Undercover Investigation: Lies, local sales and city incompetence

Special sales offering bogus discounts are illegal. However, some merchants resort to this deceptive business tactic anyway.

[@68camarorsss33]

Seems like the inspector needs to be fired along time ago

[@samuelcantley5500]

No killed

[@rspivey53]

A con man from the middle east selling native American art.

[@supremeservices3575]

True I'm an Arab myself I wish I can tell you that some Arabs are imitating people like you and like in Hollywood movies to quickly become rich Which is a shame and a great sin in our religion and culture Unfortunately it's spreading all over the world

[@scarns_2845]

As a Native American this shit gets me absolutely furious because of how people are so disrespectful that they use my culture and heritage art and pottery to make gross profits. Support real Native American art and pottery!! Buy from actual Natives!

[@TheStuport]

I love how KRQE is going after the stores who violate City laws and ordinances ....and in doing so showed how the City Inspectors are a worthless outfit....A Twofer

[@kvogel9245]

Which shows why government regulation of such sales practices is a waste of time and tax money. People should use their heads.

[@kurbybfl3240]

All inspectors are worthless

[@fkerpants]

"I'll be honest with you..." That's your first red flag.

[@sarah54471]

This guy is no Rob Wolcheck.

[@jimbobtheimpaler8403]

Ali Baba and the 40 thieves business practice 101. open small business....live well beyond what the means of that business can accommodate. File bankruptcy..... Open new business with new name in same location.......wash/ rinse and repeat .

[@grandpaoldfart9165]

JimBobthe Impaler 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@phyllisstein1837]

How do I get a job as a city inspector in Santa Fe??? I'd love to get paid to do nothing....

[@mohammedhosein5210]

Colleen f: To get a job as a city inspector in Santa Fe : In your application state that you are illiterate, dumb, deaf and blind .

[@phyllisstein1837]

Mohammed Hosein hahaha, it couldn't hurt, right?

[@grandpaoldfart9165]

Neil Anderson Don’t forget dishonest and corruptible!! So, I don’t think she’d qualify. 😊 Have a great day!! Grandpa

[@mikesharkey2405]

You do realize that you would have to move off of your couch ?

[@kercchan3307]

also you have to be a friend of someone who works for the city

[@bms77]

“Joey” LOL!! It’s like when those Indians call from the IRS scam and say their name is “Michael” 😂

[@rubend9391]

I had one tell me his name is Bob Jones 🤔

[@rubend9391]

I told him I was Raj Kebob 😏

[@plekkchand]

He's being quite honest when he says he doesn't "need" this bad publicity. It's the public who needs it.

[@1bobforever]

i mean there’s way bigger issues out there than some sale signs on shop doors lmao

[@savagesfortruth]

Money laundering is the big problem

[@robertmorris8997]

Georges Furniture in Irving Texas had a "Going out of business sale" for about 20 years. They did finally go out of business or sold out to the furniture store there currently.

[@straightedge6425]

I’m glad that someone is putting a stop to things like this. Good job!

[@waterbottle4782]

rule #1 everyone that wants your money will lie to you!

[@1USAUSA]

water bottleThat is 1,000,000% the TRUTH. It doesn't matter who from local food vendor to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and everyone in between. How many time I've heard people at my company say, "Just change the word here and there" or "just fudge the number it is close enough." LMAO...

[@rickjames9477]

Why does this effort and time go into harassing a small local business. Who gives a shit about his sales. Places like JC penny have insane sales and they Offer coupons where in something cases your getting 95% off. Then places like Walmart monopolize the entire shopping industry, drive down prices causing local business to close because they can’t compete. Then In some cases after this happens they realize this particular store isn’t super profitable so they close and leave the town without a store, but this isn’t a crime ? Sometimes they just made family business that has been serving a community for decades close. I find practices like this are far more of a crime then a sale

[@highlightsateleven5434]

one voice of reason and intelligence in a sea of petty busy bodies...Nice place to visit...

[@franklesser5655]

Lying and cheating is part of some cultures.

[@I_Am_Indeed_The_Free_1]

It's called the American Way of Doing Business.

[@oldbatwit5102]

I am amazed that so many people here seem to think this scam is okay because he is 'just trying to make a living'.

[@grandpaoldfart9165]

Ever see a mattress that WASN’T on sale?? 🇺🇸 Grandpa 🇺🇸

[@juansolis9409]

in the mid. east that is the way they do business, all them are like that

Very True Juan. They bring their con artist techniques to their new place of business.

