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Comments

1. Ray | 29-Dec-05 at 12:25 pm | Permalink

   Two years ago I built a new house. I was moving from a rental which I owned so I left our appliances there. We needed all new appliances. I joined United Consumers Club (UCC) several years ago. We saved some money, but the yearly fees created a break even status. However, when I bought all the furnishing for our new house I saved thousands of dollars.

   We found the items we wanted at local stores. We then shopped at Direct Buy and found every single item at hundreds of dollars off the retail store price.

   So, Direct Buy can save you a LOT of money. But ONLY if you plan to buy a few big items each year. If you go a year and don’t buy any medium to big ticket items, the yearly fees are going to eat into any savings you may have generated previously.

   We debated whether to renew this year. We finally did chose to, but not without some reservation. If we make some purchases this year, we will certainly save enough to offset the yearly fee. If not, we won’t.

   It’s not a scam. It’s simply mathematics and economics. If you USE the service you will save money. If you don’t, you will lose money.

   Yes, there are additional hassles to endure. Location isn’t always convenient, returns are a little harder, but not impossible. Every manufacturing defect we’ve had has always been taken care of by getting a replacement. But you do have to wait for a replacement to be delivered.

   P.S. We’ve noticed it’s the luxury items that you save the most money on. Things like hot tubs, big screen TV’s, expensive jewelry, etc. These are the items retailers mark the price up on the most becuase they are luxury items. These are the items that purchasing at wholesale will provide the most savings.

2. John | 01-Jan-06 at 2:56 pm | Permalink

   Ray,

   What is the annual fee? I can never find that out.

3. Cock D | 17-Jan-06 at 9:24 am | Permalink

   about $3,900 for the first 3 years, payment due in one lump sum; $150 a year thereafter.

   Note: they have a handy “installment plan” which bumps the total cost up to around $5,000, but spreads it out over the three years. Of course, they dont tell you that it’ll cost you $5k this way (no mention of interest, increased rate, or anything), they just assume you are too stupid to realize that they are smacking you for another $1,000.

   Plus, you have a one-time offer to joint; you can’t go home review the contract or sleep on it; if you don’t sign before you walk out, you will never be allowed to join.

   Excuse me, but if you want me to give you $4k without reading the contract, you can suck my ass.

4. Johnny Gee | 22-Jan-06 at 3:24 am | Permalink

   Just went to an “Open House” at DirectBuy. We were told that the membership would cost $5,390 for the 1st 2 years and $198 per year for year 3 through 10. The “sign now or never come back” was the turn off for us. I think they do not want to give you the opportunity to check them out outside of the store.

   Some of the other cost were, delivery (merchandise is delivered to the store) and installation if you are not a do-it-yourselfer.

   Each couple had their personal escort, who was friendly, but could not answer the big question. You could take as long as you want to think about it, but could not leave and come back.

   Once you told them no, they got their supervisor, who checked that all of your questions were answered and a little story about a couple that had recently come in, opted out, but called back a few days later, changing their mind, but sorry its was too late.

   Then you were shown out of the showroom immediately. Not through the lobby, but through a back hall and right out of the building.

   Most of the big “savings” came from big items (plasma TVs, furniture, etc), but if you are not going to buy soon, you may not get back your investment for years. Per their calculations that you would save an average of 33% (some items 50%, some less), we would need to buy about $16,000 worth of stuff to break even.

   There were 6 or 7 couples in the presentation and 3 of us opted out almost immediately.

5. Craig | 22-Jan-06 at 11:54 am | Permalink

   Thank-You for saving my wife and I the drive!!!!

6. Patrick | 22-Jan-06 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

   jan 22nd 12:45pm Thanks for the info, we’re not going!!

7. Andee | 23-Jan-06 at 4:28 am | Permalink

   Glad to know what their practices are…NOT going! Many thanks.

8. Matt | 23-Jan-06 at 10:14 pm | Permalink

   My wife and I are currently building a new house and need to get all new appliances and furniture. I heard about DirectBuy and have signed up for an open house next Thursday night. Any suggestions for what to be aware of? I read that you can bring in a list of items you are interested in purchasing, and you can check the prices of them to determine whether it’s worth your $$$, is that true?

   So far, I’ve received 2 quotes for my kitchen appliances, both around $12,800. I figure if I can save 30-40% on those alone, I’ve almost made my money back, and that wouldn’t even include washer/dryer, furniture, ceiling fans, light fixtures, etc.

9. Scott | 26-Jan-06 at 2:16 pm | Permalink

   F.Y.I
   I’m always amazed at how short sighted and stupid some people are when it comes to money.
   Direct buy works well and saves tons of money for those who know intend to make a large capital investment in thier home PERIOD!!!

   Yes it’s approximately $4000.00 to buy in and you’ll need to pay it the day you walk in for the presentation or forget about it.
   Be prepaired to make a decision!

   Yes it’s time consuming, you need to be patient and do your own research through catalogs, driving to show rooms or on the web.

   Yes you will wait approximately six weeks for your materials to be shipped.

   The membership fee is insignificant when you consider that the avarage remodel of a home will run you $40,000 or better.

   Example, $10,000 anywhere else in marble flooring ” materials only ”
   cost when purchased through direct buy $4,700

   $25,000 High end kitchen cabinets anywhere else
   ” designed built and installed ”
   cost when purchased through direct buy $8,300

   Plumbing fixtures such as tubs, sinks, faucets and shower sets including valves and trim kits will set you back in excess of 8,000 for just the materials should you be remodeling a 2.5 bathroom home when buying retail.
   All the above when purchased through direct buy $3,800

   The amount of savings anyone can realize is strictly up to the individual!
   Direct buy is expensive up front but it allows you to upgrade to considerably higher end merchandise for about the same cost that you would have spent on low end or middle of the road material when buying retail.

   The choice is entirely up to you,everything comes at a price!

   Feel free to piss and moan, call it a scam and continue to pay through the nose on retail just so you can be a lazy S.O.B. who wants others to do all the work for them.

10. Jasper | 27-Jan-06 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    “Feel free to piss and moan, call it a scam and continue to pay through the nose on retail just so you can be a lazy S.O.B. who wants others to do all the work for them.”

    LOL thats a great sell for your business Scott

11. Bill | 30-Jan-06 at 9:17 pm | Permalink

    You’re all a bunch of whiners, except Scott. You should have done your research before you went to the show, like I’m doing right now. Then you would have known beforehand that unless you were doing a major remodeling it wouldn’t pay off… directbuy has to make some sort of profit in order to work as a free middleman. That doesn’t qualify them as a scam.

12. Lisle | 31-Jan-06 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    Beware of this company the above “scott” email is almost identical to one on other sites about “DirectBuy”. Also we have friends who bought into this, were quoted a price for an item, they could not find the prices for the 5 other items they had researched before attending there meeting. They joined and upon joining went to order the item (Big TV) and guess what the price had increased dramatically. They got their money back only after a lot of hassle with this company. Amazing certain companies don’t like moaners, they used to bend over backwards to create good customers relations. If they can;t be bothered to do that, they are bound to have people moaning if issues are not resolved. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure that one out.

13. Andrea | 02-Feb-06 at 2:14 pm | Permalink

    We joined Direct Buy (when it was UCC) some years ago as we were adding on to our house. Had we joined a few months earlier, we could have saved about $1500 on Grohe fixtures for the master bathroom.
    we bought carpet, and saved on the order of $1000 on that.

    Not too long ago, we added the cabinetry that we intended to do at that time. We added about 29 linear feet of “Kitchen cabinets.” Dining room was cherry, LR was Maple, breakfast area oak which was almost an exact match with original kitch. cabinets. the kitchen included a custom order piece (shallower pantry) & matching interior finish cabinets w/o doors, which is another price. Those 3 rooms came to about $21K. If you’ve ever priced cabinets, that’s good.

    it did take a while, we did have to have the glass doors installed elsewhere (that also added to the price), but man did we save.

    we have also ordered our refrigerator (the top line for same price as regular one), light fixtures, jewelry, oriental carpet (saved about $1800 on that alone) and bedroom furniture. we’ve saved something over $24,000 so far.

    yes, it is mostly worth it is you are going to do major things, or are remodeling. If you want low end items, not worth it. If you want some really nice stuff – good deal. Luggage or china or artificial Christmas trees or couches or dining room things for something like 30%-40% of the retail price. We have seen some clearance things at stores cheaper than we could get at UCC, and I got the very basic pedastal sink for the 1/2 bath for just a few $$ at Home Depot, so you do have to know what you want.

    If it fits what you need, it is a great deal. Most people freak out of the membership price ’cause they want to go to Levitz or IKEA for their furniture. But if you are looking to spend $4,000-$8,000 for a sofa – or the $7-$22,000 on dining room – Go for it.

14. Jack | 04-Feb-06 at 12:10 pm | Permalink

    Here’s the deal. If UCC/DirectBuy were such a great deal then they would not need to high pressure sell it. For some it works out to save them money – but you must buy high dollar items, lots of them, and buy the brands that UCC/DirectBuy sell. For most the program will not save you any money. In fact it will likely cost you money. You don’t see Costco doing the high pressure sale – “sign the contract now or never come back”. That is a huge indication of how the business runs and their objective. They are not about customer service. Their primary objective is to make money off of the membership fee.

    Looking at many of the discussion websites you see a lot of posts from employees/owners who are defending their business practice. The only time you resort to high pressure, “sign now or never”, tactics is when your product is not worth selling at all.

15. Lulu | 05-Feb-06 at 12:54 am | Permalink

    My husband and I attended this evening. I wanted to do it and he didn’t.
    We are doing a tear down and we will need many new items and I thought this was godsend. My husband was skeptical when he knew this involved an info-comercial and getting him there was a task in itself.

    He didn’t like the high pressure “sign now or never”. After some discussion he finally said he would reconsider because he would at least have the 3 days to think about it since state law mandates a 3 day cancellation policy. It even states it on their contract. However, when the sales person presented us with the “buyers remorse” contract which states we will not return the membership just because we changed our minds, he immediately got disheartened and we left.

    Too bad since this would have been perfect for us.

16. friend | 06-Feb-06 at 12:59 am | Permalink

    My wife and I joined on the basis of the sales pitch and internet postings made by “members” on the internet. We discovered that the sales pitch and the “endorsements by membes” are just a ploy to get you to sign their carefully crafted non-refundable contract. They do not to appear to care if they are discovered lying or misleading people to join, they cast the net ever wider and suckers still trickle in. Our experience is that DirectBuy even pays employees to lie about peolpe who have used their experience to warn others. One particular employee from Texas likes to spread the story of how we are bitter ex franchisees (of which there are plenty) who steal from the members(the company is full of thieves by their own admission). However we are among the many, many people who fell for this polished scheme.
    Bottom line is that this company offers nothing of value for the several thousand dollars it charges for membership. Skip it and don’t look back.

17. Jake | 06-Feb-06 at 2:16 am | Permalink

    Maybe some of you didn’t meet the nicest salespeople when you went in and I’m sorry that you chose not to join however I’ve been a member for more than 10 years and have referred nearly everyone I know. They all thank me for it. I’ve had only 2 somewhat bad experiences since I joined. Once I ordered a bedroom set that arrived two months late. Still saved plenty and, just for the trouble, they even had someone deliver it to me for free after it arrived at the center. Second thing was a TV just recently. No big deal. I ordered it and a week later the manufacturer discontinued it. They called me and told me and I was pretty disappointed. They offered to look into a newer model for me. They found it and it was even less expensive than the model I originally ordered. All told I easily saved $75,000 in the past ten years. Even joined when it was only $1500. And I get fantastic service every time. It’s not the usual shopping experience. I walk in and they call me by name?! Where else can you find that these days. Plus I can shop online anytime now. Get’s better all the time. When you go, be prepared to buy. You’ll want to!! Good luck, Jake.

18. Brad | 06-Feb-06 at 6:53 am | Permalink

    I have to ask, has anyone signed up then were able to get out of the contract?

19. Matt | 16-Feb-06 at 12:56 am | Permalink

    I posted on January 23rd about my wife and I getting prepared for an “Open House” visit. I must say that it was nowhere near as bad as what people on the internet make it out to be. We were greeted by our host who showed us around the office and gave us a little info about what the night was going to be like. We were then put into a room w/ a tv where we watched about 6 minutes of infomercial, then the owner came in and talked. Then the infomercial for 6 minutes, then the owner. This went on for about 40 minutes or so.

    We were presented with the cost of the membership during the presentation, and I could tell a lot of people hadn’t done any research on what they were getting into. The cost was $5200 for 3 years, but if you paid in full that night, it would only be $4700. After the presentation, our host brought us back out to the main area where we were sat at a table… with out backs to the door so we couldn’t see other people leaving. (I had read this before going, and just thought it was funny when it actually happened)

    Anyhow, we were allowed to ask any questions we had. I even had our host look up a couple prices for me so I could see exactly what the purchasing prices were really like. We found that the furniture, flooring, cabinetry, jewelry, grills, etc were all big money markups at the stores. After doing some math on what we would need to buy (dining room set, kitchen table, family room furniture, kids bedroom set, 2 garage door openers, light fixtures, ceiling fans, a grill, lawnmower, etc) it really was a no brainer to join. We were never strong armed into anything, or anything that could even be considered trying to persuade us to join. We were allowed to speak along for a few minutes before making our decision, and were told all about the cancelation policy.

    We have yet to buy anything, but from the prices I have seen for items I will need to purchase in the next year, I’m very glad that we joined. Of course it’s difficult to pay $4700 for basically the “rights” to purchase something. And of course, if you’re just looking to buy an end table and a step stool, this isn’t the best thing for you. And yes, you can sometimes find lower prices in the stores if they are on a really good sale. You’ve just got to be a smart shopper and do your research before you buy.

    So far, you can add me to the happy (but not yet completely satisfied since I haven’t purchased or saved any money yet. ) member list.

    (NOTE: before you even try it, NO, I am not an employee of DirectBuy, I just wanted to give people another point of view so everyone doesn’t get scared away when this might actually be a good option for you.)

20. Matt M | 17-Feb-06 at 7:04 pm | Permalink

    For Brad, YES, people have signed up then received a REFUND, and I am one of them. In Utah, there is a 3-DAY period in which you can terminate contracts like this (a law that exists in many states). This was stated on the top of the DirectBuy contract, though not pointed out specifically by the sales rep. We are building a house so figured we would take a look at the products and services in the next day and then make a decision whether to cancel or not.

    First we started with the in-store web catalogue because we don’t care to shop by manufacturer, but by item. The site was SLOW as molasses in January, and after we got to the first page of results we could not get to the next page (there were at least 10 pages of results and it would not sort by lowest price). They promised the site would be updated, but I am not going to commit $4K for an unseen possibility.

    Next we went to the catalogues (a hassle really…who shops by brand first when all they want is a dining room table!!!). The first item I looked up was a TV we bought last year from Toshiba. I knew what I paid and wanted to see what a great deal I could have received. Turns out this catalogue didn’t even have it, even though the sales pitch is that the participating manufacturers open ALL of their items to DirectBuy.

    The second and third items we looked up we couldn’t find. Once the pricing was listed in a separate book, another time the sales rep informed us that the retail price had to be multiplied by 0.95 to get the wholesale price. This raised alarms…the web site didn’t work, the catalogues were nearly impossible to use, and the “warehouse” prices were only 5% lower than retail? Where is my 40% savings??? Any way, I could tell this would be a major hassle, so I cancelled our deal by mail and got a refund posted almost immediately. Maybe if I stuck it out I could have done well building my house (sounds like they may get great deals on cabinetry), but I couldn’t get a price quote out of them on cabinets until the 3-day termination period was up, and I am not a gambling man. Hope that helps somebody out there.

21. Matt M (2nd post) | 17-Feb-06 at 7:10 pm | Permalink

    One more addition, we noticed some sales folks were very aggressive (and we actually told the first guy who tried to take us aside to find us another person who wasn’t so pushy…he just put my back up). The second person we talked with was very nice, not pushy, and clearly explained the pros and cons. In the end, the deal seemed too risky. As a famous con man said recently, the one thing everyone is afraid of is “missing an opportunity” and I feel like that is a huge part of DirectBuy’s sales tactics. And I am not the same guy as “Matt” above, in case you thought I was over-posting

22. Wendy | 22-Feb-06 at 4:49 pm | Permalink

    Hi there,
    After reading all of these reviews, I thought I might add my own.
    My husband and I joined DirectBuy a few months ago. Before we joined, we spoke with friends that are already members, and we knew what we were probably going to be paying for the membership, and roughly how things worked. We went to the meeting, fully understanding why we were there. We didn’t feel pressured, or deceived. We knew that we were joining, and the presentation just gave us a little bit more info. We are building a little house and need almost everything. We know we will save alot of money using DirectBuy, but it won’t be as convenient as walking into a retail store and purchasing. To us, it will be worth the trouble, because the savings will be substantial.
    If we were not building a house, or renovating, or updating all of our furniture in our existing house, we would never have joined. I think it would be hard to recover your initial membership fee if you didn’t really have alot of planned purchases over the next few years.
    I don’t think it is a scam. I think it just doesn’t suit everyone’s purposes.
    So, just do a bit of research. The net is loaded with pros and cons. Then choose what is best for you and your family.
    It’s like going to plan a trip to a country and hotel you are not familiar with. If you go to Trip Advisory and check it out, you will find people who loved the hotel, others that totally detested it, and lots of people who thought it was just fine. Then you choose.
    So, ultimately, be mad at yourself if you get a membership and then regret it a few days later, because you always have time to research it before you take in the meeting. Take care.

23. Jessica | 24-Feb-06 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    I find it interesting that most of the complaints on this website are from people who are not members of DirectBuy. Just because you decided not to join, does not make the company a scam. My husband and I joined about a year ago. We are newly married and have already saved about $7000. We have purchased window treatments and a lot of inexpensive furniture. I do not feel that the comments about having to purchase big ticket items is correct. We were just trying to get the best deal and even bought a nicer dining room set for the same price we found retail. We could not have purchased as much as we have if it were not for DirectBuy. I have recommended all my friends and I hope to be a member for long time. I can’t wait to build a home and see how much we can save!!
    Jessica

24. Shawna | 27-Feb-06 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

    We are planning on building a house. I will definately price out several things first before going to the open house. This will make it easy to decide if it is for us. I also wonder if some of the problems incurred are due to directbuy differences at each location. One thing I have not seen addressed is this.. Can you bring other people into the “warehouse” with you or are you just limited to the names on the contract. For example: at Costco I am the only one who can purchase anything, but I can bring anyone I want into the warehouse with me.
    thanks
    Shawna

25. Cooker | 06-Mar-06 at 2:54 pm | Permalink

    My wife and I were at one of the directbuy warehouse for the open house and after the presentation, we were shown to our sales person who immediately wanted us to fill out the paper work. We were like “what??? not even a sales pitch or anything”. Then I check out some items which I had bought from sales and eg I got a Canon S2 Digital Camera from Dell.com at $380 with shipping and their direct price was $435. That immediately rung my alarm. So we told the sales woman who keeping insisting on starting the paper work that we would have to give it up, and so she called her sales manager over and she started to give us some numbers and calculations trying to convince us. The thing that really puts me off is the fact that if they were able to stand by their promise, “THAT YOU WILL SAVE ALOT OF MONEY IF YOU JOINED” then it would not have matter when you actually joined, the thing about “THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO JOIN AND AFTER THIS YOU ARE A LOSER” attitude from the sales people are just bad.

26. Sean | 12-Mar-06 at 7:15 am | Permalink

    March 11, 2006

    Just returned home from DIRECTBUY a “loser” as they say. I walked out the BIG winner since I still have the $5100 in my pocket and NOT those in those sleezy pushy sales people (oops did I say sales people)pockets…I meant unarmed robbers and gang members (they gang up on you if you don’t do what they want)!

    Nothing is free but that is what these people will have you believe…
    Some claims they make
    1) we’ll answer all your questions — oh really? when we tried to get and answer they said to hold off…the sales person will take care of you! They don’t want people to hear others questions since that will raise more alarms in the consumer’s mind. they operate on confusion…Divide and conquer. Insist on answers in front of others. Most of the up front people (before sales person pressure) will NOT answer but defer you to the next round of pressure!

    2) We don’t make any money from the sales only the up front fees…Come on now! Am I supposed to beleive that ALL those bandits in the “pressure room” derive their incomes ONLY from the up front contract? Can’t be! TOO many people there and not enough customers.

    3) You MUST join today or you lose… OK! then they go and tell you there are 131 other Direct Buys in the nation and you can shop at any one of them. If so, just go to the one in the next city over and join. Not sure about this but it is a suggestions since each group is supposedly independently owned and the losers they have as salespeople are not thorough in their work. THEIR MAIN focus is getting you to SIGN that piece of paper. Interest rates will kill you. BUT ..they will help extract your money there too. They can finance for you. I suggest a BANK not through them. That’s what banks are for. (if you join)

    4) Infomercial — they drag you through the same one again and BEAT the savings idea into you till you want out at ANY COST.

    5) Don’t look around..that is forbidden…! I arrived and walked in and was “greeted” by a slippery Lead salesperson (MR. Pressure SALES person later If you don’t sign). After he moved to other suckers..I drifted into the showroom ONLY to be called back and deposited in the “holding tank” for the next round of LOSERS. THEY WANT to control your every move. Lambs to slaughter as they say…

    6) Infomercial room — you’re told ..just watch this short 15 minute video…Yes, it is 15 minutes long but they shut it off several times to break in and”explain” to you why this is the greatest thing since Gramma last made those special cookies. You’ll be told to hold off on questions…only not to have them answered “until later” when you’re alone! Then your questions won’t alarm anyone. They just tell you to WAIT again. YOUR salemen will answer EVERYTHING for you. Each one of them has a different speel as I found after takling to some other afterwards.

    7) Can you save? I admit one thing…It LOOKS like you might if you are going to buy year over year and big ticket items. You can do just as well if you do your homework and look around. Will you get back ALL your money?? Maybe if you spend $20,000 +. That’s just beak even though. An remeber …the prices they quote are Manufacturers Retail Price. NObody pays retail any more ( well most don’t). That’s what the BIG houses like walmart Lowes and BEST buy and others do now. (Remember, theyALSO sell to huge amounts of people AND they TOO buy at the high volume price to reduce cost for you. AND thye do NOT charge a FEE. They do need to cover their expenses like inventory and profits but so does DIRECTBUY except for inventory.

    Lastly, you can’t look at any prices UNTIL you SIGN,SIGN,SIGN!! THen mysteriously….you will be shown the GREAT PRICE BOOKS!
    $5100 to look at Books? I’ll go to the library down the street.

    9) “YOUR a LOSER”!!! Sorry, I didn’t bring my checkbook and my lawyer always look over my contracts. He charges me $50 to do a quick look see on my contracts and this takes 15 minutes. SAVES me thousands.
    The sales person will object since I “am letting out SECRET KNOWLEDGE ONLY FOR MEMBERS!

    SECRET ROBBERY is more like it. NO CRIME if ITis not reported right?

    ABUSE? Be ready for it. and then the reinforements come…MR . SLEEZE from the beginning of my visit. He is MORE “trained” in abuse and tactics to get you to SIGN. THEN MR. OWNER comes over to Beat you one last time. You are out numbered and feeling pretty LOW at that point. Sounds like WAR to me. It IS! You are the prisoner and they will beat you down and tire you out so you SIGN just to get out of there.
    tHEN YOU ARE TOLD …”you will never be able to come back there again and everyone else will be saving while …losers (like you) will wish you had signed before.

    HOLD TIGHT!

    Escape is as easy as getting out of the chair and MOVING OUT THE DOOR. Stop talking to them…..that’s how they get you sucked in! They want to break down your objections….No objections…no way to get to you. Keep moving towards the door like you can’t hear them because they are NOW insulting you and talking to each other (very loud) to anounce to everyone in the showroom that a “LOSER” is leaving. Don’ to you LOVE ABUSE?
    RUN!

    Get to the car and feel the pressure drop. BUT you are NOW a LOSER. That’s how you feel! UNtill you get home and start to think about what just happended. You have $5100 dollars in your pocket. You don’t owe anyone and can go buy the TV or Sofa you wanted and pay a low price (by doing your homework) and put the rest in the bank.

    Go out to dinner too, you can afford it and you deserve it. (you would’nt be able to if you SIGNED) AND don’t forget to take that vacation that this will pay for too.

    Good LUCK!

    I’ll leave it to you to make your choice. Go in prepared.

    Signed, LOSER turned WINNER in just 3 hours…

27. Elaine | 12-Mar-06 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    All I can say is Thank you for re-enforcing my feelings about going to my “appointment” They’ll never get their grubby little hands on my hard earned $$.

    signed very Grateful

28. greg | 12-Mar-06 at 9:00 pm | Permalink

    Went last week, Unlike many of you I was not prepared for what was in store. The 35 minute infomercial was bad enough, but the sales person was over the top! When I heard the price my mouth dropped but maintained an open mind. What got me was the gun to my head that if I walked out now I could never come back! So I said “let me get this straight, if I leave today and change my mind and come back here next week with $5,000.00 cash in hand you won’t take it?” The sales person told me “no they would not.” I was not buying this “hard sell.” Anyway, needless to say I walked out. Just curious though, has anyone left and joined later?

29. Adrian | 15-Mar-06 at 5:50 pm | Permalink

    I don’t see what all the fuss is about. I have recently (this week) been pitched by a Direct Buy rep and sent a key (for a free remodel worth 28K?). They would answer none of my questions over the phone. But, everything they are doing you can do yourself without spending the 5 grand.

    I just did a 200K re-model on my home and by utilizing the internet and some bargaining with local merchants, I saved over 50%. Easy. 12 Hunter ceailing fans, light fixtures, solid teak flooring (1800 ft. $3.69 ft directly from the importer/mfg), tile, etc. purchased over the internet for 50 to 75% off sug. retail. Best Buy could not have saved me enough to offset their membership fee. Caviet Emptor. (Let the Buyer Beware.)
    Adrian

30. MIke | 17-Mar-06 at 10:52 am | Permalink

    Was “courted” by Direct Buy .. A friend of mine joined and PRAISED it.. so I was happy when they started calling me. Since they wouldnt give me the membership price over the phone.. decided to come on here and find out some information.. then after hearing the $5000 fee I had to call my friend who joined to verify (I don’t believe everything I hear on the internet) but he confirmed it.. I couldn’t believe it.

    So I asked him what he got from there.. he said 3 weeks ago got his Sony 55″ LCD delivered said it costed $2799.99 great he said retail price was $3999.99 and so we looked it up on Circuit City website.. $2999.99 hmm.. kinda fishy.. I also have a 10% off coupon for Circuit City.. bringing my price for $2699.99 (This week the TV is actually CHEAPER at Circuit City down to $2519.99 plus still can use the 10% off coupon).

    Also.. Home Depot.. you can buy coupons off of ebay for 2-5$ for 10% off anything in the store..so I could technically start selling memberships to Home Depot for $5000 and saying 10% off retail and ANYTHING at Home Depot.

    Good Luck to those who joined and if you spend $50,000 to redo your house… your telling me it would have costs you nearly $80000 without directbuy? hmm.. someone needs to do a little comparision shopping I think.. find the model you like.. then search Froogle, Pricegrabber and everything else.. I guarantee you could do it!

31. Michelle | 18-Mar-06 at 12:41 pm | Permalink

    Boy am I glad I found this blog!!! DirectBuy is supposed to contact me to set up a tour and I wanted to be prepared. I do not knock people who choose to use their services but I know it is not for me.

    My husband and I are building a 5000 sf home and will need everything for kitchen and baths as well as some new furniture. The fact that the nearest DirectBuy franchise is 3 hours away and everything gets shipped there doesn’t make sense for us (with gas at $3.00 per gallon here in CA). I am extremely resourceful and know I can find everything cheaper than having to join for $5k, pay shipping charges, drive there and back each time to pickup our merchandise, etc (what are these ‘hidden fees’ people talk about?). I have friends with resale licenses that can take me to furniture markets to buy for wholesale prices, I wonder what it would take to get one myself since I’m already self-employed… just a thought anyone might consider.

    The biggest thing that bugged me about the DirectBuy is the ‘Now or Never’ tactic they take. Out of curiosity, do they let you in on this when they set up your appointment so you can come prepared or just drop the bomb while you’re there? In my opinion, it just isn’t smart to make an impulsive decision like that… not just for DirectBuy, but for anything! The fact that you aren’t able to mull it over and/or have someone take a look at the contract, is a big red flag! Most times after the fact you’ll either find yourself with buyers remorse, or constantly defending/justifying your purchase to yourself and possibly others.

    Obviously DirectBuy has it’s place in the market, too bad they are a bit out of my comfort zone in the way they do business.

    I’m looking forward to doing ALOT of research to find the best prices available to me and get exactly what I want! I know I can do it…

32. David | 21-Mar-06 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

    My wife and I joined Direct Buy back in 2000 back when it was still called UCC Total Home. At that point we had just gotten married and had bought a condo. Fees were around $3k and I have to say I impulsively rushed to join something I thought I could make work. Wrong choice then! We only bought one beautiful sofa set – from Nicolleti (sp?) – which was by itself, no where near enough to cover the membership fees, s&h charges along with delivery.

    Fast forward to 2006…We have once again joined what has now become Direct Buy. This time instead of getting a flyer in the mail, my wife and I actively looked to sign up in the internet. We had just moved into our new construction home and had A LOT of furniture and further enhancements we wanted to do outside of the builder.

    The thinking was, where could we possibly start?! I hate to shop at 15 different locations and love convenience. My wife loves to shop for the lowest prices. Thus, we decided to give Direct Buy a second shot as it offers both – convenience, and, at what I believe is a lower price. This time it was well worth it! Although this is definately not for everyone, I feel that it is more than worth it for us, and can be for others depending on their needs.

    Cheers!

33. Ken | 25-Mar-06 at 9:42 am | Permalink

    A sure sign of a company that has a questionable reputation appears here in the over 30 reviews. A cusumer based , customer service company is either consistent with there level of qulaity product and service delivery or not. Such wide ranges in evaluation show poor internal management and lack of standardization of customer services delivery methods across it’s enterprise. A 50% margin of customer satisfaction is no where to but your money. Additionally any organization that says join today or else never is indicative of a scam

    Cheers

34. Kevin | 26-Mar-06 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    I am so glad I found this. From reading some of the reviews, it seems like all the positive reviews have perfect grammars, perioded, commas, etc. Even the spelling is correct. Unbelievable! I have an appointment in 2 days but I am not going to go now. I think $5000 is alot of money that I worked hard for and for me to have to work harder to save it back doesn’t make sense. Good luck to all of you.

35. Chris | 27-Mar-06 at 10:01 am | Permalink

    Good info. Was home this morning and saw the informercial. We are looking to buy a house in major dis-repair. An early estimate is $50K to get into reasonable shape. I thought maybe DirectBuy was a way to save some $$ off from that…. now I think I know better. I am a pretty savy Internet buyer. Sounds like DirectBuy might have some values… but probably not the $5K that it costs to join.

    Thanks for the posts.

    Quick question, Does anyone have any favorite websites for purchasing Cabinets, flooring, appliances for wholesale?

    Michelle: Did you find out anything about getting a wholesale purchasing license in your state? What kind of stores can you go to for these “wholesale” prices?

36. Michelle | 27-Mar-06 at 11:19 am | Permalink

    Chris,

    I checked with my friend and she saved a couple grand on designer furniture with her wholesale license down in Los Angeles at the buyers market. We have entire shopping districts in San Francisco and Los Angeles that are dedicated to furniture, jewelry, home decor, and clothing. You can only buy there if you have your resale license. I have no idea what is available in other states. Apparently the government monitors people with resale licenses pretty closely. I think it works best for those who are interior decorators and are truly purchasing for their clients and every once in a while buys for themselves. I understand that you save the most on the designer furniture. I’m not after designer furniture so I’ve decided to shop local sales, high end furniture consignment shops and estate sales for the furniture I will need.

    My husband has his contractors license so we will be receiving the contractors discount on all building materials, tile, flooring, etc. I’ve been looking at the ikea website for cabinetry for our kitchen and hardwood flooring. I still need to compare pricing and warranties. I’ve found that one of our local tile stores has a warehouse for their sale items. Many are overages from local construction. Smaller amounts that would be perfect for a bathroom. Great deals there! Far less than anything at The Home Depot!

    In speaking with many of our friends who have recently bought appliances I’ve found that you can get incredible deals by shopping local (avoiding shipping fees) and watching for the returned merchandise. Example: Our friends picked up a $400 wine cooler for $125 at Sears because it had a “1/2 scratch on the side.

    I hope some of this is helpful. I personally have time on my side at the moment since we haven’t broke ground yet. Try these sites!
    http://www.hardwoodinstaller.com
    http://www.ikea.com
    http://www.floorshop.com

37. Ann | 31-Mar-06 at 12:16 pm | Permalink

    I’m so happy that I found this page of reviews on DirectBuy. It sounds like it would be a good service if you’re doing a huge renovation project, but I’m only doing my kitchen. The cost of membership would not be offset by the savings, so it’s not worth my while to go. I have an appointment for Monday and already had the impression that this would be a very high-pressure situation. Thanks to everyone who posted notes about their experiences. I can see this service is not for me, and you’ve saved me the annoyance of sitting through their schpiel.

38. Kevin | 01-Apr-06 at 8:06 pm | Permalink

    S.O.S.

    I had signed a contract with directbuy and put down 500.00 deposit today, after got out the the company open house, I had a bad feeling about this and reading at all the messages post on this web site. Now I am getting very scare want to get out of this contract. I had tried contact the company 1(800) number to get information about it, but did not get no answer. What is a first legal step I should do to verified the cancelation before 3 days is up?
    Thankyou

39. Lorri | 02-Apr-06 at 9:52 am | Permalink

    My husband and I went to their open house yesterday not knowing anything about DirectBuy except for the “flyer” that was given to my husband when he was given an Open House appt. We are not TV watchers so we did not know about their infomercial. We spent over three hours trying to decide if it would be worth it for us. We finally said no. The amount of immediate remolding/refurnishing we planned on doing did not justify the up front $4200 .(And you have to pay sales tax on the membership fee!) Once we got home, my husband brought up a very good point that I would love to have asked them. What happens if the franchise you signed up at goes “bust” – what happens to your membership then? Do you have to travel half way across the state to the next franchise? Where’s the savings in that?

    Estate and Garage sales are the way to go for great deals. We bought a Sears side by side refigerator (the same model currently on sale at Sears for $1300) from a new home owner that brought in their own appliances. We paid $500, had a friend of ours with a pick-up delivery it for us, and sold our exsisting one for $85. We brought up this example to the DirectBuy owner and she had to admit that they could not beat that price. We have furnished over 75% of our house with items from these sales and they have been high end items i.e. Boos butcher block table (retail from their website $600) for $80; 14 x 12 oriental rug (never used because it didn’t fit in the homeowners room and the store wouldn’t take it back) $250, McIntosh pre-amp and amplifer (currently selling for approx. $6500 for the pair) $250. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

    We saved ourselves $4200 to buy this season’s Estate sale find!

40. dave | 02-Apr-06 at 11:31 am | Permalink

    Is it legal to run an ad on local newspaper let people know about the kind rif-off of this company operate?

41. Lorri | 02-Apr-06 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

    My husband e-mailed the local tv news channel to have one of their investigative reporters look into this company. Will let you know if anything comes of it

42. Telemarketed by DirectBuy | 05-Apr-06 at 8:03 pm | Permalink

    My other half stopped by some local DirectBuy. I guess they pushed her into giving out some contact info. Luckily she didn’t buy into the scam. But we have been getting telemarketing calls from them repeatedly now. I have given them the anti-call verbage. But they keep calling. Time to report them for harassment. JUST SAY NO TO DIRECTBUY!

43. Sean | 21-Apr-06 at 6:58 am | Permalink

    I was called by DirectBuy and I had seen their infomercials on TV. It sounds like a good idea but I did not know how high it costs to join. I knew something was wrong when I said I could come look but my wife would stay home to watch the kids. They said no you cannot come without her. I told them I have the capability to decide based on a visit whether or not it was for us. They were very rude and told me that they would not do this. Finally, they told me yes I could come on my own and we set up an appointment. They called back the next day to verify that my wife would be with me and I told them no and we agreed to this previously and they said no we cannot do this and my previous rep was wrong in telling me this was ok. I now see they are a high pressure take it or leave it place. Not my style and certainly they must be hiding something. If not, why would they not let you think about it and join later.

44. Mark | 29-Apr-06 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    I’m curious now after reading peoples reviews has anyone that has made an appointment and they didn’t show do they harass you latter?

45. No loser here | 01-May-06 at 11:43 am | Permalink

    Wow! Am I glad I researched and found this site. It will save me a long drive and the aggravation of the hard sales pitch. I thought it would be a few hundred bucks to join! I never imagined it would be $5,000. They’d have to peel me off the floor. I’ve been doing a couple of re-models a year in FL and Maine. I have an awesome salesperson in the appliance dept. at one of the Sears stores in FL. I let her know in advance what I am going to need for my current project, and she lets me know when those items will be on sale at their best price. (They also price match.) She takes care of the entire order for me over the phone. No hassle, and it is delivered to my jobsite exactly when I need it, even if it’s 1500 miles from her store.

46. Faiyaz | 08-May-06 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    7 yrs ago when we were joining we had the same feeling and attitude that this is a scam and you can’t join once you leave the store. But now in all these yrs we have probably saved around 5 to 6 K, which has covered our initial membership fee and the annual fee that we pay.

    You will definitely save money on big items not doubt about that. In fact on small items even if you don’t save money you will get a brand name or a higher quality for the same price that you will find in the retail store.

    One drawn back returning is not as easy as taking back to wall-mart or sears or any big franchise store. We have returned items like mattress and beds, but shipping back and forth is a nuisance, but the store accommodates you and you get your money back. Most of the items we have purchased works great and never have to return them.

    If you are joining this club, make sure that you are joining it for buy big items, that is the only way you will payback your membership.

47. Tracy | 14-May-06 at 1:04 am | Permalink

    I can see how this is legit and could even save a lot of money….

    But to not give you any idea that it is a one time offer and so expensive up-front is pretty bad business. If they were honest up front they would get people who can really benefit and have a far happier customer base in the end.

    This is just like our trip to Mexico a few years ago. We were invited to look at a local hotel in hopes that we would use them when/if we returned. We were offered lunch in return and bargained for a $100 cash gift (they were giving blankets etc. but we were pretty hesitant to go so ended up with a good chunck of cash). We got there by taxi (which they paid for) and ended up in a timeshare pitch. They kept us there for 3 1/2 hours and passed us through several people when we kept telling them no. We had no idea what we were getting into and had no financial ability to commit to something like that.

    We were treated like dirt before we left and they said “well, we can’t help you then” and stomped off. Funny thing was, we didn’t ask for it to begin with.

    At least we had the cash afterwards, others who were equally unhappy got anything from a blanket, to $20. But that did not make up for taking a huge chunck out of a limited time day on vacation.

    That really had nothing to do with this topic LOL, but the treatment and idea was the same.

    After reading this though, if I had the finances to be purchaseing a large $$ amount of stuff, I would probably join. I would however shop for family and friends too. Get their lists and help them save too.

48. Bill B | 14-May-06 at 11:29 am | Permalink

    Any company that does not let you take their sales contract home to be reviewed by a lawyer is an illegal operation in my book. Yeah they know the loopholes in the law and this is the latest “take advantage of the uninformed” sales pitch. I think if you buy into this then I have some ocean front property in Arizona for real cheap. Sheesh. I used to work for a company like this in the customer service department and we were told that when customers that signed up tried to call and cancel the membership, we were to use different tactics to delay them past the three day mark. SCAM alert. I am sorry I had to quit because I have some morals. It would be great if an undercover news crew went to one of these “appointments”. Buyer Beware.

49. Bill B | 14-May-06 at 11:43 am | Permalink

    Just to backup what I said about the contract. A judge ruled their contract as “Grossly Unconscionable”. Eat that DirectBuy. It is also weird they would change their name. To avoid the bad publicity maybe?

50. John B. | 15-May-06 at 2:37 am | Permalink

    I signed up for DirectBuy in Austin and have had no negative experiences with them. The sales tactics were not “high pressure.”

    Yes, they told my wife and I that we had to sign up then or we would not have an opportunity to sign up againn. I actually had respect for that approach because they could easily follow-up with alot of “high pressure” sales calls at my home or office to coerce me into signing up, and that would have been an absolute turn-off. I like the fact they are confident in their service enough that they are willing to let $5k walk out the door without any hard selling effort applied. That’s got to be tough for any motivated salesperson to see happen, but they are letting the product/service speak for themselves. And it’s good to see that all the different DirectBuy locations have kept that policy consistent across all the postings I have read. I would actually be concerned if some franchisees were bending the rules a bit. That’s not what franchisees are supposed to do. They are running a tight ship, and I like that.

    Instead, they explained that if everyone had the chance to leave the DirectBuy facility and do comparison shopping based on the prices they saw during their orientation, that would really create a problem for the manufacturers when these prospective DirectBuy customers show up at their retailers talking about how much cheaper it is to go with DirectBuy.

    This rule makes sense to me. After you become a member, they expect you to abide by the same rules, or else I think they can terminiate your membership. I think that’s a good rule to have. The DirectBuy system will only work if all members abide by this code of conduct.

    I think anyone who goes to the orientation should go in there with the intent to do some comparison shopping on a few key, large items. We did that, and we were comfortable the prices were lower than what we could find at a competing flooring retailer.

    We also liked the selection from within the warehouse. I personally don’t like the idea of schlepping all across town looking for the best deals and keeping an eye for sales for items I might be looking for. There is something to be said about “one-stop shopping.” My time is worth something, and it’s good to know I have one place to go where I know I can get a deal at, or lower, than prevailing market rates.

    I’ve also got to think that a large company that has multiple locations all around the country will be on their P’s and Q’s in not engaging in deceptive practices. How many companies that have a national presence are considered unethical? Not that many, or else they won’t be in business long. That’s alot of money of money to put at risk for the corporate parent. And if you think about it, these guys have to be ethical just like Costco, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, etc., or else the threat of some disenchanted customer showing up at the door and going ‘postal’ on them could become a reality.

    The fact that the center is an open environment where members can talk with each other is also self-policing. If members are unhappy, word can spread like a cancer, and then the entire business can go down the tubes.

    I’m not a lawyer, but it seems their contract terms of no refunds after a certain number of days isn’t that unusual. When you sign up for a country club membership or pay a PSL for season tickets to an NFL team, I don’t think you can get the up-front fee you paid refunded if the bathroom was dirty (first case), or the team had a disappointing season (second case). And if you feel you’ve really been slighted, you can always take them to court if you feel slighted.

    Finally, everyone at the Austin location was very nice and open to answering any question that I had during the orientatioin, and they didn’t try to keep us isolated from other people attending the orientation. Believe me, I’m one of the most skeptical shoppers out there and I can smell a scam when I hear one. I’m also as cheap as you can get. But these guys were very cool about it, and I understood the value really comes from large renovation projects.

    My wife and I are also new to the Austin area, and on top of that, we don’t know which contractors are trustworthy or not in the city. But DirectBuy seems to have relationships with trusted contractors and can make insightful references, which is worth alot. They also have staff members in the facility who can provide guidance on the different ways to go about do-it-yourself jobs around the home. For a home repair challenged person like myself, it’s always good to have someone around who can provide guidance in person beyond instructions you’ll read on the Internet. There’s nothing else better than face-to-face contact.

    I know my description here may make it sound like I’m a DirectBuy employee or something, but I’m not. Maybe I’m looking at the glass half-full (or 3/4 full), rather than half-empty.

51. Jo Ann | 21-May-06 at 7:08 am | Permalink

    Thanks for all the info. We are planning on building in the next few months and had considered this. I do not like to be pressured into anything and hate people being pushy with me because at times I can be a real pushover! I am also a good bargain shopper and believe I can find savings on my own without having to pay $5000.00!! Thanks again!

52. Maria | 27-May-06 at 8:34 pm | Permalink

    My husband and I just got back from our DirectBuy sales pitch, and because you don’t Google every place you go to for the first time, it never had occured to us that we would be forced to make a “now or never” decision on the spot.

    During the presentation they gave us some average savings % per buying category (e.g. furniture, flooring, even groceries), but their actual price examples always involved high-end items (e.g. $30,000 bedroom sets) that we would never buy even at a discount, which made me wonder if their average 25%, 40%, and 57% savings figures were skewed towards big ticket items, and the savings we should expect for the stuff we would actually buy would be more like 5%-20%. I never got a straight answer on that one.

    We quickly understood that if we were not going to make some really big purchases pretty soon, our $4500 would be completely wasted. So we said sorry, can’t do NOW, and got quickly escorted out, leaving with a funny taste in our mouths.

    After blogging about our experience, I googled DirectBuy and found tons of interesting articles like this, and other alarming ones regarding spotty customer service, difficult returns, buying constraints, etc. which only reinforce our decision. As Sean says above, I’ve gone from loser to winner just by reading this. THANK YOU!

53. Kevin | 30-May-06 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

    To Faiyaz, and John B, I don’t know what item you said you save big. but I found some items in their catalog, which I am very familiar with, their price are about 10% – 25% higher than Home Depot. (Save On Big Items) Furniture? I am sure if you shop around locally and on internet you will beat their price, plus save yourself 5000.00 hard earning money,and returning hassle policy.

54. Deborah | 31-May-06 at 3:01 pm | Permalink

    Run, don’t walk away from Direct Buy. I attended a presentation and joined Direct Buy in March 2006. The Representative for the franchise told me that they had a certain product. When I went to order product, I was unable to find it in the product list. I immediately called the franchise and explained that I was unable to find the product on the website. I was told I was probably not searching correctly and I would need to come in for the new member orientation. To make a long story short, I went in and wasted time going thru orientation and they do not have the product that I was told I would be able to order.

    I called several time to speak with the franchise owner and he did not return my calls. I then aquired his email address and asked to cancel my membership. I explained that I was told I could get the product and now I am unable to do so and I am not happy with receiving false information. I would not have joined if I had known I would be unable to get the product.

    He said that he would not be willing to cancel my membership. I am interested in joining a class action suit against the company. Any one else out there with legal info, please contact me at dking2@charter.net
    Thanks,
    Deborah

55. J | 17-Jun-06 at 2:49 am | Permalink

    My Fiancee and I joined Direct Buy recently and we knew going in about the cost, the buy now or never come back, as well as some of the savings we could get. A friend of ours secretly checked the Direct Buy web catalog and requested pricing on a few appliances we will need as we are getting our first home soon. We knew that just on the appliances we would save $2000. That doesnt include the $3000 we will save of the dining room set she has had her eye on forever So thats out investment made back right there.

    This doesnt include the savings we will likely get on living room. bedroom, and kitchen furnture… patio set, BBQ, Central Air, Window treatments, china, TVs, etc… Literally we need everything for the house when we get it. So for people like us it seems like it will save $10000 easy. Since we know we already will break even of the 5 appliances and dining room set.

    Also a thing we did not know before we went to out open house was that we can get discounted movie tickets, coupon cards for restaurants, etc that for us would save additional $$ over the course of a year as we do like to get out for a night. Though this may be location specific.

    I will be up front and say we have yet to purchase an item because we do not have the house yet, but we were not pressured at all. Sure they said sign today or dont come back… but really it was the nicest way it could possibly have been said. I told my fiancee how skeptical I was before we talked to our friend. She gave it to us straight. Showed us the prices in black and white(Direct buy will email you price of an item on their website). While the one time offer really had me on edge… I understand the reason. It works because members do not go blabbing to the retail stores or share information unless people are serious about joining.

    Direct Buy like almost anything in this world is not for everyone. Not everyone is in my situation. But to echo a sentiment from before…. it seems the biggest complaints are from non-members. It may not have every item under the sun… but most retail stores dont either. I would be impossible unless the store was the size of Nebraska!

    So take everything i have said and others have said with a grain of salt. It may work for you or it may not. But if you have a lot of major purchases to do… then I think its for you. If you buy low end or dont buy a lot often.. then for sure dont do it. $3900 is nothing to sneeze at.

56. J | 17-Jun-06 at 3:10 am | Permalink

    Me again… I totally forgot to mention this….
    It is not a retail store.. in fact it isnt a store at all so dont think of it as one

    They do not handle returns. You better be sure what you are buying first. Get the Model number first before going to the showroom. Colour as well
    Retail can always resell a return. Well since Direct Buy is not a store why would anyone assume they take returns?!?

    Warranties are dealt with directly with Manufacurer. It is still the same warranty whether its retail or direct buy. Part of the mark-up at retail allows you to have them deal with any problems. Since I am a self-motivated type I have no problems dealing directly with a manufacurer as i have done so in the past. If you want everything on a silver platter… pass on direct buy.

    Direct Buy doesn’t do anything more than give you access to the Manufacturer. I do not expect great customer service in the sense they will bendover backwards to please me. They help when you have a question but I do not expect them to work miracles. So if you expect that all you have to do is show up and say i want this… think again. To get savings you have to do the legwork yourself(or for the mostpart). The fee I paid to me is strictly about having the one-stop shop and the savings. I am aware of all the other details and for some its a turn off. I completely understand. As I said in my last post… it isnt for everyone. But if you are not one who needs to be coddled… have a lot of purchases… then it may be the thing for you.

57. sugarnuts | 18-Jun-06 at 11:19 pm | Permalink

    DIRECTBUY IS NOT FOR IDIOTS

    I notice that many of the negative comments on this site comes from people who did not joined the club. If you did not join, how do you know its a scam? The decision people have to make is to continue buying at high retail prices…or buy direct at cost. Where is the pressure? It is a simple decision. When I went to the open house 15 months ago, they answered all of my question. I even asked why they could not answer my questions over the phone? The answer made sense, they wanted me to see for myself the value of the club. And frankly, if they had told me the dues over the phone, I would not be a member today. If the concept don’t make sense to you, do the math.

    A very happy member

58. KW | 30-Jun-06 at 7:04 pm | Permalink

    MAJOR BUYER’S REMORSE

    To our extreme misfortune, my husband and I are members of Direct Buy. We joined last November. I have never regretted a decision so much. I only wish we had done some research before going to the presentation. We just bought a new house and needed to furnish it. So far we’ve purchased a large dining room set, a bedroom set, a bed frame, and barstools.

    Here’s what you need to know about DirectBuy:

    1. It is VERY hard to find what you want in a catalog.
    2. They advertise this HUGE savings that you’ll get…it’s based on MSRP…show me a store that sells based on MSRP. We’ve purchased some big ticket items – and don’t feel like we’ve saved anything.
    3. Expect to wait 8 weeks to get almost everything.
    4. Expect terrible customer service.
    5. The Shipping Costs are HUGE! This is an important one. Our last purchase was 2 barstools. Upon purchasing we agreed to pay the following “estimated costs”:

    2 barstools 372.00
    Shipping 63.24
    U.C.C. Handling fee 29.76
    Sales Tax 23.25
    Total = $488.25

    Two weeks ago we received an additional bill requesting another $158.82. (Yes, that’s right, they can bill you for more after you buy and receive an item. This has happened to us on 3 different occasions.) The “actual cost” of the items were as follows:

    2 barstools 372.00
    Shipping 214.50
    U.C.C. Handling fee 29.76
    Sales Tax 30.81
    Total = $647.07

    Do the math…that is almost 40% shipping and handling…that’s CRAZY.

    We are done purchasing from DirectBuy. It’s too much work, too much hassle, too much money – for no benefit. Our $4,000 went down the drain, I only hope that someone else will make a better decision than we did.

59. sugarnuts | 02-Jul-06 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

    Major Buyers Remorse????

    You never mentioned how much you saved on all the things you purchased. If you compare DirectBuy to the retail stores, there will obvously be some trade off. In a retail store you point out what you want, pay for it, and have it delivered to your home. At DB, because its a different way of buying, you will have to do some work. I dare you to tell the truth. Go back to the store, find the exact things you purchased, (don’t forget to add sales tax and shipping) If you did’nt save, then you have the right to complain. Stop being lazy…the only way your $4000 does down the drain is if you stop shopping.

    Just yesterday I priced a glass pedestal dining table, 4 chairs, server, and mirror. Total cost with shipping, handling, taxes, and freight, is $3,218.00 I priced the exact same items at an “outlet store” one week ago for $5,368.00 If $2,150.00 is not worth 2 hours work, & hassle, you must be rich. Some of us hard working blokes can’t afford to give all the money to some store owner. Fact is when you go to a store, you never see the “HUGE” shipping cost, because it is neatly rapped up in the retail price. At lease at directbuy, you know exactly where your money is going.

    No buyer’s remorse here.

60. Roger sharpe | 20-Jul-06 at 6:58 am | Permalink

    Im sorry, but based on my reading this Blog. Im going to stay away from this contentious Business. any firm that uses hi pressure, buy now or never, and wont share their pricing up front, certainly has something to hide. And any business representative that insults potential clients by using strident language like piss and moan..certainly doesnt deserve my dollars……..
    Where theres Smoke theres fire…

61. Michael | 21-Jul-06 at 4:26 pm | Permalink

    My wife and I attended a DirectBuy open house this week and decided not to join although we do believe that under certain circumstances members can save some money. There were several things about the sales presentation that were either patronizing or illogical.

    Patronizing : We didn’t need a detailed explanation of the retail supply chain or how retailers price their products and we certainly did not need to hear it 5 times.

    Illogical : The take it now or leave it premise makes no sense. They claim they are protecting their suppliers but protecting them from what? How would giving prospective members 24 hours to think it over hurt their suppliers? During the presentation they have already told you (20 times) how to figure out the amount retail stores mark up their products. It makes no sense and we did not believe it for a second. Ditto for the “You can’t look at the catalogs until you sign” rule. If they truly believed that everyone would save a lot of money they would instruct each prospective member to bring the receipts of their last 3 major/semi-major purchases. Then they would sit down with you and show you in the catalogs how much money you would have saved if you have bought those same products with them. When something can be proven that easily but the choice is made not to, that is suspicious.

