.

[@pcgamingtoday5471]

He did nothing wrong except scam idiots who invest in fake money in the stock market

[@rkstr9965]

@@pcgamingtoday5471 I'm sure that "rabbit hole" went much deeper than Crazy Eddie ...

[@tesmith47]

It is not, America always punish the little guy, and not the big guys

[@benhall2235]

Really? 8 years loss of liberty for stealing money? Seems like a big sentence to me. You yanks have given a 3 months sentence plus a 0 month sentence to two rapists who were found guilty recently.

[@dontcare7086]

@@pcgamingtoday5471 those are the exact people you don't scam. They will let you steal grandma's pension and ruin thousands of lives but you can't steal from the other crooks on Wallstreet or they take you down. I'm not even in stocks but I understand the game.

[@douglasburnside]

I think Trevor Milton at Nikola Motors may surpass Eddie Antar when all is said and done.

[@markpugner9165]

They actor playing Crazy Eddie happens to look like Jeff Bezos.

[@jamesneikere1535]

And i was imaging a story in my head of a video next of him and amazon being a fraud lol ......😂😂 "but all came down when his divorce threatend him and his empire" lmao

[@hfhifi6878]

And looks nothing like Eddie

[@richymind]

I think it was his foray into acting

[@rubendelagarza1239]

That makes sense

[@xtraspecialj]

His real life accountant cousin looks like an older version of Jonah Hill's character from Wolf of Wall Street.

[@hfhifi6878]

What they don't mention are the hundreds of thousands made in fraudulent warranty repair claims. In addition, units that were returned were resold as new. Eddie even had fake packing tape made with manufacturer's logos on them which said vendors didn't use in the first place. I have fond memories of learning all the Syrian curse words from the Antars. It was like learning a new language.

[@yummycookie3429]

Was he Syrian? I thought he was palastenian

[@hfhifi6878]

@@yummycookie3429 Eddie was a Sephardic Syrian.

[@ninjawizard3865]

Sephardic Syrian?

[@hfhifi6878]

@@ninjawizard3865 Sephardic Syrian Jew. I hate saying that because I'm an Ashkenazi Jew. Back in the day, there were several other Sephardic bad actors in the NY Metro mass market Consumer Electronics scene. Nobody Beats The Wiz and 6th Avenue Electronics were among them. The honest high end independent audio retailers were largely Ashkenazi and did completely straight business. The best of the best was Lyric who was owned by a Greek gentleman. I know because I worked for two of them. Unfortunately, the market for good quality audio/video has shrunken dramatically since the end of the 20th Century and most of those wonderful shops have closed their doors. Or transitioned to Custom Install.

[@fixinggrace]

Crazy Eddie became greedy Eddie, and that’s why he got caught. Not to mention playing grab ass.

[@watsisbuttndo829]

The inside shots of eddies store ,including the font style for his advertising is identical to one of our chain retailers here in Australia right now!

[@FireStriker_]

Which one

[@ucviet1]

JB Hi Fi

[@watsisbuttndo829]

Nailed it.

[@eminglewood4593]

It's his brother's store. 🤔

[@humanbeing2420]

I grew up in NJ in the 70's and 80's and remember well the Crazy Eddie commercials. We never bought any electronics there because the store's reputation as a hard-sell garbage merchant kept us away. I don't remember ever entering one of the stores...

[@BOND19951]

They need to make a movie of crazy eddie. It would be awesome and funny as hell.

[@ericafrieson3464]

My husband lost a few thousand on Crazy Eddie, and so did the large Bay area company I worked for in the 1980s -if something looks too good to be true, it probably isn't!

[@hugolafhugolaf]

Actually, it probably IS.

[@srobertweiser]

So what you're saying is, it didn't look too good to be true?

[@Phil_Melone]

Well said if it looks to good to be true it isn't!!!

[@spideywhiplash]

Little pip squeak got 8 yrs! Not a bad return, if he was able to keep most of the money.

[@markmark5269]

6 years inside. Of course he had money hidden, he would have hidden it from his family even. Anyway, he's dead now, money didn't buy him any extra years, as most people find out. In fact, at 68 he went sooner than many ..

[@bigdaddy7119]

I’ll tell you something though, just a year inside seems like an eternity. I would rather have my freedom than all that money!