[@almostfamous5225]

I've known stores "going out of business" for over 10 years. I laugh when I walk by and think that's there hustle. But who cares he's trying to create business. Don't like it, don't shop there.

[@BrentKamrath]

That woman is full of it she's. Lying just like the owner!

[@TheJamieRamone]

Rule 12 of internet news videos: don't fuck with Larry Barker.

[@WayneJohn-fq6cn]

Jamie Ramone 😂😂😂😂

[@sloride3222]

Larry is so good at his job…….great work sir!

[@I_Am_Indeed_The_Free_1]

Wow. Go after the little guy. Damm the rich who literally get away with murder. Great reporting there Skippy. I got a hot tip for ya... the corner gas station is charging people $4.999 per gallon when we all know that's really 5 bucks! LIES! Go get em Skippy!

[@paulwilliams5208]

Bad business practices.... Bad council practices.... aaahhh what a wonderful world

[@metalmouth0413]

That's how journalism should work

[@iammenotu8483]

What a waste of tax payers monies ! I never ever heard of such a silly law.

[@rrosen7370]

This is how it all begins!!!

[@ofamilyonthemove1238]

Although the “store closing” sale was obviously bogus, they never explained how the previous sales were fraudulent. Was there discounted merchandise in the store? What a neat looking town plaza, btw, definitely can’t wait to make it out West!

[@drmayeda1930]

Not the merchandise, the store said it was going out of business. Then a month or two later, the same guy reopens under a new name and the same fixtures and merchandise. Probably for the same prices. Is this fraud?

[@robz270]

Great Reporting!

[@jamescole8049]

Why’s it matter?

[@dorianfoster5280]

That's what I'm thinking frfr

[@iammenotu8483]

So let me get this right. In order to practice these business tactics I would have to be a fortune 500. I mean this is capitolism in America at it's finest. Give me a damn break!!

[@vwlover4677]

Call me crazy but he don't look like a Joey!!

[@ms.lolitagore5822]

Lol. Nope

[@thomascorrea3937]

Funny

[@ronniebuck2954]

Put " GREASE " in the Right palms-- excuse me - in the Right places and NOTHING WILL SQUEAK

[@benadrylchill]

This is what happens when local news starts running out of things to report they find some dumb laws that don't affect anybody then they find some poor guy that's "breaking" them and they put them all over television and act like they just caught the dam zodiac killer or something

[@savagesfortruth]

He’s reporting money laundering you idiot

[@moose7454]

You’re no Rob Wolchek

[@kleigh6784]

3:34..Very chic!! Arab smooth talker..... I would bet a million his name starts with "Mo" and ends in "hammed".... NOT "Joey"!

[@peternorthrup6274]

Keep up the good work.

[@idesofmarchUNIAEA]

I may be jaded because I work in Manhattan everyday. But are these people serious? We live in a free market!!! Again there is no gun pointed at their head to pray for the merchandise this was voluntary Exchange!!!! If these are laws on the books I understand enforcement. But they must comply with state and federal law.

[@TooLooze]

You mean that Rolex I bought on the street isn't real? Thirty five fricking dollars down the drain.

[@jamesmcdonald3798]

Looks like the inspectors in sante fe are almost as lazy as they are in Boston. Almost being the key word ........

[@petemalone1545]

Straight up SHISTER !!

[@guitarhurricaine]

Small business owner doing something shady, people need to use their own judgment when shopping. Big corporations rampant with fraud is a much more serious matter. Who is Nassar hurting? People who waste money on ridiculous decadence. Ask Nassar to take down bogus sale signs and that’s it. Perhaps a fine for doing something deceptive. Fix it and let the guy run his shop.

[@Fedeleness]

Trying to buy something on sale is not greed, it used to be called being thrifty.

I had to think twice about this. So he has a sale sign up. What is the crime in that? Buyer beware especially when dealing with Ali Baba.

[@beamills9205]

does not want to follow the law in THIS country.....

[@bradseed66]

Bait and switch just like 90% of the ads Google enables.

[@bigstepguy]

This is what over regulation breeds. Contempt. Many of us know legislators write the laws for favor, votes, cash envelopes and percentage and that owner knows that he struck out and got called on his scam but it will soon be forgotten.

[@BLACKHISTORYDUNNZ]

The reason why it’s bad is because it’s a scam. If they’re willing to lie about going out of business, then obviously they’re lying about their discounts. Often, the only consumers who actually receive a discount are those buying shortly before the business closes. And, even in those cases, consumers are only buying the least desirable goods left in the store, so it’s not much of a discount. Also, you can’t return the goods that were sold to you under false pretenses because they’re ‘going out of business’.