    Having said all of that I don’t think it is an outright scam, although some of their claims are dubious, but a high pressure sales pitch. Bottom line, we did not feel good enough about it to join.

62. Jill | 23-Jul-06 at 2:30 pm | Permalink

    Even as you read, this scam, which is nothing more than and a variation of the “Advance Fee Fraud” scheme, is parting yet more of the “something for nothing” crowd from their money.

    Here’s how it works: a telephone “tickler” call is made to a potential victim and an informative letter is sent afterwards inviting them to an open house so they can see for themselves how much others like them have saved and how much they themselves would save, along with some form of an invitation to join. The letter and subsequent follow-up telephone calls promise rich rewards of savings by buying direct from the manufacturer, at cost, with no Mark Up, No Middleman if only they were “members” of this so called highly esteemed and long time in business organisation. Typically, the pitch at the open house includes mention the so called fact that tens of thousands of other smart and savvy consumers have saved along with a slick selection of what they have saved on — and you, too, can begin saving as soon as you join this elustrous group by signing a “membership agreement” costing thousands of dollars payable in advance of receiving any benefits – you are told that amount is paltry compared to the savings you will obtain over a 10 year period – and you must sign the contract on a now or never basis. You are even made to feel stupid if you don’t sign – only a fool would not take advantage of the savings – spend a little to save a lot sort of thing.

    If you’re not saying “scam” by now, you should be. Should you agree to participate in this Advance Fee savings scam, something will go wrong. Savings evaporate … or.. Wrong or defective merchandise will be ordered … or … Order delays … or … Order mishaps and screw-ups. You will not be allowed to cancel your “membership” and get out of the deal.

    If you decide to order merchandise, money from you, in advance of receiving the merchandise — an insignificant sum, really, in light of the windfall of savings about to land in your lap — will be required to order merchandise without any written guarantees of actually saving money.. You pay, you wait for the merchandise . . . and all you’ll get in return are more excuses about why the order is held up and assurances that everything can be straightened out if you’ll just be patient and wait a little while longer or send a bit more to pay for this or that price increase. Once you start making threats, these scammers will threaten to sue you if you don’t make good on your end of paying for the membership contract in full.

    Beware that the Membership Agreement is in reality nothing more than a legally binding sales contract that may have been glossed over in light of all the savings you are excited about expecting. Carefully look at it – it contains NO GUARANTEES OF SAVINGS – instead there is a “NO ORAL PROMISES” clause: “No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the club.” It’s like a get out of jail free card – they can tell you anything pie in the sky in the open house tour or over the phone to get you to join, but once you sign the sales or Membership Agreement, you agree to the NO ORAL PROMISES clause! So what happens if it turns out not to be what you expected? Ouch. Too late. You’re stuck. That NO ORAL PROMISES clause comes back and bites you. Want a refund? Beware that the Membership Agreement states: “Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and that no refund of membership fees will be made.” So you only partially paid on your contract and think that you’re just not going to pay the rest of the contracted amount? — beware that the Membership Agreement states further: “Members do not have the right to terminate the Membership Agreement without paying the amount remaining for this Membership.” And if you think you’re going to get a refund because you never found anything cheaper and therefore didn’t use the club, think again. There’s a clause in the Membership Agreement about this too: “The Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership.”

    In a nutshell, the con works by blinding the victim with promises of an unimaginable fortune of what others like them have saved, what they could have saved if only they joined earlier, and what they can expect to save by joining now. Once the sucker is excited and sufficiently glittery-eyed over the prospect of what he or she would do with all the money he will save, he is then squeezed for however much membership fee in full at the time of “joining” or have the sales contract balance immediately financed by a separate finance company, actually a subsidiary of the parent scam company. The money the victim parts with willingly, thinking “What’s $5,000 here when I’m going to end up saving over $50,000 when this is all done?” He fails to realize during the sting that he’s never going to actually get the promised savings because all of savings are expressly disclaimed in the fine print of the contracts and merchandise ordering materials. The very sales contract, which the victim was at first eager to sign, now comes back to bite him with all those adverse terms and conditions. All of this messing around is designed to part him from his money.

    Once the scam is explained, it seems so obvious a con that you’d wonder who would fall for it. Yet fall for it people do because they’re mesmerized by the wealth that will soon be theirs in the form of all the savings by not paying any markup or middleman costs – and how smart they are by taking advantage of the join now or never opportunity. They also fail to realize there’s a hook hanging just out of sight; at first all they see is that others are getting savings and they want to join this cadre, thus they’re ill-prepared to mentally shift gears when the con artists turns the tables. Because the premise of “saving tons of money” is wholeheartedly swallowed early on, it’s not at a later point questioned when things begin to go wrong with the transaction and the dupes who have been targeted find out the hard way that there is a no refund policy on all the money they have paid in advance of receiving these now questionable “savings.”

    Beware paying in advance for something for nothing – no written guarantees of promises made should send you running – especially in light of the tactics of “Be like me, I’ve saved money.”

    http://edumacation.com/DirectBuy

63. Steve | 01-Aug-06 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

    Thank you so much for these comments. Me and my wife were going to go the open house, but now there is NO WAY! The open house was in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Our sales guy was Quintin Hill.

    He told me that both me and my wife had to come, I couldn’t come alone. This raised my suspicion. However, I had no idea you had to sign the contract right then!! This was not in my mail packet. Quintin acted surprised that I did not know this.

    This is just so obviously a BS ploy, I’m really surprised people fall for it. Maybe it can work in certain circumstances, but the “buy now or never” tactic is just crap.

    I crumpled my flier and threw it in the garbage. What a bunch of jerks.

64. Mike | 02-Aug-06 at 6:30 pm | Permalink

    Does anyone have any experience with DirectBuy of Manhattan (36th and 7th Ave)? It would appear that people’s experiences are franchise specific and that customer service, responsiveness, etc. vary from franchise to franchise. Any feedback of DirectBuy of Manhattan would be helpful (customer service, savings, issues with defective merchandise, etc.) Thank you.

65. Li | 06-Aug-06 at 2:48 am | Permalink

    Has anyone gone for kicks? It sounds hilarious and could be entertaining. I’m debating…

66. Brad | 06-Aug-06 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    I’d be afraid to do that, they might suck you in!

67. Mike | 06-Aug-06 at 12:52 pm | Permalink

    Believe it or not, my intention was to go for kicks, and I had no intention of signing up and they absolutely did suck me in. They’re extremely good at the art of the hard sell. They go for your integrity and imply that there’s something wrong with you (psychologically) if you’re too suspicious, skeptical and/or don’t completely accept what they’re representing.

68. Daphne Stannard | 14-Aug-06 at 7:32 pm | Permalink

    I, too, have seen the DirectBuy ads on tv lately. I’m very upset because I was one of the suckers who was scammed by them about 25 years in the San Jose/Santa Clara area in California.

    The description of their current practices is exactly the same. When I joined, I was told that DirectBuy could get me ANY product I found ANYWHERE at significant savings. All I had to do was call in the product Brand and ID number. When I did given them the required information, I was told (after many delays) that the product I wanted was no longer available. Before I could put pressure on them, or TRY to buy another item, the company went bankrupt AND was in trouble with the law for fraud. BUT since each showroom is individually owned, there is no recourse to the national company, nor does any legal action carry over from ’showroom’ to ’showroom’.

    I have just emailed Discovery TV and alerted them to this situation. I hope other people will also alert newspapers, tv stations, and legal agencies. I don’t know how to stop DirectBuy, but if WE don’t they will continue to fleece innocent people.

    Please post any action you have taken here, to give the rest of us more ideas of what we can do to stop DirectBuy.

69. Missy | 15-Aug-06 at 4:25 pm | Permalink

    I am so glad that I found this site. I had an appointment scheduled for today but had to cancel it. The rep that I talked to wanted me to reschedule it for sometime during the week but I kept insisting that I could only come on the weekend. He finally agreed that I could come on Saturday morning at 9:15 am. I would have had to get up at 6:00am to make the appointment. He said that the weekends were only for contractors. I tried to find out from him how much it would cost to join and he told me that they had several different kinds of memberships and I would have to go to open house to find out.

    At first I thought this whole thing was a good idea because we had just got a house that needs remodeled and are planning to build a new one when it’s paid off. I just came online to try to find out how much the membership fee was but I have learned so much more. Thank you all for your comments and sharing your experiences. I see now that this is something that I really can’t afford to do at all.

70. Obvious | 15-Aug-06 at 10:00 pm | Permalink

    To those of you who are curious……go to a presentation.
    If you are hesitant …….don’t join. There are many many people who benifit from DirectBuy every day. Noone forces you to sign at the X when you go, so don’t join if you are unsure if it will benifit you.

71. Education | 19-Aug-06 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    Directbuy has a join now or never sales policy.

    You shouldn’t use your DirectBuy visitor pass unless you’re sure you’re ready to spend several thousand dollars on a DirectBuy membership. Otherwise, if you attend the DirectBuy presentation but don’t become a member, you’ll lose the opportunity to join DirectBuy for several years or maybe forever!

    Should you use your DirectBuy visitor pass to listen to their sales presentation?

    Of course, you won’t attend if you don’t think DirectBuy is going to save you money.

    But if you’re thinking about joining, don’t attend the sales presentation either, until you can eliminate any doubts about joining. Otherwise, you’re likely to find yourself in the position that you have to make a decision one way or the other, before you have the opportunity to satisfy yourself which is the right decision.

    If right now you decide not to attend, you can always change your mind and attend later. But if you do attend and then join, you can’t undo that decision later. That’s a really good reason not to attend the DirectBuy sales presentation.

    Also, look at the terms of the membership agreement. Here are a few of the terms contained in the membership agreement that you should be aware of:

    “Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and no refund of membership fees will be made.”

    “No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the Club.”

    “This Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership.”

    “The Club disclaims all warranties regarding the merchandise, express or implied, including without limitation, all warranties of merchantability.”

    “Any need for subsequent repairs or service, after receipt of merchandise, is members’ own responsibility.”

    Are you really ready to plunk several thousands of dollars down without getting any guarantees of savings? zero refund policy? and zero repair or service after the receipt of merchandise?

    Hmmm…I’ll hold off going.

72. stink2006 | 19-Aug-06 at 10:35 am | Permalink

    hey i am a directbuy employee i have been working here for about a year and half. All the comments that i read have some truth some lies. i am writing this to try to clarify things abit. Directbuy has been in business for over 34 years and have locations all across america and canada and we have millions on members. To explain the whole proess of getting an appointment, you can either call one of our 1800 numbers or visit one of our websites. and then that will generate a lead and send all your information to the closest directbuy center in your area. then one of the marketing associates will give you a call back go over your information and your need and try to find a convient time for you to come in. When the question in asked about your need we ask it for a reason. We try to qualify people on the phone before they come in so that we dont waste their time. i can tell your for sure i am a marketing associate myself and i have told many people that i dont think directbuy would be of benefit to them. So i want to make sure everybody understands that we will not bring you in if we dont think directbuy can be of use to you. With the membership fee it is not a rule of directbuy but a rule of our manfactures who supply us. They ask that we keep the membership quite untill you come into the open house only because they want you to come in with a clear mind about directbuy not just the membership. When you come down for a tour all the directors try to do is sell you concept. Try to make you look at the big picture like 10 years from now and not just tomorrow. Many people have came to directbuy that had no need but relized the concept was great and joined. The membership varies from center because of location. Just like anything would cars, gas,houses, anything. It is true the only way directbuy stays in business is the membership b/c after that directbuy no longer gets any of your money. all of our manfactures have lifetime warrenties that we do stand by. When a product come into our warehouse it is striped out of the box and completely examined for scratches, dent, broken pieces, everything. If anything is wrong it will be immediatly sent back or your money is refunded. I have seen several projects come in damage and the manfacuture would not take it back. and the owner from my center has came out of his pocket and repaid the member. Also when you come down for a tour we ask that your bring prices and quotes so that we canshow you the direct savings on things you know you will be buying and not just on things that you might be buying. To let you know before i go just to give you something to think about. THE AVERAGE PERSON IN AMERICA SPENDS ABOUT $$$$$$ 57,200 A YEAR ON JUST PRODUCTS FOR THEIR HOME RETAIL. WITH A DIRECTBUY MEMBERSHIP IT REDUCES TO ABOUT 6,580 A YEAR THAT YOU SPEND ON MEMBERSHIP THAT WOULD LEAVE YOU ABOUT 50,000 LEFT FOR YOU TO SPEND AS YOUR PLEASE ON YOUR HOME OR WHATEVER. BY THE WAY THE 6580 INCLUDED THE INITAL MEMBERSHIP AND THE YEARLY DUES AFTER 2 YEARS. Honestly to tell you the truth i can only speak for Directbuy of Metro Washington here in Maryland. All of our members are very happy with our services. Yes we are all one corporation but we are all independently owned centers. If you had a bad experience at Directbuy Iam sure it was not at my center here in Gaithersburg, Maryland. thank you

73. More Education | 19-Aug-06 at 12:07 pm | Permalink

    http://edumacation.com/DirectBuyMembershipAgreement

    “No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the Club.”

    Means they can tell out anything to try to get you to join – I think the poster above just did that.

    “Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and no refund of membership fees will be made.”

    and

    “This Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership.”

    means that even if you don’t use your membership, i.e. don’t buy anything – don’t find anything cheaper – have an unpleasant buying experience – whatever – there are NO REFUNDS!

    “The Club disclaims all warranties regarding the merchandise, express or implied, including without limitation, all warranties of merchantability.”

    “Any need for subsequent repairs or service, after receipt of merchandise, is members’ own responsibility.”

    May be wrong and it seems what the poster said above was untrue.

    Can they do that? Sure, remember the NO ORAL PROMISES OR STATEMENTS NOT CONTAINED IN THS MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT SHALL BIND OR OBLIGATE THE CLUB.

74. frosty | 20-Aug-06 at 12:11 am | Permalink

    stink2006 (appropriate name) above stated:

    “THE AVERAGE PERSON IN AMERICA SPENDS ABOUT $$$$$$ 57,200 A YEAR ON JUST PRODUCTS FOR THEIR HOME RETAIL. ”

    Sorry Stink, bad example. According to the US Census bureau, the average person in America does not even make $57,200/year. Even if there were people out there willing to spend 1/2 of their entire salary on home retail products (most of our money goes into mortgages, car payments, food and everyday bills), those people would have to be making well over 6 figures, especially after taxes to be able to spend that much on home furnishings.

    It seems that, unfortunately, many folks are goaded into this “scam” by examples of how they can buy that dining room set, which has a MSR price of $5000+ for “only” $2-3000 through DirectBuy. Well, I for one, probably wouldn’t even buy a dining room set for even $2k in the first place. Even without comparison shopping, I can always find a nice set at the local furniture retail store for under $1000. From the research I’ve done, yes…you probably can save money eventually, as a member of DirectBuy, if you plan on make “large” acquisitions and if the buyer prefers that those acquisitions happen to be of those brands which DirectBuy carries (which from many of the comments, does not always seem to be the case). In my opionion, very few people actually fall into that category. And as far as some of the previous statements about “how the only negative comments seem to come from those who are not members”, well, unfortunately, it’s human nature that people don’t like to admit that they’ve been “had” or scammend.

75. Frank | 21-Aug-06 at 5:50 pm | Permalink

    I work for a manufacturer that supplies DirectBuy, as well as big box stores. I have seen shipments going out to DirectBuy, so I Googled it to find out what it was and stumbled across this website. I then checked out our invoices to DirectBuy, as well as their invoices to their customers (we have access to some of them), and also invoices to our “big box” customers which I will not name.

    From my research, DirectBuy charges their members exactly what we charge them, plus a small handling fee of a few percent. Also, they charge their members exactly what we charge them in terms of freight. I spoke to the Account Manager at our company who deals with DirectBuy, and he said DirectBuy actively tries to lower freight costs for their members and they are very sensitive when it comes to pricing.

    As for the big-box store that I mentioned earlier, they charge a 14.21% markup.on the products that we supply them. However, the big box stores do not carry our entire line and the products we sell them are part of our so-called “B line”, which means the quality isn’t as good as the quality we supply to DirectBuy, which buys our “A line”. Stores that carry our “A line” have a markup ranging from 60 – 70%.

    Having seen the invoices, I can confidently say that DirectBuy provides excellent value to their members when it comes to dealing with our products, which are in the $1000 – $2000 range wholesale.

    One more thing I wanted to add: I completely understand why DirectBuy does not allow non-members to view their catalogs and prices. If they did, then suppliers would not sell to them. DirectBuy is hated by a lot of retailers because they undercut them. If people go to a retail store and say that they saw D product at DirectBuy for much less, the retailers get extremely annoyed and contact the supplier and give them hell because the whole situation makes them look bad and lose business. Members cannot do that because it prohibits them from doing so in their contract (or so DirectBuy tells us). That is why non-members have limited access.

    Anyways, I’m not a member because I’m not doing a reno (I live in a rented apartment!), but I do think it’s a good idea for people doing kitchen or bath renovation especially, since the retail markup is supposedly very high in those categories. I think it’s important that all points of view and all experiences are shared on the Internet so people can make a decision based on balanced information.

76. D | 25-Aug-06 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

    So glad I found this blog. My husband and I set up an appointment next Wednesday in E.Syracuse, NY. We’re doing minor renovations and decorating to our home, but after reading this, there’s no way I can afford the membership fee. It’s not worth it for us. Maybe if we were to build a home, but even then, with the internet now you can find so many good deals, and with “home improvement” such a huge industry now, competition is fierce, meaning better deals for the consumer. I guess it works for some people if money is no object, but for those of us in the middle-class, it just doesn’t cut it. It doesn’t seem worth the hassle.

77. Richard | 26-Aug-06 at 9:24 am | Permalink

    Saw their commerical on TV this morning and I thought it looked interesting. Then I did some research on the web and read this Blog. What a scam! Anytime you have to sign a contract without a chance to sleep on it or carefully consider then something is fishy somewhere. Also, like others have said, if it is so good why don’t they give you time to think about it? And one last thing, there sure are a lot of obviously “planted emails” from directbuy on this blog (case in point “Frank” directly above). If a company has to resort to these kind of tactics then they have real problems.

    Thanks again for this Blog.

78. Shaun | 27-Aug-06 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    I have been a member of direct buy for 12+ years and over that time period have made several large purchases, ie: stove, frig., dish waher, washer, dryer, living room furniture, carpet, ect. ect. ect. I have also purchases much smaller items with savings as well, not as much but there were savings. I did not make all of these in one or two years, and had a number of years that I made no purchases at all. I can say with all honesty that I have saved thousands of dollars, and the customer service was excellent, some of the items were damaged when they were received,direct buy called me and said that they would be returning these items to be replaced which they did w/o problem. The manufactures warranties are the same as you would get if you were to buy these or any item from Sears, Lowes , Home Depot, or any other store in your local area. I live in Pennsylvania and use the Lancaster show room, they are #1 in my book . Yes the upfront money is quite alot. So if you are seriously considering this save up before you go and go with an open mind. They have been in business for over 30 yearsI don’t think anyone could scam people for that long without being caught.

79. Scam Exposed | 27-Aug-06 at 8:52 am | Permalink

    Caught now:

    “The Club disclaims all warranties regarding the merchandise, express or implied, including without limitation, all warranties of merchantability.”

    “Any need for subsequent repairs or service, after receipt of merchandise, is members’ own responsibility.”

    May be wrong and it seems what the poster said above was untrue.

80. J | 28-Aug-06 at 4:25 pm | Permalink

    Actually the waranties are from the manufacturer not DB. So you have to deal with the manufacturer directly. I posted about that further up. DB is not a store. The whole concept is that to save the $$ you make some sacrifices. Wait time for delivery, no returns, and warranty you deal with manufacturer.

    One thing that seems to be true is that some centres are far different than others. The one I go to in Toronto is amazing. Very helpful staff and we were never pressured to join. No hard sell to us. They laid it out on the table. If you arent going to be spending a lot then dont join as its a waste of $$.

    What I do not understand is why people like to call it a scam when it clearly works for some.

81. J | 28-Aug-06 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

    Actually one more thing… when people point out posts that are “obviously” from DB. Why dont you also consider that some of the “its a scam” post come from retailers trying to stop people from joining?

    Food for thought.

    PS – The no returns thing i mentioned does not include defective items. Those get returned and replaced.

82. All about J | 28-Aug-06 at 6:32 pm | Permalink

    > What I do not understand is why people like to call it a scam
    > when it clearly works for some.

    I don’t know, maybe a Canadian Court saying so:

    http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/judgments/pc/2002/01/p02%5F0197.htm

    If you go to the one owned by Steven Tratner, he was mentioned in the CBC investigative report:

    http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/services/ucc/index.html

    > The whole concept is that to save the $$ you make some sacrifices.
    > Wait time for delivery, no returns, and warranty you deal
    > with manufacturer.

    > make some sacrifices

    What was the $5,000 non-refundable, non-cancelable membership fee for?

    > “You deal with the manufacturer”

    Does that conflict in any way with the Member’s Pledge “Members will not call or deal directly with the Club suppliers. “??

    Just how does one “deal with the manufactuer when you cannot call them?

    Before you have to make some sacrifices AND put up over $5,000 up front money, read and understand the NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-CANCELLABLE sales contract that contains NO GUARANTEES OF SAVINGS they are trying to get you to sign:

    http://edumacation.com/DirectBuyMembershipAgreement

    May work for some, doesn’t work for me and others I am sure.

83. Wauketa | 28-Aug-06 at 6:57 pm | Permalink

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I actually thought about creating such a page warning other consumers of DirectBuy.

    My husband and I are also in the process of seeking a refund and it doesn’t look promising.

    We have had nothing but problems with DirectBuy and can’t seem to get anywhere. The club owner seems to not really care about us as consumers, but then again why would she. They get all of their money up front, membership fee, handling fee, shipping and the cost of the product. You order and pay then wait, wait for someone to call you to tell you that your product is in. My husband and I waited over 15 weeks for a product only to be told, “Oh, you had to order two (2) of those, sorry.” (This is only one problem we’ve had.)

    Since a refund doesn’t seem likely we plan to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, write a letter to Consumer report and call the news.

    I live in Michigan and we will contact, Ruth to the Rescue, who is a Consumer Reporter, Problem Solvers and Hall of Shame.

    Ironically we are not confrontational people but THIS IS RIDICULIOUS!!!

    Thanks again for allowing me to vent,
    Wauketa
    Michigan

84. Karen | 02-Sep-06 at 9:14 pm | Permalink

    I went to a DirectBuy presentation today. I knew there would be some sort of membership fee (after all, nothing is free). I was shocked when it came to almost $5K!

    What I didn’t care for is if I didn’t sign up as a member today, then I could never join. First of all, I have 100 attorneys on retainer, and before I sign any contract, I want the contract reviewed by one of my attorneys. I suspect there is a federal law out there, that does have a 72 hour “opt” out provision. Nonetheless, I like to be able to do due diligence on a big financial purchase.

    I think where this membership can benefit some folks, is those who will be buying a lot of big ticket items. I won’t be doing any remodeling for 3 years, so I didn’t feel like the cash outlay would benefit me immediately.

    I also didn’t like the fact that I wasn’t allowed to look at 1-2 catalogs. I understand their rule about it, but I’m one of these folks out there “show me, don’t tell me”.

    Make sure you do your due diligence and know what your needs are going to be for the next 1-3 years.

85. Ernie | 02-Sep-06 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    Went to a presentation in Pleasanton, CA today. Not really high pressure as decribed above. We knew nothing about it and went in cold. We were quite surprised by the “time share” type presentation. We are doing a major remodel in California (in our second year) and plan to start on the kitchen in about 6 months. We were not ready to plunk down $5995 today and left on good terms. Knowing what it cost to do kitchen cabinets in this area, we figure a membership might be worth it just for that. Has anyone on this blog purchased kitchen cabinets this year? We are using HomeDepot Expo as a basic reference as they carry high end brands that seem of good quality but quite expensive. I have read the above 80 plus comments. Seems that if you are going to do a kitchen, bathroom etc and willing to do the work, it would be worth it. It is the labor cost that are killing us right now and they claim they have local people that do good work at discounted prices secondary to volume. Any comments on that point?
    Ernie

86. Thomas | 03-Sep-06 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    They are not really very strong in kitchens -

    http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/2/2004/2004-ohio-2426.pdf

    http://www.sconet.state.oh.us./rod/newpdf/2/2002/2002-ohio-3806.pdf

    are two published judicial decisions about this.

    Take a look at

    http://edumacation.com/DirectBuyLawsuits

    for more information about their legal woes and

    http://edumacation.com/DirectBuy

    Too shaddy of a deal to be worth $5,000+ – for that amount of money you expect platinum white glove treatment – not problems, hassles, and disclaimers.

87. Phillip | 04-Sep-06 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

    I have a feeling that most of the posters on this blog are from DB and retailers rattling back an fourth.

    I have a DB contract right here beside me and all of the dribble that has been said about the contract is not true.

    Some of those clauses may have been true back in the day when DB was UCC but from the center I just joined it is not case. There is none of the wording that has been quoted in these blogs on my contract.

    As far as canceling, right on the back of the contract is a notice of cancellation. You have 3 days to opt out (maybe it is a California thing) However it is there and very easy to do. So you can take it and have one of your 100 lawyers on retention read it and if they dont like it you can get your money back.

    If you have remodeling to do or funiture purchases and are going to be spending the money anyway DB makes sense because you will recoupe the membership, and then some.

    If you are an IKEA kind of person DB is not for you.

    Keep in mind if you dont have the money to spend on $2,500 dinning sets ect (Because remember all of this purchasing is cash (or credit card) there is no finanancing at DB) then it is not for you anyway.

    And if you have to use a credit card to make these purchases then you are going to loose any savings in the interest so DB is not for credit card people.

    It takes money to make (Or in this case save) money.

    Just purchased my membership on 9/3 still have time to cancel but not going to becasue I have some big ticket cash purchases to make. I might as well save as much of my green as I can.

    Nothing ventured nothing gained.

88. Steve | 10-Sep-06 at 2:26 pm | Permalink

    Hi everyone, I have been reading up on this website about DirectBuy and all of the reviews. First off, If people do not know that the opportunity to join is a one time offer it is thier own fault. I just joined 3 months ago and I knew full well that I had to make a decision. Wanna know why?? Because it is in the information that they sent me. If people choose not to read the info in the package, how can that be DirectBuys fault? The person I dealt with and all of the others that I observed were all completely pressure free. There were a lot of members shopping and we looked through catalogs before I signed any contract to make sure I could benefit. We got to talk to other members and thy had nothing bad to say at all other than getting used to waiting a couple weeks for certain things, but the savings offset those feelings. One member had saved over $14,000 on their kitchen renovation alone! We have made more than our money back in the 3 months of being members already!! Enough saved to pay for the next 10 years of our membership.

    So, to all of you who decided not to join because you had to make a decision you were unaware of, its your own fault. Read the information, stop being lazy.

    To those of you reading this and are about to visit- – keep an open mind, go to retail stores and see what they are charging you and compare those items when you go in for your visit. The people are not pushy at all and are there to help. They provide salesmen information without the salesmen tactics and pressure. I applaud you for doing some research. Good luck and enjoy!

89. Vered | 10-Sep-06 at 3:07 pm | Permalink

    Direct Buy $3,900 is gone! A scam. Dont even think about becoming a member Beaverton Oregon, 8354 Sw Nimbus Ave, Beaverton, Oregon 97008

    I have joined Direct buy as a memeber on June 17 2006.
    After signing and paying $3,900 memebership fees, the truth started surfusing.

    They told me I can purchase anything online – that’s a lie. The first month I didn’t even have access online and after that you can purchase only things that feature in the magazine.

    The talked about free delivey and delivery to your home. The truth is: most applience companies do not deliver home certainly not for free. Kitchen aid delivers for free only if your purchase 3 major appliences!
    They said the cary most of the things in reality it’s a lie.

    There custoer service is rude and unhelpfull. It takes them forever to respond.
    I tried to talk to the owner, Scott Porter, he would not meet with me. The knew that I am a very unhappy customer, but never cared. Never offered they help, never asked me what they can do to improve, like any other decent business woudl do.

    I asked my money back, they send me back the documents that I signed upon registration. OK, I am a succer to sign then. But can it be that this “contract” is legal in any way? the guaranty NOTHING!!! and they give nothing, how clever is that?? I don’t belive this is possible in America.

    I realized that I will not get my money withoug a buttle. I went to a lawyer, she wrote me a demand letter, they ignored it! what a surprise!
    what can I do?

    Vered
    hillsboro, Oregon

90. Scott | 11-Sep-06 at 10:08 pm | Permalink

    Well, we signed because we thought we could save some money because we are doing a flip home. After thinking about the turn around times that we were given, we decided it would not be in our best interest to join. We have decided to exercise our right to cancel within 3 business days. So far, I have sent two faxes from my home and one fax from my work. I also sent a letter (not certified). I even stopped by the store, but they were remodeling and no one was working besides the warehouse people. I was told they were closed (even though they were remodeling) so to me this should not be considered a business day. No one could help me, but I was able to leave a copy of our notice. I also asked them to check their fax machine for my faxes, but they weren’t on the machine (hmmmm). I think they might be able to save some moeny for people, but they need to reconsider their business model. Their whole concern is protecting the manufactureres prices, but 1.) Who doesn’t know that theie is a markup – of course their is, but the retailers usually have knowledgeable staff for ideas and returns are much easier (I don’t konw about you but I gauge the success of a project by how many trips I make to Home Depot.
    2.) Are they no worried about the word getting out after the 2 or 3 years are up? Come on!
    Thanks to this blog for making us more informed consumers and giving us the ability to make decisions based on knowledge!
    Scott from Peoria Arizona

91. Gary Christopher | 14-Sep-06 at 6:22 am | Permalink

    ORDERED CABINETS APRIL, GOT WRONG ORDER IN SEPTEMBER

    Time Sequence:

    1. April 2006- tried to order cabinets. Had apointment for design. Never heard another word. This was Tampa store.

    2. May 1st, ordered from another associate at another store Pinellas, and all seemed ok. Said it would take 12-14 weeks.

    3. Tried for someone to call us to confirm order 5 times. 1x per week towards the end of delivery time. After 12 weeks we called for a delivery time. They told us they never ordered cabinets.

    4. After they said they were ordered cabinets with lots of apologies, we wanted written confirmation. Called several times for that. No response.

    5. Called Florida Fraud Department. Filed complaint. We just wanted a confirmation. After Florida Fraud guys sent them whatever they send we got a call saying cabinets would be in Sept 4.

    6. Sept 4. Cabinets came in. 4 missing cabinets, 5 that we never ordered showed up.

    7. 5 emails to them to date. No response. Phone calls produce no response.

    Gary Christopher
    Tampa

92. David | 17-Sep-06 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    Rocket Scientests Only – Others need not reply

    Before you signed the contract, you knew:
    1.) Membership = $3900,00, all now, or finance (of which you knew the APR)
    2.) The amount of the annual membership fee after the first 36 months.
    3.) You WERE told that if you were planning to make multiple purchases for yourself, or gifts for family over the next few years, this may be the way to go, but maybe not.
    4.) That, referenced to 3 above, how much you saved depended on what products you purchased.
    5.) That, and you knowingly omitted here, many items are not going to be a bargain because they are already priced very competitively in the retail market.
    6.) That, you WERE told, not all items would be delivered free. Silly you, forgot to mention that too.
    7.) That you WERE told, on many of the purchases, there is a handling fee charged by the DB warehouse. OOPS! we forgot to mention that also.

    Before you signed the contract, you did not:
    1.) Do due diligence on YOURSELF. Run the numbers to see that you would need to purchase X amount of dollars worth of product in order to break even. Your minumum cash out flow will not change from approx $1300 a year for the first 3 years, or approx $108 a month (no purchases at all). Using the data the salesperson gave you during the meeting, did you estimate the minimum monthly average you would need to spend in order to break even on the monthly average membership fee? No? That is your fault alone. Everyone is told they will need to spend $32500.00 over 3 years on 20% discounted items that have the 8% DB warehouse fees in addition to your membership fees. If not this exactly, something linearly proportional (ie data normalized to year, or another percentage constant). You were also told that vendor shipping costs may apply.

    After you signed the contract:
    1.) You did not responsibly cancel that contract within 3 days of signing the deal that you wanted at the time while, perhaps, dreaming of all the material goodies you will surround yourself with.
    2.) Decided NOT to buy the new upscale leather living room set, and 67″ plasma TV, because you didn’t have the money in the first place.
    3.) Blamed DirectBuy for being a scam when you scammed yourself by not being honest with yourself at the sales meeting (and now is seems).
    4.) Metaphorically, you knowingly purchased a Semi with a 40 foot trailer, when all you really need is a Yugo towing a little red Radio wagon and then blame everyone else for your decision. DirectBuy, you were told, is not for everyone. Others evaluated their situation realistically and bought a Yugo (going with Home Depot instead) to transport their friutcake to grandma’s house, you chose to buy a fully loaded metalflake red Freightliner with chrome wheels and trailer to transport yours to granny (DirectBuy membership).
    5.) Try to distract others from the real issue of your negligence by saying the website, and other pithy things, are so bad that the company is a scam on par with the basest of street criminals.

    Of all the few that have managed to get the attention of an attorney on this, none, that I have read (and have not read eveyrthing on the ‘net) have even gotten their case to the courts. Reason: MOST jurisdictions will NOT prosecute when they recognize buyers remorse is the charge. Amerca (Canada is not America for those of you that may be confused about this still) STILL allows it’s citizens, under free enterprise, to make stupid legal purchases.

    Stop whining and make the most out of what you got yourself into. Get revenge by making the purchases that will help you come out ahead.

    For those complaing here, and elsewhere, about products you have purchased through DirectBuy, and the deal hasn’t gone well, do you start banging on the door of Yugo car company because McDonald’s put pickles on your burger but it was your Yugo that hauled you through the drive-up lane, or start a lawsuit with Radio Wagon when your chili fries flipped out onto the pavement when hitting a bump in the road? I suspect not. And you already know that DirectBuy does NOT make the products you buy, they only make the products you buy cheaper to purchase IF you are purchasing correctly, so why start ripping on your local DB guy when your cabinet maker is the one that is flakier than your favorite Aunty’s Mince Meat pie crust??

    For the record: I am not a DirectBuyer francise owner, nor an employee of, nor an ex-employee of, nor am I affliliated to any member or owner of, nor am I a member of UCC corporate, nor any subsiderary thereof, other than being a DirectBuy member of Beaverton, OR. Directly or indirectly, I have no gain in the comments I make here and fully expect to be flammed to doneness quicker than a Whopper by those that are still not developed enough to accept responsiblity for their life.

    Who cares, but anyway, my membership started in 2005 with the intent to build a house next door, and remodel the one I live in, but life happens and I never got the opportunity to fulfill those dreams…yet. If I was a conformist, I suppose I would be looking for someone to sue, or blame, for an idle DB membership, yes?

93. Roy | 20-Sep-06 at 12:29 am | Permalink

    Thank You all for helping guys like me from making the worst mistake ever. It did sound fishy when the didn’t mention their membership fee.
    Like the old saying
    If it sounds too good to be true, then it is.

94. Brandie | 21-Sep-06 at 8:26 pm | Permalink

    I noticed a lot of memebers quoting how much they woud save , but the majority of them had not actually purchased anything as of yet and the ones that did claim to have saved 2000.-7000. which seems silly to say since they paid 4000-5200 for their memberships. so they did not actually save what they claim. They could have shopped around online/offline, holiday sales, ect.. and saved a bundle. There are wholesale, discount, special buys EVERYWHERE – Shop Around!:smile:

95. Harry | 21-Sep-06 at 8:28 pm | Permalink

    My parents became members of Directbuy before they built a house in 2004. My mother had seen the tv ads and wanted to check it out. They promptly went to the warehouse for a presentation. My father was sceptical but they went anyway. My parents ended up telling them that they needed to buy cabinetry and furniture for a new house. This, of course, gave the salespeople extra leverage to sell them a membership and do the ’savings’ math. The salespeople were very friendly and helpful and told that they could easily save thousands. My parents also wondered about installation of cabinets and were told that there were people available to install. “Members of directbuy all are there to help eachother” they were told.
    So they paid their membership dues of about $3000 CDN and were very optimistic. They found out, however, that the builder of their new home would not guarantee the products from directbuy if there was a problem with installation (he wanted his own people to install them). He did not want to wait 6 weeks or longer for the windows to come in.
    The catalouges were very confusing and didn’t have good colour pictures to make a selection but only outline drawings for the cabinets. The friendly salespeople were nowhere to be found and there was only a girl there who could answer no questions. The only thing she could do was hand them a thick catalouge if they needed something to “look it up yourself”. There was noone to help them with their selections and discuss how to design their kitchen.
    They ended up getting a quote from the builder for cabinets and the price for excellent quality cabinets was no more than they would have paid at directbuy. The hassle and shipping charges made it more logical to forget about them all together. My father said that losing membership money was less agonizing than buying through Directbuy. It is much better deal directly with the builder and his preferred cabinet manufacturer to make sure the job is done right! To date they have not dealt with Directbuy again. There may be a chance to save at Directbuy but don’t count on their service. This company abandoned us!

96. Thanks4theTimeSaver | 24-Sep-06 at 12:46 am | Permalink

    Glad I never went down for a presentation. I too thought a little bit about it. I figured it was either..

    1. An expensive buying group
    2. A scam

    After reading this stuff it appears to be both.

    I’m in the northeast, and that appears to be where these obnoxious, insulting sales people are. I’m glad for their sake I didn’t go since I have a bad habit of slapping the cr@p out of people who speak disrespectully to me. Size and strength has its priveledges.

    My advice to anyone considering it, read the court documents. Everything else is just internet chatter. When a judge actually comes out and makes statements like that, one would have to believe the company may not be around for very long. Especially not in post-Enron America. I’ll pass thanks.

97. Tim | 25-Sep-06 at 3:35 am | Permalink

    I just saw the infomercial on it and thought I’d look it up. We’re having a house built now and of course it piqued my interest.

    I’m glad I read through this, it sounds like a timeshare type of meeting where the manager comes and writes upside down so you can read it to explain some dummy math equation. I’ve been to MLM type meetings, they’re all the same. They play relaxing music, have a script set up to motivate you, plant people who’ve had “success” to talk to and take your money.

    If they’re not willing to let you think about it longer than the day you visit… you’re a bozo for not questioning that. Think about how many people probably walk into these meetings after just hearing about the company 5 minutes prior… that’s how they make their money. It’s not so YOU can benefit, it’s so THEY can benefit.

98. Becca | 28-Sep-06 at 8:36 am | Permalink

    We arrive four minutes before our appointment at DirectBuy. The place isn’t as big as we expect. We walk in, and there’s a reception desk and about ten little tables scattered beyond with middle-aged couples looking at fabric swatches. We are, by about twenty years, the youngest people there. Sign in, sit on the wicker couch in the waiting area. There are paintings on the wall with price tags on them. Sailboats. Hmm. An incredibly good-looking guy calls our name, and introduces himself as Brendan. “Come on back,” he greets. “Welcome to DirectBuy.”

    Brendan is, as stated, incredibly good-looking; but he has the very stereotypical American Male Good Looks, which– instead of putting me at ease– makes my guard go up. The twinkle in his eye is almost practiced. He has a square jaw, a football player’s build, a strong profile, a gee-whiz way of explaining things; the kind of guy I dated in high school that knew exactly what to say to parents, but would ruin a good date by trying to park somewhere and see how far I’d let him go. (NOT VERY, thanks.)

    He offers to get me a Coke. Okay, I say. I’m drinking it while he does his introductory speech, and the Coke goes down the wrong tube. I focus all my energy onto just watching his mouth move and swallowing and not throwing up on our salesperson. Oh my Lord. The burning. I do a Tiny Tim cough afterward; but neither of the men notice.

    Brendan tells us a little bit about DirectBuy. We know the schpiel. Buy from the manufacturer instead of going through retail. It’s an easy concept, but one they repeat about ninety-seven times. He asks us what this is for. “Well, we’re building a new house,” we answer, “but they don’t offer what we want in a kitchen, so we’d like to renovate and do it ourselves.” Brendan gets excited. “That’s exactly what this kind of buying is best for!” he announces. “If you’re looking to renovate, you can save thousands of dollars in mark-up. It’s silly, almost.”

    We’re directed to a little room to watch a video. It’s a series of video clips, actually, with a man in platinum braces answering questions between each one. The first video explains what DirectBuy is. Buy from the manufacturer instead of going through retail. The woman in the video has a way of enunciating every. single. syllable, which comes across as condescending. She says DirectBuy has all kinds of brand names. Like what? They give about six, but make sure to tell us there are more who don’t want non-members to know, so their retail sales aren’t hurt. Okay. They give some examples. This bed at a department store cost $3,200. DirectBuy will let you get it directly from the manufacturer for $1,400. That sounds good. Because, the woman reiterates AGAIN, you can buy from the manufacturer instead of going through retail. The man in platinum braces pauses the tape and shows us all the savings we could be enjoying. This rug was $8,200, but from DirectBuy it was only $4,300. This TV was $2,400 at a electronics store, but from DirectBuy it’s only $1,900. Jason and I look at the papers he passes around.

    The video starts up again. It’s interview time. All the couples onscreen tell us why they chose DirectBuy. “It’s the best decision we ever made,” gushes one woman. “I’d say in the first two months we saved– what?” She turns to her husband, and he bubbles: “At least $30,000!” I look at Jason; my eyes wide. “Dude,” I whisper to him, “they’re not saving a lot; they’re spending way too freaking much.” He nods.

    Another couple assures us DirectBuy is “like an addiction”. “Once I know how much more I could get with my money, I can’t stop buying!” they announce. I give another look to Jason.

    Platinum Braces now gets to the meat of the issue: payment. He explains ‘retail dues’. He says the average household with a $50,000 income spends about $2,000 to $3,000 of mark-up in a year. That’s– he does the math– $20,000 to $30,000 over ten years! And DirectBuy is much less than that! I have no idea if I’m allowed to disclose the membership costs, so I won’t; but I will say it’s about twice what we realistically expected to pay. It’s more than $500 and less than $5,000 a year. I’ll just refer to it as A Freaking Ton.

    A Freaking Ton can be paid up front or in monthly installments, he assures us. I’m on the fence about this. Oh, but here’s the catch: this is a one-time offer. If we decline membership today, we’re never allowed to come back. I kind of understand why they do this, because they don’t want people treating it like another store option and leaking manufacturer’s prices, but NEVER? Never ever? NEVER.

    The other rules:

    If we decide to become members, they frown on us going to retail stores. Everything should be bought through DirectBuy. They also frown on us going to, say, Best Buy and checking their prices to compare to DirectBuy’s.

    Also? We have to decide yay or nay before we leave today.

    Okay, this is a red light for me. When I was a little kid, my dad used to tell us this story. When they were a young married couple, they went to some kind of time-share thing and the people tried to pressure them into spending $700 ($700 thirty years ago was substantial), for a ONE TIME ONLY DEAL. They had to make a decision RIGHT THAT SECOND or else the deal was off. “Rebecca,” he told me in his Dad Voice, “always remember this: if you’re not allowed to sleep on an answer, the answer is always no.”

    Brendan is waiting after the movie. “You still interested?” he asks carefully, and we say, “I guess so.”

    Basically, the next thirty minutes boils down to this:

    If we sign up, we have to pay A Freaking Ton. We’re obligated. Even if we cancel our membership, we owe all that money. A Freaking Ton might still be a good deal if it we use DirectBuy on renovation products. Like, say it costs $2,000 for the membership, but it saves us $6,000 on cabinets. It works out in our favor. The problem is we, as non-members, aren’t allowed to see what products they carry. Cabinets, appliances, floors, NOTHING. “It’s kind of a like a big secret club,” Brendan explains. “I can tell you we carry [insert three brands we've never heard of], but they have different retail names, so you might know them as something else.”

    “What are the retail names?”

    “We can’t tell you until you sign up.”

    “And we can’t see if they actually have our cabinets?”

    “Well, they have a lot of nice cabinets,” Brendan assures us.

    “Here’s the thing,” Jason says. “We’re really picky. We’ve been looking at nine different cabinet companies, and only two have the style we like, and only one has it in the finish. So the thing is, I’m paying A Freaking Ton taking a gamble that you might have something we want.”

    “What kind of cabinets were you looking for?” Brendan asks.

    “They’re a vintage style white beadboard. Shuler has one we’re in love with,” Jason answers. Brendan is blank. We decide not to even bring up the fact that our kitchen island is a different cabinet style, color, and counter altogether.

    Over the loudspeakers, they are playing All 80’s Hits, and “It’s a Mistake” begins.

    We can’t see the wood floors they carry. We can’t see their countertop selection. Awkward silence. I ask Brendan for a moment alone, and he says sure, no problem. (This is a big deal for me, because I’m very timid when it comes to asking for things; even personal space.) I look at Jason. He looks at me. “What do you think?” he whispers.

    “I don’t think I want to do this,” I whisper back.

    “Good. I don’t think I want to do this either.”

    “I don’t like that we have to decide this today or never, ever.”

    “It’s a huge turn-off,” he agrees. “And we need to be saving money before closing. A Freaking Ton is a huge hit to our bank account.”

    “Seriously.”

    “They had some nice furniture prices, but we’re not buying furniture right away. We need those cabinets and wood floors. And the retail prices they quoted us? Were wrong. I know because I researched it. Granite might cost $80 a square foot, but not $120. We’re still saving money through DirectBuy, but it’s not near as much as they’re saying.”

    “And, you know what?” I finish quietly. “It’s worth it to me to pay A Freaking Ton in retail just to know that we are getting exactly what we want, not to save a couple thousand dollars and have a house that’s almost what we want.”

    We call Brendan back and shake his hand, telling him he did a great job but we just weren’t interested. He actually says, “NO! BUT THE SAVINGS! NOOOOOOO! THINK OF THE SAVINGS!”

    When we walk out the front door, I feel immediate relief. Right decision.

    It was one of those things that seemed kind of like a good idea when they first pitched it, then not so good an idea, and then, when we were retelling it, it was like, Why would we ever consider doing this?

    Becca

99. Bob | 29-Sep-06 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    My wife and I watched the infomercial on DirectBuy, and then we got an invitation to attend DirectBuy’s open house in Rochester, NY.

    Indeed the presentation was slick, and the message convincing. I walked in a skeptic, but within the hour was sold on their message. But as many have stated above, they don’t expect a decision that day, they demand it. An honest business, with nothing to hide, delights in giving you, the customer, opportunity for closer inspection. DirectBuy does not – instead they fear it

    Instinct tells me that when any business fears closer inspection, thoughtful questions, and recoils from allowing you time to think, first, they have something to hide, but second, their business ethics needs adjustments. That alone is reason to run, not walk away.

    As others above said, perhaps the high dollar spender can save the $3990 membership payment for the first three years, and the additional annual $200.00 payment for the next 7 years (an average of $539 for ten years), but most of us will not recover our membership fees.

    Let the Buyer Beware,
    Bob

100. Mark | 30-Sep-06 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

     The change of name of business is the first tip-off that something’s not right. The second tip-off is that we “dropped in” like one would at any warehouse club to see what it was about, and were denied admission.

     I guess if you were doing a major rehab and spending upwards of 30k, you might end up ahead. But if you’re like me, thinking a HD television and a room of furniture, I did the math, and you are better off buying from a discount retailer.

     What makes me wonder is where are our state consumer agencies who could put a stop order to the non-refundable three year contract, $5000 for three years with no way for the customer, nor with a prorated refund, seems illegal to me……….

101. Joey | 04-Oct-06 at 11:29 pm | Permalink

     The company is legit…some just dont get it…most are broke and cant afford it…its not a utopia by any means, but I have bought and saved tremendously, not my first year but by the third I had broke even and started saving big money. Now I am at my fifth year and heva saved 7000 and change on my purchases. It saved me big at Christmas. People who are broke should stick to Sams club, you can get your bulk food and Discontinued items there. But if you want to buy exactly what you want, dont settle and do like I hav…Shop Direct Buy. Besides check out the complaints with any company, everyone has them…check the better business bureau and quit crying.

102. Joey | 04-Oct-06 at 11:32 pm | Permalink

     [quote comment="3535"]The change of name of business is the first tip-off that something’s not right. The second tip-off is that we “dropped in” like one would at any warehouse club to see what it was about, and were denied admission.

     I guess if you were doing a major rehab and spending upwards of 30k, you might end up ahead. But if you’re like me, thinking a HD television and a room of furniture, I did the math, and you are better off buying from a discount retailer.

     What makes me wonder is where are our state consumer agencies who could put a stop order to the non-refundable three year contract, $5000 for three years with no way for the customer, nor with a prorated refund, seems illegal to me……….[/quote]

     Apparently you didnt actually listen to what they said…Its a private club…you dont get access to aprivate club without an invite….And its not a 3 year contract idiot….you need to pay closer attention!

103. Joey | 04-Oct-06 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

     [quote comment="3521"]My wife and I watched the infomercial on DirectBuy, and then we got an invitation to attend DirectBuy’s open house in Rochester, NY.

     Indeed the presentation was slick, and the message convincing. I walked in a skeptic, but within the hour was sold on their message. But as many have stated above, they don’t expect a decision that day, they demand it. An honest business, with nothing to hide, delights in giving you, the customer, opportunity for closer inspection. DirectBuy does not – instead they fear it

     Instinct tells me that when any business fears closer inspection, thoughtful questions, and recoils from allowing you time to think, first, they have something to hide, but second, their business ethics needs adjustments. That alone is reason to run, not walk away.

     As others above said, perhaps the high dollar spender can save the $3990 membership payment for the first three years, and the additional annual $200.00 payment for the next 7 years (an average of $539 for ten years), but most of us will not recover our membership fees.

     Let the Buyer Beware,
     Bob[/quote]

104. Joey | 04-Oct-06 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

     [quote comment="3667"][quote comment="3521"]My wife and I watched the infomercial on DirectBuy, and then we got an invitation to attend DirectBuy’s open house in Rochester, NY.

     Indeed the presentation was slick, and the message convincing. I walked in a skeptic, but within the hour was sold on their message. But as many have stated above, they don’t expect a decision that day, they demand it. An honest business, with nothing to hide, delights in giving you, the customer, opportunity for closer inspection. DirectBuy does not – instead they fear it

     Instinct tells me that when any business fears closer inspection, thoughtful questions, and recoils from allowing you time to think, first, they have something to hide, but second, their business ethics needs adjustments. That alone is reason to run, not walk away.

     As others above said, perhaps the high dollar spender can save the $3990 membership payment for the first three years, and the additional annual $200.00 payment for the next 7 years (an average of $539 for ten years), but most of us will not recover our membership fees.

     Let the Buyer Beware,
     Bob[/quote][/quote]

     Bob, you must have had a scared or new sales person, there is nothing to hide …The fact is the manufacturers have Directbuy contractually bound to those rules, They cant jeapordize the relations they have with the BIG retailers and Directbuy explained to me they wont jeapordize their relation with the manufacturers….makes sense to me

     Beware of idiots who just dont listen or ask the right questions!!!

105. John | 05-Oct-06 at 8:48 am | Permalink

     I’ve been in sales all my life and have seen every pitch imagined; ranging from the most underhanded to the most innocent (such as girl scout cookies).

     This company’s tactics have all the earmarks of a boiler room hit and run operation.

     They won’t quote the membership fees on the phone.

     They want both spouses present in order to eliminate “I need to talk to my husband about it”.

     They escort people who don’t buy in out the back door so as not to contaminate those who haven’t gone through the pitch yet.

     High pressure to sign a contract immediatley, AKA – the “same day” close for a high dollar amount ($4000 in some cases). They know if you have time to think about it, you’ll come to your senses. Once they have your $4K, they’re free to close their doors and take your money with them.

     Clearly, they’re looking for one kind of customer, a stupid one. If you have half a brian, they don’t want your business. They understand that there is a population out there that they can seperate from their money.

     It’s a business model that flies just under the radar of legality. For those that have joined, god bless. For those that haven’t yet, don’t be stupid.

106. Homer | 05-Oct-06 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

     I felt so bad when the wife and I walked out and did not enroll after their slick open house presentation. They wanted 4499.00 for the first three years and 150 a year there after. What turned me off was that the prices on the products I was interested in was not really significantly different and some of the quotes from our director was not corrected. For example, he quoted a $1200 dollar Maytag could be had at $500. I went behind him and found it actually at $950 plus shipping. Needless to say I walked out. I felt it was a risky adventure with no solid references I could find or any customers to talk to while I was there.

107. John | 06-Oct-06 at 7:17 am | Permalink

     Hey Homer, you shouldn’t feel bad at all, but quite the opposite. Think of all the poor suckers that are now $4500 lighter in the wallet and you’re not one of them. Take the $4500 you just saved and go to Hawaii. Blow it in Vegas or the stock market. Just about anything will give you a better return.

     I’ll wager that anyone that makes positive comments about this “club” in this blog is either a direct buy employee, owner or trying hard to put a sunny spin on the stupid ass decision they made by becoming a member.

108. Boo | 12-Oct-06 at 11:26 am | Permalink

     Ok I am a Diretbuy employee and I can tell you none of us get paid to lie about members or anything like that. Also wer don’t make any money of things people buy. We could care less if you guys buy anything once youve joined. Trust me if we made money off of it maybe we would get paid better. The majorityu of us who work there love our jobs and our members. Plus the majority of us are members too. Yes you can see the prices on things before you join and if you listen to the people that call you to set up appointments they do tell you that so before you go in find out the prices at stores and then compare them. We dont take you out the back door if you dont join. You walk out the same door you came in. And we do allow you to look at counter tops and cabinets and many other things.

