Common household electrical items are no stranger to unconventional distribution methods. The saying, 'fell off the back of a truck', generally relates to goods that, well... let's say are unlikely to have been obtained in an altruistic fashion. Yet, any individual who uses the rear of a truck as their showroom probably isn't the type to bring home for a hot meal and pleasant chit-chat about current affairs.
The clandestine alleyway trade, and its associated sayings, are by no means unique to Australian soil however. The English have their own adaptation of the 'fell of the back of...' saying, substituting the word truck for 'lorry'. In the U.S., Seinfeld parodied the street trade in an episode involving the the distribution of shower heads. If this was any indication, product variety abounds - the next big thing need not necessarily be a car stereo or home theatre system!
While the prices are likely to be bargain basement, the caveat emptor lies in the inability to return dysfunctional items, not because you weren't issued a receipt, but because the vendors seems to enjoy traveling, and as such are frequently on the move.
Nowadays, electrical appliances aren't the only objects to fall off the back of trucks. It's become a popular pastime activity for people, as evidenced below.
Ahh, good times...
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