[@I_Am_Indeed_The_Free_1]

Been 3 years since your post but I'm seeing it now. Still my question to you today would have been the same 3 years ago...So? Bad isn't illegal. Ever heard the phrase "Buyer, Beware"?

[@Brees1986]

A time someone says “I’ll be honest with you” they’re lying through their teeth….

[@Epicface888chu]

Good job Larry Barker.

[@btha01982]

The type of people are always LIARS....can't never trust those type of folks....they're criminal

[@FranklinsLighthouse]

When people say things like, "can i be honest with you?" or "Honest to god" i automatically, this person is used to lying.

[@dogdog4173]

We have beeter things to do than going after a small business owner

[@paddy9449]

Seems like an "INSIDE" Job from the "OUTSIDE"... I can't answer that...!!!!! BUT I do think LISA needs a spankin' for NOT doin' her job!!!!!!!

[@sandragrant8271]

How? HOW?! How does the system allow this blatant victimization?! The cities that have cost homeowners should be made to pay!

[@shawnfutch9474]

They wana tell people what kinda sale they have ..whats the diffrence if the discount is givin

[@outlaw3572]

HOW ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CITY INSPECTORS! Clearly getting payed for not even doing their jobs right.

[@bernieudo4399]

So if Mo is selling Native American "art" then is the guy next door a local Irishman running the 7 Eleven?

[@scarns_2845]

I’m a Native American and I absolutely hate it when people like this loser sales fake knock off Native American art and pottery! Absolutely messed up to use my peoples heritage to make gross profits.

[@sped6954]

The store closing thing wasn't bogus. He did close up shop. He did put his company out of business. Then a month or however long it was later, he started a new business with a slightly different name. He wasn't doing any business there in the interim. A little on the shady side, but not bogus. He probably owns multiple stores in multiple cities, possibly even in a few in the same city to keep himself solvent in the event that he closes a store. Starting the new business, he had a grand opening sale, which is a little tough to prove if it was really a sale, because let's face it, it is a new company, and all he really has to do is raise the prices a little after his sale is over. What it really comes down to is, the consumer and whether or not they're willing to pay whatever price he's advertising. If you don't like the price, go somewhere else. Ya gotta love it when TV stations do this crap. No, not really. It sounds to me like it was just a slow day, so the supervisor told that reporter to grab himself a filming crew and go back to that store they were harassing a couple months ago and see if he could scare anything up, and if not, then invent a story. Oh no! Not that same guy selling Native American reproduction junk. That's the first thing I think when I see those news team on your side things... They couldn't think of anything to do with the remaining eight minutes of their broadcast, so a little filler story to get the public all wound up over nothing.

[@Eyeofthemourning]

This is straight out of the movie "You don't mess with the Zohan". In wonder if he stole his idea from it

[@ddmck1972]

A "going out of business" sale is how you attract more customers to come in and buy. End of story.

[@shayansafavitehrani]

i can guarantee that every single item in his gallery is fake too...better check that out

[@willkj234]

that lady had no idea what she is doing

[@ozarksfarmerhansen8782]

That gal he is talking to knows whats going on, like they always say in Government follow the money, City officials know whats going on nobody gives a crap.

[@MrScottwurth]

He committed no crimes

[@terryscarlett2431]

I think the lady is either sleeping with him,or not doing her job

[@KB-zq9ck]

OK who remembers 99 cent TV's, 2.99 stereos this weekend at the ???Pavilion??? Then when you get there they don't have one TV or stereo just a way to get you in. Once in you see a bunch of flea-market junk. I am so happy that has done away with. False advertising will always be around. Sad but true.

[@YS92651]

Why should it be illegal to sell at cheaper prices?

[@WestCoastTruckingCEO]

Deceptive practices

[@citygirl5705]

"I'll be honest with you...... I'm a lying piece of shit."

[@1USAUSA]

CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS, CORRUPTIONS... EVERYWHERE... Wowwwwwwwwwww!!! lol 7:39 Just the look on her face says it all. Doesn't it.

[@dsdsmitty2]

Maybe there's no enforcement because it's a trumped up law. I don't understand why you can't offer a sale, if you own the business. If you're not paying sales tax, that's one thing, but I'm scratching my head with this law.

[@drmayeda1930]

So you would have no problem with a theater advertising "star trek: the new adventures, a new epic staring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy coming soon". Even though Leonard Nimoy is dead. The movie doesn't exist. There is no way it could ever be made?

[@beamills9205]

business license fraud......