109. Robyn | 14-Oct-06 at 11:15 pm | Permalink

     I joined Direct Buy today and I’m already regretting it. I see on this blog that some were able to get their money back within the 3 day period. I’m afraid I’m going to lose the $1000 I paid upfront today. Any advice/info on how to approach getting out of this mistake!

110. Jonathon | 16-Oct-06 at 4:56 am | Permalink

     Everyone should know based on the contract and the methods used that directbuy is definately not a good deal. If they are not obligated to fullfill any promises they make to you (according to the contract you are forced to sign) then they can literally make up a price or projected savings figure in their head and be telling you all of this to try to get you to sign the contract, They could care less about customer service or your savings. Comon people its an infomercial…..i feel sorry for the suckas that fall for this.

111. Ron | 17-Oct-06 at 8:31 am | Permalink

     I went and joined the Directbuy club, only because on the back side of the contract it tells you that you have 48 hours to cancel. They do not like you to see that.
     So I joined allowing me 48 hours for research. I ended up not having a whole lot of time and decided I had better quit and get my money back. The local owner told me I would be disappointed if I quit. I told him that I just was not willing to take the chance. He ended up signing a note on the contract allowing me to look for 2 additional weeks and still get my money back (fair). To make a long story short, we were looking for furniture so I priced some from a retail store then from DirectBuy and wow DirectBuy was about 60% less. Now you need to pay a 6% handling fee and delivery to the DirectBuy facility. Then if you want it delivered to your home that is another charge. Still could save money. Then I decided to go on-line and get a price from two of the many furniture stores on-line. To my surprise I found the internet delivered price was less then the DirectBuy. So I did quit the club and received a rebate.

     Now that being said, there is no doubt that you can save money on some large items. Weber grill, I could not even come close to the price from DirectBuy. I looked at mattresses and could easily save 50% from the Wal-Mart price. But to save enough to pay the $4,000 membership price would take many years with my buying habits.

112. Jannett | 19-Oct-06 at 10:46 am | Permalink

     Thank you for your comments. It saved me a 94 mile drive. Maybe DirectBuy works for the big spenders. I just want a few things, that I can just do my research on, and try to get a good deal on without any contracts that will make me feel I have to buy more than I need just to break even.

     Again thank you

113. Bill | 26-Oct-06 at 11:49 am | Permalink

     I am into DirectBuy and want to get out of it. I am seeking help of a lawyer. I have few questions:

     How does this BETA Finance kicks in? I don’t remember signing anything with BETA when i did my DirectBuy membership.

     From BETA Finance MBNA Mastercard kicks in.

     Who authorizes all of these companies to kick in? I remember only to sign membership with DirectBuy.

     Please help to understand this financing fraud.

114. Johnny | 28-Oct-06 at 9:06 am | Permalink

     Hello,

     Two things:

     1) DirectBuy says there is no middleman. Aren’t they the middleman? The only way there is no middleman is if you yourself buy direct from the manufacturer.

     2) Any smart buyer knows that they should never make any non trivial purchasing decision without sleeping on it first. Any company that attempts to force you into making a decsion on the spot is putting you in a bad position. If DirectBuy wants you to give them $5,000 or so up front without giving you the time you need or want to think it through should raise a million red flags.

     Uncle Johnny

115. Robert | 01-Nov-06 at 1:05 am | Permalink

     Uncle Johnny,

     You obvisouly dont get the point of Dbuy, good luck trying to go to manufacturers and buying direct. GOOD LUCK!!! Dbuy is an awesome concept that has saved my family not only the initial membership but a significant amount of money. I have not had any major purchases, furniture for two bedrooms as well as one small bathroom accessories. Overall, Directbuy is not for everyone, but if your going to be buying anything for your house in your lifetime it will save you money and open up lots of doors for opportunity.

     Robert

116. TT | 01-Nov-06 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

     This is by far the best comment I’ve read from prospective/current members of DirectBuy. We just joined & then after reading the negatives, I’ve begun to have doubts and thought of cancelling — but in fact the “scam” claims seem to all come from non-members. Indeed, this membership doesn’t make sense unless you are planning plenty of major purchases. We’re building a house and I DO like the fact we can get everything in one place — i’m thoroughly impressed with the selection & the savings are substantial. Customer service seems to be nill — so you have to know what you want, but this is no difference from HD or Lowes or other super-stores. So I’d rather save a little more & do my own research. This is simply a business model that works for a limited group & it seems to upset those not in that group so they bash it — any Econ 101 student knows that inventory is the biggest cost of running a business, naturally this DirectBuy concept will save money in the long-run & it’s just a matter of when you’ll reach that breakpoint. Ours will be within a year, so for us it’s having 9 more years of savings. And we sensed no pressure at our open-house and honest responses all along, even to the tough questions — they gave us pros & cons because, like any business, they want happy clients. As for hard-sells, I got one when I bought my first car… does that mean I’ll never buy a car again? I’ll certainly revise my post if we run into problems, but in essence this is the same concept as fronting some money to buy your own store, and then getting the benefits of self-purchasing that a store-owner would get. Your success or failure is just a product of how much of your own shopping you intend to do.

117. Former Francisee | 01-Nov-06 at 6:24 pm | Permalink

     The above posts are ploys to get you to want to buy into this scam.

     If directbuy was such a great deal then why does the membership agreement contain the clause that they do not honor any warranty after the sale? that merchandise can be had through suppliers? and not direct from the manufacturer as the name would tend to impley? This is probably the biggest reason why not to buy – why does directbuy the fransizeor have language in the fransize agreement that all discounts are retained by the fransizeor and not passed on to the member. Francsizeees look at your contract with your home office! Pretty sneaky!

     Read those contracts!

118. DB Member Canada | 02-Nov-06 at 10:14 am | Permalink

     My Wife and I attended a presentation yesterday night and bought in. DirectBuy is for people building, renovationg or flipping houses…which is what we are doing. The biggest savings are on high ticket items. What you are buying is the right to buy directly from the manufacturer…Something you can’t do easily by yourself and get the same diwcount. We are in the market for a Hottub and was pricing them out localy at around $11,000 dollars for the model we want. Last night at Direct Buy I found the same model with their discount for $5000 That right there paid for the membership. Also the new leather living room set we have been looking for at a local “big box” store was $5500 and the exact same model at DirectBuy is $2200.
     This is not for everyone but do not call it a scam. When you get an invite…go online and do your homework, deciude if you are going to be doing any of the above items, then after the presentation decide for yourself. The reason they can’t let you look through all the catalogs etc is that it is information others have paid for and they don’t want people going out and saying hey I can get this for 50% less a here….

     Just my 2cents worth

119. Robert | 02-Nov-06 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

     Former Francisse,

     Actually if you knew what you were talking about you would know that at directbuy you get all of the warranties that manufacuters offer and if you want to get extended warranties you can purchase them directly from all of the manufatures that DB has. And no my previous comment is not a ploy to get members, I am a member myself who is very happy with the investment that I have made and want to spread the good word.

     Roberts

120. Kathy | 04-Nov-06 at 12:40 am | Permalink

     Yes, it is true that there are additional costs when orderiing through Directbuy, which I was told about, and sometimes I really have to consider that before purchasing. But overall I have been satisfied with DirectBuy. I have saved so far $3000.plus on my kitchen cabinets, $900. on an exquisite hanging pot rack, $200. on hanging penants for my island, $1500. on leather livingroom set, and will save additional $2000. on various home furnishings, these savings are within 2 yrs. I like DirectBuy because I use the site as a resource for pricing products when I see something I like and to date the prices have always been significantly lower. The hard thing about it is, I just got back from wondering around town looking for a great deal on night tables because like most, I wanted to buy NOW, and all I could think about was the variety of furniture styles I can view on my computer ( quite often I see the peices in local stores), the quality of garbage that is in the stores, for the same price I could buy better longer lasting products. I am now back at my computer because I like looking instead of driving around. I have an ongoing list of favorites and I like the choices I have. I believe buying furniture or home improvements is an investment and one that you shouldn’t have to buy again.

121. Courtney | 04-Nov-06 at 10:07 am | Permalink

     20.

     You are absoulutly right about everything. The DirectBuy is a scam. When we went to the open house I did not even have to sit through the whole thing to see what a scam it is. And who even says that the prices they are selling these items for is the actual suggested retail price? Until I see some of those prices on a site that DirectBuy has not ever seen before then I won’t be able to believe what they say. And those people that they have on the videos to say that they saved lots of money using DirectBuy guess what they are just paid actors. The first time that they said you had to pay right now and could not have time to think about it was your first clue of a scam. But hey there are always those people who believe everything they are told. In fact the day we went to the open house three other couples were signed on. Along with us but we had enough sense to read the part that says you have one day to cancle your membership as long as you hand deliver the messege. Which is exactly what we did. And of course once we did that their whole attidude chaged tward us. Imange that huh? First they say if its not for you then its not for you but if you question them at all then guess what they shove you out the door and never give you a second look. If your looking at joining DirectBuy then make sure you do your homework and dont get sucked into this major scam.

122. Mike | 05-Nov-06 at 12:27 pm | Permalink

     I have spoken to DirectBuy members that joined prior to, which was in 2004, and they indicated that yearly fees were expensive, and thus prohibitive unless you are planning on buying fairly big item(s) each year. However, my initial membership cost was a little less that $4,000. I expected that and high pressure sales tactics when I visited the open house. In other words, you either become a member right then, or forget it. I don’t like those tactics but was prepared for them, so they didn’t bother me too much. My yearly fee is $99, which is pennies compared to what I can save. My first year I saved around $10,000. Yes that’s correct. I know this because I did my research and found the retail prices of all the items I purchased then compared with what I could buy them at from DirectBuy. The next year, last year, I began a major remodel project on one of my houses. I saved around $25,000 alone in bath and kitchen cabinetry, not to mention the bath fixtures, wood flooring, and much more. So DirectBuy being a scam is a bunch of BS! You don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe a few years ago and prior to that it was less cost savings. Now though, it is a great deal, at least for myself. The only major complaint I have is the long lead time for delivery. My Italian leather couches took 4 months to arrive from Italy. That kind of time just sucks, but I save about $5,000 just on those two couches as opposed to buying them in a furniture store that sells that brand. So all in all I’m very pleased with DirectBuy. For those of you who haven’t gone any further than the open house, I can see why you think “it is too good to be true” but make no mistake, there is large markup in many retail items, even when the retailers put them on sale.

123. notmike | 05-Nov-06 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

     Everyone wants to be like Mike.

     Here’s One Man’s Story that wasn’t like Mike’s:

     http://vancouver.ctv.ca/printarticle.jsp?id=/olsen/stories/2005/11/olsen-20051122.htm

     Direct Buy: One Man’s Story

     Tuesday, November 22, 2005

     DirectBuy is not cheap to join, but for those planning some big expenditure like major renovations or building a home, it could save you money. But as one man found out, in his case, the promises just didn’t match the reality.

     “We were going to save somewhere in the neighbourhood of $12,000 we thought. So $12,000 dollars for a $4300 investment seemed reasonable,” says Paul Lepage.

     He was remodeling his home and building a new kitchen. He had his eye on new kitchen cabinets that cost $20,000.

     “It was supposed to be 37% of retail that is what their catalogue says, so in our case it would have been $7400 instead of $20,000.

     Like a lot of people Paul was skeptical about the promised savings

     He recalls, “They are telling me, ‘you are going to save $12,000 on the cabinets’ and I say to them ‘that’s just too good to be true, that’s just not possible’ and they said ‘that’s why people join DirectBuy – it’s too good to be true.”

     So Paul joined DirectBuy. The supplier did give him a discount but the quote was $17,000, not $7000, and his expected $12,000 in savings had shrunk considerably.

     “If you are only building kitchen cabinets and you expected $12,000 and you are only going to get back $2000 or $3000 then you can’t substantiate the $4000 membership anymore,” says Paul.

     He went back to DirectBuy for answers, recording the conversation they told him he did it wrong he was not supposed to approach the cabinet company directly even though he’d been given a contact name by DirectBuy.

     “When you go you are not going to get that discount that’s in the book. When you go there directly you get less of a discount on the cabinets,” states the recording of a DirectBuy employee.

     But moments later the instructions changed again and he was told he was supposed to go directly to the cabinetmaker.

     “If you know what you want to order, order directly from that corporate vendor,” the employee says.

     The DirectBuy rep admits something had gone wrong.

     “It’s supposed to work out to .37 after installation and it clearly isn’t,” the tape goes on to say.

     We checked the Better Business Bureau complaint record of the four BC Direct Buy outlets for the past thirty-six months.
     · Vancouver has eight complaints, four of them were resolved
     · Coquiltam has no complaints and it’s the only member of the Better Business Bureau
     · Victoria has two complaints both were resolved
     · Kelowna has no complaints with the BBB

     But the BBB statistics do not include complaints made by consumers that were not pursued.

     The Provincial Government has also received complaints.

     “There is a constant flow of those kinds of complaints and that in itself is a reason why we should be looking at this to see if there is more legislative remedies that need to be put in place,” says John Les, BC’s Solicitor General.

     Paul put his $4300 membership on his Visa so he’s asked Visa to refund his money after DirectBuy in Vancouver refused.

     “Visa has returned our money to us but only on a temporary basis until they find out if DirectBuy is going to contest the reversal of the charge,” says Paul.

     In the end Paul is shopping for his renovated kitchen the old fashioned way by shopping around.

     “Taking our time shopping around we’ve been able to save a lot of money and it won’t be 67% but it’ll probably be in the neighbourhood of 40%,” he says.

     DirectBuy would not speak to us on camera. We were told it’s against corporate policy. It also did not respond to specific emailed questions. Each outlet is an individual franchise that sets it’s own membership fees. DirectBuy only makes money off selling those memberships.

     Read the sales contract, check out many complaints, lawsuits and media investigative reports at:

     http://edumacation.com/DirectBuy

124. Leigh | 07-Nov-06 at 6:15 pm | Permalink

     I knew something was up when they wouldn’t allow me to come in WITHOUT my wife. We have 2 small kids and dragging them to this event would have been a nightmare. The salesperson on the phone was insistant that my wife attend. I finally got pissed off and told her that either I could come by myself, or no one at all! They choose the later! Ha!

     The second time I phoned, the salesperson hung up on me when I said that my wife was not going to attend the presentation with me.

     Nice company – I thought all the deadbeats like this were gone with the 80’s.

125. Leigh | 07-Nov-06 at 6:15 pm | Permalink

     I knew something was up when they wouldn’t allow me to come in WITHOUT my wife. We have 2 small kids and dragging them to this event would have been a nightmare. The salesperson on the phone was insistant that my wife attend. I finally got pissed off and told her that either I could come by myself, or no one at all! They choose the later! Ha!

     The second time I phoned, the salesperson hung up on me when I said that my wife was not going to attend the presentation with me.

     Nice company – I thought all the deadbeats like this were gone with the 80’s.

126. Mike Altowski | 10-Nov-06 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

     Ha Ha Ha
     [quote comment="696"]Here’s the deal. If UCC/DirectBuy were such a great deal then they would not need to high pressure sell it. For some it works out to save them money – but you must buy high dollar items, lots of them, and buy the brands that UCC/DirectBuy sell. For most the program will not save you any money. In fact it will likely cost you money. You don’t see Costco doing the high pressure sale – “sign the contract now or never come back”. That is a huge indication of how the business runs and their objective. They are not about customer service. Their primary objective is to make money off of the membership fee.

     Looking at many of the discussion websites you see a lot of posts from employees/owners who are defending their business practice. The only time you resort to high pressure, “sign now or never”, tactics is when your product is not worth selling at all.[/quote]

127. p-offed-cellphone-user | 15-Nov-06 at 3:40 pm | Permalink

     This has all the earmarks of a legal SCAM like the vacation condos, camping companies and such!

     Warning—- Privacy Issues

     When you call an 800# , THEY are paying for the call, and that gives them some special ‘rights’, such as the ablility to get even your UNLISTED or blocked number, via ANI. (Automatic Number Identification.) The only ones that they can’t see are ones that are specifically blocked like law-enforcement hidden numbers and such.
     Watch out from where you call them from as they can get your number.

     We called them from my wifes’ cell phone, and when they wanted a phone number, we gave them a land line number for returning the call. The next day, my wifes’ cell phone got called FOUR times from the south Seattle store! I asked them how they got our cell number and they wouldn’t say! I’ve since told them that if they call again, it would be treated as phone harrassment, and that the cell phone security department would be notified.

128. Pat | 17-Nov-06 at 2:08 am | Permalink

     
     If you go to sign up in NJ Woodbridge location. You will meet customer service award winner “Glento” Man this guy’s an ASS. I can not beleive this man has a job working with people. His bosses should fire him and watch thier productivity go through the roof.

129. Pat | 17-Nov-06 at 2:20 am | Permalink

     I would have loved to place a complaint directly with Direct Buy. But thier web site is set up to sell only. what kind of a company does not want feed back on thier locations? ” A company who really does not care about it’s custpomers.”

     I also understand that they do not help you with any problems with your order. All they care about is your membership fees. If you have a problem with an order you have to deal directly with a manufacure who may or may not handle your claim.

     Also they say they do not take a precentage of the sale. Well thats a lie they take an 8% handleing fee to cover thier over head.
     All I can really say is buyer beware!!!!!! No body’s going to Give you anything you’ll end up paying for it in the end.

130. joey z | 22-Nov-06 at 1:44 am | Permalink

     [quote comment="506"]Ray,

     What is the annual fee? I can never find that out.[/quote]
     well its hard to predict ..like trying to predict what a car will cost, but the current members pay 198 per year…not to bad if you consider the alternative huh? I think its worth it…just dont go in thinking it fixes all your problems…it isn’t utopia!!!

131. Morice | 23-Nov-06 at 12:50 am | Permalink

     Why don’t you tell us about your real experience now that you are a member? Have you been pleased with the delivery and the quality and the pricing you are now experiencing being a member? Thanks. ~M

132. Affiliate Directory and Affiliate Marketing | 12-Oct-07 at 6:06 am | Permalink

     Affiliate Directory and Affiliate Marketing…

     Sorry, it just sounds like a crazy idea for me …

133. Lex | 14-Nov-07 at 4:24 pm | Permalink

     Well we were “invited” to go check them out and thought it would be a good deal but asked if we could think about it and would get back to them and was told NO if you leave here today without buying you can NEVER come back to the place. Very hard selling almost like a gun to your head and you have to make a life or death choice. We signed the papers and put about 400.00 or 500.00 down and could make small monthly payments, after going over everything thought that we should not do this so we called to cancel and was told basiclly to bad you have signed all the papers and you now owe us the money. They are now sending me to a collection company and reporting to my credit report they say.

134. the Oracle | 25-Nov-07 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

     You can do the same thing by hiring a decorator (their fee is the membership fee), who then buys at wholesale, but you get great design, QA oversight, and no worries at the same time.

     I got their call, but smelled a rat, checked the Internet, and said, “no.” Every now and then, I get Fear and Greed Syndrome from watching their slick ads. Then I have to get a dose of antidote from a forum like this.

     Thanks.

135. Steve Schmidt | 30-Nov-07 at 3:24 pm | Permalink

     I had one colleague at work that fell for the scam. What may people don’t understand is that price comparisons with retail furniture stores. kitchen and bath remodeling stores, and even with places like Home Depot and Lowe’s, are completely bogus because you don’t have to pay anywhere near those prices for carpet, flooring, furniture, appliances, cabinets, counters, etc. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are scores of businesses selling these types of products for less than DirectBuy, with no membership fee.

     I just remodeled a rental unit with solid wood kitchen cabinets, all new floors, three solid wood vanities, new floors, new granite countertops, etc., for much less than what DirectBuy would have cost.

     I saw one of their infomercials where the alleged customer goes on and on about granite counters, when in fact granite is now the cheapest material for countertops due to the enormous quantities being brought in from China. It’s less labor to install than most other counters as well. There are probably 100 places in the Bay Area selling granite for less than 1/2 of what Home Depot charges, which is also less than DirectBuy.

     I hope no one falls for the DirectBuy scam, but apparently some have.

     DirectBuy operates on the premise of “It’s morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.”

136. Ed Berry | 08-Dec-07 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

     Today, my wife and I went to the Rocklin, CA, DirectBuy presentation. I do not need to repeat all the comments given above because they are all true. The presentation gave bogus prices that the retailers were charging and claimed DB would save significantly. They used the percent of annual income technique to get people to think in terms of the amount they would save per year. When the TV presentation they showed mentioned the need to decide today whether or not to become a member, I knew this was a scam. At the final interview with the salesman, he said we would have to pay the membership price of $5900 today or else we would not ever have a chance again. I told him I did not believe this because such a way of doing business was not logical. I said any business that was legimate would be happy to accept a $5900 membership payment anytime I wanted to make it, so something was clearly fishy. I told him the requirement of paying today or never was a con game to get people to pay now. It is a standard sales technique used to get peoples money. Furthermore, I told him, I am not willing to pay now for some envisioned future benefit that may never occur, especially that I now did not trust DB. He told me they will keep my name in their database and if I tried to sign up again anywhere in the USA, they would find me. Or, if they did not catch me in the signup and they found out later, they would cancel my memebership and not return my money. I told the salesman the he was not making any points with me with his answers and that I refused to do business with any company that used such tactics. I and my wife walked out the their store instantly. Once home, I found this site on the internet and decided to add my two cents to the other comments. In my opinion, DirectBuy is a big scam. Tell all your friends.

137. Ken Fargot | 10-Dec-07 at 9:16 pm | Permalink

     Got the call. Did some googling. Found this site

     http://edumacation.com/DirectBuy

     Decided not to join. Just too much to risk for no guarantees.

138. larry osborne | 11-Dec-07 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

     Ask yourself this,
     If you buy something from a store and ( god forbid ) the item wasnt up to par..what is it worth to be able to take it back to where you purchased it, or better still get it serviced from the store?…does direct buy do this?…so you say it is covered under the manufactures warranty…great…what it worth to you the customer to have the additional service of the store you purchased it at take care of the warranty on their end?..to go through all the BS that the manufacturer requires in order to get the product repaired, or replaced?…isn’t service worth something?

     sure, that dishwasher is costing you more…but your not just buying the dishwasher..your buying service, an actual sales person to help you, and you also have a point of sale…some place to help you with problems you may have with it

139. kevin mathieu | 13-Dec-07 at 5:21 am | Permalink

     So I’m in the middle of remodeling the Richmond house.

     The preliminary drawings are done, the bathrooms are ripped out.

     Ideally, I will purchase wheatgrass based cabinets in the Shaker style. Wheatgrass are a most excellent green, tough woodlike fiber, low toxic glue vapor emmissons ( if you are careful with who you makes them).

     Wheatgrass generally are lighter colors and since it’s a small kitchen, light tones are a good call to make the space seem larger.

     The current step in this process is to check out all the places to pick up the bathroom and kitchen flooring, cabinets, counter tops, and fixtures ( faucets). You know the expensive stuff.

     So all the places include: Direct Buy, This and That ( San Pablo), Home Despot, Sears, Lowe’s, Building Re/Sources, The Import Tile place in Berkeley, CostCo, IKEA, and too many damn others.

     Tight budget you know.

     Even my pal Max of Western Dovetail http://www.dovetaildrawers.com/ says I should go big box for the cabinets. As does two custom cabinet makers I know.

     The cabinets are the most expensive purchase and kind of the most intimidating.

     Short end of it: Direct Buy is a scam and does not have wheatgrass cabinets.

     Nor do they have the advertised 40 percent savings.

     Read this for the facts:
     http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/direct_buy_scams

     The best savings I’ve read of at DB is about $200 on a purchase, after popping out $6500 for the 2 year membership fee.

     Of course, I looked Direct Buy up after ( and while) going to the “free ” high pressure, one time only, presentation.

     Actually I was pretty sure it was fishy beforehand.

     From the lack of specific answers in the phone calls I made and received before attending.

     But I had to check it out in person.

     The promises were so large, the TV Ads so good ( not really), and I felt the entertainment value would make it worthwhile.

     I think going as a group as cacophony event could be most excellent.

     So heres the deal, a long tale to save you the trouble.

     You go in, you get offered coffee or water. Soda’s are .35 cents. Thats like 1/10th of a euro for my Berliner fans.

     You are not allowed to look at the manufacturer catalogs.

     They are secret and priceless, and special for only the most holy of holies ” the Members”.

     Looking at the catalogs is what I had planned on doing in order to comparison shop and to evaluate the value of the membership.

     I had zip idea in advance that membership was so insanely expensive.

     This is a twisted scam merchants version of COSTCO.

     Instead you get hooked up with a sales agent, who will drill you for personal information and demurly put any questions off until you have a chance to see the presentation.

     I think this is the “getting to know and trust the sales person time”. Their plan is afterwards you will hand over serious dough post presentation cause you know them and they know you.

     My minimal answers to the sales agent such as:
     “So what did you have for dinner” me: “Rice”.
     “Did you drive far? me:” No”

     This might have blown the get to know plan by the agent, or at least tip her off I would be a hard sell.

     Sadly her husband had left her after 17 years and she had two kids ages 13 and 18. She was raising them solo and had never traveled farther then Reno. Poverty sucks. As does being a solo mom. As does deciding one is way too young to have kids. I’m pretty sure she was in her mid 30’s.

     She mentioned the kids she was raising 4 times. But I was not to be swayed by emotion or thoughts of charity. Or calculations of sales commissions.

     My questions were muy practical such as:
     ” Can we look at some catalogs?” agent: “No, wait til after the presentation” or ” The presentation will answer all your questions”.

     Just like the Wizard of OZ, I thought.

     Am I Dorothy or the Tin Man? Where is that damn little dog?

     Finally, 10 wasted minutes later, we move to the two-tone Panasonic TV room, and the presentation starts.

     I’m put into the back of the room. Maybe I’m a suspect. I can barely avoid cracking comments during the video, but they have planted a mole agent with the group ( in front) so I don’t want to get kicked out.

     Kind of like watching a movie in middle school with the teacher in the front of the class watching the kids.

     Instead, I send snarky text messages to an outside pal.

     such as
     “This seems to be a scam of sorts but with over a 100 locations how could it be wrong?”
     “After the 45 minute presentation do I get a free week in Hawaaii?”
     ” but wait a former CNN Anchor endorses direct buy”

     Priceless quotes in the video include:

     “Finally we can be high end purchasers!”
     “Not an open opportunity”
     “Prospective members can not be invited back”
     “How much you spend is directly up to you”

     After hearing the last quote I barely, barely restrained a “No shit?”

     Forty minutes later ( its 45 minutes long or so) after a former CNN anchor ( the male authority figure of trust); a friendly and wanting to be funny white male “so membership is $40,000, just kidding”; a non threatening blond slim woman ( your girl pal not too hot to threaten the wifes in the audience) , and a few current suckers ( uh members) all extoll the value of Direct Buy and how much they saved, it is revealed how much the membership fee is.

     In Palo Alto, it is $6500.

     Um. No.

     Others are shaking their heads.

     I should walk out now. Make a show of it.

     But I really want to see the rest of the demo so I can learn.

     The pitch is “In just one remodel job with the kitchen cabinets you will save 40 percent so you can make that back right away, everyone is redoing their kitchens like your neighbor down the street”.

     Can you say peer pressure to be like the Johnsons?

     See the savings already? So the joke about 40 K makes $6500 reasonable , right?

     Elsewhere it could be as low as $4000 for two years ( this is not revealed, but that darn internet on their computer told me afterwards).

     Then just $198 a year for the next 8.

     I think big remodel purchases happen in 10 year cycles. Thats a guess BTW.

     Next we are moved on to a personal demo of a catalog of LazyBoy furniture ( or something similar) and carpets.

     That did not thrill me either.

     I wanted the goods, the real sheets, the catalog in front of my face, the hard numbers.

     Once again I am denied. No books or catalogs for me.

     I love dealer parts books and catalogs. They are not complicated or difficult for me.

     Only the holy Members get to see them.
     The personal demo done, once again we are partnered again with our early entry sales agent buddy.

     I’m sorry for the single mom, but I just can’t help her. It was her bad luck to get me this eve. And I think bad luck for all the other agents that night. Maybe one couple bought in. Still that is $6500.

     At at 200,00 claimed members, that is $1,500,000,000 or 1.5 billion dollars they have racked in.

     So she asks me what else I need to know before deciding tonight.

     I’m reminded tonight is the only night I can decide.

     I mention Panasonic indoor fans, the whisper quiet model for the bathroom. Something that I know from my research from the night before.

     But, I came in without specific items to compare. All the info I need is on my laptop at home.

     I had asked about or tried to on the phone pre-arrival on how to prep. But was denies and told all questiosn will be answered at the demo.

     When I asked about comparing attic fans from Panasonic ( the best known brand offered) they asked for the part numbers. I said, uhh, OK I could find it in the manufacturing catalog in 2 minutes.

     They would not allow me to look it up myself. It was all proprietary and limited to members.

     Hmm, they didn’t trust me yet. I was very bummed.

     I had told my sales agent that I ate rice tonight and she told me she had two kids.

     I sadly felt the ties of trust unwinding.

     I gave them a rough number and excellent detailed description. I said the model ends in 20 and there is 30, and 40 model and quite a bit more. It should be easy to look up. So I was wrong about the 30 model.

     http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Building-Products/Ventilation-Systems/Inline-Fans/model.FV-20NLF1_11002_7000000000000005702

     or
     http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Building-Products/Ventilation-Systems/Ceiling-Insert-Fans.list.75112_11002_7000000000000005702

     Ok, the Direct Buy Agent ( boss of my sales partner) asked me to go look it up on the net on this computer in the lobby.

     Wow, the service is underwhelming me, and the moist happy connection with my agent is rapidly fading away.

     I did the Panasonic look up solo ( I can type google), got the numbers ( with prices), passed the slip to agent ( she did not have paper or pen) then googled Direct Buy for the first time.

     She took off to get me the numbers from the Members only book.

     I was really looking forward to her numbers.

     Ooopsie, google lists the answer to my query: “Reviews Direct Buy”

     http://www.google.com/search?q=reviews+direct+buy&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

     Right there on their computer, my worries are confirmed.

     The Big G is never wrong. Well that isn’t true either.

     Ok, I was certain at that point getting with the program at Direct Buy was a bad idea.

     Besides I did not have $6500 to blow on saving more money.

     Yet, I just loved using their computer and leaving the info up on screen in the lobby for others to read.

     Many a listing on the web and description of how people got suckered into the “one time only” chance to sign up. Then get late deliveries, wrong deliveries, pay a 8 percent handling charge ( never mentioned in the video), hassles on deliveries, huge hassles on returns, and more.

     The big catch is that post presentation they tell you many times ( as well during the video) that this is the only chance to sign up.

     A once in a lifetime ( or 7 years ).

     Which is a really bad sign. If you can’t sleep on a decision of this much money, you should not be doing it in my book.

     Unless you have all of the research done up front. And are really really certain with comparisons etc. But then you have already slept on the decision cause you spent so much time doing research.

     Right?

     Its a scam.

     Anyways, no one seem to notice what I’ve left on screen.

     And the Google campus is literally less then a freeway exit away. Google will kill these guys. I hope.

     So I am steered over to another area to chat with my special sales agent and her boss agent for more info.

     On the way I am offered water. I say “thank you that would be nice”.

     The funniest thing is in the just watched video, Direct Buy representatives slammed a big name warehouse place without naming it ( can you say Costco?) with a direct price comparison on some big flat screen by some no name manufacturer.

     Direct Buy was of course much cheaper.

     What water did they offer me? Kirkland bottled water.

     Kirkland is Costco’s inhouse brand. I loved that touch.

     I say drink the Kirkland water, it is much better for you.

     There was more with me seeing brochures for cabinets (without prices), a chat with the franchisee owner.

     Plus me asking several times for the Panasonic prices. Not getting the prices. Just claims they will get them in just a minute.

     The franchisee sales lead guy (i’ve been with the company 11 years) kept asking me if I believed in the “Savings” ( much like do I believe in the “Word” just like some church I was brought up in and since left).

     I was getting kinda scientific and saying but I need the “numbers” and the “facts”.

     I kept replying I needed the facts to make a decision. And I simply did not have them. It was amicable and he was really smooth.

     So even after looking up the prices and manufacturer part # and giving it to them, they never gave me their price on the Panasonic fan.

     And I know I asked for their prices at least 5 times.

     And I left.

     And left the kirkland water bottle (half drank) on the receptionist table.

     Maybe others will see my subliminal warning and not confuse a good, positive brand of membership store with a bad one.

     A couple final thoughts.

     Where is Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping when the people need him?

     Maybe we could go down and have a session out front.

     I think there should be a consumer protection law ( I know Texas has one but likely not spelled out as well) , that the buyer is told on signing the contract by the sales person that they have three days to cancel the contract. The buyer has to verbally repeat that fact to the sales person. As well as sign a well marked separate area and line in the contract that they know they have three days to break the contract.

     But a sucker is born every minute.

     But I can dream.

140. Jack | 07-Jan-08 at 7:45 pm | Permalink

     The membership has now gone from over 5k to well over 6 thousand dollars….plus 200 a year renewal after 3yrs. 7800 total for ten years. Pretty damn high cost to save money.

141. Heidi V | 09-Jan-08 at 6:08 am | Permalink

     I visited their website after seeing an ad in Martha Stewart Living, and their ads on tv. But I am way more savvy than an average consumer, and I did my homework. This site really gave me insite to a company with very similar tactics as Trendwest timeshare. We were wrangled in on that one, and I still regret it. Never again will I join a “‘private club” that requires on the spot decision making and a high dollar membership from a too-good-looking slick salesman. Sleeping on it has it’s merits over regrets any day. But damn! I submitted my contact info on the DB website, and now they are gonna be hounding me like telemarketers.

142. brenda | 20-Jan-08 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

     I just left the presentation. BORING, basic, and a total waste of time. Actually, I was “sold” before I walked in the door and came ready to PAY IN FULL. (Doing a remodel and need the savings). But their constant “used-car-salesmen” technique unsold me by the first 5 mins. I experienced my “future customer service experience” from the minute I walked in the door. It started when they had me write my name on a cheap little label so they can “tell the guests from the members”. For $6000, at least have our labels pre-printed and waiting for us. Just inside the door, my “guide” said it’s a requirement that he ask if I’m married or single. He said it was so they could verify if I qualified…HELLO??? I’d already answered that on the survey and before my appt. He then led me to a little patio and told me the refreshments had been all eaten up by the previous group, but we could have water or coffee “for free”. Honey, if I’m going to shell out $6000, go buy me a box of cookies and any drink I want! It was like attending a Mormon or Scientology cult mtg. You’re immediately assigned a guide who sits with you and doesn’t allow you to walk around, browse or talk to anyone unless he’s present. He even waited OUTSIDE the bathroom door for me when I took a break!!!
     He didn’t have any answers to my questions b/c “he’s only worked there for 1 month”, but his name badge said “Director”! My questions weren’t hard. I’m sure I wasn’t the first one to ask how to return something if the item isn’t like the VERY samll picture in their catalogs…They add 8% chg to every product BEFORE taxes and delivery! You can’t return anything w/o 25% fee (and only IF that company will “accept” your return), the catalogs are ANCIENT and the pictures small, colors washed out, etc, their online shopping isn’t “ready yet”, but 25% of the products WILL have their prices online someday!…you have to pay for delivery and hire someone to set-up your items which I was assured can by done “relatively cheaply”. So: add 40% to every “savings” just to get your items home and assembled. And he kept saying that since “you’re single, I’m sure you have friends that help you out alot”…over and over I was referred to as “single” or “alone”, even in the mtg in front of he other 2 couples…really rude! Not a way to win a customer. Items take 4-12 wks to order. When I asked for specific catalogs and items to compare, the savings weren’t as good as Costco, Lowe’s, etc. The guide had someone else’s survey and kept calling me their name, even tho I was wearing my hand-written badge so he could use my name every other word…SO tacky. When I said I would be back tomorrow since the mtg had gone one for over 3 hrs and I had to be somewhere else, he got ugly, said this is the ONLY time you can become a member or for the next SEVEN yrs you can’t be “invited” back…I told him my money is as green today as tomorrow and any company that’s legit would want my dues no matter when. I also said any reasonable company would WANT their members to make an informed decision so they could bring in their family and friends as members. Alas, he said we were done and he escorted me TO MY CAR DOOR. SCARY and SLEAZY! Glad I didn’t do business with them…

     Constructive thought: Lose the “guides”, re-stock your refreshments, pre-print our labels AND our contracts, send us a DVD to view BEFORE our appt: I still would have bought the membership!, lose the white-board, stop having the presenter make the whole group nod yes/no to obvious questions so he “can continue”, shorten the presentation to 15 mins and stop repeating the same points over and over: WE GET IT! We’re intelligent consumers. Treat us with respect. Send us the contracts and pricing BEFORE the presentation: I was ready to buy and that wouldn’t have changed anything but would have saved time. When you say the mtg will be 90 mins, keep it to 90 mins! I had to leave after 3 hrs for a prior commitment, and my guide was JUST getting out the pricing options! I wanted your product. Sadly, your own company TALKED ME OUT OF IT every step of the way!

143. Michael | 27-Jan-08 at 12:19 pm | Permalink

     All I’m going to say is don’t do it. It’s a scam. Direct Buy will pressure you into binding contract. In a lot of states there is no cooling off period(some states have a 3 day period)which means you’re stuck with paying Direct Buy $5,000 plus. If any thing is that good why wouldn’t the company let you think it over? They will tell you it’s now or never. I’ve learned that if anything is too good to be true than most of the time it’s not true. Stay away from Direct Buy. I ended up getting my money back but I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

144. Melissa | 01-Feb-08 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

     I think it is a shame that all these posting are from NON-MEMBERS. I strongly disagree with the postings on this website. I have been a member for over 8 yrs and am very happy. I recently bought an entire living room set at DirectBuy for the price of just the sofa at Jordan?s. This way of shopping has helped me buy better quality for a price that I could afford. I didn’t really like the “decide tonight” policy when I joined but now that I am a member I understand why and agree with it. This new way of shopping is definitely for open minded people, so if you are not open to changing the way you buy now, this probably isn’t for you. But for those of you who didn’t even give the program a chance, I think you missed out on a great opportunity.

145. Melissa | 01-Feb-08 at 5:28 pm | Permalink

     I think it is a shame that all these posting are from NON-MEMBERS. I strongly disagree with the postings on this website. I have been a member for over 8 yrs and am very happy. I recently bought an entire living room set at DirectBuy for the price of just the sofa at Jordan?s. This way of shopping has helped me buy better quality for a price that I could afford. I didn’t really like the “decide tonight” policy when I joined but now that I am a member I understand why and agree with it. This new way of shopping is definitely for open minded people, so if you are not open to changing the way you buy now, this probably isn’t for you. But for those of you who didn’t even give the program a chance, I think you missed out on a great opportunity.

146. Melissa | 01-Feb-08 at 5:28 pm | Permalink

     I think it is a shame that all these posting are from NON-MEMBERS. I strongly disagree with the postings on this website. I have been a member for over 8 yrs and am very happy. I recently bought an entire living room set at DirectBuy for the price of just the sofa at Jordan?s. This way of shopping has helped me buy better quality for a price that I could afford. I didn’t really like the “decide tonight” policy when I joined but now that I am a member I understand why and agree with it. This new way of shopping is definitely for open minded people, so if you are not open to changing the way you buy now, this probably isn’t for you. But for those of you who didn’t even give the program a chance, I think you missed out on a great opportunity.

147. Dan | 05-Feb-08 at 8:24 pm | Permalink

     We bought a membership. Bought cuboards, but had to be a mathematical wizard to figure out exactly what to buy, how much molding, how many panels, how much room for fridge, freezer, stove, dishwasher. Little help from Direct buy staff. Then they said they called us to let us know our order was in. We have call display, answering machine and all. They didn’t call. Our cupboards are now still in Calgary, we live two hours away and we’ll likely get stuck with a daily storage charge. We haven’t seen the cupboards yet, but they looked good. We might have saved the membership fee, but don’t think all the work we had to do measuring and picking up, charges on weight, charges on shipping, charges on charges.
     Bad service pretty much all the way. Don’t advise anyone to go there. We did much better buying sales items on the rest of the reno’s,
     We bought 1400 ft of Bruce Brand Oak flooring for less than Direct Buy could supply it for, and that was before shipping, charges and more charges. Buyers of memberships, BEWARE!!!! If I could turn the clock back I sure would.

148. Sammy Urban | 07-Feb-08 at 7:06 pm | Permalink

     IF YOU ARE EVEN CONSIDERING DOING BUSINESS WITH DIRECTBYE, THEN READ THIS. Everyone needs to check out their so-called “lawyer” and his C&D letter (typed on a MS Word template – not even a company purchased letterhead. How cheap can you get.) threatening legal action.
     http://www.citizen.org/documents/directbuycd.pdf

     and the defendants response
     http://www.citizen.org/documents/directbuyresponse.pdf

149. Sammy Urban | 07-Feb-08 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

     It should be called DIRECTBYE. Everyone needs to check out their so-called “lawyer” and his C&D letter (typed on a MS Word template – not even a company purchased letterhead. How cheap can you get.) threatening legal action.
     http://www.citizen.org/documents/directbuycd.pdf

     and the defendants response
     http://www.citizen.org/documents/directbuyresponse.pdf

150. Jane | 10-Feb-08 at 2:31 am | Permalink

     Thank you very much for you comments.I requested a presentation through the website after seeing tv info, but we ‘ll definitely won’t be going to any presentations. It’s really scary. I am sorry for people who got in trouble with this scam.

151. Jerry Minder | 15-Feb-08 at 9:34 pm | Permalink

     DirectBuy members get option to back out
     The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio
     February 14, 2008
     http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/02/14/DIRECT_BUY.ART_ART_02-14-08_C8_2V9BNP0.html?sid=101

     DirectBuy members get option to back out
     Thursday, February 14, 2008 3:24 AM
     By Tracy Turner
     THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

     Ohio consumers have gained the right to cancel a contract with DirectBuy, a national membership club with a showroom in central Ohio, if they change their mind within three days.

     The agreement was struck between the Ohio attorney general’s office and DirectBuy even though Ohio law doesn’t mandate such a provision, said Melissa Wright, an assistant attorney general.

     DirectBuy is a company that sells consumers a membership that allows them to buy home products, electronics and furnishings directly from manufacturers and suppliers. Memberships range from $3,000 to $4,500 for a one- to three-year period, Wright said.

     The company agreed to offer Ohio customers the right to cancel their memberships after 90 of them filed complaints with the attorney general, Wright said. Most complaints targeted sales practices that left consumers feeling misled because certain terms and conditions of membership were not disclosed, she said.

     “Consumers were told they had to make a decision on the spot after a sales presentation and weren’t allowed to look over the product catalogs before joining,” she said. “They were made to believe they’d get these great discounts, but later realize the savings aren’t as great.”

     Wright said consumers also weren’t told that problems with the products or the product delivery would be handled through the individual manufacturers.

     She said that the club is “not a scam (because) they do offer a service; our concern was the high-pressure sales tactics” the company used to get customers.

     The agreement will “allow consumers more time to make more of a wise decision, see the product catalogs ahead of time and understand that the company doesn’t handle customer service,” Wright said.

     “The voluntarily agreement was a huge step that will cut down on complaints,” she said. “We worked with them instead of filing a lawsuit.”

     DirectBuy, based in Merrillville, Ind., has more than 90 locations nationwide, with five franchise locations in Ohio, Wright said. That includes a showroom at 2188 Citygate Dr. that the company reopened in October.

     A message left with co-owner Mark Lankford was not returned.

     Consumers experience this most often with companies that have similar upfront sales practices, said Kip Morse, president of the central Ohio Better Business Bureau.

     “While it’s unfortunate that the (company) needed the attorney general’s office to intercede in order to come to this agreement, we think it’s a good move that’s fair to the company and for consumers,” Morse said.

     The agreement also calls for DirectBuy to pay the state $20,000 for materials to be used to educate consumers on financial literacy and protecting their rights, Wright said.

     Tracy Turner
     tturner@dispatch.com“>tturner@dispatch.com

     Cancellation periods are measured in business days, and generally they do not begin until the consumer receives written notification of the right to cancel. Business days are Mondays through Saturdays. Sundays and legal holidays are not included.

     To cancel a contract, send the seller a written notice of cancellation. You can cancel by mail or by personal delivery. If you cancel by mail, send the letter via certified mail and request a receipt as proof of cancellation. Cancellation is effective upon the date of postmarking. If you personally deliver the cancellation, take it to the appropriate address of the seller and bring a witness. It is not acceptable to send the cancellation notice by fax or by e-mail.

     Source: Ohio attorney general’s office

152. Andrew | 16-Feb-08 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

     Seems like Directbuy is a bunch of douchebags.

153. Anonymous X-Employee | 24-Feb-08 at 11:09 pm | Permalink

     First off, everyone I have read here and anywhere else on the internet is absolutely ignorant. Not because you think DirectBuy is a scam, which it is to some extent, but because you do not know exactly why it is. DirectBuy can save you money, if and ONLY if you purchase a massive amounts of product. The whole concept of DirectBuy is to purchase without retail markup. That’s a great myth, but guess what — there is a 6% handling fee on anything you purchase. That’s a markup my friends, no matter what title you give it. Why would the final price be 6% of the cost of the item… to handle it? Let’s put this into perspective. It would cost $6 to handle a $100 order or flooring tile as where it would cost $60 to handle a $1000 diamond ring. Think about that for a second! $100 worth of flooring tile (very heavy) is quite a bit harder to handle than a small ring, yet it the markup of the ‘handling fee’ of the ring is quite a bit more! DirectBuy works if you know how to work it, but the idea that it has NO retail markup is absolutely a lie. Take it from me, someone who has worked at DirectBuy in the Dallas Texas market for many years. Simple math, let’s say membership costs $4,900 and the average savings is 35%. That would mean you must spend $14,000 to break even with retail to make the membership dues even worth it. Tack on the 6% handling fee’s, you must now pay $14,840 to break even. If you plan on paying anything less than that for things for in and around your home, membership costs are a waste of time and money on the customers/members behalf. So, DirectBuy works for those remodeling a home, where it would cost 30 grand, but for the average Joe it’s completely NOT worth it (regardless of what the damn salesman says). People, do your math before hand, educate your self, and stop voting for Bush-like presidents!

154. JerseyMan | 26-Feb-08 at 6:51 pm | Permalink

     To be perfectly honest, any place that requires a signature and financial commitment before you’ve had a chance to fairly compare prices in the market they speak with such disdain about. From their own website,

     “We ask for your decision after attending an Open House. This policy is in place out of respect for our members, manufacturers and the retail industry. It prevents consumers from asking traditional retailers to match DirectBuy prices.”

     There is no respect here… and God forbid there be competition from legitimate businesses who might “match” these prices.

     Imagine being forced to bring your wife or husband because of some arcane “policy” … I guess the hope there is one of the two will be a weak customer and talk the other one into it.

     I can’t imagine spending the next 10 years of my life trying desperately to recoup over $6000 “investment” trying to buy enough stuff at the right deal so I could feel good about myself again.

     The scam artists who comment on here allegedly as “happy customers” always seem to quote their Better Business Bureau rating… by the letter of the law I guess they are obeying the rules once they get your signature onto a document, but clearly this company is anti-competitive, anti-free market, and by any definition violates the spirit of “buy direct and save” that most people expect.

155. Question for Anonymous X-Employee | 26-Feb-08 at 9:32 pm | Permalink

     So what guarantees of savings does Directbuy offer?

     What happens when the average savings isn?t even 35% (less the 6% or 8% up-front handling fee)? It seems that there are a number of complaints documenting that a number of instances where Directbuy?s prices are not any cheaper (or just marginally cheaper) than another source?

     According to Consumers Reports there seems to be a lack of transparency, among other problems.

     See the article “With DirectBuy, it will cost you a lot to save:

     http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2007/09/with-directbu-1.html

156. QuestionforAnonymousX-Employee | 26-Feb-08 at 9:33 pm | Permalink

     So what guarantees of savings does Directbuy offer?

     What happens when the average savings isn?t even 35% (less the 6% or 8% up-front handling fee)? It seems that there are a number of complaints documenting that a number of instances where Directbuy?s prices are not any cheaper (or just marginally cheaper) than another source?

     According to Consumers Reports there seems to be a lack of transparency, among other problems.

     See the article “With DirectBuy, it will cost you a lot to save:

     http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2007/09/with-directbu-1.html

157. QuestionforAnonymousXEmployee | 26-Feb-08 at 9:34 pm | Permalink

     So what guarantees of savings does Directbuy offer?

     What happens when the average savings isn?t even 35% (less the 6% or 8% up-front handling fee)? It seems that there are a number of complaints documenting that a number of instances where Directbuy?s prices are not any cheaper (or just marginally cheaper) than another source?

     According to Consumers Reports there seems to be a lack of transparency, among other problems.

     See the article “With DirectBuy, it will cost you a lot to save:

     http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2007/09/with-directbu-1.html

158. Bob | 09-Mar-08 at 8:19 am | Permalink

     I joined Direct Buy yesterday and I sure did feel like I was at a timeshare or Amway presentation.

     However, the big thing that sold me was windows. Here in Central New York state, we have a local window manufacturer called Comfort Windows and in February, I purchased 6 triple pane, low-e, argon windows for roughly $780 each. The guy taking me around the showroom gave me a ballpark figure of $250 for the same specification window from Direct Buy. I looked over it carefully and it was constructed in every way like my $780 Comforts were. I have 7 more windows to buy for the house so I will save roughly $3600 when I buy them from Direct Buy which will almost pay for the 3 year membership itself! The only thing is, I have to get them installed, but I’m sure I can find someone to do it for $500 or so….. still saving plenty.

     Me and my wife just bought the house and we have to gut the kitchen and a bathroom down to the rafters so I expect for the membership to pay for itself over time. Plus, we are considering flipping houses in the future so this would be perfect. We weren’t too sure if they would allow this because they don’t want you to resell items for a profit, but flipping is actually encouraged. In fact, there was a couple there filming a commercial for DB that are flippers. Things like tile, carpet, hardwoods, windows, counters, bathtubs can all be had at supposedly cheap prices compared to retail.

     Before I buy anything, I will still do my homework. They say that members are seeing the manufacturers actual catalogs and price lists. Also, don’t be fooled by MSRP. No retailer sells anything for MSRP. DB gets their savings percentage from MSPR and probably not retail. They had a copy of an actual Best Buy ad with a washer and dryer that sold for $1099 each. DB had the pair for about $1300 so there is a clear savings. Also, retail stores do not have anything to do with a warranty. If you have a problem with a product after the store’s return policy, then you have to deal with the manufacturer.

     In the end, I do expect to save thousands but that is because of the volume of product I will be buying. Comments #116 & #118 are right. If you are just buying some furniture or a bedroom set, than DB is probably not for you. If you are starting fresh with a new house or are flipping, it will probably be worth it in the long run.

159. anon | 09-Mar-08 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

     I disagree with most of the complaints on here. I got a Direct Buy membership after learning about DB from a high school friend who works there. I was lucky enough to be better informed. I found out all about the one time sales pitch before hand from my friend. I strongly disagree with their sales tactics but I do see the point. My friend has related plenty of horror stories of how a visitor drives over to Future Shop and demands a new plasma at cost right after the visit. Heck, he has gotten angry calls from Future Shop about impatient members who do the same thing. The Ottawa location lost a garden supplies provider when a member took a confidential Direct Buy quote and drove over and demanded the same price so she could save delivery time. Her membership was revoked and that business dropped DB as a sales channel. She violated the rules and other members lose out (we cannot access that supplier). Yet she is probably going to be complaining on a forum like this soon.

     When I joined, I had him price out different items I intended to buy which allowed me gauge my potential return. Lastly, I found out that since all DB locations are franchises, each one has a different membership fee. The newest locations tended to have the lowest fees but the highest annual renewal fees. Luckily one of these new locations was in my area. So I purchased the membership for around $3500 CAD in Aug 2006. I plan on renewing at a location with a cheaper annual rate. Find a new location, and you will definitely not have to pay $6000.

     I have benefited immensely from this membership. I bought a new condo and I did purchase all my furniture and appliances from Direct Buy. By my estimation, within 2 years I have recovered my fee. They had all the brands and the models, the type of furniture (a Nicoletti couch – only sold in Montreal) and rare items I could not find (an LG combo washer/dryer that was withdrawn from retail). In fact, I am always overwhelmed by the amount of choice (for example colours and materials on furniture) that I have at DB.

     The location I joined at, advised potential customers not to join unless they had major purchases and were likely to recover their investment. The reality of DB is that it takes some compromise and elbow grease on your part to enjoy those savings. This means you have to do the research before you buy. You have to pick up and install purchases yourself. And you have to have items you need to buy, (ie major appliances or home improvement items) or non-traditional items (like the aforementioned combo washer/dryer) that you would like to have. And you have to have major purchases to make. Unless, you are likely to purchase at least 15 000 dollars worth of merchandise in the next two years, you are unlikely to recover a satisfying portion of your membership.

     In my experience (and having inside knowledge from an employee), those who complain have entirely unrealistic expectations and a poor understanding of how DB and retailers operate. The fact that many contractors use DB says plenty about how cost effective they are. But there are bound to be compromises. You don’t get the brand you want sometimes , they don’t sell low end merchandise, you cant return anything (they are not a store with a warehouse, they are a club), and you have to cart it away yourself or pay for delivery. If you want to join you have to weigh these issues out. If you are choosy on brands (ie Sony is not offered but Samsung is), DON’T JOIN. If you need to visit a showroom to buy an item, DON’T JOIN. If you need to talk to sales people, and you are not an independent shopper, DON’T JOIN. If you want everything to delivered the next day after you pay for it, DONT JOIN. If you don’t like to set up and install things yourself, DONT JOIN. And if you have no major purchases to make, DON’T JOIN. If you are satisfied shopping at Walmart and Ikea, DONT JOIN. Direct Buy does not carry brands that can compete on price with gypsum board furniture.