[@BrettonFerguson]

There is a guy in Lansing, Michigan like this guy. Discount Dave. He will open a furniture store, everything on sale. 6 months or a year later the store burns down, he collects the insurance. Opens another store, everything on sale. 6 months or a years later the store burns down and he collects the insurance. He opened a store near my house and the guy I was with said "I wonder how long until it burns down." It was about 6 weeks after he said that, the store burned down. Everybody who lives in Lansing knows about Discount Dave and the "mysterious" fires. The cops have to know. The Lansing government is so corrupt though, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't in on it, or at least taking bribes. Every year they allocate 5 million dollars of the budget to fix roads, they spend 2 million and the other 3 million disappears. This was in the local news. Nobody knows where the 3 million disappears, every year for over 5 years. The Mayor got busted using taxpayer money to donate to his friends to get them elected on the city counsel to approve things he wanted. This was in the news one week, then nothing. Nobody got arrested, nobody returned the money. The news just moved on to new stories. The potholes are insane here. Everybody has bent rims. I bottomed out and cracked my oil pan going 15 Mph. You can't go 25 on many roads, they are to bumpy. you need a trail rated SUV to drive in Lansing, Michigan.

[@BrettonFerguson]

NOTE: I looked it up and the city did end up charging Discount Dave with Arson after his last store fire.

[@madefromscratch9871]

In Toronto Canada we had a similar store called Honest Eds but I don’t think he was as crooked as Crazy Ed .

[@triggertroy8266]

In Australia we had a crazy johns electronics but think it was probably to capitalize on the success of the crazy ed brand

[@cooldudicus7668]

Pp00p0pp00pp

[@toosweet6046]

No shit his name is Honest Ed

[@gtron7692]

Wow! I remember seeing his commercials as a kid! Didn't know he did all this criminal stuff.

[@savedbygrace8867]

HIS PRICES ARE INSAAAANE!

[@Phil_Melone]

We need a crazy Eddie's these days

[@ntnrocket1]

I remember when this first came on Court TV back in like 2003-4 or whatever it was. One of the first episodes was the Knightsbridge Heist in London by that Italian guy who liked his Ferrari and shipped it around the world where ever he went. Very memorable. Such a cool show.

[@123TauruZ321]

It is a good show. Some episodes are better than others. Some episodes have ridiculous and stupid music (not this one though), and equally bad acting. If they had just kept it a little more civil and "documentary-like", instead of stupid acting and editing, it would be perfect. But no, they have to stupid it down and ruin it.

[@lazymansload520]

I remember that episode. Can’t remember the guy though

[@ntnrocket1]

@@lazymansload520 The robbery was led by Valerio Viccei (1955-2000), a lawyer's son who arrived in London in 1986 from his native Italy, where he was wanted for 50 armed robberies. Once in London, he quickly resumed his robbery career to fund his playboy lifestyle.--Wikipedia.

[@reah7213]

Now I know who "Crazy Eddie" from UHF is based off of, and id forgotten how great masterminds was as a show

[@srobertweiser]

It was driving me nuts trying to remember where I knew Crazy Eddie from.

[@richiebee1984]

Loved watching this show back in the early - mid 2000'S especially since we didn't have cable that much in the early - mid 2000's!!

[@jadedheartsz]

now i know who Crazy Ernie from Brave Little Toaster was a reference to.

[@MrMiddelland]

Eddie had more fires and floods then the bible 😂🤣😅🤣😂

[@rsprockets7846]

Amen

[@nicetarek]

ّI bet that if you look closely into the bible you'll find his name ;)

[@kwakekamdivasi591]

08:25 😂😂

[@OHGEEZY180]

Hilarious !!!!!

[@jseahmed2432]

I WAS 17 YRS BACK IN QUEEN , NEW YORK , LIVING IN REGO PARK CO-OP apartment, PRIVATE PARKING AND PRIVATE POOL IN BASEMENT , I WOULD HEAR THOSE CRAZY EDDIE COMMERCIAL 5 TIME A NIGHT AND WATCH ABA BASKERBALL , NEW JERSY NETS DR .J SLAMING THAT HOOP FROM THE FREE THROWN LINE .

[@danielross9057]

That documentary was innssaaannnnneeee !!!!

[@jlarrybrewer1149]

This would make a great movie!! Netflix are you listening?😀

[@theguardian8228]

His ads remind me of the furniture guy in Houston. Mattress Mac.

[@cherami1510]

We used to have a CRAZY EDDIE in our town a few hundred feet from our high school. Me and other people used to skip classes to go to the store to see what new albums they had and to talk to Dan, another high school friend who worked there. Good times and memories!

[@dullesperez5495]

You have to admit Eddie was smart

[@rsprockets7846]

Dumbsmart

[@radrew684]

Not too smart because somebody figured out his weakness

[@who919]

@@radrew684 so true look at Bernie Maddoff

[@BlackOasis21]

Not smart enough to know he needed to go legitimate and inflate prices once he got his IPO

[@capobilotti]

He wasn't. He was just able to exploit even dumber people.