[@anthonievangeenhuizen1550]

I think the City Inspectors are on the secret payroll of the shops, otherwise I don't understand that they never intervened.💵💲

[@anthonymarsalla413]

Someone has been bought off !

[@mikesharkey2405]

This is what rich people do to people with Foreign names

[@mckeehan1943]

It's just too hard to get people to do their job

[@peternorthrup6274]

Move to NY you would fit right in. Good looks dont last forever. Give it up while you can. After awhile they dont want it. Keep looking into it though.

[@kvogel9245]

Government screws everything up, so why more regulation? The price of these things is what people are willing to pay. There are lots of ways for a salesman to convince people to pay high prices. People need to use their heads, and government (particularly the joke NM government) isn't going to solve the problem. Just more taxpayer money wasted.

[@gbear1005]

No documents means no activity. If inspector had no note you need to look into time sheet fraud

[@teddy9267]

I don't think the lady knows the law, I didn't know what the guy was doing is illegal either...I mean it is immoral but didn't think it was illegal

[@saxman7131]

Y’all either have some incompetent people or those who are taking kickbacks.

[@thomascorrea3937]

Sorry we can't issue citations we are going out of business. Or are we. Wink wink. Please give me one of those job's so I can sit on my ass, I'm good at filing and forgetting.

[@kevinb.4539]

Bunch of BS. If people want to buy something, buy it. They are just mad because they thought THEY were the ones getting over on the shop owners and feel like fools they didn’t. What other company is complaining about this company? Competitor?

[@healthy2202]

sometimes I think they do the fake store closing's to throw people off when their furniture falls apart the unhappy customer will think the place that sold them this crap went out of business a few closeing's ago so he figures he has no recourse.

[@idesofmarchUNIAEA]

This video could be a Saturday Night Live skit. Who was hurt? How were they hurt?

[@cognacmuzik5634]

Damn I’m trying to see what the problem is ? 🤨

[@victormontes3499]

He’s playing the system to find a way around city ordinances..... stupid city ordinances. Who cares if there is a “sale” going on.

[@canismajoris738]

sort of face on & face off! conning the people!!!

[@CatherineBurk]

How much does he pay city officials?

[@HypeTv100]

why only one store was target it for years . is it a problem or just one store this looks to me you profile this man .

[@patrickaquia4891]

Petty, petty, petty.

[@tjking6028]

She seemed like she didn't no shit and was a lost puppy its hard to fake doing work when you dont do it at all

[@robertmaness5661]

Boring.. What's with all those people sitting along the building

[@tacticalministries3508]

So...giving people a break on price is illegal?

[@SHENDOH]

They aren't giving price breaks, its all bullshit and its always mideast thieves

[@Odin31b]

Great work, Larry! Barker2016!

[@JayDayWise]

Well he closed that store down now its under the new owner and his name is Doey and get this the beard is even longer this time 🤣😂🤣🤪

[@Seemsayin]

For some odd reason, I just don't believe her. Her voice sounded very timid, as though she were covering for Amji. Her eye's kind of give her away. City ordinances were created for a reason, but not always for the right reason. If the city is making money, they'll overlook just about anything, regardless of who's complaining. If this ordinance wasn't in place, I see nothing wrong with what he's doing. Unless it's false advertising, he can do whatever he wants. There's no law that says a seller becomes responsible for the buyer's happiness, or owes a buyer "for consumer's remorse". No one is forcing anyone to buy. If you're dumb enough to overspend, especially on things you don't need, then you have no business handling money, and/or shopping. Not a crime to do business with an idiot.

[@edz3090]

Go after the car dealerships they're the worst.

[@johnnymorgan9052]

If you are to honest in small business you will not make it. That's the way it work. Where are the mom and pop stories at? They where to honest and there not here now

[@TheOtto3663]

Since when did the definition of 'greed' become human beings wanting to get the best price on goods they purchase? The first statement by that guy lost all his credibility in that moment. So it's the customers fault the merchants are ripping them off huh? JA

[@MrGolfPants]

@1:45 - is this the local skid row or people there for the sale? I think that’s the real story.

[@kewdo1137]

I'm missing the point, why can't they have a sale if they want to ?

[@kleigh6784]

Because a business can't keep putting up signs that are LIES

[@drmayeda1930]

They are advertising a special type of sale. They are saying that the company is shutting down their operations so all the merchandise is greatly reduced in price. But the sale is on for maybe a year or two. The guy could also cook the numbers. You have an item that cost $100 advertise 70% off and charge $99. The numbers add up but he is deceiving the public.

[@beamills9205]

HE NEEDS TO RUN A FLEA MARKET, NOT BRICK & MORTAR......difference.....