     Lastly, your expectations have to be realistic. Electronics tend to have markups of only 15-25%. The Direct Buy price compares well on the cost price for many electronics at retailers like Best Buy (I have a cousin who works there and I have compared prices). Occasionally, however, retailers like Best Buy do sell below cost so it will be cheaper to shop there than DB. This is however, the exception, not the rule. With items like furniture, or home improvement and building materials there is no comparison. Italian made furniture sells for 30-40% of the retail price. Granite counters go for half the price of outside contractors with more choice of materials and finishes. Tires for my car are over half off. On a set of winter tires, that over $600 in savings. A single purchase like that every year, could recover your membership value over time.

     In short, you have to time and effort to put in, to truly materialize savings. And you have to money to spend. DB is not meant for bargain basement shoppers. It is meant for those who are value conscious (not price conscious – there is a difference), who make informed decisions and take the long view of purchases they make (granite counters add value to your house, a new plasma tv does not). If you are not this type of person, do yourself, the staff and other members a favour, and stay out of the showroom. The rest of us have some shopping to do.

160. Jerry Minder | 11-Mar-08 at 9:55 am | Permalink

     So, what specific written guarantees of savings,if any, does Direct buy provide?

161. Jason & Michelle | 13-Mar-08 at 10:47 pm | Permalink

     We have been members of Directbuy in Calgary since 1999.

     I agree that customer service could improve but so could it in the regular retail market.

     We joined to save money on a kitchen reno and we did. We saved enough to pay for the original Fee plus an additional $10K.

     Just this year we purchased a Leather sectional that was $3800 @ the brick on sale, and got it through directbuy for $1900. Apples to Apples.

     We will continue to be members.

     Our 2 cents.

162. Directbuy No-Markup-Scam | 20-Mar-08 at 8:16 pm | Permalink

     Even as you read, this scam, which is nothing more than and a variation of the “Advance Fee Fraud” scheme, is parting yet more of the “something for nothing” crowd from their money.

     Here’s how it works: a telephone “tickler” call is made to a potential victim and an informative letter is sent afterwards inviting them to an open house so they can see for themselves how much others like them have saved and how much they themselves would save, along with some form of an invitation to join. The letter and subsequent follow-up telephone calls promise rich rewards of savings by buying direct from the manufacturer, at cost, with no Mark Up, No Middleman if only they were “members” of this so called highly esteemed and long time in business organisation. Typically, the pitch at the open house includes mention the so called fact that tens of thousands of other smart and savvy consumers have saved along with a slick selection of what they have saved on — and you, too, can begin saving as soon as you join this elustrous group by signing a “membership agreement” costing thousands of dollars payable in advance of receiving any benefits – you are told that amount is paltry compared to the savings you will obtain over a 10 year period – and you must sign the contract on a now or never basis. You are even made to feel stupid if you don’t sign – only a fool would not take advantage of the savings – spend a little to save a lot sort of thing.

     If you’re not saying “scam” by now, you should be. Should you agree to participate in this Advance Fee savings scam, something will go wrong. Savings evaporate … or.. wrong or defective merchandise will be ordered … or … order delays … or … order mishaps and screw-ups. You will not be allowed to cancel your “membership” and get out of the deal.

     If you decide to order merchandise, money from you, in advance of receiving the merchandise — an insignificant sum, really, in light of the windfall of savings about to land in your lap — will be required to order merchandise without any written guarantees of actually saving money.. You pay, you wait for the merchandise . . . and all you’ll get in return are more excuses about why the order is held up and assurances that everything can be straightened out if you’ll just be patient and wait a little while longer or send a bit more to pay for this or that price increase. Once you start making threats, these scammers will threaten to sue you if you don’t make good on your end of paying for the membership contract in full.

     Beware that the Membership Agreement is in reality nothing more than a legally binding sales contract that may have been glossed over in light of all the savings you are excited about expecting. Carefully look at it – it contains NO GUARANTEES OF SAVINGS – instead there is a “NO ORAL PROMISES” clause: “No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the club.” It’s like a get out of jail free card – they can tell you anything pie in the sky in the open house tour or over the phone to get you to join, but once you sign the sales or Membership Agreement, you agree to the NO ORAL PROMISES clause! So what happens if it turns out not to be what you expected? Ouch. Too late. You’re stuck. That NO ORAL PROMISES clause comes back and bites you. Want a refund? Beware that the Membership Agreement states: “Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and that no refund of membership fees will be made.” So you only partially paid on your contract and think that you’re just not going to pay the rest of the contracted amount? — beware that the Membership Agreement states further: “Members do not have the right to terminate the Membership Agreement without paying the amount remaining for this Membership.” And if you think you’re going to get a refund because you never found anything cheaper and therefore didn’t use the club, think again. There’s a clause in the Membership Agreement about this too: “The Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership.”

     In a nutshell, the con works by blinding the victim with promises of an unimaginable fortune of what others like them have saved, what they could have saved if only they joined earlier, and what they can expect to save by joining now. Once the sucker is excited and sufficiently glittery-eyed over the prospect of what he or she would do with all the money he will save, he is then squeezed for however much membership fee in full at the time of “joining” or have the sales contract balance immediately financed by a separate finance company, actually a subsidiary of the parent scam company. The money the victim parts with willingly, thinking “What’s $5,000 here when I’m going to end up saving over $50,000 when this is all done?” He fails to realize during the sting that he’s never going to actually get the promised savings because all of savings are expressly disclaimed in the fine print of the contracts and merchandise ordering materials. The very sales contract, which the victim was at first eager to sign, now comes back to bite him with all those adverse terms and conditions. All of this messing around is designed to part him/her from their money.

     Once the scam is explained, it seems so obvious a con that you’d wonder who would fall for it. Yet fall for it people do because they’re mesmerized by the wealth that will soon be theirs in the form of all the savings by not paying any markup or middleman costs – and how smart they are by taking advantage of the join now or never opportunity. They also fail to realize there’s a hook hanging just out of sight; at first all they see is that others are getting savings and they want to join this cadre, thus they’re ill-prepared to mentally shift gears when the con artists turns the tables. Because the premise of “saving tons of money” is wholeheartedly swallowed early on, it’s not at a later point questioned when things begin to go wrong with the transaction and the dupes who have been targeted find out the hard way that there is a no refund policy on all the money they have paid in advance of receiving these now questionable “savings.”

     Beware paying in advance for something for nothing – no written guarantees of promises made should send you running – especially in light of the tactics of “Be like me, I’m a member and I’ve saved money.”

     http://edumacation.com/DirectBuy

163. bob | 27-Mar-08 at 2:09 am | Permalink

     I know a lot about Direct Buy(D.B.). I worked there. I was fired. I will state the truth as I know it. If you are going to build a house you would be foolish not to use D.B. If you are going to buy T.V., regular stove, or refer, everyone has a sale on those items. If you are well off and need to spend some of that money D.B. will allow you buy for what the stores pay for it plus an 8% handling charge and shipping. Help with the 800 companies many, many catalogs and the one millions items there in is not great. One person at each center is employed to simply make the changes and price list updates in them. The savings are real because D.B. has no profit. The profit is in the up front fee. If you have 26 employees and no profit how are they going to be paid? The up front fee. Why do you have to join the day your there? Several. With some of the companies at D.B. its a way of satisfying their need to allow D.B. to compete with their dealer down the street or around the corner who must have a markup, profit. Also so many leads are generated by the TV ads that the sales staff does not have the time to call people back about joining.
     You cannot invest two hours without both people. You offer to set a new time. Its the business model. Sorry. Its done in many sales business. Both really need the same info to make an informed decision. Thats what we all really want to happen anyway, isn’t it?
     Can it be a bad decision for you? Yes. If you don’t have money to spend how are you going to save?
     Can it be a good decision for you? Yes. Either you are building a house or have money to spend to make use of the saving potental. If your remodeling and going to spend $25,000 you save the up front fee on the order. It only costs about a $1.70 a day over ten years to be a member. Its that simple.
     How is it hard. Its not. It$ real. Really it i$.

164. Patrick Gilger | 02-Apr-08 at 12:16 am | Permalink

     I went to the so-called presentation and had this sweaty, fast talking hick in my face goin on and on about how much money I could save. He only mentioned one brand name: Ashley Furniture. Forgive me, but I thought we would be saving money on MAJOR name brands. If wanted to buy the same Ashley Furniture that other people rent by the week for furnishing their double-wide mobile homes, then I’d get it elsewhere. The people in their infomercials and video presentations are just plain SKANKY AND SMARMY! There’s Mr. and Mrs. Gulotta, who say that their home was on tour. I NEVER saw so much tacky crap in my life! Then there’s Mrs. Gape, the wretched little mouth breather who looks like Jabba the Hut. She goes on & on about how much money she saved on her mirror and her piano. Anyway, they made me sit and watch these tragic, tacky people on their video. All in all, they wore me down for about an hour and a half, then the punch line: $4000 membership cost! I told the guy point-blank that there was nothing shown in the videos that the other people had that would appeal to me. I told him I needed proof that they had something available in their books that I would Actually want to buy. He said that they normally don’t allow people to look in the books until they commit, but he made an exception for me. I went straight for the Kitchen-Aid catalog to look for the dishwasher I had priced 2 weeks ago. Their price on a mid-range model was the same as Kitchen-Aid’s top of the line that I price at a local store. On top of that, there would have been delivery, installation, etc. I told him I wasn’t interested. A month later, he called me and acted like he dialed a wrong number. He played dumbed about dialing me and started talking about how I made a big mistake. I guess he thought I was going to beg to be allowed to join. Hell, you look at the some of the people who are on the infomercial and you should ask: is this my peer group? They’re certainly not mine. Oh, the Direct Buy employee’s name was Patrick Gilger

165. Bob Shamson | 10-Apr-08 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

     This company is nation wide. As far as I can tell you do not sign up in a van , in some dark alley. IT HAS TO BE LEGIT!
     But the people who hate it- must not UNDERSTAND how it works. Maybe DirectBuy should start a idiot program. You know, have a contract with pop-ups, and have the potential members sign with crayons.
     Because you would have to be an idiot- to not WANT to save money! You would have to be an idiot to NOT GET what DirectBuy is about, and how it works.
     So Sorry-I hope the money you save by not joining, can buy you some brains.

166. Directbuy Scam | 12-Apr-08 at 10:27 am | Permalink

     So, what guarantees,if any, does this so-called reputable company offer or is it true that in DirectBuy’s sales contract they try to dupe you into signing something that contains:

     QUOTE:

     IMPORTANT MERCHANDISE TERMS:
     - The Club disclaims all warranties regarding the merchandise
     - Any need for subsequent repairs or service, after receipt of merchandise, is members? own responsibility.
     - MERCHANDISE MAY NOT BE RETURNED.
     - The entire merchandise price plus handling fee, estimated freight and sales tax is required as a down payment at the time of placing an order with the Club.
     - Suppliers reserve the right to change their prices without notice.
     - From time to time some suppliers and services are dropped and others are added
     - Only the supplier has the right to cancel an order.

     http://edumacation.com/DirectBuyMembershipAgreement

     No Warranties, No Price Guarantees, No Returns, No Guarantee of any savings, 100% purchase price due upon ordering, “Suppliers” can change prices or cancel at any time, and no guarantee of “Supplier” availability; this just to name a few of the “benefits” agreed to in their sales contract costing what? $5000.00 or more depending upon the franchisee.

     Not a scam?

     You decide.

167. DoggyDog | 16-Apr-08 at 4:41 pm | Permalink

     No, not a scam. DirectBuy isn’t a store, so they don’t have a store warranty. The warranty is from the manufacturer. Just like if you bought a new car, the warranty on the car comes from the manufacturer and not the dealer.

     The no return policy is tough, but they are up front about this. You have the opportunity to inspect the product when you receive it and reject it at pickup. If you take it home, you can’t send it back unless you are making a warranty claim to the manufacturer. Again, this is because DirectBuy is not a store and doesn’t manage inventory and returns.

     As for suppliers changing their prices, this is a fact of reality. If GE raises or lowers their price on a dishwasher, DirectBuy may not get notified until you place the order and GE reports back that their price sheets have changed. This is pretty rare, but again because DirectBuy isn’t a store and stocks no inventory, they have no way to honor a manufacturers old prices if they change suddenly.

     These are not things DirectBuy hides, they are clear that you are dealing directly with the manufacturer and there is no store inbetween you to provide services such as managing inventory or processing your warranty claims on your behalf. If you can accept this higher level of uncertainty and overhead on your part, then your reward is significantly lower prices. It’s a tradeoff some will make and others will not.

168. Directbuy No-Markup-Scam | 17-Apr-08 at 9:57 am | Permalink

     Direct buy wants $4000 up-front fee not to process any warranty claims?

169. DoggyDog | 17-Apr-08 at 1:48 pm | Permalink

     Sounds like you really don’t get the concept.

     The idea is that manufacturers like Whirlpool or Lexington Furniture don’t normally sell direct to consumer, they sell to wholesalers or retailers that buy in bulk or guarantee volume. Manufacturers sell to wholesalers and retailers at lower margins than they would if selling direct-to-consumer because the high volume more than offsets the lower margin.

     So how can a consumer buy something at that low margin wholesale price? DirectBuy aggregates individual consumers and negotiates a deal with manufacturers to represent a bunch of individuals as if those individuals were one retail store. The manufacturer won’t agree to sell to one person at a low price, because the volume isn’t there. But if enough people band together, then the volume makes sense.

     So DirectBuy offers this service and in exchange wants an up-front fee. If they dindn’t charge it up-front, you could joing the club for one week and order everything you ever wanted and then quit the club. They would never be able to stay in business with no one actually paying their membership dues and quitting after one week.

     Since the fee is up-front and is high, joining only makes sense for folks that have a lot of major purchases to make which will more than offset the cost of the membership. Typically this is folks furnishing or remodeling a large home. Those with smaller homes or who do not need to buy a lot of new high-margin goods won’t benefit.

     Does that make sense now or are you still confused? I’m not a DirectBuy fanboy and not an employee, just trying to explain that there is a rationale for the DirectBuy business model and it does make sense for them and most of their customers if you actually take the time to think about it.

170. Ct - Family | 24-Apr-08 at 11:01 am | Permalink

     Hi ,
     Me and my husband recentky purchased a home. We had some furniture from the apartment we lived. but we still needed more as we were moving into a house. I saw the direct buy advertisment and thought of checking it out with my husband. As everyone said we too got the shock of the membership fee and were forced to take a decision right then. Since they gave us a 3 day period after taking an amount from our hands, we were rushing to take the decion. We are an average family and the membership fee is a lot to us.We went to other furniture stores around us and took a look at the ones we wanted. we got a whole dining set, leather living room set and a bedroom set for just 5000. Of course we went back to Direct Buy and cancelled our membership. We are happy with the decision we made.

171. Don Becker | 24-Apr-08 at 6:41 pm | Permalink

     Boy am I glad I found this website/blog tonight. I/we were considering requesting a free visitors pass to see what Direct Buy could offer. After reading a couple dozen posts we have abandoned any idea of pursuing any Direct Buy considerations. Thanks to all of you for your valuable information.

172. James | 06-May-08 at 2:43 pm | Permalink

     At the time I tried them I was younger and didn’t know that buying directly from the company is more expensive than buying through a retailer. Since they buy in bulk.
     They are taking advantage of people that doesn’t know that. And the way they go about it is harsh to. They sat me in a room after the main presentation and kept pressuring me that this was the greatest thing and that I would miss out. Little did I know that all I was buying was time in a room full of out dated catalogs.I thought I would get at least personal attention to help me find the best deals. They had absolutely no time for me. Then I saw the prices!!!!! I could go to home depot and walmart and get things for 1/3 the price. BIG RIP OFF.

173. Consumer Watchdog | 13-May-08 at 9:16 pm | Permalink

     Secretive DirectBuy Can Save, But Is It For You?
     Consumer Watchdog: George Gombossy
     May 11, 2008
     Watchdog, Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115

     http://www.courant.com/business/hc-watchdog0511.artmay11,0,3450527.column

     A Snippet:

     If you don’t like the product, tough. You are stuck with it. DirectBuy unlike retail stores has a no-return policy and provides no warranties.

     Sales books are not always up to date, and not every item is always available.

     More disturbing to me is that DirectBuy attempts to hide the fact that not all savings it sees from manufacturers are passed on directly to members.

     By reviewing the 260-plus page agreement with its franchise owners, I learned that DirectBuy reserves “the right to keep rebates, discounts and other payments from manufacturers and suppliers.”

     It also keeps early-pay discounts, and all DirectBuy purchases are paid by the member at the time of ordering.

     http://www.courant.com/business/hc-watchdog0511.artmay11,0,3450527.column

174. Mark | 10-Jun-08 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

     We’ve been a member now for almost a year and we’ve been very happy, although like everyone else, we hated the sales pitch and the high pressure tactics.

     We did sign up and we were both skepticle and not sure if the investment was worth it and if I would actually find the savings to recoupe it. We like to shop, compare prices on the internet,retail, closeouts, amazon etc. After almost 1 year our savings have covered our investment, so even if I didn’t buy anything else, I’m content. The largest savings so far was on furniture. We saved 4K alone on the furniture set. High end stuff from Stanley furniture that will last a lifetime.

     You have to research your prices because you have to factor in handling,shipping,taxes,duty etc… which can sometimes be more than retail, although I found out today that they will match retail prices and beat it which is cool.

     As others have said, if you are not going to spend 10-15K or more on stuff, then the membership is not worth it, however if you plan on renovating, there are some major savings to be had.

     You also need to look at this as a long term investment. Over the next 10 years do you plan on buying furniture, a reno, etc… If the answer is no, then pass on the membership. I’m not really sure why so many people have beefs. I suppose a lot has to do with the location that you go to. The one I goto has impecible customer service. You always get someone on the phone, they reply to email right away and have solved mix ups with our orders.

     I only wish I became a member sooner instead of spending 5K on my leather couch and ottoman. Damn!

175. Jackie Brown | 15-Jun-08 at 8:41 am | Permalink

     Thanks so much for all the info. on DirectBuy. I had already called for their brochure and was planning to visit a showroom in the next couple of weeks. I am excited about building my home and wanted to try to save money on furniture, flooring etc. My God as I read all the blogs, I realize how lucky and blessed I am to have read all these entries before I went. I feel horrible for all the people who have gotten scammed out of millions. These sites are so helpful. I would be afraid to venture into anything big again without trying to search for info. on the web re: the product. I was saved this time.

176. Cliffystones | 29-Jun-08 at 11:29 am | Permalink

     Quote from “former employee” #148;

     “educate your self, and stop voting for Bush-like presidents!”

     Direct Buy Mantra,

     “The #1 way to buy direct for your home.”

     Obama Mantra,

     “Change…….. We can believe in.”

     The moral………….. Do your own math. And Caveat Emptor. (Let the buyer beware).

177. MagH | 02-Jul-08 at 8:46 pm | Permalink

     thanks for all the comments. we have been getting calls to go to the presentation, but it is a 2 hour drive and haven’t had the time. Now we are not even going to consider it. we don’t have the fee that would be required. Glad I found this site. thanks to everyone for your comments.

178. JCA | 11-Jul-08 at 11:13 am | Permalink

     I recently bought a house; a REO. It was missing some appliances. I needed a refrigerator and washer and dryer.

     I signed up July 5th. After dealing with a comedy of errors on my first order of a 26.0 cu ft Frigidaire side-by-side I canceled my membership on the 3rd day (last night). On the back of the membership agreement I signed is a three business day right of recission with it expiring on midnight of the third business day. The east Las Vegas east location is closed on Sunday and Monday, so business day one was Tuesday with the third being yesterday.

     After checking these reviews and pricing out what I am looking for last night. The appliances I need I can get at or below the DB price from local retailers. These appliances are not on clearance and are still being made by the manufacturer.

     Another issue I have with DB is if an item is presently being manufactured, I should be able to order it through DB since they claim to deal with the manufacturer directly. I should not be limited to what is in their catalog. Bottom line if it isn’t in the DB catalog, you can’t order it through them even if the manufacturer is still making it and local retailers can get it. What’s the value in that?

     If I’m paying for a membership, I expect premium service. I did not get a return call on the status of my order on Tuesday. I called them as soon as they opened and left a voice mail message. The first e-mail I sent to them on the status. The service rep responded that the items were in the warehouse, but referenced the wrong manufacturer. I replied, you have the wrong order with a scanned copy of the PO.

     Yesterday afternoon, I e-mailed when would you get an order acknowledgement and confirmation of the date of delivery? I never got a reply back so at 8pm last night I FAXed them my membership cancellation plus e-mailed a scanned copy of it. If I do not see a written acknowledgement of a credit for both the membership and the refrigerator, I’m having my credit card company deal with them. I was promised an updated delivery date by close of business Tuesday. That promise was not made. As of Thursday night, the order was not acknowledged nor a response back with when I would get an order acknowledgement.

     Both retail vendors who can order the same refrigerator for me can give me a delivery date online at the time I place the order from their website.

     I am not big on furniture. With the US economy in the state it is in, you’re going to get discounts on furniture anyway because those are items that are not moving right now. Everywhere I turn around there’s a furniture store going out of business or filing for BK. If you’re flipping a house, you probably won’t be furnishing it for your tenant or buyer. You’ll be looking for appliances to put in it. Based on my experience, you save very little, if anything, on kitchen appliances.

     Best advice to someone who is considering DB. Check the membership agreement before you sign. If there’s a recission right then put them to the test during your recission window. They failed the test with me. What’s also ironic is that I found an internet vendor that can get the same refrigerator for about 33% off, but the freight would equate it to being a little more than having it bought locally since it would come from the east coast.

     The having your spouse or significant other come with you is also a pressure tactic. I remember being asked three times during the follow up call if I had a spouse or significant other during the follow up call. I finally told the idiot on the phone after the third time, “No, I’m not going back to Shawshank.”

179. Made it out | 13-Jul-08 at 11:24 pm | Permalink

     Went to the presentation today, could smell a rat as soon as we walked in. Hadn’t found this website before the visit and might have signed up if it wasn’t for the it’s now or never technique. Made it out without throwing away money, found this website and now can sleep well tonight!

180. Another Sucker... | 14-Jul-08 at 1:55 pm | Permalink

     I?ve been a member of Direct Buy now for about 10 months. I?ve actually only placed 2 orders to date, although I am in the process of remodeling my home and really thought I?d be using the ?service? a lot more.

     My first order was for a few kitchen cabinets, when we remodeled the laundry room. I ordered the Kraftmaid cabinets, and my total order was about $700, which was a $2,100 Kraftmaid price. OK? so that was a pretty good savings. However, now that I?ve been doing a little more research, I?ve found that I can purchase and ?take home TODAY? a very similar product from Lowe?s for about the same price or less.

     Also, here are a few reasons I?m not happy with Direct Buy.

     1) It cost $5,000 to join? too much money for what you get.
     2) Must go to a ?store?, find what I like, get the product numbers, then spend another day going to Direct Buy, looking thru the catalogs to search for the item I?m interested in, then place the order, pay upfront and wait 2-8 weeks. Are you kidding?
     3) Orders must be placed at the store, which is not open on Friday?s.
     4) Can?t order most items on-line.
     5) Must click on the item and/or ?View Price? to see the price? takes too long to do any kind of searching/shopping.
     6) Would like to ?View? all items on the website, not by manufacturer, because many times I really don?t care or know who makes it.
     7) On many items, I must wait 6-8 weeks for delivery? but pay up front? that?s too long.
     I can find most items at a cheaper price, by shopping for an off-brand.
     9) The cost for shipping is crazy. I realize that it is based on the location of the manufacturer, but if I wanted a specific item and then paid shipping, it would be about the same as if I went to the store to buy it.
     10) Appliances aren?t any cheaper than if I bought them from Lowe?s ?on sale?.

     What I?m getting at, is that I?m NOT happy with my Direct Buy membership This is a service that doesn?t benefit me. A Sam?s Club membership is only $40 a year, and I wouldn?t renew it if I didn?t like it after the 1st year, but $5,000 is a lot more than $40.

     Basically, all I can see that Direct Buy does is create an outlet for people who have time to sit and search through tons of catalogs to find what they?ve already found in the store, and are trying to get it at a cheaper price, specifically people with lots of time or are Interior Decorators/Designers. Many of the items you list are at the high end of the scale, when most of us don?t want to spend that kind of money on something we can get cheaper at a store.

     In these tough economic times, it?s important to make frugal purchasing decisions and I don?t feel that Direct Buy allows that. Several months ago, I was interested in purchasing a Gas BBQ Grill. All I could find on the website were in the $1,000 price range. That?s NOT what I wanted. Therefore, I wasted my time searching through your website, only to go to a local retailer and purchase and ?take home? the grill I wanted. I?m sorry, but I just don?t have the time to sit in the ?show room? and go through catalog after catalog. The last time I was in there, it took 3 hours to order 2 sofas, and then 6 weeks for delivery.

     My final comments… DON’T DO IT… I don’t feel that I got any kind of ‘real deal’. I wish I’d found this website sooner!

181. Another Sucker... | 14-Jul-08 at 1:57 pm | Permalink

     I?ve been a member of Direct Buy now for about 10 months. I?ve actually only placed 2 orders to date, although I am in the process of remodeling my home and really thought I?d be using the ?service? a lot more.

     My first order was for a few kitchen cabinets, when we remodeled the laundry room. I ordered the Kraftmaid cabinets, and my total order was about $700, which was a $2,100 Kraftmaid price. OK? so that was a pretty good savings. However, now that I?ve been doing a little more research, I?ve found that I can purchase and ?take home TODAY? a very similar product from Lowe?s for about the same price or less.

     Also, here are a few reasons I?m not happy with Direct Buy.

     1) It cost $5,000 to join? too much money for what you get.
     2) Must go to a ?store?, find what I like, get the product numbers, then spend another day going to Direct Buy, looking thru the catalogs to search for the item I?m interested in, then place the order, pay upfront and wait 2-8 weeks. Are you kidding?
     3) Orders must be placed at the store, which is not open on Friday?s.
     4) Can?t order most items on-line.
     5) Must click on the item and/or ?View Price? to see the price? takes too long to do any kind of searching/shopping.
     6) Would like to ?View? all items on the website, not by manufacturer, because many times I really don?t care or know who makes it.
     7) On many items, I must wait 6-8 weeks for delivery? but pay up front? that?s too long.
     I can find most items at a cheaper price, by shopping for an off-brand.
     9) The cost for shipping is crazy. I realize that it is based on the location of the manufacturer, but if I wanted a specific item and then paid shipping, it would be about the same as if I went to the store to buy it.
     10) Appliances aren?t any cheaper than if I bought them from Lowe?s ?on sale?.

     What I?m getting at, is that I?m NOT happy with my Direct Buy membership This is a service that doesn?t benefit me. A Sam?s Club membership is only $40 a year, and I wouldn?t renew it if I didn?t like it after the 1st year, but $5,000 is a lot more than $40.

     Basically, all I can see that Direct Buy does is create an outlet for people who have time to sit and search through tons of catalogs to find what they?ve already found in the store, and are trying to get it at a cheaper price, specifically people with lots of time or are Interior Decorators/Designers. Many of the items you list are at the high end of the scale, when most of us don?t want to spend that kind of money on something we can get cheaper at a store.

     In these tough economic times, it?s important to make frugal purchasing decisions and I don?t feel that Direct Buy allows that. Several months ago, I was interested in purchasing a Gas BBQ Grill. All I could find on the website were in the $1,000 price range. That?s NOT what I wanted. Therefore, I wasted my time searching through your website, only to go to a local retailer and purchase and ?take home? the grill I wanted. I?m sorry, but I just don?t have the time to sit in the ?show room? and go through catalog after catalog. The last time I was in there, it took 3 hours to order 2 sofas, and then 6 weeks for delivery.

     My final comments… DON’T DO IT… I don’t feel that I got any kind of ‘real deal’. I wish I’d found this website sooner!

182. Tammy T | 20-Jul-08 at 3:15 pm | Permalink

     HERE’S THE THING, DIRECTBUY IS NOT FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER. WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE, AND I HAVE ALREADY RECOUPED MY $5900 BACK THAT I PAID TO JOIN.

     I HAD 2 ESTIMATES FOR WINDOWS FROM 2 CONTRACTORS AND WITH DIRECTBUY I SAVED OVER $3000. DIRECTBUY, ON MY REQUEST, SENT A WINDOW REP TO ME. HE WAS LOCAL AND DID A FANTASIC JOB ON INSTALLING THE HIGH END WINDOWS.

     I PURCHASED A WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE AND SAVED $600 FROM THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED ELSEWEAR. I PICKED IT UP AT DIRECTBUY, AND FOUND THE SERVICE GOOD

     RECENTLY I WENT TO PICK OUT FLOORING AND APPLIANCES. ALL VERY HIGH END. I HAD SHOPPED EVERYWHERE TO GET THE BEST PRICE, BUT DIRECTBUY SAVED ME $12500 FROM WHAT I WAS GOING TO SPEND ELSEWEAR.

     SO FAR I HAVE SAVED OVER $21000. BY THE TIME I AM FINISHED I AM LOOKING AT SAVING OVER $65000 IN COST TO BUILD MY HOUSE, MINUS THE $5900 FEE THAT’S $59000, ENOUGH TO PUT IN A POOL AND GET SOME NEW FURNITURE!!!!
     I BOUGHT A COUCH 6 MONTHS BEFORE I JOINED AND PAID $1500 FOR IT, AT DIRECTBUY THE EXACT COUCH IS $600, WITH NO FEES.

     THE POINT: IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU ARE DOING A MAJOR REMODEL, OR NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU WILL SAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IF YOU ARE JUST USING DIRECTBUY FOR LITTLE PURCHASES, IT WILL TAKE SOMETIME TO RECOUPE YOUR INVESTMENT.

     ALSO I WILL ADD THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A SAVIE SHOPPER AT DIRECTBUY. SOME ITEMS HAVE 3-8% FEES, I SIMPLY DO NOT BUY THOSE ITEMS. HERE’S A EXAMPLE:
     ON FAUCETS, I WANTED A CERTAIN LOOKING BATHROOM FAUCET THAT IS COMMON LOOK, THREE COMPANIES CARRY IT, SO I LOOKED FOR THE COMPANY THAT DID NOT HAVE THE MARK UP.
     SOME COMPANIES ONLY GIVE A SMALL DISCOUNT OFF OF RETAIL, BUT WHILE I WAS IN THE PHASE OF RECOUPING THE $ I PAID TO JOIN, I STUCK TO THE NO MARKUP COMPANIES.

     AS FAR AS PRESURE TO JOIN, THAT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF CONSUMER YOU ARE. I WOULD NEVER BUY A TIMESHARE, AND THEY COULD PUT THEIR BEST ON ME, AND IT’S STILL NO, BUT IF YOU ARE A WEAKER TYPE, THEN YOU MAY WANT TO BE SURE YOU WANT TO JOIN BEFORE YOU GO. THE REASON YOU CAN NOT GO BACK TO JOIN AFTER PRESENTATION IS BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THE CATALOGS OF THE PRICE AND COMPANIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE BEFORE JOINING. DIRECTBUY HAS MADE A DEAL WITH THE SUPPLIERS THAT NO ONE COULD GO JUST TO CHECK PRICES, BECAUSE THE RETAILERS WOULD BE PISSED. AND EVERYONE WOULD DO IT. SO WHAT IF YOU WENT IN CHECK THE PRICE OF A VIKING RANGE, THEN WENT TO A RETAILER AND TOLD THEM THAT YOU WANT THEM TO LOWER THE PRICE TO WHOLESALE OR YOU WILL GO TO DIRECTBUY. BY THE WAY, FOR THE ONE I ORDERED I SAVED $3800.

183. Lynn C | 21-Jul-08 at 1:51 am | Permalink

     This is the biggest scam going. If you’ve ever been to a Time Share sales pitch, this is very similar. My husband and I (we were instructed BOTH parties must attend-this is of course to keep you from saying that you need to discuss the decision to join with your significant other who isn’t there)drive 45 miles (one way) to do this ‘invitation only’ visit to the DB showroom. In the invite it states to allow yourself a min of 1 1/2 hours to ’see everything’. The everything is 3 different videos that are attempting to brain wash you into thinking this is some sort of deal you just can’t live without. When the bomb, I mean membership price, was dropped at the end of the video (about 1 1/2 hour into the scam)—a whopping $4880 for the first 3 yrs and $199 for years 4+, I almost feel out of my chair!!! I just wanted to walk out then…but of course you are hearded into an OPEN area with several tables where you sit with a salesman who must QUALIFY you to be a member! Are you kidding me! Anyone with the ‘green’ is qualified!!! The most stupied, idiotic questions were asked to qualify us–”Do you plan on making any retail purchases in the next 10 years” DAAAAH! Then the next part of the scam is of course–How do you want to pay for this privilege to buy thru DB? Most folks just pay the $4880 up front, but if you need to finance a part of it we have a plan for that.OH, I BET YOU DO! After being shown several payment plans with just an amount down with a per month amount for 36 mths I asked the question- (being in the banking industry for over 15 years, knowing APR’s and the cost of borrowing funds)what is my interest rate? I received an answer–EVERYONE is financed so the interest rate reflects the Good, the Bad and the Ugly–I just laughed and asked then what was it, I received a cool undaunted response of 17%. At this point I wanted to know if I was on Candid Camera!!! I asked if that was inside or outside financing–outside he claimed, since they don’t want to be bothered with collections, etc. they just wanted the $4880!!!– I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to be into financing these deal!!! Can you imaging collecting this sort of paper!!! After people realized that they’ve gotten ripped off!!! At this point I was about to go postal, I had wasted over 2 hours of my time and my husband’s for this trash!!! I began pulling off the dumb name tag they gave me to wear and get up from the table. I believe like some of the other comments that there are ‘moles’ in the group also. At no time did I see anyone coming in to look at the ’sacred books’ in the Library. We also were told we were “banned” from coming back for 7 years since we didn’t buy in that day. Also, my husband, was thumbing thru the ’sacred books’ and he saw a few prices that didn’t even come close to some sale prices we saw at other places. Of course when they caught him doing that they called him over to sit somewhere else. My goodness, if your membership allows you to have such steals and deals on all this merchandise, why wouldn’t you want folks to see it in writing? Oh, yea that’s right–we will go to retailers like Best Buy and Sears and tell them we want the same price as Direct Buy!!! That is sooo lame! When I stood up after I heard enough BS from this young salesmen and decided it was time to head for the door, he seemed to get an attitude. I was at the point of giving him one of mine! I’ve been thru Katrina here in New Orleans and I’ll be darned if I’m gonna lose again!!! Stay away from this sister of the pryamid scam! Save your money!

184. Steve N. | 25-Jul-08 at 5:29 am | Permalink

     We purchased a direct buy membership to help us with a new construction project.

     Direct buy does not carry high end so if you want better quality don’t think you can save here.

     Floor tile i found through direct buy, could be purchased on the internet for less even after shipping it was less than direct buy, because of the fees, fuel surcharges etc… Direct buy charges. I complained and after a few emails they matched the price. Not worth the 5K u paid up front no savings on this purchase.

     I tried to buy bathroom fixtures, they can be purchased for the same price at discount plumbing, no savings here. I had to visit all the showrooms since direct buy does not have any displays. No time savings here.

     I tried to buy electronics , they claim not to be cheaper and they are not. Easy Internet searches turned up better equipment and prices.

     I tried to purchase lighting fixtures and found them cheaper on the internet.

     The Kitchen guy in NY is rude . I requested a counter quote and it took 3 phone calls and i still only got a phone estimate. I found the same counter top at Home depot and Ikea for less and the service was much better.

     Don’t waist your money on Direct buy use the internet and you will save more and have a wider selection. Buy directly not through Direct buy.

185. N. Steve | 01-Aug-08 at 8:51 pm | Permalink

     What is their motivation for giving great price and/or service after they have your non-refundable $5000.00 ?

186. Jennifer | 12-Aug-08 at 7:30 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is beneficial to people who see themselves spending 8-10k. So if ur looking to buy a sofa, obviously they wouldnt be for u. Do your research. Direct buy generates over 70 members a month. People think they know what theyre talking about. All of the prices they show u are not bogus they pull the right out of the manufacturs catalogs and theyre are over 900 brand names. Of course there is a membership fee, how else would they make their money. Ive been a member for 14 years and im still satisfied as i was when i first joined

187. Jen X | 15-Aug-08 at 10:37 am | Permalink

     Yes, the fine print takes away any savings. Also, if you don?t like the product, tough. You are stuck with it. DirectBuy unlike retail stores has a no-return policy and provides no warranties. Sales books are not always up to date, and not every item is always available. More disturbing to me is that DirectBuy attempts to hide the fact that not all savings it sees from manufacturers are passed on directly to members. By reviewing the 260-plus page agreement with its franchise owners, I learned that DirectBuy reserves the right to keep rebates, discounts and other payments from manufacturers and suppliers. It also keeps early-pay discounts, and all DirectBuy purchases are paid by the member at the time of ordering. Imagine that, a buyer’s-club keeping discounts. It seems Directbuy has some issues. If you are not saying scam by now, I think you should.

188. Jen X | 15-Aug-08 at 10:37 am | Permalink

     Yes, the fine print takes away any savings. Also, if you don?t like the product, tough. You are stuck with it. DirectBuy unlike retail stores has a no-return policy and provides no warranties. Sales books are not always up to date, and not every item is always available. More disturbing to me is that DirectBuy attempts to hide the fact that not all savings it sees from manufacturers are passed on directly to members. By reviewing the 260-plus page agreement with its franchise owners, I learned that DirectBuy reserves the right to keep rebates, discounts and other payments from manufacturers and suppliers. It also keeps early-pay discounts, and all DirectBuy purchases are paid by the member at the time of ordering. Imagine that, a buyer’s-club keeping discounts. It seems Directbuy has some issues. If you are not saying scam by now, I think you should.

189. Surfdog | 21-Aug-08 at 2:26 am | Permalink

     Went to a presentation tonight. Wife set it up, and knew I should’ve done a Google search before we went but have been to busy and forgot. Anyway, I can see if you are planning to make a lot of big home upgrade/furnishing purchases in the near future, it may pay for itself, eventually. The idea of flippers using the service seems like a good one, but other than that, not worth it. The long delivery times, handling fees, catalog searches, lack of decent customer service and return issues, seem a bit suspect for a $6000 fee to help you “save” money. Plus, this type of buying tool only gives you more incentive to go out and buy stuff you may not really need, just to get your member fee back. First you pay $6000, then you need to buy $15k-20k worth of stuff, just to beak even the first 2 years. Then, buy another 10k+ more to actually “save” some money. So far you’ve spent $35k-40k just save a few k’s. Unless you have a empty house, or are planning a major renovation to one, or do some flipping, I don’t see the benefit. If, for some reason the place goes belly up, you’re SOL. Could be a good deal for some, but not the majority of consumers.

190. Larry S | 26-Aug-08 at 9:38 am | Permalink

     Direct Buy Member Lawsuit:

     Ponzi et al v. DirectBuy Inc et al

     Case Number: 3:2008cv01274

     Filed 20 Aug 2008 in Connecticut District Court, New Haven, CT

     Nature of Suit: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations

     Telling members and prospective members they are getting merchandise at cost and then they secretly reserve and keep all discounts not a racket?

191. directbuy rebates | 31-Aug-08 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

     DirectBuy Sued
     A federal lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in Hartford against the national high-end DirectBuy franchise operation, accusing it of falsely telling prospective clients that they are getting furniture, appliances and other household products at manufacturer prices.

     In a lawsuit filed by attorney Seth R. Klein of Hartford, DirectBuy is accused of hiding the fact that DirectBuy receives rebates from manufacturers which are not directly passed on to their members, who pay as much as $7,000 to join for two or three years.

     The lawsuit, which seeks to be certified as a class action representing thousands of present and former members of the more than 100 franchises, was filed earlier this month.

     It follows a May 11 Watchdog column on DirectBuy that disclosed the rebates, which are kept secret from its members and from those it entices to join through high pressure sales techniques.

     DirectBuy officials had no comment on the suit but had said earlier that it uses the millions of dollars it received in rebates to the benefit of its members.

     We will see what a jury has to say about that.

192. brian | 08-Sep-08 at 5:05 pm | Permalink

     Just bought a new home which needs major furnishing. did a lot of pricing on furniture that we wanted to buy before going to their sales pitch, and it was out of our price range. that same furniture is now in our price range due to the membership w/ these guys. i agree, it’s not for everyone, and they were very upfront with us explaining it doesn’t make sense for someone to buy this membership if they don’t have major purchases to make. all the shipping/handling fees were explained up front as well for their merchandise per transaction. sounds like many people got wool pulled over their eyes, but we saw MANY people going through catalogs while they were there, etc., and happy faces. the place wouldn’t be packed/ w all these happy customers if it was a SCAM for them. also, check out each franchises’s better business bureau rating. the one i went to was in very good standing. you have to do your homework people!!! only one to blame for falling for something is yourself if you haven’t done your research.

193. JANICE | 16-Sep-08 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I just joined in July and are looking to remodel a small bathroom to start with. We priced everything we would need at lowes and then we went to DB ready to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars. We were shocked to see that we would actually be paying hundreds more at DB for just one item than what we would be paying for everything at Lowe’s. They never said anything to us about a 3 day cool off period or even that they carry only high end products but they sure made it clear that either you join now or don’t ever come back. I feel like such a fool for allowing them to scam me like this. Does anyone out there know of a way to get out of this? I read that there was a directbuy membership lawsuit somewhere. I also read on a different blogging site that if you call the main office of directbuy and then send them a certified letter that you could possibly get a refund.

194. Mel K | 23-Sep-08 at 12:47 am | Permalink

     So in summary, one can really save money by using DB, but only if one is planning to purchase tens of thousands of dollars worth of items in the near future. That seems reasonable to me.

     But what I don?t like are 1.) The $5,000 or so up-front fee. 2.) The inability to compare prices BEFORE joining. 3.) Having to go through the catalogs to place orders. 4.) The fact that DB does not accept returns nor handle warranties.

     If one wants to spend $35,000 just to save $5,000 (actual numbers vary) and waste hours and hours going back and forth to look through catalogs, then join DB. For those who state that one can spread the membership fee over several years of membership savings, there are concepts called opportunity cost and time value of money to consider.

     Opportunity cost: If you spent hours going back and forth to look at catalogs and following up on your order, what else could you have been doing with that time? Would your time be more valuable working a second job or spending it with your family? It does seem that you?ll save money, but you have to do a lot of leg work. What if an appliance you purchase breaks down? You can?t just call the local Best Buy or Sears for an exchange.

     Time value of money: Thinking that spending $5,000 today to save $5,000 over five or ten years doesn?t account for the time value of money. Using 3% per year for inflation, $5,000 today is worth $5,796 in five years and $6,720 in ten years. You can take the $5,000 and invest it in just about anything and more than 3% return.

     DB is not entirely a scam, but it?s only useful to a limited audience. Understand the facts stated on this site and decide for yourself.

195. Mary | 24-Sep-08 at 8:35 pm | Permalink

     Well I’m confused. If DB is keeping discounts and rebates and not passing them on to the prepaid purchases, then exactly what savings are you getting. No wonder DB wants to keep their business practices secret. What a scam!

196. E. Eisenbach | 03-Oct-08 at 12:28 pm | Permalink

     DO NOT GET DIRECT BUY They sure DO NOT care about people at all just your money. very shortly after we were convinced to sign up . I found out I had M. S. and the med’s for it are VERY expensive. then my husband plant closed down and he lost his job we tryed to call them a few times to see if we can just get out of the contract . THEY NEVER CALL BACK they tell you someone will call you then they NEVER Do after almost a year we even tried to call the bank they set up the payments with they would not even help us . there shoulds be something in there if you lose your job or Med reason they should let you out of payments ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THERE MONEY .What about the people times are really tough for everyone right now . WE NEVERED USED IT .If they were any kind of a real business they would let us out of our contract.. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT KNOWS A WAY TO HELP US PLEASE LET US KNOW. ERNIESTEPH@AOL.COM

197. Donna Martin, VA | 17-Oct-08 at 10:04 pm | Permalink

     First of all I would like to say thanks to all the honest people who posted their comment on here to help me make 1 of the biggest investments of my life. Although I am financially “strapped” so to say, I am never willing to just throw money away since we are experiencing a depression and recession. Before I would just throw my money away I would rather give it to a homeless person. How can you fault the hundreds of people who feel this company is bogus if the company made them feel that way. It is taking consumers to tell other consumers how this company works because this company isn’t upfront about it. They make people on the commercial tell a story like they just went to DB and made a purchase and saved in the end. They don’t say I damn near built my house by buying from DB. They make it seem like you can go in and buy a few pieces here and a few pieces there and tada you’ve saved big. But anyway, I don’t like the sounds of all of this so I will be forwarding this information to the news company since they have a way to investigate “Crimes” like this and making sure consumers are aware of it. I needed to buy over 3600 square feet of flooring and I wanted to visit DB. The membership fee isn’t the tragedy of the company to me but the practices of the company. It would be so horrible if a struggling family who is trying to fix up their home to sale it go to DB and commit to this membership without being educated on how it really works. in my opinion the commercials are a bunch of lies since they don’t, even in the slightest or sneakiest way inform you that you wont be getting merchandise directly from the store. So to conclude I just want to let people know that I am one who spends alot of time and effort into making sure consumers are not swindled and by doing that I get alot of helpful and pro-active people who care to get involved to make sure an end is put to such madness. I will be doing my diligence and getting on top of it right now. Hopefully all the people who have a membership cancels because this company will have to file bankruptcy after all the lawsuits it will face. Look at the chances of them facing a lawsuit. Just on this site alone more than half of the people on here stated that DB is not a company that have good practices and alot of the people who still do business with them has something negative to say about them. That will let you know right there that you should not do business with them. If I am going to refer a company to a friend or associate and put my name on it by referring them I will not have nothing negative to say about them. I will only say the positive even if I encountered a bad experience or misunderstanding. I mean if I wanted advice or an opinion about a company that I was thinking about doing business with and the person referring me had 1 negative thing to say about the company I will not do business with that company. Take this for instance: If you were shopping for a mortgage which is a major investment and someone referred you to a company that has the best rates but they told you that this company dosen’t process your payments on time resulting in a blemish on your credit and consequently making it harder for you to get future credit would you do business with them just because they have the best rates which is the positive about the company? You have to think about the longevity of dealing with them since you are entering into a contract with them. To me the negative outweighs the positive so therefore this company wouldn’t be getting my business. So goodbye to DB and goodluck to the people who still have a contract with them. Some people on here say that DB is upfront about what they offer but they really aren’t. They lure you in with the bait which are the commercials and advertisements and then they drop all the shock into your lap.

198. Rick | 21-Oct-08 at 12:26 pm | Permalink

     I filed a complaint with my county consumer affairs office to get my money back (It was absolute stupidity for me to sign the contract with this people as I did not realize that the contract takes away all the rights from consumer!!!! till it was too late). They would not cancel my membership and refund my money when I asked for onley 10 minutes later I signed the contract. I advise everybody not to sign any contract with this company. If you did please contact your county consumer affars office ASAP. Pour in a lots of coplaints. I am sure that lots of people do not take any action after loosing $6000. I am planning to campaign outside this outfit every Saturday as an awareness program. Their claim and the math do not concur…BIG SCAM. More and more people should join to file complaint to bring a class action lawsuit and people sholud campaign outside their premises during all “open house” (enrollment) sessions.

199. Agnus | 23-Oct-08 at 1:11 pm | Permalink

     I am really pleased with the postings. I was just looking into DB and will no longer waste my time.

     Question: If this is such a GREAT DEAL why are we not hearing from contracters etc.?

200. Steven | 23-Oct-08 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

     We requested a package and I have it here in front of me as I am writing this.
     So I figured, how much can they ask for a membership …..like Sams Club or BJ’s maybe %35-$40 a year. After reading this I was shocked to see the fees and the committment. No way Jose’. Guess there is a fool born every minute.
     Flat out not going to the open house. I know I would end up punching someone out and ending up in jail.
     Thanks to all those who posted here. My eyes are now open…..real wide.
     This reminds me of those “land in Florida” seminars where they literally tie you up ’til you sign on the dotted line.

201. Rick | 28-Oct-08 at 9:08 am | Permalink

     To Jenice:

     I strongly recommend you to file a complaint with your local consumer affairs department. You can file a complaint on line or send an e-mail. Also talk to the freeholder of the office. They helped me getting full refund. Their contract should be made illegal in all states. $6000 is not a joke!!! The law should be made for consumer protection to get unconditional refund at any time.

202. Workin 4 DB | 29-Oct-08 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

     Yes I do work for a DB. I won’t say which one b/c I have bills to pay and can’t afford to be fired. I work on the phone, I’m one of the telemarketers that call 4 times a day for a week. And I hate it and no one here likes doing it but it’s out JOB! People are so mean and nasty to us that it never occurs that maybe we are just doing our damn jobs so we can eat you know? I can’t count the number of times I’ve been verbally assulted by someone that I have to call. I’m not on here to rip on DB I don’t have to the company does it all on it’s own. It’s not quite a scam b/c if you are willing to work for it you can save money but it does come pretty close. I’m here to tell a few things though, such as we are not allowed to answer certain questions over the phone it’s just policy and yes our calls are recorded so we can catch hell from our boss who at are location is a worse bottom feeder than a personal injury lawyer. You can’t bring you’re kids to an open house b/c all you attention is on your kids and you’re not listening to the presentation plain and simple. You’re spouse has no interest in coming with well do you honestly think you can make a few thousand dollar decision WITHOUT them? You have to make a decision today b/c if you have time to think about it you probably won’t join for one reason or another. The presentation plays to your emotions and thats why it’s a “Now or Never” type thing even though it’s not you can never come back you just have to wait 7 years to try again. Which can be a good amount of time to think about it however the fees will without question have gone up by then. Please, please, please stop asking how we got your name, either you called us or we bought a list and there it was. That has to be the silliest question, losts of companies have the rights to sell you info and they do. Do you have a credit card? Have you signed up for online information or catalogs? Just say please take me off your list and you won’t hear from us unless we happen to buy a new list and your name is on that one as well. And so you all know a person that says I’m Not Interested, will get called again in a few weeks, or months. B/C though you aren’t interested today you may be down the line. Thats how it works you must ask to be taken off the list. And until the person we are calling for or other head of household tells us that we will continue to call so please don’t have your kids tell us anything it’s a waste of your time and ours. If you are thinking about a membership do your homework first if you don’t think you’ll be spending 10-20 thousand within the first year or 2 it’s probably not going to be worth it for you. If you are planning to spend that much or more so it may work for you but still do your homework b/c you’ll still be doing a great deal of research for those savings if you want them. Shop smart and you’ll save. And be considerate it’s a good thing in the long run. Rudeness comes back to bite if you aren’t careful.

203. Mikey | 02-Nov-08 at 12:09 am | Permalink

     MIKEY | Oct 27, 2008 11:50:47 AM

     DIRECT BUY IS A SCAM – BUYS OUT INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM TO COVER ITS TRACKS !

     infomercialscams.com was strong-armed by direct buy and had to remove nearly 1,000 complaints about the direct buy scam. Why you ask. Cause when you google “direct buy” the informercial scam site was ranked #2 by google. All that is left on the site is the fake reviews by direct buy. I would say to be very careful with dealing with a company that is afraid of what it customers post about it on the internet. This company is a scam. Go there, read the contract, its all in the contract. The contract basically states that direct buy is bound to nothing and you are bound to paying the $5,000 member fee. SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM

     nothing ever goes away from the net.

     just check archives

     http://web.archive.org/web/20080203104709/www.infomercialscams.com/scams/direct_buy_scams

     lets keep it in their (directbuy) face

204. John A | 04-Nov-08 at 4:40 pm | Permalink

     MIKEY (above) is right. DirectBuy apparently has had considerable success in silencing its critics through legal strong-arming.

     But their shady tactics go even further than that.

     Consumer Reports may be interested to learn of a lesser known page called Consumer Reviews.org, which features a glowing review of DirectBuy — average of 5-stars over 250+ reviews!

     http://www.consumerreviews.org/direct-buy

     People searching for DirectBuy on the net will encounter Google ads directing them to the above page for the “truth” about DirectBuy.

     Okay, now attempt to visit the homepage of Consumer Reviews by removing the tail-end of the URL:

     http://www.consumerreviews.org/

     Very bare-bones, huh? “Copyright 2008,” hm. Hey, wait, the search engine doesn’t work… That’s right, Consumer Reviews does not cover any other business entity in its “reviewing.”

     Obviously rankled by Consumer Reports’ responsible reporting, DirectBuy has created a sham website to confuse consumers and prop themselves up. Just one more shady business practice that says “stay away.”

205. lisa | 08-Nov-08 at 11:57 am | Permalink

     DIRECT BUY IS A SCAM – BUYS OUT INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM TO COVER ITS TRACKS !

     infomercialscams.com was strong-armed by direct buy and had to remove nearly 1,000 complaints about the direct buy scam. Why you ask. Cause when you google ‘direct buy’ the informercial scam site was ranked #2 by google. All that is left on the site is the fake reviews by direct buy. I would say to be very careful with dealing with a company that is afraid of what it customers post about it on the internet. This company is a scam. Go there, read the contract, its all in the contract. The contract basically states that direct buy is bound to nothing and you are bound to paying the $5,000 member fee. SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM

     fortunatly, the postings on the net never go away,

     just check archives

     http://web.archive.org/web/20080203104709/www.infomercialscams.com/scams/direct_buy_scams

     is this starting to sound like organized crime ?