[@kendoglarson5419]

After $40 million could have just closed the con. Live off interest and investments risk free so that's where he was not so smart.

[@kenheisner288]

@ Kendog Larson wrap the con up go to the next politician

[@michaelgallagher3640]

GREED

[@cityhawk]

@@michaelgallagher3640 Agreed. No amount would have been enough. The money was his drug. If he made $1 billion, it still wouldn’t have been enough.

[@teem1653]

Thank you for the uploads..you clearly aren't getting rich off this your doing more of a service for people like myself who love this show so for that ..salute and thank you

[@romangav1504]

Facts

[@ChuckHickl]

@@romangav1504 Truth

[@teem1653]

@@waylonalvaro5782 don't do that

[@jordanbabcock9349]

Idiot. He'd take as much money as people would give him for his content. Just because he isn't getting paid doesn't mean h doesn't want to.

[@Kai0nTheMoon]

Another side note - Since this show is from 2006, it doesn't mention this because it had not happened yet, but Eddie Antar died in 2016, at the age of 68.

[@Phil_Melone]

That's interesting

[@friendsoftheamazonjungle]

This is what put a lot of small mom pop family businesses out of the market and put a lot of people from middle class down to low socio economic class working retail jobs for 6 bucks and hour😭

[@davejones1959]

20:34..." One pubic hair will bring a battleship ashore ".

[@nephimcknight5832]

Love this show, love this episode - thanks for uploading!

[@b0ajvk8]

Wow. I was working there in the computer room on Coney Island Avenue during this time. Eddie Gindi and Norman Antar and John C were all there then. I remember how things were but had no idea what was going on. I loved that job. I have a picture of myself and Jerry Carroll that Eddie Antar took one day when he visited the computer room.

[@rsprockets7846]

Even made it to the movie Splash

[@JC-ct7wp]

Coney isl Ave and Ave Z ? I worked at the Brooklyn store. I remember all the people you mentioned. Great memories of my younger days.

[@lucygirl4926]

I loved MASTERMINDS. Great finding it here on KZbin. Thanks for uploading it. Binge-watching it like CRAAAZZYYY!!!!

[@mzlis143]

Uhh

[@sephsakem990]

I am 10 minutes in i see no crime. I see aHustler.

[@srobertweiser]

l see a hustler too, and his name rhymes with 'suck'.

[@marknasia5293]

The real crime was all the “agencies” that supposedly exist to protect the consumer, failed. They completely failed. At least Craxy Eddie got products to consumers. If we relied on the “agencies” for anything, we would wind up with nothing. I am curious how many that failed in the agency to do their job to protect the public were fired or, probably, promoted. F up move up is the mantra in Gov agencies.

[@davidtimothy258]

So much yes....they said he found a way around price fixing which should be illegal

[@stephenhosking7384]

Paying yourself cash from the company tills is tax evasion. Re-packing used goods as new is fraud against the consumer. False insurance claims are fraud against insurance agencies. Falsifying company accounts for an IPO is fraud against your investors.

[@marknasia5293]

@@stephenhosking7384 not paying the IRS is tax evasion, taking money off the books from your own company is embezzlement. He is guilty of the same crimes committed by Fortune 500 companies daily. “Repacking used goods (or substandard products being sold as meeting some sort of standard)” that is exactly what Microsoft did legally with DOS OS. Insurance fraud is a crime that hurts all those in the pool of insurers. IPO fraud.. well, anyone playing the stock market that does not realized the market is manipulated legally, should invest at their own risks.

[@paulgrieger8182]

I remember that SNL did a spoof of his commercials in the 70's.

[@robinabernathy2829]

Talk about risk/reward. A few years in prison and we have to assume this guy had million stashed away. I mean literally stashed away. Like buried underground or something. Not in a bank. So he gets out and is probably living comfortably right now not having to work. Probably went to another country to live.

[@apexone5502]

Seeing how he was a forward thinker with his wheeling and dealing and scheming, I would be shocked if he DIDN'T have a 'just in case it all comes crashing down' stash somewhere for back up.

[@James-ol6rw]

Israel

[@James-ol6rw]

Israel

[@cityhawk]

@@James-ol6rw Too easy. They’d look there.