206. mikey | 08-Nov-08 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

     John A

     great info, shows just how far db will go to fake its reputation.

     I really am annoyed ( pissed) at all the local radio, tv, and news papers running ads for db without doing even a little research.

     they should at least point out the fee to join.

     investigating db ( local tv consumer reporter) would really be a good thing.

207. UncleSam | 09-Nov-08 at 5:09 pm | Permalink

     Thanks to all the posters.. I will not go on my DB appointment. Thanks to all taking the time and exposing the SCAM..!!!

208. Mike | 14-Nov-08 at 9:24 pm | Permalink

     Thanks a lot for the information presented. Feel sorry for those that were scamed. Attending time-sharing and other high power sales pitches are invaluable lessons that one could take to DB so called meeting/presentations. We were thinking of attending one. NO MORE. Thank you again

209. Michael | 15-Nov-08 at 6:26 pm | Permalink

     I am a DB member in Walla Walla (Washington) and like in all aspects of dealing with sales, there are knowledgeable folks and some not quite so. Thankfully, each of the DB centers I’ve dealt with had a couple of very knowledgeable staff to speak with. So far, with two years of membership under my belt, it has been a pleasant experience.

     Two tips: Work with a designer, DB allows limited access for designers. Secondly, research what you need in advance. Pretty simple to do nowadays with the internet.

     Finally, I have had to return two items. Both were cabinets damaged while in freight. I immediately documented the damage and contacted the company. They sent out the replacement cabinets immediately without having to send the original cabinets back. The service was very professional and pain-free.

210. Frenchie | 23-Nov-08 at 9:23 pm | Permalink

     #197 & #198 you are totally right. Great research!The infomercials website used to have Direct Buy as the #1 scam and now the hundreds of complaints have been wiped off the internet ( but still in history). The new complaints are no longer complaints but they are all lies on how DB is a such a great company. DIRECT BUY IS A SCAM.
     Yes I agree they created a fake consumerreviews.org website. The only item they are reviewing is themselves. It is a bullshit site. The two guys that discovered this are genuises.

     Direct Buy is the biggest scam in the world. I am currently going to court to win my membership fee back. I already got more than half back I am just waiting for the difference. I pray that I get the rest of my money back. Everyone should call their local news station to broadcast this scam & make everyone aware of the biggest scam in America – Direct Buy. There are false postings on the infomercials.com website now. Its their employees acting as customers giving false positive experiences. It is lie after lie after lie after lie. DIRECT BUY IS A SCAM. DIRECT BUY = CONARTISTS. DIRECT BUY IS A SCAM. Spread the word!!!

211. Dwain Schuh | 24-Nov-08 at 9:05 am | Permalink

     We are a mid range discount furniture store. One of the manufactures we offer is TS Berry; turns out Direct Buy also offers this manufacture, in fact they used their furniture in an infomercial. About six months ago a customer came in and was astounded to learn that our everyday price on the TS Berry bedroom suit was less than she was just quoted at Dirct Buy. Plus she didn’t have to pay for shipping or an 8% up front fee and we are in stock. We sell a lot of TS Berry and ship it all over the country. We do not sell Ashley, but we are one of the few, Ashley is junk, as one of your bloogers so elequently pointed out it is perfect for doublewides.

212. Neelie Allen | 25-Nov-08 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

     We are getting ready to build a house in about a year and have been reading all the pro and con opinions about DB. We have an appt to visit the showroom this weeknend but have no intent of joining just yet.

     Has anyone actually tried to go back 6 mo. to a year and join at that time? Would they really turn you and your money away just because you had come there before and not joined on the spot?

213. Chris | 27-Nov-08 at 7:20 am | Permalink

     There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you choose to go this route building a house. For the record, I am the new home estimator for a large plumbing contractor. I can’t speak for other trades, but I will tell you how we deal with “you” supplying your own product.

     If we supply the product for your home, you receive a 1 year across the board warranty. This warranty includes parts, labor, and damage repair if something fails. If you supply the product and it fails, we warranty nothing. You will get the part and fix it (or pay us to). You deal with your own insurance company for damage.

     We will install it, and install it right. Keep in mind first and foremost that most manufacturers warranty the product they sell, not labor. If a product you supply has a defect, we don’t care. If we don’t sell it, we don’t warranty it. If you faucet drips after 2 months, don’t call us. If you find a dimple in the china on your toilet you can return it for a replacement, but your going to pay us a trip charge + labor to uninstall it, then you get to take it back for a replacement. Then pay us another trip charge + labor to reinstall it.

     We will not sort out what goes where in the house when we didn’t assist in the sale. You will have all of the faucets and fixtures at the house, and distributed to the appropriate room for installation.

     Buying all of your own stuff may look like a good idea, but you take upon yourself a number of responsibilities (including warranty issues) that could evaporate your savings in a very short time.

     Be certain to talk to all trades and verify their warranty policies when you provide the product.

214. Booboo | 01-Dec-08 at 5:44 pm | Permalink

     All I know is that Kari Gulotta is one hot mama. “Membership” clubs are BS including Sam’s Club, GEX, etc.

     When I need something, I’ll go buy it. That $4-5000 will go a long way toward anything I might need.

215. Al | 04-Dec-08 at 11:34 am | Permalink

     I’ve been a member for over a year and I am building a custom home. The reality is the savings just aren’t there! When you first price a product, it sounds good, but then once they add on shipping and handling fees, (two seperate fees) you are lucky to save a few dollars on items that are $1000 or more. Interesting note, they typically charge 8% handling fees, however many of their items they never personally “handle.” Sometimes you do pick it up at their warehouse, but they won’t assist you in loading it. Then on larger items you often have to get it at the manufacturer’s warehouse. So what exactly are they handling then? I was told the handling fee pays for the paperwork and staff to help me, but then does that staff member do anything more to help me with a $25 item versus a several thousand dollar item- no, but I still have to pay the 8%. That’s just one of the many annoyances. The fact is, you can spend hours in their store, going through the binders, trying to determine the exact product you want and the actual price you will pay, but often end up saving a couple of dollars if any. I have priced entry doors, wood flooring, a leather chair, TV’s, a top of the line fire place, siding, tile, windows, and kitchen cabinets through Direct Buy and found each and everyone cheaper and with less time and headaches through other merchants. Again, the savings just aren’t there!

216. Marie Bray | 06-Dec-08 at 11:42 am | Permalink

     My husband and I attended a Direct Buy “Open House” back in October after seeing one of their commercials on TV. We actually knew very little about the company and had no idea what to expect. I should have been suspicious when we walked in and there were no customers in sight. We started watching the sales pitch/video and I wish we had walked out there and then….after they mentioned the $5000 membership fee. When we said we thought it was excessive at that price, every employee there looked at us like we were crazy and thought we were unreasonable expecting not to pay that price. One jumped up little hick said to me “What were you expecting?…why did you come here?”
     She was trying her best to get us to put a $700 down payment on the membership and pay another $165 a month for 3 years….we worked it out they even charge a 22% finance fee if you don’t pay up the full membership fee on the day….in short it would cost us $6500 to join our local DB . No thanks.
     They didn’t even mention the shipping and handling fees until we asked. A TV that we saw would cost us the same if we were to go to Best Buy after they had finished with their charges.
     What amazed us the most however was that they would not let us look at the catalogues until we signed up….my husband asked how the hell were we to know if we were saving if we were not allowed to look. They said they had to protect the retailers from the public finding out about their costs.
     I would recommend that everyone avoid this company like the plague….oh, and everything takes days/weeks to come in….kind of pointless if you need to buy something quickly (liks a vacuum cleaner, kettle, microwave etc)

217. Mr. Hmmm | 06-Dec-08 at 8:22 pm | Permalink

     Very interesting. Just came back from a little visit over to the local Direct Buy store today and after the normal pleasantries, was told to quickly read the last page of the information packet they had sent before heading into the orientation. “What?”, I said. “I have to decide on the spot whether to become a member if I receive information and if I decline I cannot come back for seven years?” “Yes”, she said. “No”, I said, “I don’t do business that way. I am a contemplative person and if I can’t mull over the information provided, then no thanks. Bye.” THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME WHY I CONTEMPLATE BEFORE I ACT!! I will pass this site along to anyone I ever hear mention the name “Direct Buy”.

218. Mike in Maryland | 07-Dec-08 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

     I recently purchased a new home and I need to buy a BUNCH of things; gave everything to my cheating wife when I got divorced, just to get out. Anyway, a friend casually mentioned DB so I decided to check it out. I have already bought a dinette set and ordered a bedroom set and leather sofa and chair from an online company with a physical presence in South Carolina. I’m not sure what I am and am not allowed to say here on the website but without knowing ANYTHING about DB except what I’ve learned here, I AM going to go hear their speal (just for fun) and watch them squirm when they see I’ve gotten manufacturer’s direct pricing WITHOUT a membership.

     I am a computer programmer in MD and I have NOTHING vested in the company I used. But if you need any kind of furniture, I recommend you contact Diana at Furnituregeek.com. Her email address is diana.m@furnituregeek.com. Furniture Geek is an online presence of a company called Bosmith out of Florence, SC. Do what I did….google them, check the BBB, search EVERYWHERE about this company. I cannot find ANYTHING bad about this company. They list all of their manufacturers on their website but they do not list ALL of their prices; you DO have to contact them to get the prices and they will only share them over the phone…but there is NO Pressure sales; you get the price, sleep on it and decide whenever. But I will say this, I found the Kincaid bedroom set I wanted at a Kincaid Furniture Gallery showroom for $5,600 not including taxes and shipping. I gave the same model numbers to Diana and she got me the entire set for $4,200…no membership fee required. Did I mention the $4,200 INCLUDES shipping into my house and placed WHERE I WANT IT, IN THE ROOM I WANT IT. White Glove delivery. A Broyhill leather sofa, chair and ottoman I found on sale at a local place for $3,000 plus taxes and shipping. I just ordered it friday from Diana for $2,100…shipped. Like I said, I have NOTHING vested in furnituregeek.com. I was just SO blown away by their prices, I think everyone should know about them. The fact that Diana came in on her day off to email me the dimensions of the furniture so I could see if it would fit in my house was icing on the cake for me…impressed me beyond belief…you just DON’T get that kind of customer service anymore. Good shopping and happy holidays.

219. Liz | 10-Dec-08 at 5:33 pm | Permalink

     My husband went in and signed the contract. Thank goodness for CA state’s buyer’s remorse policy. Three days and you can opt out of a purchase. We opted out.

     We have been trying to get contracter’s out to remodel a bathroom with no luck. We thought that maybe Direct Buy could help us do it ourselves. We were desperate, willing to pay the up front fee of $5,000.

     We mulled it over for three days and said what the heck. Did we see anything? Do we know what we are getting? How do we know if we are saving- because a salesman told us we would? Who goes into business with someone who is not willing to show you what they are selling- I guess we almost did!

     When we went back to cancel the policy they explained then that they would allow us to take a few more days to review what was available. Could they have not told us that the night we signed up- or do they fear if given time to think you may say no. Professionally and personally I don’t trust them.

220. Get Back At 'em | 10-Dec-08 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

     Everyone burned by Direct Buy should simply take some of their free time and start filling out their Free Insider’s guide on their website with false info. At worst you will make them waste their time calling people that don’t exist. I just bet if enough people did this, they would end up wasting a lot of time and money – just like so many people on this site. With enough motivation, you could even find a software developer that would be more than happy to write a little program to flood their site with thousands of fake names and phone numbers. In fact, I might just get motivated to do this myself. I hate companies that prey on innocent people for their own gain and profit. Watch out DB, here I come.

221. Slightly skeptic | 11-Dec-08 at 9:42 am | Permalink

     For those of you that have been to a presentation – fine, you are entitled to your own opinion and if you are not doing a ton of stuff – like even just one room – then sure that might not be good for you. BUT, think about it … when was the last time you bought an iPod, or Microwave, or Washer/Dryer that lasted more than 10 maybe even 15 years? Probably not since the 70’s because they don’t make then as well any more on purpose because they want you to “like their product just long enough that you will come back to their company, but not too long – because they need you to make another purchase!” Also – now a days, if you have something that is even just 3 years old, the technology changes sooooo fast and so drastically that you have to “keep up” and buy the more improved, more efficient, better product.

     ALL THAT TO SAY – You’re not only buying 1 rooms worth of stuff – you’re going to buy a whole lot more over time. If you’re 70 years old, sure this might not be for you… but if you are in your late 20s to 60s you’re AT LEAST going to make it back in full + some. And that is conservative statement. I told my husband, “Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears, Car dealers, Best Buy, etc. are places I never have to shop at again and pay their prices. I get it all AT COST from DB and I get ALL THE OPTIONS I want. I don’t have to just take my pick from what their BUYER thought would be popular, no! I get to choose EVERYTHING. Overwhelming? For some. BUT – if that is not your thing, ask for help! Their staff is more than willing, they are not pushy towards a more expensive product because they are not paid commission. For example: We are doing our ENTIRE kitchen – floor to ceiling, including appliances. Cabinets are not something I know a whole TON about, but I did know I would not sacrafice true quality and I knew what I wanted it to look like. What do I do? Go talk to my cabinet girl @ DB and pick out style, color, glaze, all the nuts and bolts and then say, “but I don’t want to spend more than ______.” So, since she is a trained professional (ie went to college for this, not just someone that applied @ a big box and was trained on a computer program) and knows all the differences between partical board and cherry, and can come back with something way UNDER what I wanted to spend in the 1st place. I’m pretty sure that pays for itself. Oh and did I mention that I don’t have to pay to sit down and talk to her … nope – included in membership – wow, I get to talk to someone who actually knows what she is talking about!

     A lady in the blog earlier asked “Why don’t we hear about this from contractors?” My response would be … REALLY LADY!? They have to make money and they can’t just get it on their labor (even though we all know they stretch that as far as they can) and they have to stay in business too right!? Of course they won’t tell you – they keep the “discount” which isn’t even a discount per say – you just don’t pay the jacked up retail price for all the overhead they have to cover, you buy directly from the manufacturer.

     To sum up – yes this is good for A LOT OF PEOPLE, and yes it is not the right choice for others. That is something for you and your family to discuss.

222. Reza Nez | 12-Dec-08 at 6:33 pm | Permalink

     I did go to their presentation here in Vancouver Canada. I’m telling you, unless you are out to spend 40G on your appliances and other stuff, it is not going to save you enough money to worth the while. I went through the presentation. After that the salesperson comes to me and try his hard to get to me to register, saying “this is the only chance you have ….”, “you can’t come back later …”!! It seemed really like a polices state. I had a hard time to excuse myself and get the hell out!
     Imagine you have to pay at least 5G upfront!

     I just didn’t like it. Period!

223. Rich Cook | 16-Dec-08 at 11:17 am | Permalink

     I went to a presentation and did the math. They claim their customers save an average of 30% and if you are an expert shopper I think it would be more like maybe 20% on your purchases. They ask for a 10 year commitment. The price as of December 2008 in California is $6400 for first 2 years plus $200 per year, making $8000 total. So to recoup your cost, you need to spend at least 8000/0.3 = $26,667, or if you are an expert shopper probably more like $40,000 (the 20%). Note that due to inflation, your $6400 is more expensive than the money you spend later on, so you should think of all of this in 2008 dollars.
     Bottom line for me is that I could not come up with $30,000 in upcoming expenditures. But if I do, I’ll join, as it would be worth it. I’m hearing some icky things here about hidden costs, what’s that about?

224. M Sims | 16-Dec-08 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

     I just stepped into this pile of crap last Saturday. The “takeaway” close got me too and I am a seasoned salesguy myself. The lure of big savings is a strong one. After speaking to my attorney, I am headed back to Direct Buy now to cancel the membership.

225. Betty | 17-Dec-08 at 7:49 pm | Permalink

     Reading these comments, I feel like a fool. After joining nearly 2 yrs ago, I have made some purchases that seemed fairly priced — I’d done some comparative shopping. Then I decided to order a bedroom set and other accessories. It has been 5 months and I don’t have the items yet. Long story short, the order is riddled with errors — some items I ordered, didn’t make it on the inventory and a whole group of furniture showed up that I didn’t want. They want me to take responsibility for these unwanted items because it is showing in their records that I signed off on the order — some how the cancellation I signed is not part of the record. Worse still is that the sales representative that processed my order is no longer with them so I can’t even get her to admit to her error.
     So bottom line, you can save on some products though you need to do some homework on the individual items — shop around, visit the manufacturer’s website, etc but if customer service is important to you, then don’t join. I don’t think they care at all. I wish someone had told me this 2 yrs ago. It’s not too late for the rest of you.

226. Mommy | 24-Dec-08 at 12:01 am | Permalink

     Direct Buy did not give us the Visitor pass as we had ababy who we were not able to leave anywhere when we would have to go for the presentation.

     I am so glad that happened as I now realized after reading all the reviews that it was such a Scam.

     There is no way me or my hubby can get pressurized to spend money by anyone or anything , but I am still so glad I did not go.
     Thanks to each one of u for posting the reviews and my heart goes out to all who lost so much hard earned money.

227. Suzy | 28-Dec-08 at 12:20 am | Permalink

     Hey..we were looking to buy a couple of things, sofa, dining set, big tv, kids bedroom furniture, so we actually called one of the direct buy places in tx . Very scammy sounding, the sign up today part totally put me off..I said.. on principle,no I will not be pressurized into doing anything RIGHT NOW.. (even though I had a 10% inkling of doing so. Too many general figures brandied about , and none of the nos. would stand up to scrutiny. Glad that we did not join.Stay away folks..not worth your time.

228. Jenn | 29-Dec-08 at 12:07 am | Permalink

     All I can say is Thank You for saving us from wasting an afternoon at a Direct By presentation, let alone $6k! My husband thanks you even more!

     We probably qualify as one of those ideal candidates to benefit from membership, and I can’t even fathom that I even considered it! We’re in the thick of a big remodel, looking to buy appliances, flooring, lighting, furniture, etc. in excess of $50k over the next few months. I can honestly say that I can’t even justify it! I think the biggest kickers are the extra fees (hate that), no returns (what?!?), I have to do my own research, and run back and forth to the your show room (yeah right), and then there’s nobody standing behind the product? I’d much rather buy local, pay a bit more to have someone to turn to should something go wrong.

     A HUGE thanks goes out to Brad, for providing this enlightening site! I too was initially tripped up by those sponsored fake sites. As grandma always said, when a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is….

     We have appointments at 2 locations and I’m not even going to bother cancelling them. From the sound of it they’ll be calling me anyway!

229. Ahmadie | 30-Dec-08 at 3:40 am | Permalink

     Thanks for this blog and the comments from ppl. I was looking at DB to save money for furnishing my new house. But not anymore. It truly is a scam and must be stopped. Thanks everyone.

230. Joshlynn | 01-Jan-09 at 2:56 pm | Permalink

     Just read #178 Tammy T Says: I agree with everything she says. If you go in and think you are smelling rats you will if you go in with a critical savvy buying mind and this service can serve you the Buy! The directive that showed me around explained how he sometimes discouraged older people because they may be settled not building or purchasing product that often therefore it would not benefit them. I am building and know I will save money! I like Kitchen Aid and Jenn Air so I know I am covered in the kitchen which is important to me. Bamboo flooring, and Kohler bath….they do not claim to represent all companies. Bad assumption not smart. So I looked around before I bought to see if the accessed manufacturers I needed to use. This is for the smart not for the person that is worried they are being scamed or not being smart and purchasing a memebership they do not need. But I suppose even they could shop and gift there family nice items.

231. Just browsing | 01-Jan-09 at 9:57 pm | Permalink

     Just read #223.

     Now that’s a savey number cruncher, and from the write up, a target customer for DB.

232. G.I Joe AND G.i. Jane | 02-Jan-09 at 6:54 pm | Permalink

     THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO POST COMMENTS ON DIRECT BUY. MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR APPOINTMENT TONIGHT. MY WIFE IS A HOT-TEMPERED RED-HEAD WHO WAS ALREADY SUSPICIOUS OF THE HIGH PRESSURE PHONE CALLS, WE GOOGLED IT JUST 30 MINS BEFORE LEAVING AND DECIEDED THE 2 HOURS OF OUR LIFE WAS WORTH MORE, BESIDES I HAVE NO DOUBT MY WIFE WOULD HAVE SLUGGED SOMEONE PIMPLED FACED HIGH PRESSURE SALESMAN WHEN THEY FINALLY DROPPPED THE SECRET…MEMBERSHIP FEE ON US.

233. Melanie | 05-Jan-09 at 12:32 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I purchased a foreclosed home. Although the process was daunting, the home was well worth it. Unfortunately, the home was let-go and needed a ton of remodeling. My father, who is a retired home builder, is helping with the remodeling and asked us if we ever visited a Direct Buy. We hadn’t, so I checked them out online and called our local DB location. The female representative said that we could not visit a DB location until we requested our visitors pass on-line. As I proceeded with the next question, I was dealt a quick “you need to request a visitors pass and schedule an appointment.” The initial rudeness was a complete turnoff to the DB idea. Then, months later, after seeing infomercials, I decided to read blogs regarding DB. I am happy that everyone has taken the time to post their experiences so that hardworking homeowners are not scammed.

234. Kenneth Burgo | 08-Jan-09 at 4:09 pm | Permalink

     I sure wish I new about this club before Direct Buy. It seems it seems the business is all about memberships and not helping out members. We joined with the Idea of trying to purchase items that would help us save money in running our home things that would help us to reduce heating bills, such as storm doors and a pellet stove for heat. They don’t have storm doors and the pellet stove we found in their catalog is only sold in Canada and it is possible I could buy from them but I will have to go and pick it up myself from Tennessee because they won’t deliver it. Then there is the bit about not being able to join for ten years if you don’t join now. Of course you don’t know that the membership fee is $4000 for a year and if you can’t pay cash or use your credit card, they can provide you with financing with interest, oh and let’s not for get the free renewal for the next year worth $160. The finance company I dealt with said there is no way that the contract can be broken. However on the back of the form there is an item called enforcement. ENFORCEMENT: It has the usual stuff about waivers for late payment and the like, but it also says “We can release any Buyer from this Contract or extend, modify or renew all or part of it as to that Buyer without releasing or changing your legal liability. We can accept late and partial payments , even if they are marked “Payment in Full” or similarly, without losing any of our rights. We can enforce any of our rights against you even if if we have not enforced them (or tried to enforce them) against any other buyer (Note: Buyer is not capitalized now).” The manager I spoke with said they “never” choose to to release ever. Guess I was better off at Wal-Mart!

235. Relieved Consumer | 10-Jan-09 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

     THANK YOU to Brad and everyone who has given their feedback.

     I just signed up to get an info packet online. Then I did a little research. After viewing the “consumer reviews” site, I was skeptical–there were no other products reviewed on it except DB?! And here I read that DB set it up themselves (and must be paying to have it come up when googled).

     You have saved me so much time and hassle (thank you #219, when they call, I can tell them I have a new baby and don’t have anywhere to leave her)!

     We will spend our precious renovation dollars much more wisely.

     Again, THANK YOU!!

236. Chad | 10-Jan-09 at 5:41 pm | Permalink

     Thanks for the input everyone. Glad I found the truth. My wife wanted to take me to one of their appointments, glad I searched the internet before going. I probably would have lost my cool and severely insulted everyone there after experiencing their brain washing attempt.

     Direct Buy is a shameful, dirty, scam. Watch them burn.

237. Denise | 19-Jan-09 at 12:26 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I just attended a DB presentation this past weekend. My husband and I was impressed by the presentation, and the customer service. I expected that there would be a high cost to join because in the info packet they sent us it did say there is a fee however it did not give the amount. Initially I said $5000 my husband did not think it would be that much. The cost was $6400 for 3yrs, $200 per yr for each yr after. We were still ok because the presentation had really got us. They showed us articles of products and compared prices and savings. We were still hooked. We agreed to purchase membership, signed documents and left the store. Because we had a 45min drive back home we started thinking…we pay $6400 for a membership for 3yrs and still have to buy furniture, household items etc. You’re not saving if you have to buy into something in order to get the savings. We decided that if its something that we really want and we cannot afford that would would save up for it instead. In the presentation they kept discussing retail markups which we all pay even doing business with DB. Difference is you pay DB $6400 retail markup upfront before you get any merchandise. Here’s the kicker…
     The next day my husband called DB advised them that we would like to cancel, the representative he spoke to said we cannot cancel unless we come back into the store and return all the items we received. The only thing we received was a small catalog and membership package. After you join there is another orientation you have to attend which is scheduled at a later date. So I got on the phone read the back of the contract we signed and advised the representative that this is our official telephone notice advising them that we are canceling our contract and that we will follow up with written notice, which we faxed and also mailed out. She seemed totally confused because she realized that we were enforcing their contract so she transferred me to another department…guess what, voicemail. I did leave a message…we will see how long it will take for us to receive our refund for our initial payment also hopefully they do not attempt to take the postdated payment we agreed to pay within 30 days.

238. Lyndie | 22-Jan-09 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

     Just had to add my $.02 worth: I was told by the phone solicitor for Direct Buy that I could go ahead and come to their “showroom” for an “open house” without my husband, since he was unable to leave work in time, and our weekends were already booked up for months. We are preparing to buy an older home in a “high-end” area of Atlanta which will require a good deal of updating, so maybe their prices would end up being worth it, but I really don’t want to contribute to anybody who uses such shady techniques, so I wouldn’t join them for half of what they require for their membership fees (almost $5000.00 for the first 3 years [can't exactly remember what nonsense they said], then $30.00 for another year [again, I think], then $199.00 [give me a break, I always see "$200.00" when I see that "99" baloney]). When I reached the “showroom” (if you could call it that!), they weren’t going to let me in at all because my husband wasn’t with me, but I flipped a bit of a fit since I’d already driven that far. They “allowed” me in after giving me some stupid lecture about how I wouldn’t be able to join for 7 years if I didn’t agree to sign up that day without my husband. I listened to almost an hour of a “nice” young salesman going on and on about their system and great buys, then finally was allowed to see the product. But guess what? They had almost nothing there except a few measly samples. You had to spend a lot of time going through their catalogs and then looking up the prices to try and find what you needed. I said, “I have to go.” Mr. Nice Young Salesman said, “OK, well do you want to sign up for our same-as-cash payment program, or pay the total amount now?” I answered, “Sorry, I’m not signing anything.” Long story short, Mr. Nice Young Salesman became surly and downright rude as he offered to see me to the door. I told him I could see myself out, thanks, and smiled as I left, knowing I had wasted an afternoon but at least got out without throwing away my money. What a bunch of jerks. How do they stay in business with such dishonest tactics? Some attorney general somewhere isn’t doing his/her job.

239. Lyndie | 22-Jan-09 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

     BTW, they don’t know my husband’s name, email address or P.O. Box #, so if we really wanted to go back and buy a membership we easily could do it by sending for one of their absurd “passes” via his mail. However, we would never bother. The only way I would even think of getting into that scam program would be to get 5 – 10 friends &/or family members to go in with us on it and divide the cost. They even tell you that you’re allowed to bring people in with you as “guests” so what’s to stop you from sharing it, really? All you’d have to do is pick out what you wanted from the web and have the one with the “official” membership go in to order it. I’d be willing to spend the time for friends. They talk about not doing that when they’re giving their spiel as though it would be “unethical” for you to do that. LOLOLOL. Do they sell any pots that call kettles “black” there?

240. Lynd | 22-Jan-09 at 3:48 pm | Permalink

     BTW, they don’t know my husband’s name, email address or P.O. Box #, so if we really wanted to go back and buy a membership we easily could do it by sending for one of their absurd “passes” via his mail. However, we would never bother. The only way I would even think of getting into that scam program would be to get 5 – 10 friends &/or family members to go in with us on it and divide the cost. They even tell you that you’re allowed to bring people in with you as “guests” so what’s to stop you from sharing it, really? All you’d have to do is pick out what you wanted from the web and have the one with the “official” membership go in to order it. I’d be willing to spend the time for friends. They talk about not doing that when they’re giving their spiel as though it would be “unethical” for you to do that. LOLOLOL. Do they sell any pots that call kettles “black” there?

241. Laura Shibles | 23-Jan-09 at 3:59 pm | Permalink

     I arrived last night at my Direct Buy appointment. I was 10 minutes late since the map was not clear and it was very dark. I was told that they could not “catch me up”, but would reschedule my appointment. I told them this was the night I had carved out and would not return if rescheduled. I was told the sales person would escort me out. Point of interest that I parked at the front door and all the spaces reserved for “Directbuy” guests were empty. Their style was definitely not customer friendly so I would not deal with them.

242. ROB BURNS | 28-Jan-09 at 8:07 pm | Permalink

     THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! WE WERE JUST GETTING READY TO JOIN>
     THANS SOOOOOO MUCH FOR THE ADVISORY

243. ROB BURNS | 28-Jan-09 at 8:07 pm | Permalink

     THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! WE WERE JUST GETTING READY TO JOIN>
     THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH FOR THE ADVISORY

244. Denise | 29-Jan-09 at 8:53 pm | Permalink

     Update- I called DB again on the 20th to confirm if they received my faxed notice to cancel. They confirmed they did but as they already stated they cannot issue a refund without the catalog and the membership packet and once they received that then they will issue a refund check. Since Monday was MLK day the packet I set out to mail did not get picked up so…I personally delivered the packet Wednesday, drove the 45 minutes. Showroom was closed when I got there so I delivered it to someone in their warehouse. I called later to confirm if the manager received the items I left which he said he did. As of today still no refund, however its still within the 10 business days. Update coming next week.

245. Mick Jones | 30-Jan-09 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

     I saw the commercial. Thought it might be interesting to call. So, I did. Like I read in another blog, the woman on the phone was only interested in taking my personal info and making me an appointment. I said, OK I’ll bite. An hour later a salesman from DB called me. I asked him , “How much is the membership fee?” He refused to tell me over the phone. It turned into a terrible arguement. I told him that I refused to come there if he would not divulge the price of the membership fee. It was an awful experience over the phone and I never inquired again. If they treat perspective members like garbage, how do they treat their paying members. Sorry, but I don;t want to find out.

246. April Parker | 01-Feb-09 at 6:33 pm | Permalink

     Thanks to everyone who has had experience with DirectBuy and share their story. I just received an invitation and will not be attending the OH. Even if you are going to spend thousands in a year or two, (and I am to remodel my entire home)pressure is not the way to get people to buy a membership. As one person laid it out in real economic terms I learned in a college personal Finance class, opportunity cost, inflation, and the future value of the dollar must all be considered, especially if you understand these things. I would rather pay more now than than suffer later when something breaks down and there’s a warranty issue I must battle. Or if something arrives damaged and I’m on my own getting the issue straight. All these what if’s and real life possibilities can be the difference in the $5,000k you give them and do the same leg work you do without a membership but with confidence that if something happenens the help comes as part of the higher cost you paid. If it all sounds too good to be true; it usually is!

247. Kerry | 02-Feb-09 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

     We went to the presentation and bought the membership (only $4000 here in Wasington) because we were looking at remodeling a kitchen. We later learned that in order to get the kitchen “quote” we had to schedule one session with a $100.00 fee to understand their products and then a second session with a $350.00 fee to design the kitchen. The fees would be refundable if you bought. I was just wanting to get some basic costs so I could get a rough idea for comparison. We have bought a couple small appliances, but once you add the shipping and handling fees, any savings was essentially lost. I am looking at maybe using it for a Washer/Dryer purchase, but hen I will need to find and installer and make all the arrangements. In reality, my husband and I really prefer to walk into Sears, make hte sale, and have them take care of all of the details.

248. P L Pelton | 03-Feb-09 at 10:59 am | Permalink

     My husband & I foolishly bought into DB before we realized that this is a scam. Now we are stuck with a membership that we don’t want or need. We are
     filing complaints with our states Attorney General-Consumer Complaints Bureau then to the BBB, etc. They are not customer friendly nor receptive
     to your complaint or situation, what goes around comes around!

249. Mr. fooled once only | 03-Feb-09 at 5:54 pm | Permalink

     Wow guys. Its been about three to four years when I signed up for a close to 5k scam with DB. At the time I was starting to construct a house in Lancaster Texas and its seemed like it would save thousands. So like a Dumb As? the wife and I signed up. Shortly after that I started hard on shopping for prices on windows, cabinets, restroom fixtures, granite counter tops, doors, flooring, furniture etc. of course comparing apples to apples. To my surprise DB was not measuring up to what I was promised. If I can only hear of one person after this post, that I have helped on not even thinking about DB twice I consider my self refunded in full. So any way my house is 99% complete from buying retail making sure I shopped for quality and pricing. I was able to invest close to 150k on a close to 300k house. Buy retail is not so bad as far as I can tell, because you get costumer support, you don’t have to take it up with the manufacturer. For example HD usually gives you 12 mo no intrest and if you buy something, you can always take it back even if its you fault. I’m not saying its that easy just like that but if you bust your as? you can do it too. Do your research, go shopping for prices compare quality, ask around, don’t be afraid to ask. The worst thing that can happen is that you won’t get helped. There are plenty of retail stores that are willing to hold your hand just to have your business.

     If I can only hear of one person after this post, that I have helped on not even thinking about DB twice I consider my self refunded in full. Up to this date I have not spent a single dollar with these scum bags.

     Finally.
     Excuse my spelling. Just thinking about the 5k boils my blood.

250. Thank You Thank You Thank you! | 03-Feb-09 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

     Mr. Fooled, Brad, and everyone else kind enough to post:

     Thank you! I almost gave these scumbags my contact info to get the “visitor’s pass.” At the last minute I thought i should research some reviews on the web to see what the general reaction was among folks who’ve joined. I am very thankful I did and very thankful to you all. I will spread the word to everyone I know.

251. Denise | 04-Feb-09 at 7:17 pm | Permalink

     Update-10th business day and still no refund. I called DB and I was told that they have within 10 days to mail my refund. So they can mail it on the 10th day. I told them this is the 10th day and when did they mail my refund. As I waited on hold he came back on line and stated the manager is out of town. I then read him their contract which stated…”if you cancel, any payments you made and any negotiable instrument you executed under the contract or transaction be returned within 10 business days following the buyers center’s receipt of your cancellation notice” the person I spoke to then said well the owner is out of town and she has to sign off on the check and she wont be back until Saturday. I contacted BBB and filed a complaint.

252. JonL | 04-Feb-09 at 11:53 pm | Permalink

     Dear Mr. Fooled Only Once – consider this your absolution:) Although we just got back from our “Open House,” and I wish I’d looked online before I went, I feel much better reading all these posts knowing we told them to “bugger off” when we left. We didn’t even receive any packet in the mail before we got there, so the whole “buy now or you can’t come back for 7 years thing” stunk to high-heaven.

     Our response was, “well then, we won’t be spending any money at all with you, ever.” And thank goodness.

     Thank all of you for posting on this company, their ethics and tactics definitely stink.

253. Esmeralde Dutoso | 07-Feb-09 at 12:23 am | Permalink

     Greetings: I’M amazed how many & most up todate responses on Brads Blog concering Direct Buy. I declined membership at DB. but only after teasing the poor salesman into thinking he would “HOOK &
     & CROOK ME”. I prattled on about family while being esorted a- round NorthEast Ohios’ D.B. Showroom. As a mother of 4kids my 6th sense picked up a bad feeling; (parting my precious $$$). To me $4,900.00 membership fee, either all up front or a modest paymt. plan of $490.00 down+$158.mo til membership paid. On the 4th yr. renewal is $150.oo yrly. My explained financial woes & being a single mother of 4kids did not phase Mr. Salesman. Only when I firmly declined to sign a pre-contract consent it was then that I was dully escorted out the bldg. No Love & No Money Lost, Essie.

254. VJ | 07-Feb-09 at 12:55 am | Permalink

     I joined 3 years ago when I decided to build a new house – to be quite honest, I have recovered the member ship cost as I am building a new house. however, this is not to say that all is well with thier model. My biggest single savings were derived from the cabinets with which I am currently having issues. I am waiting for the owner of the local DB franchise to call me to see how we can rectify the situation. The problem that I have is that what I ordered and what I received are two different things. DB is no longer working with the manufacturer of the cabinets and therefore cannot get what I need to finish the project. On top of that the disigners that helped me with the cabinets have been let go or have moved on. will keep you posted on the outcomes and would I do it again (join DB).

255. Jim | 07-Feb-09 at 6:27 am | Permalink

     #197 is absolutely right about infomercialscams.com. Another site, infomercialratings.com, is the same story. Once gave DB a rating of one star, and had hundreds of horror stories from unhappy customers. Now, magically, there are only 20-something reviews, lowest rating is three stars, and the average
     is four out of five! Any company that uses these kind of duplicious, strong-arm tactics to cover their own stink doesn’t deserve any of your money, even if they did offer a good service. Which they don’t.

256. Kat | 07-Feb-09 at 8:06 pm | Permalink

     I went to an orientation today and I am simulataneously appalled and amazed. They have the “hard sell” down to a science. My husband and I did not buy a membership. Savings may be possible for some but as a general rule, if you have to sell it that hard (and force a decision on the spot on their turf) it’s not a good product. We are both sophisticated business people and when my husband was challenging them on the math, they said “you are over thinking it and trying to outsmart us — just think of the fabulous savings”. When I said that, as first time homebuyers, we need to feel pretty certain about the near-term value proposition so that we could live with ourselves for giving them $5,000 in a cash-crunched situation, they said I was being overly “emotional” and not looking at the logic of big, big savings. If they won’t open the books to show you where the money is, you have to be suspicious. My advice is to walk away (and I went into this very hopeful!).

     I know very intelligent people who have bought memberships and I know some have been satisfied. My personal view is that this is a big scam designed to take advantage of the most vulnerable among us — those who succumb to the very intense pressure of a brilliantly designed (and I would argue best in class) hard sales pitch. Those who have signed up and then opted out through legal “buyers remorse” channels — kudos to you! We don’t have this in Canada (except for real estate) and we ought to when there are sharks in the waters.

257. Kat | 07-Feb-09 at 8:09 pm | Permalink

     I went to an orientation today and I am simultaneously appalled and amazed. They have the “hard sell” down to a science. My husband and I did not buy a membership. Savings may be possible for some but as a general rule, if you have to sell it that hard (and force a decision on the spot on their turf) it’s not a good product. We are both sophisticated business people and when my husband was challenging them on the math, they said “you are over thinking it and trying to outsmart us — just think of the fabulous savings”. When I said that, as first time homebuyers, we need to feel pretty certain about the near-term value proposition so that we could live with ourselves for giving them $5,000 in a cash-crunched situation, they said I was being overly “emotional” and not looking at the logic of big, big savings. If they won’t open the books to show you where the money is, you have to be suspicious. My advice is to walk away (and I went into this very hopeful!).

     I know very intelligent people who have bought memberships and I know some have been satisfied. My personal view is that this is a big scam designed to take advantage of the most vulnerable among us — those who succumb to the very intense pressure of a brilliantly designed (and I would argue best in class) hard sales pitch. Those who have signed up and then opted out through legal “buyers remorse” channels — kudos to you! We don’t have this in Canada (except for real estate) and we ought to when there are sharks in the waters.

258. Anthony | 10-Feb-09 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

     I’m am totally confused and have split feelings. We are all aware of the markups the retailers charge so why can’t we save money with DB? My wife and I went to a presentation, we were excited to get “deeply discounted prices” on the things we would buy over the next 10 years. I also like the part where they mentioned that we could go to Sears and receive special pricing walking directly into the store. Everyone’s comments are really blowing my mind. We have only paid the $190 so our loss wouldn’t be too great but we are do to be drafted another $190 on the 16th of February. We were not hard sold because I know retailer mark up prices, so what is so unusual to think someone would offer wholesale prices on various things. Isn’t that the premise behind Costco and Sam’s Club?

     I am having my doubts ndbody else feel the same way?

259. Jay | 11-Feb-09 at 11:31 am | Permalink

     I can’t believe DB is still around! I attended one of their “Open House” presentations in 1985 and being a young enlisted member in the Air Force was blown away with the savings opportunities. I was taken in by the sincerity of the salesgirl and relented to the hard sales pitch. After putting a down payment on the fee (can’t remember how much it was after all these years) my wife and I went home. The next day, I was talking with my supervisor about the deal and he freaked out and took me to the First Sergeant who sat down with me and actually went over the contract and reviewed the actual costs of some items after the hidden fees. Then he compared them to some local sales adds. After comparison shopping, I would have to have spent over $30,000 BEFORE I started to save any money. He then took me directly to the base Legal office to draft a buyer’s remorse statement. My refund took the full ten days to be processed but it did finally come.

     I thank my superiors for looking out for me and getting me out of a contract that would have done nothing more than put another drain on my meager income. As has been stated elswhere here, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

     If you are planning on purchasing $50K worth of items and don’t have a problem with installing them yourself and having to deal with all the warranty issues yourself as having to pick up your items personally from their warehouse, this could be a good deal. Me? I will pay a little more and buy local from people I know trust!

260. plainlyspoken | 12-Feb-09 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

     Any website that doesn’t let you see the products online and offers no way to communicate with them directly has to be a scam in some sense of the word. This high pressure join-now-or-don’t-come-back-for-seven years tactic seems mighty heavy handed and there is something very wrong with a company that operates that way. It smells of desperation iced with corruption. If we all shop with our local merchants, we can keep the small businesses alive and perhaps keep our dollars in this country rather than going for slave labor in China.

261. FRANK | 13-Feb-09 at 1:15 am | Permalink

     Thank God that I read these reviews before I went down to one of the presentations. I even signed up for the visitors pass (stupid me). Well, if they call, I’ll just tell them that it wasn’t me who filled in their forms and just play dumb like they do.

     God bless all of you who took the time to post their opinion and experiences!

262. Carole | 13-Feb-09 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

     To #253 Anthony: I can’t figure out the problem either. My husband and I signed up today. Fortunately we were able to take advantage of the 65 and over 20% discount! We are currently anticipating remodeling our kitchen. We had someone come to the house who gave us a $42,000+ estimate, not including flooring, appliances, wall finishes; only basically included new cabinets and countertops w/sink. By the time they left our house, their price was down to $26,000+. Later they called and said that — now including flooring — they could do it for $22,000+. NOW, if they can come down that much (and you know they are still making a profit), where do you suppose the savings is coming from? From the mark-up in the supplies! So why shouldn’t I take advantage of eliminating those mark-ups myself? My son and husband want to do this project together. I’m thinking, and hoping, that DirectBuy is going to be very worthwhile for us!

263. Carole | 13-Feb-09 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

     ****This is NOT a duplicate. You didn’t accept my first message because I did not include by email address.*****

     To #253 Anthony: I can’t figure out the problem either. My husband and I signed up today. Fortunately we were able to take advantage of the 65 and over 20% discount! We are currently anticipating remodeling our kitchen. We had someone come to the house who gave us a $42,000+ estimate, not including flooring, appliances, wall finishes; only basically included new cabinets and countertops w/sink. By the time they left our house, their price was down to $26,000+. Later they called and said that — now including flooring — they could do it for $22,000+. NOW, if they can come down that much (and you know they are still making a profit), where do you suppose the savings is coming from? From the mark-up in the supplies! So why shouldn’t I take advantage of eliminating those mark-ups myself? My son and husband want to do this project together. I’m thinking, and hoping, that DirectBuy is going to be very worthwhile for us!

264. Albertatess | 14-Feb-09 at 3:19 pm | Permalink

     I have been a member for over 2 years…we have saved but we bought a huge 1970’s home in need of a total overhaul.

     Unless you are building, doing a massive reno or in need of every piece of furniture to furnish a home…DB doesn’t work.

     And yes you may save 50% off regular prices at other stores, bargain shopping other places and online is sometimes better than DB & by the time DB adds in exchange, handling fees, freight or delivery the savings become marginal r sometimes more expensive. Costco.ca often carries the exact same items with free home delivery.

     Although, you can often get unique items and decent deals you may have to wait. We waited 5 months for Kodiak mountain stone for the front of the house while it was a savings of 50% by the time it arrived the warm weather was over and we had to wait til the next year to put it on the house.

265. Rebecca Kahn | 14-Feb-09 at 4:01 pm | Permalink

     Wow, thanks for all these honest reviews, and to BradsBlog for the forum! I agree with those who have pointed out that you must take inflation and current value of the dollar into account. And even though we are renovating a house and need probably $50K worth of goods, I think this is still not worth it when you take shipping and handling fees and not getting warranties and customer service into account. Besides, if you have to do all the research yourself with DB anyway, why wouldn’t you just do the research to find the great online and local sales, get the warranties and delivery and set up and customer service and savings and save yourself the up-front $5k and the hard-sell pressure?

     I tried to get them to agree to let me come to the Open House without my husband, because we are both so busy that we try to divide the labor and footwork of renovating when possible, and with whom I would naturally discuss something like this in full. And I would not dream of spending $5k on the spot without time to think it over and do the research and math, with or without my husband present.

     I feel certain this is a scam. They count on the fact that most people don’t take a lot of the harder-to-value factors like inflation and service and warranties into account.

266. robin | 14-Feb-09 at 11:46 pm | Permalink

     you are all ridiculous. There is no scam about it. People who are building a house or refurnishing their house save tens of thousands of dollars. No real savings? Bring the pricing you were able to find and take it with you to a presentation. they will shove the savings in your face. Retail mark up is ridiculous, and if you cannot see that direct buy saves you money, then you dont deserve to save it.

267. DB Member | 15-Feb-09 at 1:53 am | Permalink

     Here are the nuts and bolts on DB coming from a member for about 2 years and quite satisfied.

     It’s not for everyone. They are marketing their membership to individuals who are young and who are going to making many purchases over the course of 10-20++ years. Obviously, if you’re retired, you’re probably not going to be building your dreamhouse, or making massive renovations and upgrading appliances, buying furniture.

     Your largest savings are going to be realized on furniture I believe. We were able to save $5000 on our 10K (retail) furniture set even with the retailers save 20% and no tax event. You are going save a few hundred here and a few hundred their but in the end it will add up.

     We’ve been members now for about 2 years and we have a baby on the way. That means more furniture and accessories. Here’s a story. We went shopping for a stroller recently and we were NOT going to sacrifice anything. We wanted the best stoller for our situation and knew that DB carried Graco, however it didn’t matter what DB carried or not. We fell in love with this other stroller at a retail store and were committed to getting it. By coincidence we were able to get this stroller from DB at cost + shipping. In the end, we were able to save ~$250 on the stroller compared to retail and the online prices. Needless to say I’m pretty pleased. We’re also going to save $1100 on the furniture we’re about to buy.

     I could go on and on with the savings that we’ve had, but I wouldn’t want to bore you. The DB membership definately gives you latitude to upgrade to things you normally wouldn’t do. For example, say you have a budget for $3000 for a furniture set and you want something decent. You want hardwood, quality contruction (dovetail joints, sturdy drawers etc…) You’ll probably end up buying something from a big box retailer that imports it from China for that price. With furniture you get what you pay for in my opinion. That’s not to say that it’s crap, but more than likely it’s going to be particle board and poorly constructed. Then you’ll compare that piece from China to that furniture set around the aisle selling for $5000 that’s the real deal, but you can’t afford it because you’ve budgeted the $3000. I guess your stuck buying the crap from China because you can’t afford the more expensive. Although maybe you’ll finance the more expensive one pay it off in 5 years. Enough of my rant. What I’m getting at is that DB gives you ability to buy quality furniture at much cheaper prices. I guess if you’re content with buying that furniture from China than DB isn’t for you.

     The bottom line is this. DB is not a scam as everyone says it is. They sales tactics stink and I disagree with all of it. The customer service is just unbelievable. You’ll have to really do research on your future expenditures and try and decide if this method of purchasing suits your style. For some like my parents it’s not. They want to go shopping all around the city, buy it and have it in their hands yesterday (no patience). I’m the complete opposite. I like to research my purchase to the tenth degree and then commit. If that means waiting 3-4 weeks I can handle that. Don’t get me wrong, if DB sells something and I need it soon, I’ll just buy retail because I know I’ll save with something else.

     Okay. It’s late and I’m done trying to explain my reasoning. Hope it helps.

268. Didn't Bite | 15-Feb-09 at 1:57 am | Permalink

     If you can smile at the person making the hard sell and say no, then I say go. Went a couple of days ago and we scored a free watch (probably $5) and two nights at a Marriott. Heck we were going to stay at a Marriott anyway this summer so I started saving without even buying the membership!!

     I’m with everyone else on the “sign up today or else”. If it is a good product, why not let us come back in a week or a month or a year. I can see some of the savings, but too much upfront. We didn’t sign up. Seems like if the “average” member was saving money that would be all over their presentation. It would be pretty easy for them to say we have x members and the average member has saved y dollars. I’m sure there are plenty of folks who save some money but probably not the average Joe.

269. I work at DB | 17-Feb-09 at 2:19 pm | Permalink

     Okay I work personally at DB. So I figure I might as well explain some of this crap that all of you are saying.

     1)Due to the agreement we have with the manufactures, we are required to offer membership only after they have gone through an Open House and only ONCE per 7 years. It’s part of the agreement we have with our manufactures.

     2)If your not retarded and can actually fill out a simple piece of paperwork, you won’t get the wrong items you ordered. It’s a VERY simple form asking just a few very easy items for you to answer.

     3)We do make ALOT of phone calls. That is our primary way of getting in contact with people. If your no longer interested in our services, do us all a favor and grow a pair. Just tell us your not interested and to take your name off the list. It’s a simple and pretty painless way of getting you to shut your yap about phone calls.

     4) Do your own damn research. Quit being a pathetic human and actually use that thing we call a brain. It’s there for a reason. With carrying over 800 different manufactures you still need to do some research to find the perfect item that you want.

270. Tracy | 17-Feb-09 at 7:31 pm | Permalink

     Wow! Response #261 just about sums it all up. Here is an actual DB employee. You would think he would be trying to clear up common misconceptions and win us all over. Clearly, this employee has no respect for customers (or humans in general). In response to #2 – perhaps it is not the “retarded” customers, but the inept employees screwing up the orders. and in response to #4 – why would anyone in their right mind pay $6000 ++ and then expect to do all the work themselves. Isn’t this partly what they are paying for??? My husband recently suggested having a look at DB as we are doing an addition on our home. I was skeptical. I have gotten the phone calls and invitations over the years(I think someone we know signed up and referred us – curse them!)and always thought it was a scam. After reading all these comments (especially the hostile DB employee)I will tell my husband in no uncertain terms, NO WAY!!

271. I work at DB | 18-Feb-09 at 3:09 am | Permalink

     #262, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Every other job I’ve had has been focused on CUSTOMER SERVICE. I do agree that they treat people a little rudely, especially on the phones. I’ve actually pushed other people on the phones to be more respectful. I personally don’t work anything further than dealing with non-members, and honostly, don’t plan on advancing further. I just speak the way I speak, I am a computer-gamer. As for #4, They are not paying for installation, they are BUYING FROM THE MANUFACTURE. The manufactures do not have company installers. We do, from what I’m told, have a list of trusted contractors in the area, but that could be skewed. If your aiming to do some major remolding then DB can be good for you, but you have make your own decision.

272. Karen Pettit | 19-Feb-09 at 3:02 am | Permalink

     My husband and I joined DB in 2002, a couple of years ago a lady contacted us and told us they had a computer crash and told us we had not paid our membership fee. After battling with them they told us it was straighten out and not to worry. last year another lady contacted us and told us again that we owed them money. We have talk to head office with no help. This lady has hounded us now every few months, today we received a letter telling us our membership has been suspended and we are no longer welcomed until we pay. Don’t ever join, what a scam

273. Bree Honey | 21-Feb-09 at 5:40 am | Permalink

     I am so thankful to have found this site. I had an appointment at 1pm today but there is no way in hell I will waste 2 hours of my life. Also with everything that is going on in the economy, I feel lke consumers have the upper hand in being able to negotiate with certain retailers, therefore I dont think DB would be of all that much help when you can search for deals yourself.

     Thank you everyone!

274. Ana | 21-Feb-09 at 3:00 pm | Permalink

     I’m going to be doing over my kitchen and had flirted with checking out Directbuy. Thank you all for sharing your negitive knowledge with me…. Especially Gamer Boy DB Employee. I’ve worked with the public and Customer Service all my life, from Cashier to Business Owner and can see by his response that this business isn’t anything I would want to be tired up with. Once again, thank you all again for saving me time and money HUGS!

275. Mary | 21-Feb-09 at 5:28 pm | Permalink

     I have to say, I was distressed to find that infomercialscams.com gave such unremitting good reviews when everything else on the net give DB such low ratings! So I was pleased to read #197 who told us that they used to have horror stories and now suddenly all is sweetness and light. I wonder how they “fixed” this?
     The “DB employee” post was hilarious.I am still laughing. I’m glad my husband and I resisted the strong arm, well scripted pressure cooker, and thanks to all of you
     We just

276. Jim | 22-Feb-09 at 2:21 pm | Permalink

     WHEW!! Thanks everyone – I was going to attend one of their ‘visitors presentations’ in the near future. I am so glad I found this site before stepping foot in that door. And from the attitude of gamer-boy, it sounds like they have some real dredges working there…

277. Joe Average | 24-Feb-09 at 1:19 pm | Permalink

     In response to the employee at DB. I feel sorry for you that you have to work for such a crappy company/franchise. First of all you have no sense of what customer service means besides the fact that maybe could’ve been a good idea to go to school and get a real job. The words you use are just pathetic most likely just like you. Trying to outline your reasons why DB is not a scam,doesn’t do anything for you and the company you represent. I wish you luck in your future career as Senior Sales Consultant at DB. You make me sick.

278. Jeff | 25-Feb-09 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

     Attended the DB show room nearest to me. What a scam…
     If you don’t write a check for $5100.00 they basically ask you to leave right away..
     I wouldn’t recommend this lace to anyone..

279. Albertatess | 25-Feb-09 at 2:16 pm | Permalink

     WOW!!!
     All the DB employees I’ve talked to at my outlet are not members…hmmm.

     As for that employee calling all of us who get orders wrong…challenged. Well, I’ve had to send back 2 orders in the last year…paperwork was right, manufacturer sent wrong colours.
     This “know-it-all, 19 y.o. kid” needs to grow up and get out of customer service.

     I’m a non-satsified member that has saved but only because I gutted a large home. If I had not had to totally retrofit this place, I would have felt duped.

     IS DB a scam?
     Well for most of the population it does not work and the salepeople know this but will try to convince you otherwise.

280. Gil Alvarado | 25-Feb-09 at 6:25 pm | Permalink

     DB is NOT a scam! However, it is not for everyone. For those looking to save big bucks on small everyday items, its not going to work. For those who plan on MAJOR projects, it saves you MEGA BUCKS!! True that the membership is very expensive, but one can save so much more than that in a short amount of time. Between my kitchen appliances and living room furniture, I saved more than what my membership costed. I still have to buy bedroom furniture for 3 rooms, bathroom sink, faucets, tubs, showers, tile, doors, windows, granite, blinds, etc. I figure by the time I finish building my house, I will have saved $30,000!!!! Not a bad investment.

281. John B | 27-Feb-09 at 7:53 am | Permalink

     Lawsuit Claims Buying Club Took Kickbacks – Team 5 Investigates …
     Nov 26, 2008 … BOSTON — A class action lawsuit claims DirectBuy members actually paid more than the wholesale prices they were promised.
     http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/18151130/detail.html

     http://www.truveo.com/Lawsuit-Claims-Buying-Club-Took-Kickbacks/id/2156112047

282. Paul | 27-Feb-09 at 1:33 pm | Permalink

     its funny that all the reviews are from people who didnt join? how would any of you dummbasses be able to express an opion on something you dont belong to? so for the record: my wife and i joined. was about a 5000 dollar buy in over 10 years. we are financing the 5k over three years. so heres why we LIKE it. it is an expensive buy-in, but if you are doing extensive renovations than it can DEFNINITELY be worth it. we are buying kitchen cabs, counters, appliances, sinks, tile, hardwoods, carpet etc. and overall the savings are great! you are saving as much as 45% over what you can get at stores. realize you still have to pay shipping costs on things too, but again – the savings are there. you just have to be buying enough things to make it worth it. so… it can be a good deal, for some people. and btw – the staff there is super friendly and super helpful. we wouldn’t be able to do our renovation without them.

283. gordon | 27-Feb-09 at 3:52 pm | Permalink

     I see an alarming trend in the responses here…. Those that are voicing a dissatisfaction or weariness about BD being less than advantageous are voicing there concerns respectfully.
     …….. Meanwhile, those that think BD is retail incarnation of the Messiah are viciously attacking the “dummbasses” (sp) and “retards” … hmmmm kinda’ strange????

     Thanks for the objective posts and taking the time to make others aware of this possible exploitation of consumers. You, at least, saved my wife and I 2 hours!

284. fred | 28-Feb-09 at 1:24 am | Permalink

     My wife and I just went to a “presentation” of DirectBuy Prior to making the appointment for our presentation I did my homework and spent several days talking to people who bought the membership. Of the 10 couples I have spoken to, which 4 were family members I might add , 2 couples we spoke too had just came out of the store and were going to their cars and were members . 8 of the 10 couples wished they had never joined. Some have recouped the average 4500 dollar membership fee and 2 even more than that but. However the only way you can recoup the %4500 plus in savings is if your willing and or able to spend in the tens of thousand dollars to see the savings. ALL of the couples have nightmare stories of high shipping costs and administration fees, long waits for the product purchased(average 6 to 8 weeks), back orders, wrong products being sent , discontinued products because of inaccurate information in out of date books. etc etc. and like I said before 8 out of 10 couples wished they never joined.
     However to make up our own mind we went, Well to say the least it was one of the worst hard sell sales pitch I’ve ever been subjected too. The minute I began to ask questions and told them their math didn’t add up the “presentation puppet” requested we save our questions for after the presentation. So we did but as soon as we questioned him about what we were getting for the $4500 down and $194 fee after 4years he said the sales manager would answer our questions. He stated “I only do the presentation and I have another one starting in 5 minutes so Connie will help you”
     So on to Connie who was the sales manager we first met when we entered. Well at first she was all sweet and wanted nothing more than to answer our questions and concerns. But when we began to question her about about what we were getting for the $4500 down and $194 yearly fee after 4 years and if we could check their books on a window package quote we had from local retailer to see just how much we could save things changed dramatically. She went to a condescending attitude and attempted to make my wife and I feel like a bunch of fools for not jumping at the chance to join. I said well my wife and I need more time to discuss about joining as we don’t make big money investments this quickly. We were told well the store closes in an hour and if we cant make it by then we were SOL. Well that was enough for us because of their bully sales pitch and the way we were treated along with from what the 10 couples have said we never joined. So my advice is stay away from DirectBuy
     and support your local business and they will look after vyou in the long run, thats what we are going to do. The old addage ‘if it sounds to good to be true it probably is” fits DB to the letter

285. Rav | 28-Feb-09 at 9:02 am | Permalink

     Thanks to such a great advise from all of you. I had no clue about DB till I got an invitation to attend presentation later today. I was curious and wanted to search on net & got really suspicious when the consumer review sites are all saying too many +ve things and listing the amount of savings. It is so obvious that these sites must be created by DB themselves to fool people. Fortunately I came across this site to know the full truth. I just cancelled my appointment. Thanks once again for saving a valuable weekend to spend on better things.
     When they told me that I can not become a member for 10 years if I don’t go with their offer today, I am going to tell them not to bother me for next 100 years

286. Barrett Graessle | 28-Feb-09 at 4:53 pm | Permalink

     Hey, all!

     My wife and I joined over 2 yrs ago and we’ve only purchased a mattress, hardwood flooring (290 sq ft), a dining room table and our Christmas items through the center. I was hell bent on not joining when I went through the “Open House” because I do so much research before I buy. Some good friends joined about a year before we did and told us to use the club the right way and shop smart. We did. I’ve saved $6,134.88 so far (all shipping and handling included) compared to the absolute best I could do on the same products anywhere else. I found a big screen TV on the internet cheaper, which angered me but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m saving money. I think folks get upset when they don’t save $5000 in the first month and think they got ripped off, when in reality a lifetime of buying products adds up quickly for some and more slowly for others. Doesn’t change a good investment when you consider that if I had parked all of my money over the last two years at direct buy with the rate of return I’ve realized I’d have a lot more money than keeping my coin in the market. Diversify, baby, diversify!

     Just one converted man’s opinion…check things out for yourself before you bite hook line and sinker on someones opinion that may not be quite as sharp as yourself!

     Think about it.

287. Brian | 01-Mar-09 at 4:15 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I joined over a year ago. We were planning on a big renovation of a rental and some projects around our house. The presentation made it sound like we were going to recoup our money very quickly and it was going to be the best decision we have ever made. The sticker was that we had to join right then and there or we could not join again for 7 years. I like to research everything before making a decision, especially when it comes to spending almost $5000.00 for a membership. I wasn’t happy with having to make the decision without researching DB first, but we made the decision and hoped we would recapture our money quickly.
     Not to happen for us! If you are gutting a house, building a large addition or building new, you may see a savings. We have purchased a whole house of carpet and several other high dollar items and haven’t even realized 1/2 of what we paid out for the membership.
     Some of the things they do not tell you; if you plan on painting or wallpapering, you get a 20% discount at Sherwin Williams, delivery is extra, you have handling fees, processing fees, minimum purchase fees, tax…If what you want does not meet the manufacturers minimum, you have to wait until DB gets enough orders fro the manufacturer before they can place your order. What we wanted would cost us $800 but the min was $1500. We decided not to buy the item.
     I don’t like their sales tactics or their customer service, but I don’t think it is a scam, just not for everyone. You may have to spend a whole Saturday looking for your items, waiting for a sales person and then pay for your items before you can get out of there. Is it worth all that hassle?

288. Liz | 02-Mar-09 at 1:28 am | Permalink

     Went to a presentation today..I understand the huge amount diverstiy of everyone’s buying habits and that money may eventually be recouped at some point.

     However, the sales tactic of buy now or wait for seven years is what bothered me the most.(Kudos: Hubby and I did not get pressured in any way, but then again, I think they knew that we were not potential customers by our actions or questions)

     And the different membership and renewal costs, depending on which franchise you joined. It appears that each state and franchise has different membership costs and renewal dues.

     And, I know that 700 manufacters is loads to choose from, but I, for some reason, still feel limited.

     Thanks for the honest posts

289. Tracie | 02-Mar-09 at 4:14 am | Permalink

     Thank you.. I was going to drive 1 hour and 30 mins to see what DB was about.

290. 2 can play this DB game | 02-Mar-09 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

     We went to a DB open house this past weekend, and they had a free 30 days trial membership promotion where you can buy up to $1000 worth of stuffs within 30 days without signing up and paying the fees (or you can join on the spot and get $1000 “instant rebate”). We decided to take the free trial, and the sale guy sort of slammed his fist onto the table, got up angrily and walked away to get the trial paper for us. WOW! That was when we thought, good thing we are not giving them a dime.

     We will go back there with model numbers of all the things we want (and the lowest prices we found on the web), and if they can offer it to us for much less, we will buy it from them, but only up to that $1000 limit; no way in heaven or h*ll will we pay them the fees, especially after the saleman’s show of hostility.

     And yes, thank you for all the honest posts about them on this forum.

291. L Schwann | 03-Mar-09 at 12:50 pm | Permalink

     I have to say I am glad I found this website. I have had two experiences with DB and both were over the phone. The first one a lady called me back and kept trying to set an appointment up for myself and husband. I told her I would have to check with my husband on what his schedule was and she said how long will that take and her tone of voice was rude! I told her do not call me back again. I received a phone call from another rep there, who said they were having a $50,000 homemaker, send you a key, etc. When I opened it up an appointment was already set for us and that date and time will not work. I have tried to call, but no one has called back yet. Oh well, guess I won’t be attending.

292. Carl Hartman | 03-Mar-09 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy: I thought I would look into this with an open mind. Signed up for an invitation to an open house. Received my invitation for Wednesday night in which I was informed that if I am married we are both required to attend. Just received a call to confirm the invitation and was asked if I was married. No, but I have a fiance and she has choir practice on Wednesday evening but I can go and gather information. Sorry you are both required to attend together. I explained again that I am perfectly capable of gathering information at which the caller rudely exclaimed that I was not listening to her. I explained that she was the seller, I the buyer, and she was not listening to me and that if we were REQUIRED to attend together then DB had lost a potential customer, She yelled GOOD BYE and hung up. Do I want to do business with people like that? No, thank you.

293. Fomer Employee | 04-Mar-09 at 5:19 pm | Permalink

     As a former Employee I have seen all sides. And in the end it really depends on the franchise owner and the quality of their employees. Thats why the experience of customers have ranged so wildly. This is a big franchise company, they are doing something right. And there are good people in it, I know this very well as much as I know there are real snakes in the grass types too.

     YOU CAN SAVE MONEY, BUT & I MEAN BUT, better not be looking for anything that you would otherwise find in stock or on the shelves of a Home Depot or Lowes or anything entry level. No matter what the salesman says(which they work purely on commision only-think used car salesman), YOU CAN ONLY REQUIPERATE YOUR MONEY IF YOU ARE IN THE HIGH END AND DOING A WHOLE HOUSE OF FURNISHINGS. Seriously, on the high end, big dollars can be saved. I used as an employee these discounts and I saved 20k on my house and I didnt even use all of their products, I am not that rich mind you.

     Here is your checklist.
     1.Are you doing a custom high end home.
     2.Do you have lots of time on your hands.
     3.Do they (that DirectBuy franchise) seem to have their stuff together, ask the current members for the lowdown.
     4.Are you Ok being your own ‘BUYER’ with responsiblity and benefits it entails?

     If yes to all of that then go for it, but if no to any one of those forget it.

     Last Point. BRING YOUR PAPERWORK. IF YOUR GOING TO SHOP DIRECTBUY, BRING ALL YOUR PRICES FIRST BEFORE YOU COME, & JOIN. The wierd agreement that keeps directbuy to having access to all these companies must keep what cost pricing confiditional. Seriously they lost companies this way. Otherwise, write ‘em a check, check out the price savings the next day and if you dont see the saving, put a stop payment. Check you local laws about the “right of recession”.

     Yep its funky, good luck.

294. karen | 05-Mar-09 at 5:57 am | Permalink

     I am redoing a kitchen. I do want high-end cabinets. I do all the leg-work myself…so I am considering it. PLEASE someone give me NAMES of HIGH_END cabinets, appliances, furniture. I am skeptical, BUT I know to save the money, you have to do the leg-work. Please…names….please….so I can determine wether I should even consider it.

295. Spencer | 06-Mar-09 at 4:12 pm | Permalink

     We have a visitors pass for this month and I was wondering if there are ways of paying the membership fees over time, are there yearly costs to continue and how long are you a member before the price goes up (if it does). No one mentioned prices yet for goods so as an example, if I wanted to go to a local store and get granite or quartz counter tops at $80-$100 a sq. ft., what would I be able to get current colors and nice looking stone for at DB? I don’t own a “high end” home but my wife has expensive taste and knows the prices of things so is this really for us? Also, has anyone shopped in High Point for furniture and how does DB prices compare to that?

296. Willy | 06-Mar-09 at 7:38 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I were planning on remodeling our kitchen. Unfortunately, we were stupid enough to fall for the scam. We were promised $10’s of thousands in savings. The experience has been a nightmare from the start. The kitchen designers (we were shuffled through 3 of them) were incompetent and untalented. As we realized later, this is why they work at DB and not a kitchen design shop. Two of the designers soaked us for $200/ea to measure the kitchen. One of the designers actually missed 9′ of wall. What a joke!!!! Then they came up with an ill fated design for a modest kitchen. The retail of the cabinets (with some customization) was nearly $130,000!!!!! The huge DB discount got the cost with delivery to down $45,000 (not including $3500 for installation). Mind you, this is a modest farm house kitchen. We happened to give a shot to a custom cabinet builder in town. He designed a similar custom built cabinet for $34,000 installed. This is a savings vs DB of about $14,000. We thought we might recoup our $5,000 membership with the windows/doors/counters. Well, we got a quote for windows and doors from DB distributor of Pella and the local lumber store for Anderson. The Anderson windows which are rated much better than Pella were $400 more for the whole suite. We went with the Anderson windows. So we are down to counter tops, flooring, and fixtures to recoup our $5,000. Whatever you do don’t fall for the misleading ads and the strong arm sales tactics. We did and it is a mistake that I will regret for years. I am preparing to request a refund. I have also heard that there is a class action lawsuit pending that I may join. DO NOT JOIN THIS IS A SAD JOKE AND A TOTAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

297. Michelle | 07-Mar-09 at 9:31 am | Permalink

     Thanks to everyone who took the time to post reviews. We had an appt scheduled and will now be canceling. Mr. Fooled, thank you!

298. Anita | 07-Mar-09 at 7:11 pm | Permalink

     Thanks so much to all who have posted! The commercials made it sound so great that I almost called. Thankfully, I decided to check online first. Guess I will wait for the local Menards to have a sale and actually save some money instead of lining the pockets of scammers by paying a hefty membership fee! Thanks again for all who took the time to post!

299. Lisa | 07-Mar-09 at 7:17 pm | Permalink

     My husband & I joined DB a few months ago because we are building & furnishing a vacation home. We had DB give us a quote for cabinets. The DB cabinet “expert” was not helpful at all and took 3 weeks to get the quote to me, that was after many unanswered phone calls asking for it. The quote was the same as the quote I got from Lowes for the same cabinets. Dissappointed to say the least.
     Next, flooring…went to the floor store they sent me to and yes, I could save quite a bit on a hardwood floor I chose. Then came the 8% surcharge added on. I went home got online and got a quote for the same hardwood from a store on-line…their quote was .05 cents per square foot more. Not such a great savings.
     The tile was the same story. Only very high end tiles and due to being a second home was trying to be more frugal.
     Appliances…..same story we could save about $50 per appliance with DB, but have to pick it up at the showroom. Not such a big savings.
     Other stuff….if you are willing to spend hours and hours searching through catalogs for what you want you might save a few dollars, but not worth the time and effort if you ask me.

     Bottom line: Don’t go to the “open house”. They are great salesman and reminicient of the guys selling timeshare vacations. I really don’t think you will save enough money to make it worth the initial fee. Of course, this is my opinion.

     I hope this blog will save someone money because Direct Buy won’t!!!!!

300. Pamela | 09-Mar-09 at 7:01 pm | Permalink

     I am so glad I read this before we went and wasted my time. Just wish I looked before I even gave out my info. I will be cancelling.

301. Brian Phillips | 10-Mar-09 at 10:58 pm | Permalink

     I am a member of an exclusive club called Direct Buy. I guess that is supposed to make me feel better for the high cost of membership and the lack of real savings for the average consumer.

     Direct Buy is only for people who buy high end (read grossly overpriced) merchandise and are remodeling or furnishing an entire house. The quoted savings will be taken from the highest estimation of retail price whether or not the product was ever actually sold at that price. (Read the fine print in a Macy’s sale add and it will state the product may have never been offered for sale at the price stated before discount.)

     One thing I quickly learned when I ordered furniture was that the shipping cost averaged around 30 percent. That quickly turned a great deal into the same price as the local retail outlet but included a 4 to 6 week wait. Oh, and you get to pick it up at the warehouse and haul it home yourself. The staff at the Corona CA Direct Buy told me I needed to consider where the furniture was being shipped from as shipping from the East coast – where most quality furniture is made – is prohibitively expensive. Yet when I priced a moderate kitchen table and found a $300.00 savings shipping was $290 despite the fact the manufacture?s regional distribution center was twenty miles away. I paid ten more dollars and picked up my table at the retailer that day instead of the long wait at Direct Buy.

     My experience has been that Direct Buy is overprice and over hyped. An average person will save money by not joining.

302. Brian Phillips | 10-Mar-09 at 10:59 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is only for people who buy high end (read grossly overpriced) merchandise and are remodeling or furnishing an entire house. The quoted savings will be taken from the highest estimation of retail price whether or not the product was ever actually sold at that price. (Read the fine print in a Macy’s sale add and it will state the product may have never been offered for sale at the price stated before discount.)

     One thing I quickly learned when I ordered furniture was that the shipping cost averaged around 30 percent. That quickly turned a great deal into the same price as the local retail outlet but included a 4 to 6 week wait. Oh, and you get to pick it up at the warehouse and haul it home yourself. The staff at the Corona CA Direct Buy told me I needed to consider where the furniture was being shipped from as shipping from the East coast – where most quality furniture is made – is prohibitively expensive. Yet when I priced a moderate kitchen table and found a $300.00 savings shipping was $290 despite the fact the manufacture?s regional distribution center was twenty miles away. I paid ten more dollars and picked up my table at the retailer that day instead of the long wait at Direct Buy.

303. Brian Phillips | 10-Mar-09 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is only for people who buy high end (read grossly overpriced) merchandise and are remodeling or furnishing an entire house. The quoted savings will be taken from the highest estimation of retail price whether or not the product was ever actually sold at that price.

     One thing I quickly learned when I ordered furniture was that the shipping cost averaged around 30 percent. That quickly turned a great deal into the same price as the local retail outlet but included a 4 to 6 week wait. Oh, and you get to pick it up at the warehouse and haul it home yourself. The staff at the Corona CA Direct Buy told me I needed to consider where the furniture was being shipped from as shipping from the East coast – where most quality furniture is made – is prohibitively expensive. Yet when I priced a moderate kitchen table and found a $300.00 savings shipping was $290 despite the fact the manufacture?s regional distribution center was twenty miles away. I paid ten more dollars and picked up my table at the retailer that day instead of the long wait at Direct Buy.

304. I smell BS | 11-Mar-09 at 11:20 pm | Permalink

     Gameboy DB employee; besides being ignorant thinks his potential customers must be as stupid as he is.

     Gameboy said, ‘Due to the agreement we have with the manufactures, we are required to offer membership only after they have gone through an Open House and only ONCE per 7 years. It?s part of the agreement we have with our manufactures.”

     I would sure like to see this one in writing but I never will because there is no way it is true; his s… stinks so bad I can smell it a mile away

305. I smell BS | 11-Mar-09 at 11:21 pm | Permalink

     Gameboy DB employee; besides being ignorant thinks his potential customers must be as stupid as he is.

     Gameboy said, ‘Due to the agreement we have with the manufactures, we are required to offer membership only after they have gone through an Open House and only ONCE per 7 years. It?s part of the agreement we have with our manufactures.”

     I would sure like to see this one in writing but I never will because there is no way it is true; his s… stinks so bad I can smell it a mile away

306. Claudia | 12-Mar-09 at 10:36 pm | Permalink

     All I have to say about this is run…..I wasted 4 hours of my life I will never get back..They said on the Open House that smart people save so much $$$$$ and it’s a secret how we would save so much money, so I guess I am a stupid person because there is no way I will give away $5000 dollars, and even worst I would not finance a membership they tried to explain to us the stupid people I guess that we can finance and on top of the memebership pay like $1500 more just in finance fees………I’m sorry I’m just grosed out about this whole visit, I wish I would have found this site before I went there today and wasted my time if I would have know how much it was I wouldn’t have wasted my time………I think gameboy is up for the scam because he makes money on the membership…….besides the quality is poor and some of the manufacturers are not even from here, good luck with warranties and satisfaction guranteed……..once it’s delivered you own it…..

307. Lee | 13-Mar-09 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

     Does anyone know of the look of how to get back your money.

308. super curious | 16-Mar-09 at 10:43 pm | Permalink

     i honestly dont think that anyone can judge this kind of thing without going and seeing for themselves. i’m about to buy my first house, i have almost no furniture and i will need all new appliances as well. i am personally very picky and have very exspensive tastes. i havent been to a show room yet, but there’s no reason not to at least chech it out.

309. Sandra White | 17-Mar-09 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

     I, as others have stated, also was offered the chance to give someone my hard earned money for the priviledge of giving someone my hard earned money. As luck would have it, I found this blog and am very greatful for the honesty by both the members and nonmembers. I have cancelled our meeting for today and have no intention of rescheduling. Scam – not really. Benefit – not really. Stupid – not really. Member – not really!!!!

310. Chris | 19-Mar-09 at 9:49 am | Permalink

     Interesting comments.

     I just happen to personally know a franchise owner and The Vice-President of Sales for a Direct Buy. They are the most honest people I have known for 30 years. A lot of people who have said negative things about Direct Buy are ill-informed. It’s as simple as that,…they comment without VALID facts. And it’s a shame that people actually listen to them,…and believe what they say, thanking them for posting their comments !

     The over-whelming comment has been, “Direct Buy is not for everyone”. If you are going to doing a lot of remodeling, then it’s a good deal. If you’re NOT in the market of buying A LOT of stuff right now, then it is OBVIOUSLY not the thing for you.

     But remember, if you’re the latter and NOT going to be purchasing A LOT of stuff for your house, that doesn’t mean Direct Buy is a scam !
     It simply means that the membership is not a GOOD deal for YOU !
     But it might be for SOMEONE ELSE !

311. Karen | 21-Mar-09 at 9:50 am | Permalink

     We made a visit to our Direct Buy yesterday. While the owner gave us our tour was very pleasant and seemed to know what he was talking about, we just about fell out of our chairs when they told us the $5000 fee. Unbelievable that they wanted us to make a decision on the spot. Couldn’t believe that if we didn’t decide at that moment we were banned for 7 years. We thanked him for his time and left. Just say no.

312. Chris | 21-Mar-09 at 2:27 pm | Permalink

     But you understand that it’s not Direct Buy that is saying that, it’s the manufacturers that state that IF Direct Buy wants to list their products, right ? Direct Buy has to play by their rules. Otherwise, Direct Buy would have an empty showroom of products.

     It doesn’t make a bit of sense to me, either. But ya can’t “kill the messenger !”

313. Mark | 21-Mar-09 at 5:57 pm | Permalink

     After all the ads I was curious about what type of savings DirectBuy offered. I got the visitors Pass. Waited 10 minutes to get my assigned sales person. He would not answer basic questions like what is the membership cost or research any price comparisons without committing to what I assume was going to be an Hour and a half sales pitch. The facility was orginazed to emphasise membership sales…not membership service.
     No Thanks

314. Dawn A | 21-Mar-09 at 7:39 pm | Permalink

     We went to DB today after my boyfriend went on the internet and set up an “appointment.” He received about 10 calls after setting it up. He wasn’t sure that I could come along but he added me on the website. But when they called him, he said he would come alone. When we went inside, a man greeted us. My boyfriend of 10 years introduced me as his girlfriend. The guy literally pulled us aside to tell us that “He wasnt sure what our situation is but that this tour was for home owners.” He kept saying, “I am not assuming anything about your situation but we’ll have to make a seperate appointment for you.” I looked at him and said that we close on our house Monday but I have other things to do and we are leaving. The guy quickly tune changed, he said, “no no, you don’t have to leave!” We left. I’ll find my furniture elsewhere. But, I’m excited to move into our new home!

315. Let me clear this up | 25-Mar-09 at 5:50 pm | Permalink

     Well I have read some of the posts here and I just want to clear up some of the misconceptions. First of all, each franchise is individually owned so your experience could be radically different from one center to another. In terms of customer service for example most of my members love us but at other centers that is not always the case. This happens because our money is only made on the membership not on merchandise sales (that’s why we can save our customers so much money… no markup). Some clubs focus on sales because of this and don’t invest time on the customer service side. This is changing with the corporate office stepping in and making the changes happen.

     We do have shipping costs, handling fees (on some items) and taxes but so do all other retailers out there. The difference is that we break out all of those costs by line item while the other places will hide those costs (including markup) in your price.

     The decision to join the day you come in is mandated by our manufacurers and we have to abide by it or risk losing the manufacturer(s) that have a problem. There is nothing that we as franchisees can do about that at this time. Maybe in the future that will change but I am not hopeful.

     Yes you will make your money back quickly if you are doing a home renovation or building. The common misconception is that unless you are doing that kind of work DB is not for you. That is not true, if you are going to be a consumer for the rest of your life then it will work for you. DB currently has over 800 manufacturers for everything you can think of and are adding more all of the time in addition with setting up relationships with local vendors for the things we do not currently carry (at a discount for members).

     As I said the fee to join is substantial because that’s how our money is made but if you think of this as an expense instead of an investment then this is not for you. We are selling a concept (a different way of buying and saving) and we understand that it is not going to be for everyone. Having said that please understand that it is a business and we are trying to make money so we are not going to be giving away the memberships for free and we do have sales practices that we use, but so does every other retailer/wholesaler who does sale. Do you think when you walk into a store and someone greets you that he/she wasn’t trained to say whatever it is that they say to you to get you to buy. It is a common sales tatic, if you don’t believe go to the library or bookstore and look at all the books on becoming a better salesperson. Read some of the chapters and then think back to your latest experience in any major retail store and you will see what I am saying. For those of you who were treated rudley/badly when you didn’t join I apologize for that. That is not the image that DB is striving for because you having a good experience in our clubs (even if you didn’t join) only increases the chances of you referring someone to us who will join. That is the best form of advertising and it is FREE. As I said before the franchises are individually owned and the experience differs from club to club. DB as an organization is working very hard to change the culture and make this a brand that we can all be proud of. There are some growing pains but we will come out of it stronger in the end.

     Thank you

316. Tim | 27-Mar-09 at 3:30 pm | Permalink

     I have joined the DB as trial member. It is free, but you have to put 100 dollars as deposit. When you leave, you have to fill out the survey before they give back your 100 dollars (have to do it before the end of your 1 month trial membership). I think it is okay; at least it gives me chance to look into what is going on in DB. Of course, the salesperson is not that happy about my decision. He is still nice to me.

     One interesting point I get from the #305 saying that “The decision to join the day you come in is mandated by our manufacturers”. How come manufacturers force customer to do that? I think DB is working as a member-club and try to negotiate with manufacturers that “we have a large group people so that we want to buy the product cheaper”. If it is not the case, why we need to pay a high membership fee to buy something is not saved much? And who is the boss here? We are the boss; manufacturers should please us in order to sell more. Don?t understand that.

     I have to agree that, DB is not for everyone. Some employees might argue with me that. We won’t buy something very expensive every day or every month. Think about that, we don’t renovate our home every two years or five years, right? (If it is the case, DB is good for you) Even it is your case, the DB might not be your choice. According to order directory, the waiting time for products usually take couple weeks. Who want to wait for couple weeks before starting working on your home project because you want to finish earlier so that you can enjoy the life with the new renovation, right? Time is money.

     Let do some math here: membership fee is 6500 upfront. How much money you spend before making even? Let assume you save 50% (I doubt it is the case, 30% maybe more reasonable) for the things you buy. 6500 / 0.5 = 13000. So that you need to spend (out of your pocket) another 13000 to make even. Total out of pocket money is 6500 + 13000 = 19500. Then, from that point on you save. If the save is less than 50%, it will be more. 30%: 21666 + 6500 = 28166, that is a lot of money for me. And for people who do the financing for their membership, I am so sorry for them too. 17.7% interest.

     In short, DB is not for everyone. When people want to join the club (not the trial one), they have to think about it. How often will you renovate the house or buy something very expensive (high end products)? One more thing when I look at the order directory, the price they listed there is not very up-to-date, not within 1 month. As an example, I looked at TV, the listed price is from 12/2008.

     Here is what I think about DB. Thank you.

317. Joe Member from Ottawa, Ontario Canada | 27-Mar-09 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

     I have been a member of DB for two years. We purchased a membership since we were constructing our new home. Well we are unimpressed. Actually we feel cheated. We used their service three times and realised a whopping savings of $10.00 in total. They were small items only mind you since the larger items we were hoping to save money on were no bargains at all.

     There is not a lot of selection for the items we needed. DB only represented two cheap kitchen manufaturers and three window firm who sold limited type of windows and doors. The brands were in no way top of the line. We eventually purchased, windows, kitchen cupboards, ceramic and hardwood flooring at significantly lower prices from the local big box stores and local custom manufacturers. The big box stores and local kitchen manufacturers respected our business and treated us with fantastic service. They were commision salespersons, not the unprofessional and rude kids hired at DB.

     When big stores have sales, their identical products are actually lower cost that DB. We experienced this repeatedly. I found the DB sales rep for windows, particularly rude, to the point I cut my appointment short after being insulted by the staff. There must be no accountability at DB for poor behaviour.

     The client service at DB is the worst. You will never get a response to a telephone message left for a sales representative, and when we did order those three items we never recieved a call that the items were actually in the warehouse. i needed to call six times a day until I got a real person on the telephone. i have heard that DB has not instituted an automated calling system. Wow can this be true?

     Also, my experience found there is no knowledgeable staff in the store in my city. Every sales rep we spoke to needed to consult with two or three other sales reps to get us an answer. It takes hours to sort through catalogues. What is your time worth?

     Save your money. Your membership fee will go a long way with regular stores without the extra aggravations.

318. Mel | 31-Mar-09 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

     I have an appointment to an Open House this Sunday. I plan on adding onto my home in about 6 months and wanted to see what they were all about and if it would be to my benefit to join. After reading post #261 from the DirectBuy employee, I think I’ll pass. Felt a little sick to my stomach after reading that post. It sux that there are people like that out there. Nonetheless, I work for a company that pushes good Customer Service. It’s pretty obvious that DirectBuy does not feel the same. Definitely not the kind of company I want to hand over my hard-earned $$ to. Thanks everyone…including the DB employee…for assisting in my decision!

319. Ed says | 05-Apr-09 at 9:39 pm | Permalink

     The old adage that the internet is the bathroom wall of the world rings true. To say a whole organization is failed by the rants of one employee is ludicrous. If you use one sour grapes posting to sway your thinking I believe you haven’t done due diligence. Using that model of reasoning every pimple faced kid behind the counter has failed me by their lack of product knowledge but I still buy gas for my car, I still buy clothes off the rack, I still buy CD ’s. Poor service is every where. Ask GM and Chrysler. You spend your money and take your chances. DirectBuy member for 3 years and very pleased with more cash in my pocket.

320. Marv McGill | 07-Apr-09 at 7:48 am | Permalink

     Reply to post#309 – Ed:
     You just wrote on the bathroom wall. To say there is only “one” sour grape amoung the bunch – well then, you haven’t read ‘all’ the postings in this blog. I am one of many here on this bathroom wall who agrees with the majority through the experience we recently had with D.B. The sales person and manager became very rude, and angry when we decided not to purchase the membership. Who in their right mind would want to deal with this type of attitude? As for GM and Chrysler – Well, I will say this: What will happen to people’s memberships if D.B. goes down the same route? Good luck to all those who are thinking on buying memberships, and to those who belong! Buyer Beware!

321. Wind Fuentes | 15-Apr-09 at 7:54 am | Permalink

     I always see ads for this place hiring here in Alabama,so they can’t keep people even to work for them,which doesn’t say alot.I just moved here a few months ago from the north,and in this area the people aren’t to smart,so maybe what this company needs to do is stop advertising for help on craigslist and find a more professional way to find help that is intelligent and able to handle good customer service.

322. Drew Fromdetroit | 15-Apr-09 at 4:19 pm | Permalink

     We joined the United Consumer Club (now DirectBuy) in 1987. You are
     on your own ordering from catalogs, you wait a long time for
     delivery, and the merchandise usually has damage, but not always.

     I’ve been paying $190/year to maintain membership, but I am probably
     not going to renew. The hassle vs. the savings are not worth it to
     me.

     I think we paid a little over $1000 to join, but I bet through the
     years we’ve lost money on this membership vs. the savings we’ve seen.

     I would not join again.

323. Nabi | 17-Apr-09 at 6:45 pm | Permalink

     I can’t imagine paying to shop–even in an easier economic environment than this one. $5000 bucks before you’re given the ‘privilege’ of buying something in a fiercely competetive environment? What a great joke it is on whoever falls for such a silly pitch. If you bought into this, don’t bother defending or rationalizing–just take my word for it that you’re a twit and move on.

324. Big Paulie | 18-Apr-09 at 11:17 pm | Permalink

     Tim’s (#306) math is wrong. If you saved 50% of a $13k purchase, you’d save the 6500 paid for membership, but you would only lay out $6500 in purchases to do it, so the total to ‘break-even; is $13k, not $19.5.
     More realistically, in order to make back the $6500 membership fee if the savings was 25%, you’d need $26k worth of purchases (paying $19.5k for them).
     We went to the open house and although we’re buying and renovating a house, I just couldn’t pull the trigger on membership. The members I spoke with all bought HIGH end and spent more than I would imagine on purchases (not sure that’s my style). I have no doubt that it could be worth it, but $4900+ tax is just too much. It was $3900 18 months ago, and $2900 2 years before that. The point is to do much better than just ‘break-even’.

     And sometimes we need more than just 800 suppliers to choose from.

325. Phil | 19-Apr-09 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

     Attended the Pickering store April 18 2009,the whole presentation was canned and canned very badly.

     The “video show” gave little or no information and then came the Implied close with a questionairre designed to “Suck you In”.

     What followed was almost a hilarity as the high pressure tactics started and a salesamn fearing his commission check was slipping out the door began his tirade against us for not signing up “Right Now” about $5000 with taxes,no information,no preview of contract,

     Anyone who signs these agreements without doing research first really must have money to throw away.

     I have found literally thousands of hooror stories about this company,their appauling business practices,lack of service and accountability and unless your buying really high end furniture lack of savings…..My advice is avoid the whole experience and dont even attend the sales pitch seminar

326. Jan | 20-Apr-09 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

     Back in 1990 – we had a membership with what I believe was United Consumer’s Club…at that point we paid maybe somwhere in the $800 range can’t really remember…I never received any notice from them that our dues were due or that we had to renew – so when we went to get something..we were told that they do’t send out statements, and that our membership had run out. Needless to say I was a little po’d, they no longer have a storefront here – guess they are now DB. I did get some items from them and did save some $$ – it would have been nice to have been given a reminder!!

327. Bob Bindr | 23-Apr-09 at 6:52 am | Permalink

     This company will go down in a ball of flames during this recession. I would run fast and hard from these folks. Anyone who can’t see that this is not a deal deserves to be taken for their money. Come on, in the days of intense internet searching, you can’t find items at or near wholesale? 5 minutes of searching and a few phone calls will net you a pretty rock bottom price on just about any item. The small premium you might pay as a consumer in the supply chain will be well worth it in terms of warranty and protection. Storefronts (real and virtual) and paying with a credit card will net you the greatest form of recourse and protection. After you sign a DB agreement waiving all rights, you’re pretty much paying for the right to get screwed.

328. Rob | 24-Apr-09 at 3:30 am | Permalink

     I received a call from DB yesterday for an appointment. After reading these comments I will not be going. I have watched many small local businesses in my area close due to the current economic “down-turn”. I have instead, decided to purchase locally as many of the items for my remodel as possible. I would much rather pay more to a small business owner who lives in my community than to a faceless corporation that appears to be making lots of money for basically doing nothing. The knowledge that I may have just helped save a family business is worth far more than wasting $5000 in hopes that I might be able to save a few bucks sometime in the next 10 years. Tomorrow I will be going to a local lamp store with a 700 square foot shop that has been owned by the same family since 1938. I would encourage all of you who read this to look up you own local shops and send some of the five grand you might have given to DB to them instead.

329. Nathan | 26-Apr-09 at 10:03 am | Permalink

     I have used DB before. But I did what is considered a felony at DB – I used my friend’s membership! Even with that I did not find this to be an attractive deal. Here is how:

     1. In a store, if you go at the right time, you will certainly get a deal that is far better than DB can offer.
     2. When you buy from DB you basically get stuff that is “already purchased without warranty” when you take delivery! The manufacture warranty is substituted with DB warranty. That is really bad because they don’t have much in terms of service. They bank on “new stuff won’t probably break”.
     3. On top of this there are shipping fees, etc
     4. You have to ship it out of their store on your own dime and they insist that they are NOT a warehouse and you have to pick the stuff up right away or else.
     5. This means you will have to do a “move”. That is NOT easy considering the money you have paid for the stuff.

     Overall it will not be worth it AT ALL. Even with “free” membership I am not happy with them! Imagine that.

     I am sure the manufacturers are more than happy to do business with DB. They have no overheads, not even warranty coverage, no shipping, no customer service, no nothing. They just have to sell and forget it! I would love to sell (as a manufacturer) to direct buy any day. I am more than happy as a seller, to have the someone who can play the devil between me and the customer!

330. Jason | 01-May-09 at 4:18 pm | Permalink

     First of all, hopefully you realize that they use a hard sell technique. When you go in there, they want a decision immediately. If you leave without joining, you cannot join. Many people get really pissed off about that.

     I believe their biggest savings comes with cabinetry, especially kitchen cabinets. I had a drawing done by a local millwork place who gave me a quote of $30K for kitchen cabinets. I bought the same exact design from Direct Buy for about $16K. They are Omega cabinets, and I am very happy with the quality! I also bought all my bathroom vanities from them.

     I also had success buying blinds from them and some area rugs. I haven?t bought any furniture yet, but their prices seem really good, so I know I will. They really aren?t good with electronics or appliances. These are low markup items, and you can get better prices. Especially when you add on their typical 8% handling charge (plus you?re paying for freight to their place!)

     Their customer service is often lacking ? the people in the office try, but they don?t really know the products, so you?re stuck ordering out of a catalog, which can get confusing. Initially I looked into buying plumbing supplies from there, and it would have been a huge mistake! First of all, I needed to exchange certain parts which my local plumbing supply place was very willing to do (Direct Buy wouldn?t have accepted any returns!) and second of all, I couldn?t afford to wait the 6-8 weeks for the plumbing supplies to come in. In a local plumbing supply place, they usually stock the roughing whereas from Direct Buy you have to buy the roughing and the external pieces all together. Again here the handling charges also cut way into the savings.

     Overall, Direct Buy is not for everyone, but it worked out well for me. As a general rule, if you’re doing a major renovation, you should carefully consider joining. If not, I’d say don’t do it.

331. Julie | 02-May-09 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

     Do not do this foolish thing…. There is a reason you can buy so much “cheaper” – it is because you are your own salesperson. I have been a “member” for several years and kick myself everytime I look for something there. They have to have the #1 WORST customer service that I have EVER encountered. I was so frustrated today that I called and asked to “the owner or his wife”. I then got a clerk that listened and became quite defensive about my compliant regarding CS and not getting answers after sending several emails and faxes to them. Of course, it eventually came out that the real problem is with me! I didn’t give them all the manufacturer’s numbers and the information that they needed to properly give an answer. (Not sure staff is allowed to place outgoing phone calls to members?). In my many years of business, I was trained NOT to ever make the customer feel they did something wrong but the message was clear. Anyhow, if I want, I can speak to the store manager but I am not going to get to speak with the owner.

     That speaks volumes to me. I believe the investment on membership is the biggest waste of money one could make. Wait until what you see is on sale and go for the best offer. If you join Direct Buy, you will research your own products, look through all the manufacturer’s books and figure our how to read the pricing. You will spend time online looking back and forth between the manufacturer’s website and Direct Buy’s (which, by the way, has a very POOR search engine). Then you write up the entire order in order for them to key it in to place your order. You then get charged 8% for “handling fee” when you are going to do ALL the work including delivering your own items. Don’t forget sales tax and a delivery fee. It blows my mind to think I was so DUMB!! Don’t DO IT.

332. Josh | 02-May-09 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I joined today. We actually got a great deal on financing the outrageously high membership fee and it ended up not costing as much, especially with the fact there is no prepayment penalty. We also got a reduction by the independent franchisee giving us the fourth and fifth year for free when we balked at the idea of being interested but not financially able today.

     I’ve read all 300+ entries in this blog, and am leaning toward agreeing with some bloggers who have said (as the DB salesmen said today) that they aren’t for everyone. We did zero research on the sales process and were shocked at the whole “buy now or never come back” policy they had. My wife and I took turns rationalizing it to each other that when we’re done renovating our kitchen, we will have recouped the membership fee.

     I’m weary, though, because the members on here are stating they haven’t recouped their money yet. The quality of the products and the wait times, as well as the additional fees are not a part of the personable yet pushy sales process. I’ll do a little more research, as well as reading more comments on this very helpful blog, before I think about putting a stop payment on the check we wrote them today.

     Consider yourselves uneducated if you went to the presentation and were so put off by the pushiness that you left in a huff.

333. Cydog | 03-May-09 at 10:14 am | Permalink

     I just bought a house which could use (doesn’t “need”) all kinds of remodeling. I did a Google search for reviews of Direct Buy and was lucky enough to come across this blog.

     After talking to one of my co-workers who says her parents have saved all kinds of money on Direct Buy, I was seriously considering it. But, with the internet at my disposal, I like to do my research.

     What I’ve got out of these postings is that if you are going to be doing a lot of renovation, you can probably save money if you are willing to deal with the hassle of the company being non-responsive when they don’t need money from you, and the hassle of picking up everything yourself.

     You may ask, why should I care about what this non-member is typing? The reason I wrote this post it to let those of you who support this company that the way a company treats its customers does matter, and to let the company know that I will NOT be doing business with them. And the reason for that is their high-pressure, hard-sell tactics. I don’t support companies that do business that way and I won’t be told how to shop. Especially not in a world where I can buy “direct” from someone who already owns a product (numerous online classifieds, Craig’s List, eBay, etc.) or utilize numerous shopping search engines to find the best deal at the time (Yahoo Shopping, Google Shopping, etc.).

     So the bottom line for me is even if I were going to save money, I don’t like the way Direct Buy does business, and I won’t join. To those of you who shared your experiences, thank you for letting the internet help me do research once again on something I was poised to buy.

334. Doyle | 03-May-09 at 10:25 am | Permalink

     Ok,
     Once you have been duped into becoming a member is there any way of getting out with your shirt intact?

335. Ryan and Rene | 05-May-09 at 5:00 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I of course were watching late night TV and saw the Direct Buy commercial. It intrigued us. So we set an appointment/ visitors pass and went in. My husband and I are both in Medical devise sales and we were absolutley floored with their reps sales approach. Sign today or never. Then $5500 membership fee are you kidding me. What a waste of two hours on Saturday morning. Its like a boiler room in there! They herd you in with other people watch a DVD and then you get to peruse their pricelists, then its onto the slaughter with their sales spproach. Then if you don’t sign the manager comes over to the table and show you a questionaire you filled out on the way in with loaded and trick questions and blately says sign today or never again.. Wow.. talk about a hard sell. Anyway we were pissed off and you can tell other people were as well. More than half the crowd that was herded into the room to watch their DVD had left upset. Ryan and I being finacially astute figured we would have to buy a alot of furniture and electronics to realize a return on investment. This maybe good to someone in the process of building a home that bneeds everything. We doubt that though with their selling approach just hints how piss poor the customer service must be. Fortunately, through one of our friends they reffered us to a guy name Chris that started Great Furniture 4 Less.com. He started his company almost 10years ago and he sought out to reconfigure the Direct Buy business plan to his own. He charges a $1800.00 fee for 2 years, you have a 3 day right of recission, there’s an 8% admin fee on any order, plus freight and or delivery. After going over the numbers and the actual stocking dealer pricelists we found that Direct Buy had an average of 22% margin over actual cost plus their fees! So needless to say Ryan and I signed up on the GF4L membership program and saved huge. We bought a $28,000.00 Nicole Miller Furniture Bedroom set for $8232.00 delivered! We saved $19,768.00 on our first order! Chris is awesome. I can’t say enough good things about Chris and our experience with GF4L. If you feel Direct Buy is not for you and don’t like their approach call Chris and he will hook you up! His office #888-369-8406 and ask for him personally and ask him about the GF4L Membership program. FYI.. His website is http://www.greafurniture4less.com. They will not quote out furniture on the website unless your membership has been activated. Otherwise you can visit their design center in Joliet Illinois. Make sure you tell Chris Ryan and Rene sent you..

336. Mike Killingsworth | 05-May-09 at 6:26 pm | Permalink

     Brad,

     Good to see a blog on here that exposes Direct Buy as a horrible investment. My wife and I too got taken and have been treated horribly by customer service ( a huge misnomer). I am interested in doing more than just pissing and moaning about Direct Buy’s myth of saving lots of money for its members. I would like to start some consumer actions against them. And I don’t simply mean writing complaints on blogs or ripoffreports.com and to the Better Business Bureau, but doing some things on a large scale to teach these a**holes a lesson.

     When I was in college I read a book by Saul D. Alinsky, an organizer in the 60′-70’s, who was very successful and feared by corporations and public/private agencies for his organization of mass actions against them. I am almost finished with re-reading his book “Rules for Radicals.” No I don’t consider myself a radical, but I am all in favor of activism against company and corporate attitudes of “we don’t have to listen to you or respect you now that we have your money.” I already have plans to use one or more of his tactics. (yes some are still viable today)

     I am even more interested in finding ways to organize actions on a local level. I live in California and we have 8 or 10 Direct Buy franchises. Can you suggest anything in that regard?

     Thanks for the format that you provide for people to get information and communicate with one another about this “bad apple” company.

337. Mike | 06-May-09 at 11:05 am | Permalink

     My wife and I attended an Open house one Friday evening. I too was skeptical after hearing of all the savings and information they were pushing. I couldn’t help but think “What was the catch” as there had to be one, right? Yes there was, the price of membership and the one time offer to join (which kinda sucked). BUT to make a long story just a little shorter, we joined anyway.

     We have somewhat medium taste, not high end, but far from low. We have a 4bdr 4000sqft house 3 levels that we had built some 5 years ago and since we already had everythng we wanted basicallyas far as furnitre etc. It’s just time to replace a few things, upgrade others, buy some some new. With 5 children (ranging 20yrs old to 10 mos old.) We know we’ll be buying “things” for a while to come anyway to keep up with family life changes.

     I’ve recently made my first purchase: a new Diswasher and fridg and I saved over $700 after comparing prices of the same brand and model at 4 different well known stores. I’ve also compared prices on other items I know that I’ll be purchasing in the near future and I’m starting to feel better about my decision to join.

     I figure over the time of our membership, we’re sure to save well over the cost of the membership…only $4300 to go hahaha

     Next up, wife want a new mattress (save $500), while I want a Pool table and a game table for the rec room (save $850), new BBQ grill and patio furniture (save another $500), a riding lawn mower ($$$ saved). The babies room will need a new bed and dresser ($$$ saved). While our older son and daughter wants flat sceen TV’s for Xmas ($$$saved). NO this isn’t all being bought at once, but by this time next year. How much more would I have saved? $3000+

     Too each his own. Make the best choice for you.
     It may not workout for some, as well as it does for others.

     Good Luck.

338. #328 Mel Says: | 06-May-09 at 1:36 pm | Permalink

     Thanks for info was interested but not any more.

339. Amy | 06-May-09 at 6:55 pm | Permalink

     My mother and I had a tentative appointment for an open house appointment. She is moving in and we are buying new appliances. Because I am married, and my husband could not attend, I was denied an invitation.

     This is discriminatory.
     Shame on you, Direct Buy.
     Wake up, it’s 2009 not 1950.

340. Maria | 07-May-09 at 4:41 pm | Permalink

     The owner was so rude to my sales guy that he (sales guy) told me he was ready to quit and walk out the door right then!!! see below.

     How is this co. doing? What happens if DB goes out of buz.? With the economy and so many discounts these days, it’s hard to imagine paying such a high membership fee! Any reviews done on DB categorized by location?

     The sales guy finally agreed to let me come in w/o my husband only AFTER I cancelled my appt. -telling sales guy that if my husband has to come, forget it. I’M the decision maker. He finally said ok since i’m decision maker and said to allow 1 1/2 hr.

     When I got there, solo, he asked where hubby was and said I’d have to reschedule when he can come. (Why did he have me come in, then???)Sales guy was really nice (though not very well informed. Didn’t have many answers.seemed like it was his first day.) He showed me around a little (which was VERY helpful-made me highly consider making hubby come back in w/ me for appt.) However, the owner came up and was RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL to sales guy ! The owner made a BIG mistake. His rudeness put a pit in my stomach and I WILL NEVER GO BACK!!!!

     Thanks to this site. I had no idea the membership fee is so high!!! Other fees, having to pick up your stuff at warehouse (when out of state co.s can deliver and not have to pay sales tax…)There are so many deals out there these days-w/ customer service….and owners who treat their employees w/ respect when in front of a potential new member….

341. Brian | 09-May-09 at 1:13 am | Permalink

     My wife and I went to a DB sales pitch and at first the savings looked good. The sales rep handed me an add saying, “Here is their sales price now compare DB’s price.” I noticed that the add was a regular price and not a sale price. The rep blately misrepresented the truth.

     The guy from DB wrote in explaining that they must make you sign up right then due to a contractual relationship and exposing the manufacturer prices. However, they now have a 30 day free trial membership. How is that possible if the contract requires that once you see the pricing you must immediately sign up or be banned for 7 years. It looks to me to be a sales tactic to pressure a purchase without the consumer being able to take a good look at the pricing.

     What saved me and my wife is I called my brother from the sales pitch anand he found this website and read part of it too me. Thanks for all of your comments. Even if you want to buy high end items I would not recommend DB since you are somewhat limited in selection and delivery is a pain and if you ever have to return something you are quite limited.

342. Carlos | 10-May-09 at 6:40 pm | Permalink

     we got pulled into DB years ago, when it was going under another name, United Consumers Club, i got a flyer in the mail with a key and some scratch off crap that said i won free merchandise and the key was for a car, if it opened the door i would win, yada yada yada., so we went to check it out anyways. long story short, we fell for it, didint have the 2500 to pay up front so we financed. well that company went under and is now DB, my United Consumers Membership would not transfer unless i paid the additional fee’s that direct buy requires. we thought that since this had happened that we would be done making payments, BIG MISTAKE. i was sent to collections for the payments, still to this day i have it on my Credit report. we did try to use the membership while we had it, and i saved a total of $47 on a riding lawn mower that i wanted, BUT i had to drive 60 miles to Denver to pick it up. Well Home Depot had the same Lawn mower for way lower than what i got it for with United consumers. AND yes, it came with no warranty what so ever. i called the manufacture and they asked where i bought it, well when i told then United Consumers, the lady i spoke too didnt have any idea who that was and to return it to them, that they can exchange or order repairs, well United Consumers OR DirectBuy do not do such things. if you feel like giving $5000 away, there are alot of charities that could benifit from it alot!!!!!!!!!!

343. Ki | 13-May-09 at 9:25 am | Permalink

     Well, a year ago I called DB for an invitation. I was asking too many up-front questions and immediately had it out the sales rep. I said wtf…then hung up (they never had a chance to get my info). Last week my fiance decided to try DB (not knowing I called a year ago). I said okay, I will check it out with you. First of all, I am a hard ball female that doesn’t like b.s… When I realized that this sales presentation is going a little too long. It was time to go..for me at least! My fiance insisted this is a good deal…just have some patience. Well after all the b.s. and the $5990 down payment that was required, I was through!! My dear loving fiance still insists it is a great deal, and wants sit with our assigned salesman to sign the deal. I think I was about 2 seconds from driving off and leaving my fiance in Corona at DB..long walk north on the 15 freeway!! The salesman sensed that I am a pretty tough one to convince and gets defensive.. What he did that for…I don’t know! But I handled it! I think I may have embarrassed my fiance too! Sorry Boo! Anyway, we were or should i say my fiance was offered a free 30 day trial and pay $100.00..some b.s. again. I say my fiance was offered because I wasn’t signing squat and DB knew it!! So in the long run, my fiance signs whatever this 30 day/$100.00 b.s. contract he was given. We keep getting calls from the DB salesman because he thought he offended poor little ole’ me!! HA!!