[@cjmarshall0221]

@@apexone5502 Not necessarily. Many years ago, the government passed several laws concerning such larceny on a grand scale. All of Eddie's assets would have been seized - mostly to pay back those he had swindled. As a convicted felon, Eddie would not have been able to get a U.S. passport, allowing him to leave the country. That means it would have been very difficult to gain access to any cash he had stored outside the U.S. The government would have also watched him - and his associates - very carefully, particularly his financial dealings. He would have had to account for every amount of income, and if there was even a hint of that he had more than he should have, the government would have been on him like flies on...well you know. Yes, there are still ways of getting around this, but the odds of getting caught are very high due to the feds keeping such a close watch on him.

[@davejones1959]

Studio 54 skimmed also. No problem with that!

[@stevetrivago]

Thanks for sharing.. I’m gonna try this

[@00BillyTorontoBill]

getting a hostle take over with all that ghost inventory...lol

[@shaylah2725]

Thank you so very much for the uploads. I love this show.

[@TOPBOXTV]

glad you like. this was a good episode. crazy story!

[@TJ-nk4de]

i binged watched all of them and i feel so sad :( my favcorite show. thanks syndicado!!

[@RawDogTV]

@@TJ-nk4de why sad?

[@TJ-nk4de]

@@RawDogTV because you are no longer alive tupac. but sad because masterminds aint in production no mo

[@Phil_Melone]

I'm a new subscriber keep up the good shows

[@ragonel]

This guy had it figured out... But he got caught slippin.. Man

[@jimbernard71]

I remember all his ads as a kid, this is 👌

[@2stroketyson79]

Crazy Eddies the prices are INSAAAAAAANE!!!!

[@shreklifeforever]

Lol that woman wearing a blonde wig like it was a disguise these re-enactments are hilarious

[@Phil_Melone]

Lol they are insane!!!

[@michaelw.4434]

I remember being a kid and for Christmas my dad got everything from crazy Eddie's, great stuff, and commercials all over TV,,That place was Great!!!

[@randygarbrecht3185]

Eddy can’t handle lust and it ended up taking him down with a micro miniskirt

[@southsiderob1000]

Absolutely my favorite Channel I love watching these episodes thank you for posting

[@johnhanselman6371]

How many people remember the "Crazy Eddie" advertisements that came on TV late at night.

[@Automedon2]

Crazy Eddie's gone insaaaaaaaaane!

[@michaelmendillo7513]

I was in Ct. at the time and bought all kind of things from him,,,it was great. !!!! 😎👍

[@Automedon2]

@@michaelmendillo7513 I worked on the loading dock at a big trucking facility. Trailer loads of electronics coming through. If an employee was suspected of stealing he'd automatically get the nickname 'Crazy Eddie'

[@michaelmendillo7513]

Lol. !!!!! Back then me and my friends,,, actually many people would take jobs at places just like this just to get their foot in the door and rob them!!! Home Depot, Lowes, etc,,,,,the 70s where great!!!! In fact, they were INSANE!!! LOL! 😎✌@@Automedon2

[@Automedon2]

@@michaelmendillo7513 Dude, there were no Home Depots or Loews in the 70s, but were I lived was directly behind a Kmart. The employees would steal shit and take it out to the dumpster to collect later - UNLESS I got there first. LOL

[@shinyprisma6085]

This entire thing feels like a movie but it was all real, dang. Perhaps reality really is stranger than fiction...

[@SeamusMcGillicuddy0]

Better known as Hassidic Edward, in Brooklyn ! 🤮

[@howardwilliams8993]

If he had stores now he claim LOOTING on his insurance

[@matt8863]

2:03 That's Jerry Carroll, the face and tireless voice of Crazy Eddie’s TV ads, he died in 2020 ...RIP

[@Phil_Melone]

Rip

[@77turku]

should have made a film on this one

[@Phil_Melone]

Yes that would be a great movie

[@kweli05]

Love Masterminds show. It seems like it just came and went.

[@aspincelaframboise5300]

The Money Changers haven't changed in 2000 years eh... Ü

[@GamerPro-bg9xi]

Oy vey!

[@goodcitizen3645]

The money changers were doing a torah prescribed function by selling animals for sacrifices at the temple for people that didn’t have their own livestock.

[@deathlarsen7502]

Skeevy jews

[@dopeymark]

I grew up on all of those commercials, I knew them by heart. I never once set foot in a store though.

[@montanaelkwhisperer1744]

Same here. But i grew up in Woodstock, and the nearest store was Newburgh or Poughkeepsie. Besides....my family could barely afford the 19" black and white TV we had!

[@akheem7515]

I lived in NY at the time. As far as I can remember a lot of people liked Crazy Eddie.

[@jeffcampbell2710]

Masterminds was the best crime show. Wish it was still produced