     **My opinion..carefully examine your buying, lifestyle, and your whole situation before you consider this b.s. If you are an average working citizen, like me..keep going south on the 15 freeway (or north) and grab a bite to eat and some wine in Temecula…you’ll be much happier!!

     Oh, by the way don’t jump at DB’s threat to be banned for 10 years or whatever b.s. it is! It is not the end of the world!!

     For me, DB was a waste of my average working citizen time!!

344. Robert | 13-May-09 at 1:04 pm | Permalink

     We were subject to a “tour” and the tour the came the unit manager’s half truths & yes outright lies.
     After listening to what were obvious lies about the benefits, the “manager” went on about his academic credentials. A Ph.D In Psychology in addition his law degree.He then went on with how he would never ask anyone to be a member and he in fact refuses membership to anyone he thinks would not financially benefit by joining. He went on with his experience as a prison guard on death row in Texas, he did not divulge if this was prior to his obtaining his doctorate and “passing” the bar. Jeff also advised us he was a Police officer.
     If you want to hear more: Go to Direct Buy, Orlando Florida N. and listen to whom I belief is a true consummate con artist” Jeff Crowder is his name, a conning you is his game.

345. D. Berry | 14-May-09 at 5:43 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I joined Direct Buy Kelowna a year and a half ago as we were planning on a total kitchen reno and thought we’d save some money. What a headache! You have to order your stuff from a catalogue, so you have to know exactly what you need (i.e. with plumbing, it doesn’t all come in a neat box like Home Depot, you have to buy all the separate parts, and therefore have to know how to read the spec sheets. The employees are basically no help so you’re on your own). Then, of course, you have to drive to their office to pick up your stuff, which gets costly if you live out of town and order from more than 1 vendor. If you get something that isn’t going to work for you, you can return it, but you have to pay to ship it back to the distributor and then there’s often a 15% or 25% re-stocking fee. Unless you’re the type of person that buys high end stuff, you’d save more buying from Home Depot or Rona on a lot of products. Right now I am trying to get the owner to let me know why the refund cheque she sent me for some faucets I returned is short. This is the second time I’ve been shorted, and the owner won’t return my calls or emails. Unfortunately I don’t live in Kelowna, so would pretty much spend the shorted amount just to drive there. And even if I did drive down, there’s no guarantee she’d be in the office. I’m extremely frustrated and have no idea how to get my money back. Seems all these people care about is getting your membership money, after that they don’t care about you at all. This is the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced, and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t join. So if you’re contemplating it, really think long and hard.

346. Sarah B | 15-May-09 at 7:34 am | Permalink

     There seems to be lawsuits from coast to coast against Directbuy:

     Phil Ganezer et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc et al
     Case No. CV-08-8666 GAF
     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

     On behalf of “all consumers in the State of California who purchased discount buying organization memberships from Defendants,” Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit in Superior Court against DBI, an Indiana corporation, The Sequoia Group, a California limited liability company and citizen of California, and Does 1-100, alleging violation of several of California’s unfair competition laws. Plaintiffs contend, among other things, that the defendants falsely represent that their DirectBuy club provides its members the opportunity to buy goods and services directly from manufacturers and suppliers at cost, and that the club otherwise defrauds its members through improper fees and overcharges.

     Ponzi et al v. DirectBuy Inc et al
     Case Number: 3:2008cv01274
     Court: Connecticut District Court

     Randall et al v. DirectBuy, Inc. et al
     Case Number: 4:2009cv00243
     Missouri Eastern District Court

     Wilson et al v. DirectBuy Inc et al
     Case Number 3:2009cv00590
     Connecticut District Court

     DirectBuy Inc v. Giacchi et al
     Case Number: 2:2009cv00110
     Indiana Northern District Court

347. Tim Klein | 16-May-09 at 3:35 pm | Permalink

     I may be the only one on this site apparently pleased with my membership at directbuy. The gentlemen named Ben was very courteous and well informed on every question I had. The amount of products they have are unbelieveable. The staff was and still is very helpful to me and my wife. I remodeled my kitchen and saved more money than I realized. For people that say RUN!! or that it is a scam, I guess it’s not for everyone.

348. Jojo | 17-May-09 at 8:31 pm | Permalink

     I’ve just gotten home from Direct Buy and I am very upset. After the Open House, the salesman told us that since we had attended the affair, it is automatic that we have agreed to become a member and as a member we need to put money down if I don’t he would write me up. In other words there was no way to turn our back. Upon hearing it, I got nervous. He showed me how much I was gonna pay for the membership. I said that I am not ready to sign any paper and I don’t want to put any money without studying overnight because what he wanted me to do is to give money on the spot. I explained to him my purpose for coming and our coversation turned out to be lenghty and sour that created frustrations and regrets in me. “OK, then you write me up!”, I said.

     I am not telling DB is a scam but I am just sharing with you the my very bad experience. I wish I have not gone there for it ruined my day and wasted my husband’s time.

349. FooL | 17-May-09 at 10:53 pm | Permalink

     I recently became a member and found out that the prices of the items are identical to the ones on Amazon.com. I had the opp. to cancel within 3 days. They refused to cancel it. I had to call my credit card company to cancel it.

     Do not sign up with these people.

350. Mark made a bad direct buy | 19-May-09 at 8:38 pm | Permalink

     I purchased a membership in 2007 for a whole house remodel. I think that DB is really an anachronistic business model that will fail now that the housing bubble is burst. Their web site is really basic and hard to search. You cannot order online. The books in the showroom are kept pretty up to date but you really have to know how a dealer price book works and know your merchandise or you will end up not understanding what you are ordering and have the wrong or incomplete item. The reason I cannot ever recommend Direct Buy is due to the complete fiasco we experienced with our kitchen cabinets. Our first designer was fired after we met with him and out file was mysteriously gone, both the paper and cad file on the computer. The next “designer” ( it is a big selling point by Direct Buy in their sales presentation that they have professional designers) gave us a quote, we signed and made a deposit. Then about a week later she called and said she “made a mistake” and the cost was an additional $1,200… We all make mistakes right? So we went in and signed an additional amendment. Then we waited, waited, waited. The cabinets are in!! Yeahh… but when they came, ALL the upper cabinets were missing, back panels were entirely wrong, crown was missing, and other things were wrong. Called, emailed…….the bottom line on the upper cabinets? Never Ordered! Ca Ching she needs another $2,500 to order those but she would fix the other items. The bottom line is that we ordered cabinets in January and our last cabinets were delivered in June, over cost, not right… It was messed up. I had to hire a cabinet maker to rework some of the wrong items it fit my kitchen.

     We ordered about $50,000 of merchandise through Direct Buy and I feel that even with that volume we basically broke even after the membership fee. We found better deals elsewhere on kitchen appliances, carpeting and hard wood floors so the major money savers did not materialize. Many times they also referred us to local business that we could have gotten the same deal from directly. High end bath fixtures from Grohe and Hans Grohe were good values as were high end lighting through Direct Buy. But overall I feel their value proposition is marginal at best, and a failure if you suffer anywhere near the grief that I did trying to get my kitchen completed. Good Luck!

351. Jeff from Houston | 20-May-09 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

     DON’T DO IT. I have had the membership for three years now and I have NEVER found a deal worth buying. The Shipping charges are almost double to triple the industry standard. It is the biggest rip off in the world (5,000) membership Fee. Charges should be brought against them for robbery and how they present you saving over the life of membership. Worst mistake I ever made. I had a whole house to furnish. I went to buy a bedroom set and they wanted to charge me $500 for shipping and then wanted to tax me on the item and the shipping. Shop around. It will almost always be cheaper and for the couple of extra dollars (and I mean COUPLE) you save you won’t have to wait the 6 weeks it takes to get the item. STAY AWAY!!!!!

352. Steve Member for 3 weeks | 21-May-09 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

     Don’t Let them get you, THEY GOT ME!!!!! you have no REAL information to work with when they force you to make a decision. All you have is their good word of how great it is. I have not purchased one item yet because there is nothing worth purchasing. I found golf balls that are $2 cheaper than in a store. however, you have to pay shipping, handling fee etc. making it more expensive. This is however a great example. I wanted to purchase a golf GPS which I am sure has a very high percentage margin. You can puchase this exact item for $399 anywhere. Since this is a manufacturer that DB carries, I called because it does not show up on the website. The lady found it the next day, and told me that it was $290 and asked if I would like to purchase it. I said yes and she sent me a couple of forms to sign that basically state that DB is is no way responsible for the item. The other was a for of the cost that showed me the cost of $290, a handling fee of $23.20, a freight charge of $43.50, and Tax of $27.46 for a total of $384.16. This would save me a whopping $15 of paying full MSRP. No retailer charges full MSRP. We all know that the MSRP of a new car can be $35,000 but you can buy it for $30,000. I called the franchise owner and told him of the situation he pretended to agree that shipping on an item that weighs less than 1/2 pound should not be $43, but it is. Also, he struggled to explain why there is a $23 handling fee on an item that will be shipped directly to my house. My Granny says if it’s too good to be true then it’s not. I should have listened to Granny again! The owner says he will not give my money back for any reason even though I have no intention of using his services. Does anyone know how to get my money Back???????

353. Jenessa | 22-May-09 at 11:56 am | Permalink

     I haven’t read all the postings here, but I can tell you that I work for a manufacturer who is a Direct Buy supplier, and our agreement with Direct Buy concerns only normal vendor terms – nothing about seven years, etc.

354. John and Jenn | 23-May-09 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I were on our way to a direct buy presentation in Houston, which is a 3 hour drive, and my wife called to confirm with them our 12:30 appointment…my wife then asked if we could bring a stroller for ouor 6 month old daughter. The lady replied no you should have gotten a sitter like everyone else and said we would have to rescedule. Least to say we gave her a few choice words and told her to never contact us again. This must have been a blessing in disguise after reading this blog. Thank you Jesus!!

355. JR | 26-May-09 at 11:13 am | Permalink

     Two weekends ago, we went to a Direct Buy “open house” and boy, Where do I begin about Direct Buy? Okay, here goes…

     First of all, I will identify that the store that I went to is in the Orlando, Fl area. The staff that called to confirm an appointment despite my asking several times did not tell us about the membership rates. So we go in and the owner who was making a sales pitch was very sweet and sugary through the “sales pitch” bringing our little girls cookies and water and stuff.

     Whoa! That certainly did fool us. When my husband and I did a little double-take and turned down the membership, hearing that the cost was close to $5000, he was RUDE and INSULTING. Needless to say, I will warn everyone that I know to stay away from this business after that NASTY treatment.

     Aside from that I have some questions about their so called “sales policies”.

     First, DB makes it out to seem that it is a “special” place to shop with “secret, inexpensive” rates that will become available to the member once they sign on. “Members should not ask for these supposed DB deals at retail stores” . What’s the big deal ? When I buy a twelve pack of Coca-Cola at my local grocery stores, I understand that it is priced more than if I bought it at Costco , a warehouse store where I am a member. I don’t go in and argue with the grocery store manager as to why the cost per unit of a Coke can is priced more than it is at Costco’s , for instance. Nor do I start an argument with the Coca- Cola Company as to why they are selling their products at different rates at different outlets.

     Second, DB does not let prospective members check out the type of items that they could shop for which they go could save. Before we became members of Costco, long ago, my husband and I were able to “comparison shop” for several items over a period of a few months, thus convincing us that our savings would be worth the cost of membership fees and definitely go beyond that cost. DB does no such thing. One is supposed to go in, sit through their drivel for 2 plus hours and at the end of it, cheerfully handover $5000 with absolutely no understanding of the brands/ goods/ that one will buy and the subsequent savings that will accrue. Are they for real????

     As a “prospective” member, I have no access to their “database” of goods and brands to preview, check and compare before I sign up.

     Again, to make it seem oh so exclusive, they tell you that once you walk out of the store, you cannot come back, or only come back after seven years, making it seem as though, you are letting go of this “golden opportunity”, at your own risk.

     Places that offer a true value rarely make such ridiculous terms and conditions. This itself makes DB membership a suspicious and risk-filled buy.

     This also becomes evident when they state that they have been in business since 1971 and have so far 480,000 members. Seriously? If this concept was so hot and popular, I would have expected to see the membership rolls to be in the millions after being in business for close to 40 years.

     While I was sitting through the presentation, I had an opportunity to quickly thumb through a catalog where I saw several brands of high end furniture offered for less. So for instance, a $8000 outdoor patio set was offered for a “bargain” price of $5000. Well, I for one, am not in the market to purchase outdoor patio sets at these prices,(or too many bedroom/ living room sets either) so if you are a “regular customer” like me, this membership is not for you.

     To second all the previous writers, don’t give your money to DB. I, for one am going to keep my $5000 away from this Business.

356. Furniture Fixer | 28-May-09 at 8:18 pm | Permalink

     I repair furniture. I have been called to to the Direct Buy Warehouse often over the last 4 years to fix furniture on the dock that has arrived for customers but has problems.

     It is my belief that manufacturers ship their low quality / seconds to the Direct Buy customers. I make my repairs and the customer never knows. I think they (Direct Buy) gets a kick back from the manufacturers to take the junk that can’t be sent to regular stores.
     I brought this subject up with the Dock manager and was told “thats something we don’t talk about.”

     I’m good at what I do and I fix the stuff and make lots money from them, but I want folks to go in with their eyes open.

357. Mar | 29-May-09 at 12:04 pm | Permalink

     We were curious about DB and are longtime, happy members of Costco, so we thought we might try it. We were about to do a whole house remodel, of which I was the “Project Manager”, so I called to make the appointment. Without taking my HUSBAND with me, they wouldn’t even consider talking to me. I explained that I make all the remodel decisions, and we were about to embark on a very large job- but they didn’t care. Without the male escort, they wouldn’t even consider it.

     This is the first clue to a high pressure scam- the next is that they have no actual”showroom” of stuff-but told me my selections would come out of catalogs. I can do that over the web, without membership fees. Spend your time doing your own research- and go to Costco.

     In this day and age, anyone who will not respect a woman’s buying power is an idiot. I don’t do business with idiots.

358. Rickster | 01-Jun-09 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

     In my opinion, any ‘Great’ offer that will not reveal the cost up front is trying to hide something. Obviously this fits with Direct Buy. Infomercials like this do not usually get my attention.

     It also reminds me of the timeshare offers where you get a night free in a hotel, and all you have to do is attend a ’sales presentation.’ You meet at an office, and they put you in their car and drive you to the presentation – miles from the office (and your car.) After the presentation the high pressure starts, and if you can’t afford it you are obviously in ‘financial trouble.’ If you don’t take the offer, you don’t get the special ‘additional gift’ you were promised.

     I’m not ‘investing’ $5000 or more on the spot with anybody.

     Thanks for the info on this blog – it saved me a lot of heartache and trouble, not to mention a lot of cash!

359. George | 02-Jun-09 at 4:46 am | Permalink

     I have never actually been in or bought anything with Direct Buy however after hearing my sister in law talk about how they are members and how they saved thousands by getting everything at cost and she knows how much furniture actually costs and so on… I took a good look through their catalog. After all, I like a good deal as much as the next person.

     I tend to be a bit of skeptic. From my experience I believe if something sounds too good to be true it usually is. From the start red flags were going off. The fact that no manufacturer is going to allow a dealer to sell current products to the public at cost (they would soon find themselves without any dealers) nor can a huge outfit like Direct Buy survive off membership fees alone.

     I will be the first to admit I know nothing about furniture however nothing really stood out as a great deal unless the quality is extremely high. Hard to tell from a catalog page. However a Kitchen Aid mixer is a Kitchen Aid mixer. Yes it was cheaper but with a little patience you can get it as cheap elsewhere. Electronics on the other hand is something I know a thing or two about. I have been selling it for nearly 20 years and have had my own company for most of that time. The first thing that stood out was the the “suggested” retail. The prices were much higher then MSRP. Something you will never see in any reputable store. The selling price was indeed a little below MSRP but only by a few dollars. If actual retail was say 800.00 it would be 759.00 or so. Now add the shipping and fees… Believe me you would do better if you walked into a big box or a mom and pop store and did a little haggling or watched the weekly sales for the item you want. Of course the markup on electronics is not nearly as much as furniture however speakers are a different story. It is were electronic shops make their profit. After all 5-10 points on a TV is not going to keep any store in business. The speaker pricing was similar. Hmmm…

     I suspect most of the people are not comparing apples to apples or, not that it matters, older discounted items from the manufacturer that if you did some digging would likely find elsewhere at a similar price. Even though we have a Costco membership and it does save us money on bulk food…their pricing on everything else is pretty normal. If you see a GPS for a killer deal it is last years and there is no shortage of places to order it online for the same price or lower. Likewise for most other hard items they sell. I cannot believe some people think Costco is actually wholesale. The one thing they certainly have going is customer service. From what I have read on here it is certainly not the case with Direct Buy.

     That is my two cents worth:)

360. Ili | 03-Jun-09 at 1:45 am | Permalink

     I am glad to find this website. DB person called me and made an appointment with me and my husband for this Thursday night. I was skeptical when he said you and your spouse have to be present for the appointment. This sounds just like one of those timeshare sales appointment. After reading many of the comments, I decided that I would rather to spend some time to check out the prices of the refrigerator I want to buy than going to a membership sales meeting. Thanks to you all.

361. Roger | 03-Jun-09 at 2:03 pm | Permalink

     Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. My wife & I are very disappointed with the money we threw away on a DirectBuy membership. We tried to get our money back from the credit card company but were denied. I was especially glad to hear about the class action lawsuits pending as I was only aware of the two cases in Connecticut. I hope we win and those suckers go down in flames. Agreed that during these recessionary times, they may go bankrupt before we get our hard earned $$$ back…..and then they’ll go open another scummy franchise with a different name!

362. Simsimgirl | 03-Jun-09 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

     Oh, I just signed up for the free visitor’s pass online and was curious to know abt DB and stumbled into this spot.M so glad i found this.I already decided to do nothing abt it and start decorating my house by buying stuff from the retail stores..Thank you so much you all!.Just tell me a way how not to attend the presentation.:)

363. Carol | 04-Jun-09 at 6:14 pm | Permalink

     Just got home from a DB “open house” appointment and started searching the Internet for DB info. Should have done it before the meeting but now I know why they push you hard to set up a meeting quickly so you don’t take the time first. Let’s face it, most people are like me and my husband – we see the ads and decide we want to learn more so we take them up on the offer to make a visit. While I certainly expected high pressure sales, I was shocked by the ‘buy today or never’ sales pitch. This was not really emphasized by our sales rep but was clear in the video. Our sales rep was just focused on the $1000 off today part of the pitch so maybe some markets have a different policy – this is still not really clear to me. I was not prepared to sign today – had not even brought my check book (one item I am surprised that the over zealous phone handler had not reminded me about before we came since he covered everything else!)There were just too many unanswered questions – like can I use a credit card to purchase things? how long does it take to receive an item? what business model really sustains them so that I know they will be around for 10 years? And then after reading this site, even more questions that I had not really considered yet – what is the return policy? who provides the warranty? what items have handling fees and how much is it? How long do I have to get an item picked up once it comes in to the warehouse? We are remodeling a house and have a lot of purchases to make so a DB membership makes sense and the savings comparisons we were able to make while we were there were substantial but you just knew that there had to be a catch. Frankly, shopping from mfg catalogs is not a turn off to me, nor is having to figure it all out for myself. The warehouse is only 5 miles from my house, so picking up items with our pick up truck would not be an issue. None of these ‘complaints’ about the DB business model are a concern or surprise to me, but fundamentally, I just think that if their product was as good as they made me believe, they would not need to use such terrible sales techniques to sign people up.

364. Greg | 04-Jun-09 at 7:38 pm | Permalink

     Carol brings up a list of great questions. It bothered me a great deal to find that different people pay different prices for the DB service. The guy sitting around the corner from you in their showroom might not have paid the same thing for “Membership” as you do. I found some folks out there (various blogs)who paid $4900 plus tax in April ‘09…… we were offered $5495 plus tax which was a $1000 discount but only if we did it now….lol…..and they claim that most folks pay $6495 regularly which is what they would charge if you came back another day. (This clearly indicated a willingness not to follow their own policy of requiring a purchase decision the first time you are in- or so the video says. Then I went back a bit in time on some blog entries I found that some folks only paid $3600 as shortly ago as last year. “Gotta close the deal RIGHT NOW”….. all sorts of different prices for different folks….. “leave me a $190 post dated check for a deposit and I will hold the price for you” as we were told in the store. Lets face it folks…… at least the franchise we went to was a ridiculous mess. BUYER BEWARE!!! The one we went to was in Gaithersburg Maryland. As I looked into the service problems people had even after they bought in to the service, well…… we are going to pass. So should you.

365. Trenise | 06-Jun-09 at 3:22 pm | Permalink

     I Went to a DB “open house” today and left disappointed and upset. I’m an upfront kind of person so listening to a salesperson for 45 minutes before he finally drops the cost of DB’s service was very annoying.After the main sales pitch we were directed to back to our sales rep for pricing options. I couldn’t believe DB charges $6450 up front for a 2yr contract. For this amount of money,I have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery of an item and if an item is delivered to their warehouse, I then have to pay the delivery charges from the warehouse to my home or pick it up myself. DB’s return/refund policy was never discussed. For example; do I bring my return item back to DB’s warehouse or do I return it directly to the manufacturer? Like others, I wish I had took the time to do some internet research before going because it was a complete waist of time but now I know DB is truly a scam. I’m so happy I didn’t purchase especially after reading other comments. DB’s service does not justify their cost.

366. MsNick | 07-Jun-09 at 7:59 pm | Permalink

     I wanted to add my own “old-timer” story. It was actually very easy for me to say no to DB in 1998. I was 21 and could have moved off the Air Force base but really didn’t want to. Regardless they got my name from a friend who was recently married and buying a house full of furniture. Note only furniture for an apartment she lived in. Not the major renovations other people had mentioned.
     Well I get there and sit impatiently through the sales pitch. When they drop the price on my me, my jaw drops. There was no way. Now comes the sales tactics and desperation. they would finance me and I would get a discount if I referred X amount of people. Still the price was too high for me. Then the guy actually said…”Well your friend X signed up for it…you don’t think she’s stupid do you?” I said why yes, I do. She’s very easily swayed. I got the deer in the head light look I always get when I’m blunt. I even told the guy I had no need to even buy furniture for at least another year, he saw this as a plus! All this guy saw in me was disposable income since I wasn’t paying rent, utilities, etc.
     In the end I WOULD NOT say they are a scam. I would describe them as money-grubbing slicksters. I hope no military person EVER signs up with these guys. I say that because I got orders right after that. I spent 4.5 years overseas. I would have been paying for something I couldn’t even use or cancel. If you’re military please consider that in your decision. If one of my young guys signed up for it I’d freak the heck out and try to get it canx’d…ASAP!
     I too recommend this to home renovators, house flippers going high end and new builds. Even though I’m currently building a home, I’m going through the contractor and Home Depot for any “extras” not in our contract.

367. CG | 07-Jun-09 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

     I just finished reading most of these posts. And knew that feeling i had was right. My husband and I went to a DB open house on the weekend. The same as everyone else we sat through a 45 minute salesperson/video sales pitch she showed us the huge savings on things like mattresses and dining room sets and was completely nice and easy to talk to…before we went into that room. Once the initial sales pitch was over and we recovered from the $5300 bomb they dropped on us for the membership “dues” for 3 years then only 199 for each addition year after that up to year 10….still not sure what happens after year 10…
     She sat us down and went over how much we’d save after 10 years…if we replaced every single thing in our house and spent money like it was going out of style. My husband of course looked at the monthly payment she offered us and sat back and said yeah that looks good to me if it looks good to you…
     I said no i don’t think so we can’t afford that….well this woman’s smile dissapeared she pretty much called me stupid for not wanting to save money with DB the pressure was amazing
     i almost caved…but i didn’t. She tried to show us that in three years with what we needed to buy we’d save about $5000 i said uhhmm no we’d be out about $300…grabbed my husband and left knowing this was a lose lose decision. Glad i decided to lose the membership and “savings” and not our hard earned money.

368. billy | 15-Jun-09 at 4:21 pm | Permalink

     I received a phone call from some DB telemarketer offering me an “exclusive free visit to their exclusive showroom”. I started asking questions such as 1. Are there any fees? Answer: Absolutely no fees, this is a special invitation for highly respected customers. 2. Why am I a highly respected customer, I have never done business with you before? Answer: You have been selected among a very few to a special presentation. I already there was a membership fee so I asked the 1st question a different way. Question 3: Are there any fees for becoming a member of Direct Buy? spoken with a stern voice. Answer: This is an absolutely free presentation with no fees for attending. Talk about beating around the bush. I just came out and told her that I was aware of there high membership fees and was not interested. She then advises that this is a one time offer and if I don’t act on it now, I will never have the opportunity to join DB. Just before I hung up I said “will you promise that in writing”. Click

369. Aviva | 16-Jun-09 at 7:44 pm | Permalink

     So to get this straight, I cant buy anything unless I become a member? What kind of membership fees are we talking about here?

370. Roger | 17-Jun-09 at 1:42 pm | Permalink

     Carol #363 & Greg #364 do bring up great points. My wife & I paid approximately $6000 and that was at the end of 2007. I heard about one center in Northern California where a physician was stuck with a $10,000 membership. Boy, was he upset. I do believe the membership fees vary depending on how greedy the franchise owner is. I am sure they are willing to do whatever it takes to get you to sign up.

     Delivery times really vary. I heard of people waiting a few months for their merchandise and many cases of receiving damaged items. The manufacturer will not deal with you if something is wrong & DirectBuy will give you the run-around. They charge as much as 11% for shipping & handling even when you have to pick the stuff up at their facility. They will remind you that they are NOT a warehouse, so you better be able to pick your merchandise up quickly.

     Their return policy basically sucks and they’re not very good at resolving problems. I read that one customer ordered tile and when her husband went to lay it, he found that the tile was either chipped or wasn’t square. They returned it and were charged another shipping/handling fee plus a restocking fee. Can you believe that? It ended up they spent a large amount on just the shipping charges alone!

     We had a nightmare with their kitchen designer. Thank goodness we didn’t order from them as the woman didn’t know what she was doing. When I asked questions, she would just shrug her shoulders and say, “I don’t know.” and wouldn’t get an answer from a “real expert” we were flabergasted and ordered our cabinetry from a local craftsperson. It was better quality at a much lower price.

     It’s difficult to work with DB’s website. Most of the merchandise you have to go into the center to order. Many times they don’t have the particular model number you’re interested in, perhaps because they’re selling last year’s models. All-in-all DirectBuy is a horribly frustrating and EXPENSIVE experience. As I say, RUN don’t walk away from them!

371. Betty Lou | 17-Jun-09 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

     We were warned by friends that they were cheated out of about $5,000 for a DirectBuy membership fee. They forked over all that money because DirectBuy told them that they would be able to buy things for their new home at the manufacturers’ price — at a 50% to 60% discount. Little did they know, after DirectBuy tacked on hefty shipping and handling fees, they were able to find most of the items for sale through DirectBuy at the same prices, if not lower prices, at retail stores like Lowes and Best Buy!!

     If you were scammed by DirectBuy, like my friends, you should contact the law firm Craig T. Matthews & Associates at cmatthews@ctmlaw.com or 937.434.9393. That law firm has sued DirectBuy before in both Ohio and Indiana (where DirectBuy’s are located), and it’s conducting an investigation about DirectBuy’s misleading promises. If you want your membership fee refunded, you should contact Craig Matthews to pursue a class action case against DirectBuy. No matter what state you’re from, his firm should be able to help you. Be warned!!

372. Roger | 17-Jun-09 at 4:42 pm | Permalink

     Betty Lou -
     Thanks for the info on the law firm. In addition to the cases you mentioned know there are two more cases filed in Connecticut and one in California. I hope DirectBuy gets what is coming to them…….

373. Cousin | 23-Jun-09 at 11:16 pm | Permalink

     There is so much garbage on this blog it isnt even funny. The fact that i can just type what I want is proof this is garbage. I work for a DB that has over 40,000 orders placed and 1000’s of members. Literally ZERO outstanding complaints and not one issue unresolved. NOt one. A+ BBB rating. Highly respected business in the area. Franchises are independently owned. Too bad some franchise owners are idiots. Mine are not. Do your research and go prepared. If you can save, join. If you cant, walk out. Pretty simple aint it?
     Most of you have incorrect information on your posts. Too bad people who have legitimate needs are going to base their choice on your mis-information.

374. Roger | 24-Jun-09 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

     Wow, Cousin……sounds like you’re either a DB franchise owner or marketing company employee who is paid to put a positive spin on poorly run companies. The reason why DirectBuy franchises have great BBB ratings is because they paid for their membership. Therefore, the BBB protects their reputation. If you do your research in regards to the pending Federal Class Action lawsuits, you’ll find there are more than a few unscrupulous franchise owners. The DB business model only works for the corporation and franchise owners. You should do your homework, because it’s obvious you’ve been brainwashed by spending too much time watching the video presentations and breathing the air inside the DB facility.

375. John Fedorky | 27-Jun-09 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

     I wish I had known to look on the internet and research DB before my wife and I went to a presentation and foolishly signed up. We have not been able to save a DIME on any purchase though we remodeled our home and two rentals. The Indianapolis store has horrible customer service when it comes to following through on complaints. I just e-mailed a concern to them and the first answer I got was, “membership must be paid in full”.
     Mine was paid in full thank you so now I’m really mad. I will comment later on this page when the current problem is resolved, but in the meantime, DO NOT JOIN!!!!!!!!

376. Kat | 28-Jun-09 at 8:49 pm | Permalink

     DirectBuy is a rip-off! From the personal information they demand at the time you call to set up an appointment to the insane info sheet they force you to fill out once you get there (“Check off all of the items you plan to buy in the next five years.”) to the stupid, canned sales pitch that sounds like a 5th grade math teacher showing you what an idiot you are, it is a waste of time. You MUST stay there for at least an hour and a half to see/hear the entire pitch, which includes two videos, far too many “examples” of other stores’ sales ads vs. their “manufacturer’s cost,” a tour of their showroom (but you can’t check their catalogs), and last, but not least, the hard-sell to get you to buy the outrageous membership at $5,800.!! We asked if we could think about it for 24 hours and decide what we were going to buy and compare costs to make sure it was worth our while to invest in, but the sales woman said “NO, if you don’t buy the membership NOW, you’ll never have another chance for this opportunity.” Once she kept pushing us to buy the membership, I knew it was a scam. When we told her we weren’t interested if we couldn’t think about it for a day, she immediately dismissed us and was no longer our “best friend” looking out for our financial well-being. She was DONE with us and sent us on our way!

     Think about it: DirectBuy is a company that touts itself as the deal of a lifetime and claims to offer such great deals on furniture, home improvement materials, appliances, jewelry, etc. If they TRULY were a great company, they would stand by their claims and allow a potential customer to THOROUGHLY check out the pros and cons of being a member before they were FORCED to pay a huge amount of money to join. If something is too good to be true and you have “one chance” to join or be banned forever, RUN, don’t walk from these scam artists!!!!!!!

377. Kat | 28-Jun-09 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

     Forgot to mention the store location: Jacksonville, Florida. BUYER BEWARE!!!!

378. Roger | 30-Jun-09 at 9:54 am | Permalink

     There’s another Federal class action lawsuit being filed in California. If anyone is interested contact, John Davis, Attorney at Law @ (619) 400-4870. He’s looking for lead plaintiffs to file a new lawsuit as it sounds like DirectBuy wants to hold up all of the other cases by filing stupid motions. DirectBuy thinks we’ll get tired and go home. Little do they know that we’ll be diligent in our fight to do what’s right & get our hard earned money back.

379. mikey | 30-Jun-09 at 2:29 pm | Permalink

     direct buy bought out ( bribed?) infomercials.com to only post favorable stuff, but they cant keep it off the net, just go back a few months and see what they are up to

     http://web.archive.org/web/*/www.infomercialscams.com/

380. Poindexter | 01-Jul-09 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

     While walking into DB I fell down
     and banged my head. They gave me some coffee but I accidently spilled it on the sales rep and ruined his suit. I tried to wipe the coffee off his suit but I slipped and fell down again banging my head on the floor. They helped me to a chair.
     My prosthetic leg came loose and seemed to evoke a bit of tension among the good folks of DB.
     After rupturing my colostomy bag
     the sales reps seemed a little put off with my series of mishaps.
     Even I was suprised when I banged
     my head for a third time while
     searching for my prosthetic leg.
     They were poised to throw me out
     when by chance my wallet fell from
     my vacated pant-leg spilling scores
     of 100 dollar bills onto the floor.
     After a seriously embarassing
     ‘digestive event’ [which on some
     level seemed to humanize everyone]
     I signed on with DB.
     I hope my experience helps some
     of you in your decision making
     process.

381. Joel harris | 03-Jul-09 at 10:24 am | Permalink

     That web page is infected, don’t go there.

     Avast says: “IFrame-Ej [Trj]“

382. brenda | 08-Jul-09 at 2:11 am | Permalink

     Thank you so much for this blog. My husband and I had an appointment to go into DB and i was feeling very skeptical about attending. My husband works a lot of hours I mean a lot, So every free hour that he gets we like to spend it wisely and I am so glad that we know now what we would be getting into before hand so now we wont be attending. Thank you for saving us the headache! And good luck to all of you that have gotten ripped off.

383. Norman | 10-Jul-09 at 6:45 pm | Permalink

     In the East Bay California area, the two year membership fee is $7045–those who were offered 5K the same year– is there even any consistency?

     That’s 90 minutes I will NOT get back and this CNN person on the video of theirs that they showed–why not join CNBC–you’re John Stewart mock worthy! Proud to be “banished”.

384. B Jones | 11-Jul-09 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

     I am building a new home and saw a direct buy showroom while driving home, and I stopped in. I need everything for a new home. The gal at the front desk informed me that its “usually by appointment only but I will make an exception this time.” She then ask me if I was married, I said yes. This receptionist then informed me that I could not see a representative unless my husband was with me. I told her that would be impossible. She then informed me that it is “corporate policy” that he be present. I politely told her that that was impossible and not to bring it up again. Then I told her I was building a house and need all cabinates etc…and that I was paying cash for all of it and again she brought up the husband being present. I told her that was personal, and it had nothing to do with me buying anything and I walked out. The next day a man from direct buy called me and asked if I was still interested, I told him what happened and he also said that was “corporate policy”. I then told him that my husband was out of the country would not be back. He then starts telling me that that is different and it wouldn’t be a problem then if he didn’t show up. I told him that that is none of his business or that receptionists business about my marital status, and that their “corporate policies” were archaic for the 21st century. I told him I’d do my business elsewhere.

385. k | 14-Jul-09 at 10:46 am | Permalink

     My mom got a membership to Direct Buy because she was buying a home and excited to find great deals.

     What she DIDN’T know was that there is NO WAY to break your contract without owing the ENTIRE amount, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of dollars worth of monthly bills. Much like J.D.Byrider car sales, this place is a complete scam and I’m sure will cause many people to have to declare bankruptcy.

     Another catch is that you are not allowed to know the prices of anything when you walk around the showroom. It is not until after you decide what you want that you can find out how much you’ll have to shell out for it, so it eliminates the ability to comparison shop.

     The other catch is that she is the ONLY person who can go shopping in the store. I, her daughter, cannot even go with her. The only other person who would be allowed to go would be her official interior decorator, who also, would not be able to know the prices of items until later.

     NEVER NEVER NEVER join this company. Please warn everyone you know.

     My mom is so sad that she joined now and can’t afford to keep making payments, but is FORCED to because there is no other option once you sign that contract. There is just no legal way out of it.

     BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

386. p.carter | 14-Jul-09 at 12:45 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I have an appointment tomorrow. We are building a home and thought this was a great idea. NOT ANY MORE! Thank you for your comments, it saved us time and most of all MONEY. As all of you know, it doesn’t come easy.
     Thanks again.

387. M.Stearns | 15-Jul-09 at 9:19 pm | Permalink

     A friend of mine was supposed to go to Rochester NY this evening with her husband to view the presentation. She looked at the small print on the invitation, (which all should read)called the company and got very little information except there were different levels of membership, but they would reveal nothing else. She decided not to go, good for her! Thank the Lord for blogs like this where people can go and read reviews.
     And Cousin, what in the world are you smoking to come on here and say “Literally ZERO outstanding complaints and not one issue unresolved”? These complaints have been coming out of DB for years. You couldn’t pay me to say that and deceive hard working people! Shame on you!

388. Duped | 17-Jul-09 at 11:43 am | Permalink

     Sadly, I too was duped. I’ve spent over 10 grand (not including the membership) to date and realized “savings” of less thn 10%. so in reality I have paid far more than full retail when considering the outrageous membership fee. I have found that once shipping, handling and sales tax are added, DB is generally more expensive than on line web purchases. There are some exceptions with furniture. Too bad I don’t need any!. Their web site is slow, tedious, has an incredibly cumbersome search function and is absolutely frustrating to use. Once you find what you are looking for, the promised “price you see is what you pay” is untrue. you have to add sales tax shipping and handling and generally have to go to the showroom to get that or follow a tedius ritual af requesting the information which can take days if not weeks. The same holds true for shopping at the showroom. Limited hours and little help. If you ask for it be prepared for dirty looks for having bothered them.

     Shipping and delivery times are twice or more than you will find elsewhere.

     If you are building a new home and furnishing from top to bottom and don’t mind doing all the work with little or no assistance then DB may be right for you. Otherwise DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME.

     I recently filled out a satisfaction survey from DB and parroted the above. They have not had the courtesy of a reply or an offer of what they may do to make me a satisfied customer. They just don’t care ’cause they already got my money.

389. Mani | 20-Jul-09 at 11:39 pm | Permalink

     Well I had meeting with them tomorrow morning but reading all this I just send them a cancellation email and I will head my way to Art-Van Furniture – thanks everyone saving me the hassle.

390. David | 23-Jul-09 at 3:41 pm | Permalink

     I am a member of Direct Buy. What a complete Joke! We were completely refurbishing our home from basement to top. There was not one single item we found at direct buy cheaper than what we could find it. And believe me we are shoppers and looked. Direct Buy will argue about apples and oranges. I am certifying the very exact type and brand we found cheaper elsewhere. And if we did find it a little cheaper, then the shipping and freight bounced it right back up there where we saved nothing but had to wait 8 to 10 weeks instead of just buying where we found it as cheap anyway. Not much can be done about it but I am sure if enough people got together and filed a class action against them? Who knows that probably won’t make a difference either.

391. Roger | 24-Jul-09 at 3:01 pm | Permalink

     David-
     There are a couple of class action lawsuits looking for member plaintiffs. I would suggest you contact the following:

     Law Firm of Izard Nobel / Hartford, CT
     (800) 797-5499

     Craig T. Matthews
     320 Regency Ridge Drive
     Centerville, Ohio 45459-4251
     (937) 434-9393

     John Davis, Attorney at Law / San Diego, CA
     (619) 400-4870.

     I have spoken to all of the attorneys listed above & shared my concerns & support. I know what you’re going through as my wife and I have pretty much the same story as you do….total remodel, believed their savings promises, gave DirectBuy my credit card & kissed my money goodbye. I was thinking about filing a civil suit, however, I agree, a class action is the way to go. We all need to band together and get our money back from DirectBuy and stop them from doing more damage to other people’s lives.

     I truly believe that justice will prevail, albeit, we’ll have to exercise much patience as a case in state or federal court will drag on & DB will definintely appeal EVERYTHING! Let’s hope for the best & get this!!

392. Someone Who Knows More Than Most here | 24-Jul-09 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

     I really wish people would learn to represent the truth. I know many people who have said one thing to me and then in a rant among other ranters decided to bash a company who has saved me thousands of dollars. I feel bad for those of you who take everything you read as gospel. I bet if you went out on the internet and really did research you would find there are thousands of people just like me who have saved thousands of dollars with DB. Just because one person with a bad attitude had a sales person be rude to them or someone who was blind and only saw what they wanted IE… should save thousands on just a few hundred dollars worth of purchases…. again I feel sorry for you. Its blogs like these that tarnish the names of business just trying to get by. Do any of you realize that the one bad experience a few of these people had could be their own fault and others didn’t even give the company a try even though each is an individual franchise and you could all be going to different places? OMG what a concept … a McDonalds that treated me poorly … well don’t go to that one but don’t bash all McDonalds for it considering there are plenty of others out there doing the right thing treating people well and again I say … I fell sooooo sorry for all of you who let others think for you…. poor poor you …. think for yourselves or follow the masses it makes no difference to me … this post will probably get deleeted anyway considering this is a bash site not discussion to find truth or insite site….

     grow up people

393. m72 | 24-Jul-09 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

     STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT BUY! BUY FURNITURE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY!

394. Toad | 25-Jul-09 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

     There are a couple of quotes saying these are just rants and ravings of lunatic people with a chip on their shoulders. Google Directbuy and read the ConsumerReports review.

395. Lisa | 26-Jul-09 at 6:51 pm | Permalink

     We recently bought a new house and have a lot of new furniture to buy so after getting a boat load of emails inviting us we decided to see what it was all about. We didn’t plan on joining or buying anything today at our appointment but rather just to make our own judgement. So we get there and sit for about 15 minutes before they start anything. Then they go through this very scripted, fake sales pitch and make us watch a video. After about 40 minutes of absurdity I told them to cut to the chase b/c I didn’t want to be there for 2 hours. So the guy started to get really rude with me and very defensive. I told him that I have a good idea of what I was going to spend over the next three years and if they could show me a 3-year return on my “investment” that I would consider membership. He got obnoxious with me and told me very rudely that I didn’t know what I was going to be doing in the next 3 years. I replied that actually i have a very detailed budget and he basically told me i didn’t know what I was talking about – at that point my husband and I were extremely offended and walked out of the place.

     Overall the people working there were very sketchy and trashy and made me feel uncomfortable. Also I worked for a store where I ordered direct from the manufacturers and there was never one “confidential” price but rather a series of prices based on the volume that you buy. Also some manufacturers will give you a bonus or kick-back at the end of the year if you buy in volume. I could see these folks pushing lines or products to make bonuses.

     In addition I work full time and like to do my shopping on the weekends or in the evenings – DB is only open 10-5 and Tuesday through Saturday – doesn’t help me much. I am a deal hunter and coupon user and know I get better buys than what they were showing to us. We just bought $10k (MSRP) of Thomasville furniture for $3200 — I think I save enough money on my own without any ridiculous rules, agreements or membership fees.

     Avoid the cult of DB!!!

396. Rob | 27-Jul-09 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

     Thanks to everyone that told their story so we could avoid this scam.

397. Roger | 28-Jul-09 at 9:40 am | Permalink

     People who want to spend extra money and choose to purchase discontinued and damaged merchandise…..go to DirectBuy. Those who rave about their fabulous experiences at DB are probably being paid to write these comments……DB offered my son a job to write positive reviews under fake names and try to get negative comments removed. The people at DirectBuy are liars and scammers……don’t believe them! Stay away and keep your money to spend on merchandise, not empty promises!

398. susan | 28-Jul-09 at 1:17 pm | Permalink

     I looked at “joining” direct buy a couple of years ago…and after the relentless sales calls and “free invitations” to stop in at a schudeled time, I decided to see what it was all about. I made an appointment for a saturday afternoon, and told them I would be bringing my kids (10 and 13), they told me they were not allowed…..good by Direct Buy!!!! How rude. Dont join!!!

399. Ola | 28-Jul-09 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

     Oh my goodness!!! I thought I would look for quick reviews before I request for a 30-day free offer. Reading through everyone of these comments has been therapeutic. I know its not funny for those who lost money and time, but I have had some good laughs.

     The most interesting thing is that not one positive review. Even the 2 comments that are not against DB are not positive, all they have to do is share their “good” experiences with others, not disrespect people for narrating their “bad” experiences.

     Anyway, thank you all for sharing your experiences. That is what makes America great – freedom of expression.

400. kishore g | 09-Aug-09 at 1:23 am | Permalink

     This is our experience. We recently bought a old house and we were talking to friends as to where to purchase stuff to remodel our house and one of our friends mentioned about direct buy and also we saw this ad on tv. My wife booked an appointment with them.

     I generally do lot of study before purchasing anything or even spending a dollar without real need but this time i was busy with meeting contractors and getting quotes that i did not get a chance to read about DB.

     So we went to the place and my wife filled out bunch of things that we would buy in next 2 years. I was surprised at the number of people out there.

     Then some one took us inside and introduce us to some one, and she started asking about our work stuff and talking nicely[offering coffee/drinks] and not telling a single thing about DB.

     Then there was a presentation for like 30-45 minutes about what DB is and how it works. I really thought it was nice, we waited to hear the membership price. My wife guessed it would be $500 i told her it would be $1000.

     Then at the end they finally tell the number its $6999. I dont know why many have mentioned it as $5000. They probably increased it recently or its more in CA.

     After that the lady met us again and showed the catalogs and showed us some samples. And she asks which plan we want to take and how are we going to pay :O

     Then i started asking her questions[all logical]. she could not answer them properly, she said she will give us time to talk and she left. And then another guy comes probably the best sales man they have and he starts talking.

     All i can tell is what he spoke was non sense. Here is an example, he asked me what are you doing now to house, i said refinish hardwood, add baseboard,replace vanity and bath tub in bathroom and add tiles. He goes “there it is you got half your investment back” he was so energetic in telling i actually believed in what he said for a moment. They I made him do the calculation. The entire cost i had got outside for material was 2500 for that. He says sorry and asks me are you an engineer LOL

     Any ways, i told him i am not ready to become a member now bcos i dont believe what i say in presentation and i would like to do my home work and compare the prices. He said he cant give us time and we will be losing an opportunity to save thousands of dollars.

     I was not convinced and the conversation became heated and then he asked us where have you parked your car and he walked us out. It was really insulting at the end. But i was sure what i did was right.

     After that i came home and searched for directbuy reviews on Yahoo and found this link first. Had i spent a minute or two before going there, I would have saved 2 hours of crap. Nevertheless happy we saved that $7000 i would not have forgiven myself had i taken that membership.

     WHY DO GOVT ALLOW SUCH THINGS TO EXIST. I AM SURE IT HAD CAUSED LOT OF SUFFERING.

     STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT BUY

     thanks all

401. Kirk Miller | 11-Aug-09 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is a hard sale organization. It is clear that 99% of their employee training is how to sell memberships and 1% customer service. These people are like timeshare salespeople, they will tag team you until they get $7,000 (Calif membership) out of you. I suspect they are paying their sales people 50% commissions.
     Then, you can forget about customer service. DB hasn’t invested any money in their technology to facilitate searches through their labyrinth of available products, nor do they extend themeselves to resolve logistical constraints.
     The bottom line is anything you might be able to save is spent the first day you on your membership fee.
     You will never come close to saving the money DB advertises. I purchased a $7,000 bedroom set for $3,500. I then got quotes over the internet for white glove delivery (they deliver, set up and clean up) and it was only $400 more than DB total cost. When it came time for the big screen TV? Forget about it, I purchased the Sony 66″ over the internet and paid less than the DB price.
     Don’t do it!

402. Ramiro | 11-Aug-09 at 3:29 pm | Permalink

     WE RECENTLY BUILT OUR HOME AND WE DECIDED TO GO TO A DB SHOWROOM IN WESLACO,TX FOR AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS MOSTLY INTERESTED IN BUYING A KITCHEN AND GETTING A GREAT DEAL. I TOLD THE SALESMAN, WHO WAS ALSO DE OWNER, TO CUT TO THE CHASE AND FOR HIM TO TELL ME HOW MUCH A KITCHEN WOULD COST. I HAD THE BLUEPRINTS AND DIMENSIONS FOR THE KITCHEN WITH ME, SO I TOLD HIM IF YOU CAN TELL ME RIGHT NOW HOW MUCH FOR THIS KITCHEN IN WRITING AND IF THE SAVINGS ARE AT LEAST 50% OF THE MEMBERSHIP DUES THAT I WOULD BUY IN. HE REFUSED TO SHOW ME PRICING ON ANY KITCHEN BECAUSE I WASNT A MEMBER. SO I SAID ” HOW DO YOU REALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO BUY YOUR PRODUCT” AND LEFT HIS SHOWROOM. LOWES MADE THE BLUEPRINTS FOR ME FOR FREE, WHICH IS HOW I HAD THEM, AND LOWES ALSO GAVE ME A PRICE UP FRONT. NEEDLES TO SAY I BOUGHT THE KITCHEN A LOWES. I’M GLAD WE DID BUY INTO THIS SCAM.

403. Proctor | 11-Aug-09 at 4:18 pm | Permalink

     WOW! I literally just got off the phone with the direct buy representative to confirm my appointment. Luckily, I decided to do a little more research about membership fee and consumer reports. By chance, I stumble upon this. Thank you all for this insight. Needless to say I will not be attending the “presentation.” I guess all I have to do is say I don’t have a babysitter:)

404. dnm | 11-Aug-09 at 7:50 pm | Permalink

     Be careful! The few people in here backing up Direct Buy are people who’ve been paid to do so.

     Direct Buy is a scam. Period. End of case.

405. db | 16-Aug-09 at 8:55 pm | Permalink

     This site is fascinating. We are Canadians, and so maybe the laws up here are different…we’ve been members for ten years and had no problems. When we firt bought our house we spent 5 years renovating and buying some furniture. Yes the ’salespitch’ is AWFUL and the price is high; even back then. I was VERY skeptical and found the entire sign up experience BAD. But, we have bought many many things including my wedding ring thru DB and have no bad experiences or regrets. The bad experiences described here are awful though so good luck to those people.

406. Viv | 18-Aug-09 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

     Thank you for this website! I had got myself a membership and were planning to visit them next Tuesday. When I received my “free membership”, I read the terms & conditions and one of the articles raised my suspicion. Now I am glad I did the research and avoid myself for being scammed!

407. Andy Z | 20-Aug-09 at 8:09 pm | Permalink

     DB is a BAD idea my friends! I am a store manager by profession. I know exactly what these guys are up to. They are just preying on short sighted customers who have not made too many smart decisions in life. SCAM will be the best way to explain this ordeal

408. Dr.G | 22-Aug-09 at 5:02 pm | Permalink

     We arrived at the Direct Buy office in Las Vegas after we responded to a spam for a “free 30 day membership”. The first thing they did was hand us a 4 page information sheet. It wasn’t information about Direct Buy, it was the equivilent to a credit application with all kinds of questions about income, family, etc. On the last page it said that we weren’t there for the 30 day free membership that was promised, we had to sign up that day before leaving.
     I can smell a time share type scam a mile away so we walked out without going through the 90 minute hard sell.
     If I had checked out this site first we never would have gone.

409. andrea | 23-Aug-09 at 6:39 pm | Permalink

     lol why would people that have Direct Buy Search it as a scam in the first place? If I use a service and I am happy with it, why would I research the bad reviews. Very interesting. Looks like DB reps writing more lies.

410. sammyk | 25-Aug-09 at 10:19 pm | Permalink

     Many people do believe this is a scam because they really just don’t get it. DirectBuy doesn’t “hide” anything from you. That’s ridiculous.
     And they have a reason for the whole “sign now or never” thing. They absolutely explain it to you. It’s not a secret.
     People, if you don’t want to join, then don’t! Lol No one is making you!
     If you are buying the high-priced items (big screen tvs, living room sets, kitchen remodeling, etc…) then you will save a TON and the membership will be paid for. If you are just interested in getting like a new love seat and maybe a new mattress in the next couple of years, this is NOT for you.
     Just be grown-ups, do your damn homework, and make the decision for yourself! And stop complaining. It’s not like they tapped into your bank account and stole money from you. lol

411. sammyk | 25-Aug-09 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

     Oh, and according to a few people on here, since I am not bad-mouthing them, I must work for them. Ooohhh…maybe I am a secret agent working for Direct Buy and my job is to seek out those who are against it and create positive postings to brainwash the non-believers….hahahaha!!! “I must return to the showroom now…master Direct Buy is calling to me” lmao

412. bigyaz | 26-Aug-09 at 5:46 pm | Permalink

     Timeshares and car dealers are well-known for pressuring you to buy on the spot, with no time to think it over. But even they will let you come back the next day and buy it then.

     If Direct Buy needs such high-pressure tactics I want no part of them. Even if I might save some money, it’s just not a company I want to do business with.

413. Steven | 29-Aug-09 at 10:03 am | Permalink

     The reason it’s a scam is because they don’t let on that the first meeting is a high pressure sales push for a high ticket membership- “take it or leave it right now”. Not everyone researches this. I’m glad I did. It saved me a trip. We’re going to spend 4-7K furnishing our new house. This scam is certainly not for me, and I’m glad I found out before wasting my time. Thanks for the service, Brad.

414. Andy | 30-Aug-09 at 10:26 am | Permalink

     we went to Direct Buy to check out the place. As we are in the process of buying a house and thought it will be nice idea to check it out.
     Received three phone calls and one email to confirm the appointment! Sort of a flag went up but did not think much of it. I made a mistake which I do not usually make is that I did not check them out by trusted google before going over there.
     Anyway,the owner who was handling us, was pressurising like crazy, to take this one time offer. “you walk out and this deal is gone…forever”. The whole world is divided into two groups, regular people who buy retail and members of this “exclusive” club. If you are not part of the exclusive club, you are a loser.

     Without even considering bad service and other hidden fees as have been described elsewhere in the blog, the upfront cost will require $20000+ purchasing considering about 25% less price!

     Now, I was trying to let the guy down nicely by saying “we are not interested at this time however, you are a very good salesman”. That kind of touched a nerve somewhere That point onwards, I started having a good time and started playing. He got nastier and nastier!!!

     Whenever I am asked to sign a contract then and there without my lawyer taking a look at it, red flags go up everywhere.

     The general salespersons are pretty rude, if you ask them any question outside their set answers!

     We were late and for some reason singled out by the owner himself. And boy he employed some pressure technique. He wanted to get the document signed right then and there.

     My two cents:

     Have the coffee. It was pretty good. If you like toying with irritating salesmen , have fun. If not, walk out!!! Even better, DO NOT GO!

     It’s such a scam!

415. May | 01-Sep-09 at 9:50 pm | Permalink

     Thank you all, I had an appointment; That wont be happening!

416. Steph | 02-Sep-09 at 7:29 am | Permalink

     Thank you so much for all of this. We are considering buying a house that will need about 50K in work including all new appliances. so i was thinking it might be worth it. After reading this I will shop around and haggle REAL salespeople and take advantages of sales when I see them and save myself the $5000 +++ (I know some stores offer free delivery too)

417. den | 02-Sep-09 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I became Direct Buy customers on December 31st 2008 . We paid $1500.00 down payment , a monthly payment of $245.78 ( APR 17.75%) both of us have excellent credit , the 2 year membership fee $ 5898.72, added all total membership of $7935.00. Now , Direct Buy site is not user friendly , not all items can be purchased online ,the prices of the items are similar to that of retail stores. We are still paying for the membership without using it because there is no refund . I believe that many customers are having the same issues and concerns and refuse to let anyone else involved in this scam. Direct Buy is destroying our families ’s finances . Please help!

     Best regards,

     Denise Green

418. casper | 06-Sep-09 at 11:28 pm | Permalink

     Anyone who pays for direct buy is a fool. Just like anyone who pays full retail is a fool. What store doesn’t price match today? I walk into a furniture store, see a buffet for 6000 dollars. I call around. No playing games on the phone, be direct – what’s the best deal I can get if I buy this thing today. Call all over the place, out of state, wherever. Pretty soon you’ll get a store that says 3500. Then call the store closest to you and say to the salesperson straight out – the best price I could get was 3500. If you give it to me for that I’ll buy it today. No mess no fuss. I guarantee 9 times out of 10 they take it. I’ve done it with everything in my home. The biggest difference is you get to pick from anything you want on the planet, not some crappy out of date Direct Buy catalog handed to you by a guy whose other job is shoving timeshares down peoples throats. Have a little patience and do a little legwork and you can get great deals without 5000 grand up front, a pushy sales pitch and a total lack of selection.

     P.S. These stories make Direct Buy salespeople look like alternates for Glengarry Glen Ross.

419. Jim | 13-Sep-09 at 2:48 am | Permalink

     I went to a direct buy open house earlier today and my experience wasn’t as bad as it seems a lot of other people had. The salesperson I had was very friendly and not pushy at all. I decided not to join because I’d have to spend much more than I originally planned to before I was able to save the cost of the membership. They let me look at any of their catalogs while I was there and the prices that I saw were not that great compared to the cost of a few items I’ve purchased recently online. It seems that directbuy caters more to customers that intend to purchase very high end furniture and merchandise. I’ve never considered buying a 6000 dollar bedroom set or a 4000 dollar sofa, so I wasn’t really sure how those prices compared to retail, but that seemed to be where the most money was saved. From my experience, I wouldn’t say it was a scam. For an upper class person that intended on spending $50,000+ in the next few years on items from directbuy, I’d say they’d probably save some money, but for the average middle class person, it would be stupid to spend the $5000-6000 on the membership since you’d never get that money back in savings. The way it was presented to me was that it wasn’t a now or never type of deal. They offered me a 1 month trial membership which I also declined, but could have signed up for. The downside to the trial membership is that you’d lose the $1000 discount on the membership if you decided to sign up later instead of immediately. For anyone considering joining, I’d say go to an open house. It wasn’t for me, but going to the open house wasn’t a negative experience for me and I have nothing against the company. Other people seemed to have had some very aggressive salesmen that turned them off to the company. If you’re planning on buying a lot and have some items in mind, make a note of the brands and check them out in the catalogs when you go and compare those prices to what you saw in retail. If you just sign up because you expect that you’ll save enough money in the next few years to cover the membership, you probably won’t and will just end up wasting money on the membership. If you’re smart about it and know what you plan to buy, it’s simple math. You can figure out ahead of time whether you’re going to save money or not. It’s not a scam if you actually save some money.

420. cj | 24-Sep-09 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

     Paying $5,000 up front fee to be able to buy merchandise from DiretBuy sounds like a SCAM. They have operating cost as any other merchants since they have stores and employees. Their buying power can not possibly be more than HomeDepot, Lowes, Costo, SAMS, Amazone, Bestbuy, Macy’s Furniture Store, Sears, etc. There’s no magic DirectBuy can perform for the savings they promise. That’s is exactly why they charge $5,000 upfront. Make a huge pure profit from all of its members withing selling a single merchandise. Make more profit from the members who may buy some merchandise trying to recoup some of the membership fee. I can not believe some people actually fall this such an obvious scam.

421. Zek | 27-Sep-09 at 9:23 am | Permalink

     All, thanks for your comments. I have a couple of questions:

     1.- Why would you pay anybody to have the right to spend your money at one particular store?

     2.- Every company’s purpose is to generate revenues and profits, why would you limit yourself to fewer customers?

     “Common sense is very uncommon”

     I hope it helps!

422. d murphy | 27-Sep-09 at 10:02 pm | Permalink

     I am currently being ripped off by DB. I plan to sue to get my money back.

     Crappy service, they lie to you about their products,and I have recently made a 6500 dollar purchase and beat direct buy price by 700 dollars.

     When I confronted the manager about it he said for me to bring in the price from the other store so he could see it. I plan to do that, plus show him the 400 in savings on some patio furniture.

     The place is a rip-off. I am going to ask for my money back, I may file a formal complaint with State of California if I don’t get my money back.

423. Kelli Stern | 27-Sep-09 at 10:34 pm | Permalink

     I went to the Direct Buy with a lot of anticipation of being slammed with a pushy salesman and I was right. The infomercial says there is no pushy sales pitch. They lie! After sitting through Chris’ little sh-peal about how much savings you could get, you are told the membership is $6990. Yeah they offer you 3 different memberships and different payment plans, but the salesman was totally pushy and unrelenting on the poor guy sitting next to me. Luckily he was smart enough to just say no walk away. Sorry, but if this is was such a good thing for the customers then the salesmen have no reason to be so pushy (except to get there commission) Do not use Direct Buy they are scam artists!!

424. MFT | 01-Oct-09 at 7:49 am | Permalink

     Any company that do not post specific information on their website and is unable to answer your questions on the phone (kept repeating the same selling speech for EACH of my questions!!) has to be a scam in some way. Don’t beleive in things that are too good to be true! And remember that it is not because they have a commercial on tv that they are legitimate. I did not go to the private showing. After their phone call, I just knew something wasn’t right. Do not deal with Direct Buy and do not believe all the comments saying that they saved thousands. It is just damage control done by the company to keep their ‘good’ name.

425. robert carducci | 01-Oct-09 at 7:36 pm | Permalink

     We are having a lot of problems with Directbuy. We have spent hours trying to get delivery of a toilet and sink. What a hassle! They have our money and have been giving us every excuse in the book for 2 months now. If we cost our time at $ 5.00 per hour, the sink would cost us more than buying it at list price. It is holding up our renovation now. I am tempted to go out and buy a sink at a retail establishment but what would I do with 2 sinks then? They won’t give me my money back so that I can go and buy one somewhere else. I would really like to get my membership fees back. This is a waste of money and time.

426. Manny | 03-Oct-09 at 1:31 pm | Permalink

     If you are planning to spend 50k or more on furniture and building materials, then Direct buy is for you. but if you become a member with no plans on spending 50k in the next 5 yrs then it will feel like a scam. I just signed up last week and purchase an entry level dinning set that would have cost me 1,500 in the local store plus taxes or would cost me 900 plus taxes online. With direct buy I paid for the same exact item 642.37. Still a bargain on a small amount. The reason why I became a member and paid the fees because I will be doing alot of renovations in my house this year. I suggest that you do your homework and get your local pricing before going to an open house. make sure you get the local price plus taxes and delivery as well as online price plus taxes and delivery and compare it with the exact item at the open house. Direct buy prices by the way will not show shipping, handling and tax. Make sure you get those amounts when you compare.

427. Scott | 03-Oct-09 at 5:44 pm | Permalink

     Just in case it hasn’t already been brought to the attention of people researching DirectBuy’s legitimacy, there is a misleading web site out there designed to give you the impression that there’s an unbiased “rating” of DirectBuy.

     The site is CONSUMERREVIEWS.ORG and would lead you to believe that since it’s tagged as a .ORG site, it may be associated with a not-for-profit organization. BEWARE – it is simply another DirectBuy site and the 3 links on it will take you to the DirectBuy.com site. For additional entertainment, read some of the reviews. Every one is an over the top review of price, service, selection and savings.

     Just another “Red Flag” that should give you an idea of what DirectBuy will resort to to fool people into becoming members.

428. Michelle | 05-Oct-09 at 1:58 pm | Permalink

     My husband and I recently attended a Direct Buy Open House – yes they did try the hard sell tactics with us, yes they used ‘real’ costco and bestbuy ads to show how much $$ can be saved by purchasing the identical item at Direct buy, however, once their 8% service fee and shipping costs are added, we could see little if any difference. We have friends who claim they have saved thousands, and yet we notice they have been shopping more retail and less Driect Buy…in fact we just purchased a spa locally and priced the same out while at Direct Buy – funny we would have spent over $3000 MORE if we had purchased from Direct Buy and that’s not taking into account the $5K membership fee! We have opted not to become members, however they have extended a 30 day ‘trial’ membership (Silver only – not the ‘good’ or ‘quality’ manufacturers reserved for the Gold and Platnium members)…..I’ll keep you posted – tomorrow we are heading off to the catalogue library to do some comparison shopping!! (It’s my actual belief that with a little legwork, Driect Buy pricing is easy to beat!)

429. Jason | 05-Oct-09 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

     As a business owner myself in the wholesale industry i See these commercials and i wonder now who can someone such as this company beat the purchasing power of home depot, lowes and other companies? Even if you dont deal with the big box retailers and go to a local store sometimes they will even beat the price. Plus your helping a local owned business and when something goes wrong they are right there to fix it.

     I can not believe all these posts about supposed savings. Its always so generic. If there are real savings give me a model # if its electronics or give me a item # for the manufacturer for a sofa or living room set or something.
     I can spend 1 day doing some comparisson shopping and i can guarantee you that i can beat any advertised price of directbuy.

     Someone who has been a member and thinks you really saved money please prove the rest of us wrong and post actual savings with actual items not just kitchen cabnets or sofa or something.

     WHo in 2009 shops via a catalog? Im sorry if i want to go furniture shopping i want to see what im getting touch it feel it sit on it. My wife and i right now are looking for a sofa. And i can tell you that we have been to Nebraska Furniture mart, Furniture direct, and a couple other places sat on a couple dozen couches and only after that did we find we want. Suggested price is $4000 something and the cheapest anyone else has it is $2800 we bought it Nebraska furn mart for $1700.

     Now being in the wholesale business i know buying power means allot. I can get much better pricing on things if i can purchase large quantities of it. And the more often i purchase the better.

     Even if i saved thousands of dollars with this company the high pressure sales the fact that they dont let you see what your getting and all the other complaints here about late arrival and so on are enough to make me not want to shop there. I do not give my business to companies with hard edged sales people. Id rather pay more and do business with a company who will be my installer as well. Its usually much cheaper then to just hire an installer and buy elsewhere.

     We were invited to go but i will stay far away. I thought they had everything in a show room then you just picked it out and they ordered it for you. There was nothing about delivery fees, other fees and they did not install when i talked to someone.

430. greg goodwin | 08-Oct-09 at 9:55 am | Permalink

     DirectBuy Orlando is a scam. I reluctantly signed up on site and the other bloggers are correct- never sign up when the sales pitch is you must sign up today or you will never have the opportunity again. I made the mistake and did sign up. I exercised my right to cancel within 3 business days (via certified mail) and 30 days later they still have not issued a credit to my credit card. When you call their office they never answer and never return calls. Buyer Beware!!

431. Von | 09-Oct-09 at 4:50 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I went to the DirectBuy pitch/showroom in San Marcos, CA about 2 years ago. We are average folks and our annual income was in the 120k range during this time. Because we were new to the area when we received the flyer in the mail, we thought we’d check it out. We needed a houseful of furniture. The flyer also included a typical house key, to lure us in with the possibility of winning a condo?or something if we went to the presentation. When I called the phone no. on the flyer for more info, I was pressured into making an appointment on Thursday evening. This was only 2 days away. I typically spent about 1.5 hours in evening traffic to get home. My wife said she could go to the presentation without altering her schedule. “NO..NO..NO, it doesn’t work like that,” stated the person on the phone. If you are married (which they ask in the first questions when you call) both must attend at the same time. I then asked, is there any kind of membership fee. I was told “those details will be covered in the presentation.” I had about 10 doubts within this 5 min conversation. I don’t need to tell you the rest of the story which is the same as many have already so explicitly detailed. Becca (comment no. 98) gave the perfect representation of how our presentation went. Additionally, the key that was inside the flyer won us a flimsy steak knife set (supposedly valued at $250, maybe if it was really made of steel?it was likely worth $10) To sum it all up: Do you think as a grown man, I’m going to give somebody a check for $5000 and can’t even see what I’m buying or leave with anything the same day? Yeah,….right! NO! We left without any shame or feeling like losers, BTW, in middle/high school I was a master at using “reverse psychology.” I was able to deflect all the psych attacks being wielded from every DB rep in the showroom. I don’t care for those claiming that they saved $30,000 on cabinets. Who cares, are you going to be buried in the wood from those cabinets? Credit cards are bad enough, if not used responsibly…but at least you can have immediate gratification. Live life within your means, there will always be material things out of your reach. I would like a Bugatti Veyron…but, I accept the fact it’s not going to happen. Here’s a better idea…take $25 dollars and go to your local bookstore and buy a Holy Bible. Seek God, and secure your salvation to have eternal life with the Heavenly Father!

432. Gilberto | 10-Oct-09 at 2:54 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I just got back from a presentation in Omaha. Was not high pressure at all. In fact, we had to leave to go get our grandchild and they said to come back whenever. I just logged on to find out if there where any bad reports about DB and came here. Don’t know if that’s good or not. A lot of what I’m reading here is not accurate. We were able to look up prices. All of the prices we saw were the loaded price exclusive of taxes. It is, imo, a matter of mathmatics. The items I looked up were all current models #’s that we’re considering buying at Cabelas and Furniture Mart. The savings at DB, if what they showed us is accurate, were pretty good. The only thing I don’t like is you can’t kick the tires….ie; it’s kind of hard to see how a chair sits or a mattress feels from a catalog page. We spend a lot of money at the retail level so the savings could add up. Still not 100% sure we’ll go back nor can I say we concur with the negatives posted above.

433. Jane | 10-Oct-09 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

     My mom and I have an appointment this Wednesday. We each have an appointment. I am sure they probably would seperate us and hit us with the hard sell. We have lost our husbands and don’t think we could handle it. I am glad I read alot of the posts here. I absolutely am cancelling our appointment. They say there is a free 30 day membership so I asked them what the catch was and she said what do you mean? I told her there must be some sort of a catch. I can come in and order anything for 30 days. She said oh I see. You can order up to $1,000 without being a member. I am sure there probably is even a catch to that. Needless to say cancelling our appointment or maybe just not show.

434. Joan | 11-Oct-09 at 7:10 am | Permalink

     I recently joined direct buy after reading all the warnings about joining. I thought I could beat the odds because I recently purchased an old house that I am totally renovating.

     I have saved but no where near level promised or expected. Here?s the deal with Direct Buy. The only real savings you will see is on appliances.

     I recently bought 7 appliances – all GE profile. Fridge (PGS1PJXSS), wall oven (PCT916SMSS), microwave with trim kit (JEB186SCNSS), Electric cook top (JCP346SMSS), dishwasher (GLD8312PSS), warming drawer (PTD915SMSS)….Total price $7066 taxes included. Retail, these might be around $14000…but you might decrease this to about $9K if you catch the sales or go to a store like TASCO or Appliance Canada. So at least on paper, I got the membership fee back, but I spent days on end going back and forth between direct buy and retail stores. I am a bargain hunter so I didn?t mind this so much, but if you value your time this is costly. In fact, if I were to put a cost to my time, I spent retail.

     I purchased JENNAIR appliances and a week later found out that 3 of them were not in stock or discontinued. So even though my kitchen was designed around JENNAIR products I had to sit there and select new products all the while checking to make sure that they fit with the specs for the kitchen. This is another significant problem, although they deal with appliance manufacturers like Kitchen Aid or Jennair, they never have access to the full line of products [manufacturers do this on purpose]. So you won?t be able to get a wall oven from Kitchen Aide or a black fridge from Jennair, even though you see it in retail stores.

     If you are not buying appliances, don’t even bother joining. The best you could hope for is to pay the same money for a slightly better product. I also found that in many cases they are not dealing with manufacturers, but distributors; so, on the products you might really want, you will never see the savings. In most cases they slap on an 8% handling fee that brings you right back to retail. This is a business that is not only based on your hard earned $5000.00 but the handling fee. Their marketing strategy is about portraying retail chains in a bad light, but they are a retailer too and a very inefficient one at that.

     When I joined, they promised a 63% saving off retail (not a specific brand) on my kitchen. I got 3 quotes prior to Joining ($19K, $19K, $25K). Two were from custom cabinet makers, the other from LOWES. At Direct Buy they carry 3 brands Cabico, Kitchen Kraft, and Kraft Maid. Cabico was equivalent to the cabinets I wanted. After the kitchen was designed the cost came to $15,700 +designer fee of $1350 + a handling fee of $1200 +installation of $2500 = $20750. Because I had already paid for the membership and the designer fee….I decided cut back on the kitchen and take out some components and proceeded with the order $12, 700 +designer fee of $1350 + a handling fee of $1000 +installation of $2500 = $17, 550. For all the trouble, the unavailability of the designer, and the delay in the delivery of the kitchen, I should have just gone with one of the other 2 companies.

     After complaining about the cost and delays in delivery time and the unfulfilled promises of Direct Buy, the manager (MARK PRATI) and the customer service manager started giving me the cold shoulder. I even went in to talk to the customer service manager about the delivery time on the cabinets and the recent changes to my appliances, and got a total brush off (she told her customer service rep she has nothing to do with kitchens and that I should speak to the designer).

     After Direct Buy gets your membership fee you are on your own.
     When you pay $5000.00 for a membership you expect superior service?..NOT AT DIRECT BUY. If you complain, they totally just side with one another?.they don?t even listen to a legitimate concern.

     They have a price match guarantee, but you will never see it because they carry brands that you rarely seen anywhere else. I bought pot lights….the customer service rep misread the order….so I missed her oversight and waited 4 weeks only to find out I got 5 pot lights instead of 30. When I ran out to Home Depot they had a different brand at a much lower price $8.00 lower. They would do the price match because the price match has to be done when you submit the order.

     I wanted hardwood…but found a better deal outside. It?s not so much that they didn?t have a wide selection of hardwood, but they don?t carry all brands and the cost is sometime more than you will get with a sale.

     Right now I am ahead about $4000.00 and in a better position than most. Never-the-less, I would not recommend going down this road if you are a bargain hunter.

     Direct Buy has some of the poorest customer service I have ever experienced. Home Depot may be cheap and common but they assist you and they treat you nicely. Furthermore, the ability to see a product in real life and time, point to it, order it, and have it delivered or picked up the same day is PRICELESS.

     The decision is yours to make….but proceed with caution.

435. Joe | 17-Oct-09 at 2:39 pm | Permalink

     I’m glad I found this site. My wife and I just attended a DirectBuy seminar and we actually got into an argument on the way home because she wanted to join and I refused to. This blog has reassured me that I made the right decision. I smelled something fishy from the start when they told a man and his young daughter that they would have to reschedule their appointment because he didn’t bring his wife with him (who was ill). I believe you could probably save a bunch of money if you were remodeling your kitchen or bathrooms, installing new flooring, furnishing a house, etc., etc, big, big projects. But the thing that really pissed me off was this BS join today or you can never come back. Why would the company insist on this unless their only objective was to trap people into joining? So if I came back a week later after giving it some more thought and decided I was comfortable handing over $5,500 to join, they would refuse it? What kind of business does that?? Why, because they just entrusted me with the big secret that retail marks things up? Go F-yourself DirectBuy! If I need to, I’ll pay more out of principal.

436. Sal | 18-Oct-09 at 12:35 am | Permalink

     You can read all the negativity you want on this site but the bottom line is YOU WILL SAVE A BUNCH OF MONEY. We moved into a new house that didn’t need any improvements as everything was new. However we need everything for the blank slate backyard. We saved over $7500 on our fence alone, well worth the cost of membership. After the smoke clears and we finish buying everythig we need I can’t imagine how much I’ll actually save. Whoever does not want to join, no problem, but I find it funny reading all the bashers that don’t have a clue what DB is all about.

437. Al | 18-Oct-09 at 9:27 am | Permalink

     My wife and I had some remodeling to do. We decided to call and make an appointment for their spill. The adds they showed from other retailers compared to Direct Buy were higher. These were things we knew we would need later on and thought we could save some money.
     When comparing prices to a qoute we received for granite counter tops, we would be saving a lot of money (almost half)if we go Direct Buy.
     However, we compared prices for some faucets and found that Direct Buy was just a little under the retail store prices. But once we added on the 8% handling fee and shipping it was actually costing more at Direct Buy. The retail store had free shipping or I could just drive down the street.
     So it looks like if you need to spend a lot of money on big items, you can save money and probably make your membership back or, at least most of it.
     My wife and I plan on doing this over the next couple of years so we’ll see how we do. If I didn’t have this planned, I think I would have chosen not to join.

438. Ed J Winslow | 21-Oct-09 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

     You know the old saying “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. We joined last Saturday (Spokane store) then found out Sunday we incurred some unexpected financial problems. We called Direct Buy to rescind the contract, which if you do it within 72 hours is suppose to be honored. Today is Wednesday and after at least 14 phone calls (documented) they have yet to return our call(s). If you join I suggest you do it with a personal check as it is easy to stop payment on a check vs a credit card (which is do-able), but more involved.
     The average person will not buy a lot of items as most of them are pretty high end, so if you really have some big projects lined up, it probably will NOT be worth it to join. Once you’re “in” the presentation you will NOT be able to come back. This is a “one time” offer from Direct Buy. But ya know, it seems like I was offered this once before and didn’t even go!! The Spokane store is too much on the high pressure side of things for my taste. They only show you items out of the catalog that they want you to see. My wife picked up one of their catalogs after the manager laid it down and he slapped her hand. (RED FLAG) They shouldn’t treat their prospective customers like that.
     It’s up to you folks, but knowing now what I didn’t know then, I wouldn’t join. As far as getting my money back, it’ll happen, but not with litigation, which visa is very glad to help you with. The fact that they didn’t even attempt to address my problem is another big RED FLAG. You would think they would like to keep happy customers, but not in Spokane Washington apparently.

439. karin | 22-Oct-09 at 9:28 am | Permalink

     Direct buy is a total rip off. They rope you in and then don’t come through on their end. Never have the product or brand that I want. Beware of this, it’s a total rip off. Don’t waste your money. It’s the worst $5000 that I have ever spent right in the toilet

440. karin gonzales | 25-Oct-09 at 8:47 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is a Rip off.I feel sorry I spend $5,000 Dollars.
     Because they never come up with the brand I want.People at Direct buy are not Friendly, or helpful.
     I wish I could get my money back.
     The best advise I can give anyone
     DO NOT JOIN BEST BUY!!!!!

441. Paul Trevithick | 26-Oct-09 at 10:32 am | Permalink

     Total Rip OFF is right. DirectBuy does NOT save you money, they only take more of your money. IF you know how to shop, you can beat them every time. I have confirmed by excepting thier promise to same me more than the joinig price or they would return my money. They CANNOT even match my prices,let alone beat them. Now they will not even keep thier promise. We bought all new (6 items) appliances and Sears beat them by over $1200. We bought all plumbing fixtures for a new home, 2 tubs, Jacuzzi, 3 showers and doors, 6 sinks and 4 stools and Ferguson beat them by over $2700, Sherman williams set us up an account through our builder and saved us over %675 on paint above DirectBuy’s supposidly discount. Ferguson saved us hundreds on light fixtures above DirectBuy, and our builders cost on windows was just as good as if we bought from DirectBuy and the builder put them in for free but DirectBuy would NOT. DirectBuy has proven to us that they will not keep thier promises, they cannnot save you money, and they continue to lie to cover up thier past.

442. Ray G | 27-Oct-09 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

     While I was out of country my wife wanted to check out prices with DirectBuy. Did you know shopping for appliances is a “Couples only” affair? We’re talking KITCHEN APPLIANCES, not adopting a child, not buying a beach front condo…I’m talking APPLIANCES!

     A little too fishy for me! You lost my money DirectBuy and you didn’t seem to care when I called you and told you to stop calling.

     Rating 0 – 10

     ZERO!!!!!!!!!

443. Cy | 27-Oct-09 at 9:35 pm | Permalink

     They are banned in Quebec, however they still solicit by telephone.
     We went to Ottawa Ontario for an interview.
     We needed some lawn furniture only.

     The lady who interviewd us was formerly a Quebecoise.
     She told us that it would cost $6000 to join and then whispered that it was not for us.
     She than quietly said, drink your coffee and forget about joining.
     I leave it to your discretion as regards joining.

444. Mark | 28-Oct-09 at 6:57 pm | Permalink

     I was moving into a new house and I practically needed to replace all applicances, furniture and flooring. I tried their trial membership and here are the details:

     1.On selective items you save, but when you add the freight, shipping etc. you do not see much difference.
     2. Shipping is unbelieveably slow.
     3. VERY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
     4.Shopping is cumbersome and painful.
     5.IT MAY NOT BE A SCAM, BUT ITS A RIPOFF.

445. Judy | 01-Nov-09 at 9:25 am | Permalink

     A company that claims that you buy at cost and then is found to take discounts and rebates without passing them on — scam scam scam eggs and scam.

446. Employee | 05-Nov-09 at 8:00 pm | Permalink

     I am an employee at DirectBuy and I have read and heard it all about this company. What determines if the club will work for you is if you are into expanding and upgrading. Yes the membership is a bit up there in price, yet its that way for a reason. The cost of the membership is substaintally lower than what you pay in mark up at retail locations over the period of the intial 3yrs. An honestly after you get past the 3yrs, the renewal fee every year is less than my car insurance payment every month. As long as you buy one or two items a year, which everyone does, then the club is very bennificial. As far as help and customer service. Every center is different, Some employees know more than others because of experiance. I will promise you that if you have a question then service staff will do everything they can to get you the answer. Directbuy is NOT a scam. If you are smart enough to go over numbers and have a project you are wanting to do with your home or a new home, the club is perfect for you. And the reason it is sign now or you cant return is because they allow you to price match some items in the open house, and suppliers dont want the guests who didnt join to go haggle pricing. Not cool. Use your head and do your research.

447. Best shopper | 06-Nov-09 at 1:03 am | Permalink

     We are now with direct buy and let me tell ya, they are such a scam! You are not saving any money at all because
     just spending time sitting there figuring out the price for each item is so confusing and they are so disorganized! You will be sitting there at Least 2 hours for One item!

     To find a direct buy employee to help you is like going fishing. You’ll catch one who is product knowledgable and willing to, only by luck!
     Not finished! 99% of products ordered are delivered only to the warehouse and not just that, you will have to pay for it too : ( Then, you will have to find a way to pick the furnitures/items up. Oh, don’t forget, they can only store it for 3 days max or they will charge you each extra days!!!
     Here is what you will have to pay with all honesty: Freight, Service fee, Handling Fee, Sales Tax on top of the discounted price, so you are Not saving anything!! Trust me, we are so miserable with direct buy. Don’t Join!

448. Bill | 08-Nov-09 at 11:58 am | Permalink

     The comments on here are almost comical. Firstly how do you show up at something like this without having the slightest idea what you are getting into. Before my wife and I went to our appointment we both did a tremendous amount of research, both online, and speaking with people who were members. As such, I had my checkbook ready when I went in to sign up. Secondly, the negative comments seem to be from people who never should have gone there in the first place, did anyway, and then were upset by what they offer you. Here’s a suggestion, if you tend to shop at Walmart for most items, don’t even consider directbuy. For our situation, it is a no braininer. My wife and I spend a tremendous amount of $ on items each year. We remodel frequenlty, often buy high end electronics and appliances, had some major projects ($50k + planned before we walked in there). The bottom line is that the $5K in membership cost was not a big deal to us given what we spend on purchases throughout the year, so we are really the people who benefit from the program. If you cant afford to throw away the membership fee, you don’t make frequent high-end purchases, and you don’t do frequent remodels, than don’t go to the presentation, and you won’t be dissapointed. For other people who are like us, it’s well worth it and you will save money.

449. Coolmams | 09-Nov-09 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

     We got sucked into the deal but thankfully realized that as we got out. I looked at the agreement, saw the 3 day clause. I made sure to both send my cancellation notice through mail and in person. We got our refund within 10 business days as mentioned in the contract. At least that was painless. This was the Davie location in south Florida. So if you got in and regret it, you have 3 days to get out.
     Good LucK

450. Keith | 10-Nov-09 at 11:14 pm | Permalink

     Scam-a-lamma-ding dong!

451. Mark | 11-Nov-09 at 4:15 pm | Permalink

     Has anyone used the “free 30 day membership” without having to pay the high membership fee?

452. joe blow | 11-Nov-09 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

     if you plan to furnish your whole house; basement, bedrooms, living/family rooms,patio, garage etc. etc. then you can save thousands of dollars. but you have to be ready to pay the lump sum fee (or finance it at a steep rate) for the membership.

     its really for people who have more money to play with (and time) …. if your living check to check, or often find yourself double or tripple thinking of buying items for your house then dont bother.

     if you have several residences, are buying a new house, furnishing your office, or are going to renovate your house 100% then its deff. worth looking at.

     the 30day trial is exactly like it says free. but you can only spend 1000$ using it and only use it on certain level merchandise. (theres 3 levels) you can only buy from the lower level with the 30day membershp.

453. Mark | 13-Nov-09 at 12:47 pm | Permalink

     Thanks for the heads up. We recently closed on a house built in the ’60’s. It has a very tired kitchen and small master bed and bath so we will be be completely remodeling the kitchen, enlarging the master bedroom and adding an completely new master bath. Can anyone give me information on what the cost of a 48″ dual fuel wolf or viking prostyle range with sealed burners and a 48″ subzero frige might cost throug direct buy befor I schedule any time there?

454. Toomuch | 17-Nov-09 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

     I just canceled my reservation at their open house. I fell this is just not for me. I have to drive over 100 miles to shop, I need an itinerary to keep from wasting my time and money. Spending 2 hours on a tour, goodness, I can spend that time relaxing at home, price compare on the web and just go to the places I need to go. I can save 50-60% easy without spending $5,000 and a hard sell before a single penny in savings. It may work for some, good for them, for me, not so much.

455. Darrell | 18-Nov-09 at 9:58 am | Permalink

     $5,000.00 fee to sign up which they won’t tell you until you get to the store! The place is a joke!

456. Houstonian Guy | 18-Nov-09 at 5:49 pm | Permalink

     wow 450+ comments later and I realize why society should take away commenting from some people.

     I’m looking into my first house in the next month. Its a foreclosure and needs minor (note: minor) work to make it livable. My wife and I went to DirectBuy because there is a showroom on my way to work. We set up an appointment and went through the showing. Afterwards we began to compare their prices for what we are considering.

     Honestly we would consider it in the future but it doesn’t meet our needs right now.

     We have a small amount of work to be done and don’t care much for looking at over the next several years upgrading our stuff. Its not what we need. Maybe in another several years we could consider it. It is a good program, it seems, particularly for people who have multiple properties and larger homes. There is definitely a savings there.

     For what we were doing we noted the following:
     1. The applicances aren’t that much of a break than what we were looking at…certainly not enough to justify the expensive up front right now
     2. The furnishings aren’t that much of a price break over what we are looking for. We usually buy higher end pieces that fit our design preference. Our last family set cost just as much as the Direct Buy set once you figured in taxes, shipping, and fees.
     3. All of the flooring and surfaces we wanted replaced were marked down, yes. But after we would have to pay for installation using one of their “certified” installers we realized their price wasn’t any better than a local merchant.

     Then I got a call from one of the sales people who sat there and acted very condescendingly towards myself and my wife. He tried to apply high pressure sales tactics over the phone and I am simply disgusted at his attitude and his pompous behavior. He kept telling me that he can’t understand how I could be so stupid and ignore their “obvious” benefits. After interrupting me for the tenth time I finally told him good day and hung up. The truth is that while the flooring was about $1/sq foot cheaper than some other places we would still have to pay for installation.

     If I can I will certainly report them to the BBB around here. This guy is just a mean spirited person.

     Use DirectBuy if you have a $25,000+ renovation. It is probably worth it. Just don’t expect friendly reception or adequate customer service. The showroom was very messy and not taken care of well. The presentation was pendantic.

     I was very disturbed by the uncaring nature and arrogance of their sales people. One thing to note, when it is nearly impossible to find corporate information and customer service phone numbers for a company that usually doesn’t equal quality customer care.

457. Jenny | 19-Nov-09 at 6:53 pm | Permalink

     I am very disappointed in DirectBuy. DirectBuy earned my membership by promising products at prices that were better than retail prices. DirectBuy has not lived up to that standard and in many cases, it is more expensive than retail stores after adding in all of the hidden charges, such as the hidden 8% profit on every item they sell and the extensive shipping charges. When I purchased door knobs, they ended up being an equivalent price (due to all the hidden costs) to what Home Depot offers for the same brand and the same product. When I looked at kitchen cupboards, they are less than the “suggested retail value”, but factoring in the installation by a DirectBuy business member, they are far more than it would cost to hire a kitchen designer for the same cabinets.

     I am also very disappointed in the number of products that DirectBuy offers. In the sales pitch, I was led to believe that I would be able to find just about anything that I could buy at a home improvement store, from light fixtures to appliances to building materials. It is simply not true. When I have looked for building materials, they are not available. When I looked for air conditioners, they only had units that would not work with a forced air system. In addition to the lack of items I have searched for, I have been disappointed with the selection of items that are available. For example, when I was looking for a new bathroom vanity and faucet, I was unable to find a product that met my needs at DirectBuy, so I had to purchase them at a retail store.

     Overall, I am very disappointed with DirectBuy and would recommend that other people steer clear of this deceiving business.

458. Michelle and Jerry | 20-Nov-09 at 10:42 am | Permalink

     I was interested to see what people were saying about DB since my husband and I just joined. I appreciate the different points of view. Some people are funny though. One person made it sound like they had to buy and they were getting written up if they didn’t and they were pressured… What? Oh my God people. You know about free will don’t you? This isn’t Catholic School in the 60’s. You can politely get up and leave, right? No need for anger or violence. If it’s not for you then leave. Ok so other than that. I hate salesmen. I get turned off very easily from high pressure salespeople. If I had gone to a DB with high pressure people we would have left immediately. I guess you just have to feel comfortable with the people that are at the DB you join. I guess if you understand sales people and how sales work you understand why you don’t get the membership price up front. You also understand why the extensive sales pitch is given. So I get it. Then as a consumer you need to decide if you will be able to save money and get your membership dues back to make being a member worth it to you. It is important to investigate the costs, savings potential and hidden charges that may or may not be. It’s easy to call something a scam if you don’t see the value in something. I agree the hard sell is annoying, aggravating and gives the feel of hiding something. But if you are approached in that manner then walk away. If you are dealing with people who are more of the mind to either take it or leave it, if it’s for you great if not that’s ok. And maybe it’s more of how you personally deal with high pressure salespeople. Just know the choice is yours. “They” can’t make you do anything. Why so many of the people on this blog don’t understand that cracks me up. Anyway, I will be checking into the shipping and other hidden fees. I joined because I was under the impression there was no shipping fees added or any other costs involved other than tax. So I will check this point out and will tell DB tomorrow during my “training” whether or not we will still be members.

459. Unknown | 24-Nov-09 at 11:39 am | Permalink

     You people should be comedians. Using every trick in the book and tactic to sway other FREE WILLED individuals not to make a decision that may be best for THEIR family. It is nice to see that people TRY to do some research before attending a DirectBuy Open House, however, it is sad to find that most of the information is thoroughly INCORRECT. First, the membership fee varies depending on the DirectBuy Club and its location. People in New York will definitely pay more for a membership than those in West Virginia. You do not have to pay for the membership in one lump sum (as some very UNintelligent individual mentioned above). The membership fee is pretty standard and what you are shown is the cost of the MOST POPULAR membership plan. In my area, the cost is a little under $5000 which can easily be broken up into payments plans until paid off. This is for a membership for 3 years and guarantees your membership for 10 years. Just think about it, statistics show that a family pays 35,000 in retail markups in ten years. That is ridiculous!! Yet, we do it because we see nothing wrong with it, many times we are not aware of how much we are actually paying in markups. The difference is incredible. Also, there are membership plans for people who want a membership for 3 months, less than $1000. Get your facts straight! Now, many clubs are offering the Free Trial Membership. I believe this is ideal and is the perfect opportunity fore people like many of the above, who are not sure about DB, to see if it is worth the savings. During the Open House, you will be given all information on membership pricing, of course. They would like for you to decide to be members that day..HOWEVER if you are eligible for the free trial, then take it. No one can pressure you to buy something. You tell them no, you want the free trial and if you are happy with the service, you will think about becoming a member. If you take the free trial, no one will ask you for any credit card information. You will not “automatically” become a member after the 30 days unless you call and let it be known. On the phone, employees can only give you the information they are told. Due to agreements with manufacturers (which makes DB possible AND successful), they are not allowed to give you every bit of information over the phone. That is for you to come to the OH and find out for yourself. At that time you are also given the opportunity to compare pricings to see if it will be of benefit to you. DB is not for everybody, let’s face it. But what I find hilarious is that most of the people who complain are people who are upset that they are too poor to afford a membership there and that is not fair to the millions of people who can benefit from DB but won’t because they are intelligent enough to form their own opinions by attending an OH. How sad we have come in our society.

460. Ray D., Brighton, MI | 02-Dec-09 at 11:04 am | Permalink

     DIRECT BUY IS A BIG SCAM. Stay away from this outfit!
     DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACT.
     They are a bunch of crooks, pressuring people to pay big membership fees. When you sign their contract, be aware that you are waiving your right to cancel your membership. You are also waiving your right to sue. You must agree to go to arbitration with the Better Business Bureau. These people make you sign the contract without informing you of what you are signing. But you are not allowed to take it home to read it. You must sign the day you came in. There are no savings involved. Nobody pays retail price nowadays. People buy things on sale, without any hassle. If you buy from Direct Buy, you cannot return what you bought. TAKE MY ADVICE. STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT BUY! DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACTS! THEY ARE SCAMMERS!

461. Terry | 06-Dec-09 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

     We have been members for about 3 years and have never used it. Huge waste of money. Do most of you use it by driving to the store? Our problem is the nearest store is 150 miles away. We were hoping to rely on the website which is very unfriendly. We want to get out money’s worth and just find the whole thing inconvenient. We wished we’d never done it, but we’re hopeful that we can still make it work for us. Usually when we do research something, we can find the same thing at a local retailer for the same price or cheaper, so why drive? I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody. We definitely should have done our research first. Live and learn.

462. Natalie | 12-Dec-09 at 7:42 am | Permalink

     We just bought our first house and know we have a lot of shopping on our hands when it comes to big ticket items. We were very close to going to Direct Buy and then decided against it as the people in the salespeople in the showroom did not know all the details. I actually caught a few of them giving conflicting information. A few days later I bumped into one of the salespeople from Direct Buy and we ended up having a conversation and she said that it is a scam and that they are trained to get around objections to “make the sale”. Luckily for this we made our final decision to not go with Direct Buy. The funny thing is when reading some of the comments above that people are writing positive about Direct Buy, especially the people with the rude attitudes, they remind me of some of the salespeople there. I would not be surprised if they were the ones writing on here to try to “sell” people Direct Buy. When a product is good and deserves good reviews it should never be an issue… Direct Buy has way more negative feedback then good. Go with your gut feeling, don’t let anyone make it for you. My gut says no to Direct Buy…. That is my opinion and I’m entitled to that.

463. DODGEDABULLET | 13-Dec-09 at 12:55 am | Permalink

     Just bought $500,000 house and looking to furnish top to bottom with a $100,000 budget. I went to the direct buy “showroom” today which i guess is a loosely applied term because there’s no furniture in it. they expected me to watch a 40 MINUTE sales pitch video about basic economics and how awesome it is to be a member, and I basically felt like I was at a Tony Robbins seminar so walked out after 5 minutes. They wanted 5000 dollars without letting me look at any products or prices; are you fucking serious? They act like its pentagon classified information but basically they just don’t want you going to any other retailer and finding out that you get the same price because ITS A FUCKING RECESSION AND YOU CAN GET EVERYTHING AT COST ANYWHERE YOU GO. So they try to make it seem as “exclusive” as possible, if it was really such an AMAZING opportunity do you think they would have informercials that run between slapchop and cash 4 gold? DO NOT EVEN ENTERTAIN THE POSSIBILITY OF SIGNING UP HERE. THEY WILL TRY TO INTIMIDATE YOU INTO SIGNING A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT TODAY DO NOT DO IT. Their hostile sales tactics are as outdated as their tacky “high end” (insert hysterical laughing here) Ashley Furniture. I was not going to be threatened by the “now or never” campaign, and the sales guy who was socially retarded didn’t like that very much. And by the way HE TRIED TO MAKE US SIGN TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS: OUR COPY SAID THAT WE HAD 2 WEEKS TO CANCEL OUR TRIAL MEMBERSHIP, BUT HIS COPY LEFT THAT INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO “PISS OFF HEAD OFFICE”, WHICH HE “INITIALED” WITH A BUNCH OF INDECIPHERABLE SCRIBBLES. And just to add insult to injury, I’m pretty sure we were solicited by actors pretending to be direct buy “customers” at the table next to us that “just happened to overhear our conversation and want to encourage us to join because you really DO save money”. Overall WOULD NEVER GIVE THESE SCAMMERS A RED FUCKING CENT AND CANNOT INSIST STRONGLY ENOUGH ON NEVER EVER WASTING YOUR TIME AND HARD EARNED DOLLARS SO SOME GROSS SWEATY DOUCHE CAN BUY A MAZDA MIATA WITH YOUR MONEY.

464. DODGEDABULLET | 13-Dec-09 at 1:02 am | Permalink

     PS TO “UNKNOWN” ABOVE WHO SAYS WE ARE ALL COMEDIANS, YES YOU CAN MAKE PAYMENTS…..AT 17% INTEREST RATES. AND YOU CAN HAVE A TRIAL MEMBERSHIP……WITH A $1000 MAXIMUM PURCHASE CAP. I’M AFRAID YOU’VE MISTAKEN COMEDY FOR BASIC FUCKING CONSUMER LITERACY. AND I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT $5000 FOR PURE NOTHING IS TOO EXPENSIVE EVEN FOR BILLIONAIRES LIKE YOURSELF. SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

465. K Malik | 23-Dec-09 at 2:12 pm | Permalink

     If DB is so great, why have not builders privately used the service and passed on the savings to their clients, afterall, they buy in volume and can do so privately and yet not a one has posted a favorable commennt.

466. Von | 27-Dec-09 at 1:57 pm | Permalink

     In response to comment no. 448, Bill: You are a complete moron. You want to flaunt that you have an incredible amount of money…haha! If DB is such a good deal, there would be plenty of rich people using the service. Some good friends of my a large stake holders in Hilton hotels and others are owners of boating companies in Florida. These guys have PLENTY of money; they’re rich. They have never heard of this DB crap, and furthermore consider how this program works to be a complete FRAUD. Bill, be happy by yourself that you and your stupid wife waste so much money every year. Maybe I could understand if you two own rental properties and were annual renovating or remodeling. However, simply remodeling for the hell of it and buying high end electronics….how long does that stupid cycle of yours keep repeating? Unless you own several houses, PAID for and a yacht or two….SHUT YOUR MOUTH..your comments are moot!

467. Von | 27-Dec-09 at 2:10 pm | Permalink

     In response to comment no. 459: You’re so scary you don’t even list your name. None of us here, need you to explain how installments work, how membership prices are different in different locations…maybe you want to explain how humans evacuate waste and the purpose of different bodily functions. FYI, the majority of us are commenting on $5,000 being a large amount of money for “nothing.” If you take 5K and go to Vegas or shopping at the local mall…you get to gratify yourself, don’t you? I don’t need to break this down for you Barney-style do I?

     The program details could be briefly explained by phone since this isn’t a clinical trail for research, or is it? You probably work for DB.

     As for your comment,”…too poor to afford a membership…” In 2007, when my wife & I went to the DB presentation…my take home pay was just over 13k monthly…it wasn’t the 5k that was the problem…it is how the program works, the showroom service and worse…having to order products from a catalog…waiting for delivery to discover errors or non-availability…then paying charges & fees on top of that. We can go down the street to Haverty’s and see/touch something we like and get delivery within 3 business days. No hassle, why do we want to “invest” 5k for hassle. So to all of you who don’t want to waste 5k to get hassle in return…I applaud you.

468. shihua | 27-Dec-09 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

     i attended one of the presentations that directbuy offered today, the whole concept of saving money on purchases intrigued me.

     i was expecting a couple of hundred dollars as membership fee, but not 5000!

     dont get me wrong directbuy is great if you just bought a brand new house and you have another 40,000 just for remodeling.

     they did offer me 1000 off the sign up fee but they did also say this is the only time to sign up is today after today you will be banned from directbuy.
     who has 5000 just laying there just to spend so you could save some money, and if i put 500 down the interest is 17.6%, worst than a credit card.

     bottom line in my opinion is its better to have 5000 on the table, than to save money on electronics in the long run

469. Duncan | 29-Dec-09 at 12:01 pm | Permalink

     I consider myself to be very savy in regards to money and deals but was completely blindsided by DirectBuy. My wife (now ex) made an appointment to go see the presentation and I was not interested but decided to attend. I left all the details and research up to her. I thought we would see it and then I would research myself afterwards and we could discuss if it was something we wanted.

     During the sales pitch we get the cost which is 5k, and also that if we leave the showroom today then we would be banned from being a member for 7 years. I wanted to walk out then and there but wife was interested. We ended up being there for 3 hours whilst we discussed it and in the end I gave in and we signed up. It is the single biggest financial mistake I have ever made.

     I knew at the time that unless you are building a house or doing a huge refit then it was very unlikely for you to recoup your initial money. With the shipping costs and time and cost of picking up the items you generally do not come away saving much money on lower cost items. The problem is that you end up having to purchase high cost items (which may be cheaper at DB) instead of the cheap on sale items at the local value store.

     I recently purchased a bed frame from Value City Furniture which looks great and I have no doubt will last me several years. The cost was just $150 on sale. The cheapest bed you can get at DB is several hundred dollars. So if I use DB, I have to pay more to save money? Yes, I get a better bed, but the one I did buy for $150 is perfect for my needs.

     The biggest issue for me is that their website is so incrediable poor. You can’t research items you want and see all available prices (most are hidden and only available in the store). You end up having to go to the showroom and searching through many, many catalogs and cross references to prices. Then you have to leave and check out real world prices to see if you are saving much money… or you research outside and then go to DB to look at their price, if you can find the item which in many cases you can’t.

     The 2 items I did purchase through DB took 4-5 weeks to arrive and when I added up everything, including increase time for the process, I saved only about $50 on a $500 item.

     I would not say that DB is a scam or a ripoff. No one is forced to sign up. My biggest issue with them is the aggresive sale pitch. I was ready to walk out the moment I heard ’sign up now or be banned from being a member for 7 years’ but I was swayed by a higher power, the wife. My advice is to avoid DB unless you purchase a lot of high end items. I am cheap person. I purchase $25 dvd players knowing it will only last 12 months. I rarely purchase high end.

470. Roger | 29-Dec-09 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

     DirectBuy is one sleazy company. I feel really bad for the people that have joined and convinced themselves that it was a good move. There are a few good deals here and there but overall if you watch your sales and check out online coupon codes and whatnot you’ll be much better off steering far clear of DirectBuy. It should be fairly obvious, if it’s a good deal then they’d have no problem letting you think about it a few days – the sign now or never thing is a dead giveaway that they know it wouldn’t stand up under even a few days scrutiny.

471. Merry | 31-Dec-09 at 12:04 pm | Permalink

     Thanks for the heads up! We’re building a home and I have found incredible deals all over the net, but was still curious about Direct Buy.

     I won’t be joining because I have AND follow one basic one rule: NEVER PAY MONEY TO SAVE MONEY. I had no idea DirectBuy wants people to pay so MUCH to save. DirectBuy is an idea 10 years behind its time. It would thrive if the Internet had not been invented.

472. Erik | 31-Dec-09 at 12:49 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I are interested in getting some bedroom furniture. We have a friend who is a member, and has good things to say about DB…although admittedly has not used it much, but is planning on building in the near future. Anyways, she let us use her username to search the DB website. My wife and I found some furniture we wanted for our son’s room, and then did some comparison shopping. We found the EXACT same bed for $225 more at the local store.

     The nearest DB showroom is only 45 min. away. We signed up for the open house in a few days….our intention is to use the Free 30 day membership to buy some furniture (the max, though, is $1000), and then not join.

     We have absolutely no intention to join the club for $5000. We simply don’t have the money, and would rather use the monthly payment of the club towards paying off school loans. We also don’t plan on buying that much that would warrant the cost.

     We know what to expect from the open house….sales, sales, sales. We’ve been to timeshare presentations before, so we are expecting the high pressure technique.

     My question, though, is there anyone who knows if there’s a catch to the Free 30 day trial? Again, we plan on buying maybe $500-800 worth of furniture (at DB prices) and that’s it. Thanks for any input.

473. Dar | 05-Jan-10 at 12:35 pm | Permalink

     DB boy do I have things to share with the people who are sitting on the fence wanting to purchase a membership or who are thinking about renewing the membership. A few things have been purchased over the years we have had the membership which did save us money, but this last purchase has left a sour taste in our mouth. An item was purchased and when we got it home it was unusable because of a defect. Yes I know to check everything over before a person signs on the dotted line, and I did check the box, I took it out of the box, the plastic was in tact nothing looked like it was damaged. Well to my surprise, when I got it home, unwrapped it, set it up, and tryed to start the machine, there was a crack on the inside making it unseeable by the naked eye. Well a call was made, and I took it back to DB warehouse and was told it was all my fault and that I had signed on the dotted line. Issue closed!!!!!! I was not happy with this response because clearly it was not inspected at DB warehouse because none of the plastic had been tampered with as was the box. They will not even talk about a compromise on a replacement, or a fix. Great Company? NO!NO!NO!NO! I am very seriously cancelling my membership. Who needs to be associated with a company that will not discuss and come to a mutual agreement. When I picked up the item I was told that it was inspected. There was no checkmark or stamp in the inspected box on the box, or did they have a signed waiver from the DB inspector that it had been gone over and personally inspected. Where are their policies – THERE ARE NONE!!!!!! – So buyer beware. I guess I didn’t follow my own advice but once bitten never a second chance take.

     SO MY WORDS OF ADVICE IS “STAY AWAY FROM BUSINESSES THAT PROMISE THE MOON CHEAP BUT DON”T STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCTS”.

474. george hayduke | 05-Jan-10 at 1:21 pm | Permalink

     NO DEALERS, PLEASE! hahaha

475. george hayduke | 05-Jan-10 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

     I am a plumber, one of my clients joined, he is convinced it is a good deal. He hired me to pick up and install a new dishwasher for him. He gave me the sales slip, I saw the price 389.00 plus tax for the new black frigidaire dishwasher. Just a normal, cheaply made dishwasher. I have bought the cheapest model dishwasher at lowes before and paid a little over 200. I could not see any difference in the quality either. Maybe the price was high because my client is “just a bronze member” poor guy. I just let him believe it was a good deal.

476. Roger | 05-Jan-10 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

     In response to Erik……from what I have heard on other blogs/sites, the 30-day trial membership has so many restrictions that you may not even be able to look at the appliances you want to purchase. They badger you with the now or never line and that the membership will go up $1000+ if you decide to go with the 30-day trial as opposed to signing on the dotted line “NOW” You would be better off looking for local sales at the big box stores and trolling the internet. From our research, DB never has better prices……oh, wait……you may save $15-20 but you’ll pay an additional 8-10% in shipping & handling charges to THEIR WAREHOUSE and you’ll have to get the appliance/furniture moved to your home. It’s hassle……save yourself the headached and stay away!

477. Phillip | 06-Jan-10 at 2:29 pm | Permalink

     My wife and I have been a member for 10 years. I thought it was expensive when we joined and worried about recouping the costs. I am very good at finding deals and can negotiate discounts at major retailers easily. On most day to day items I can easily beat pricing I would get from Direct Buy but there are areas where substantial savings can be had.

     Here are my thoughts on membership:

     1 – If you can’t afford the entrance fee Direct Buy is not for you. Frankly, if you not making over $100,000 a year stay away. The items you will buy in general will not have the savings you hope for.

     2 – If you are looking to save money on the loss leaders i.e. cheapest electronics and appliances, DB is not for you.

     3 – If you do not have a major remodel or large purchases coming up shortly then Direct Buy is not for you.

     Here are our experiences:

     1 – We joined when we first got married and had to buy furniture for our home. We easily saved over 40% for moderetaly priced furniture over the “best” offer I received from retailers offering the same manufacturer. Still have most of that same furniture today.

     2 – My father remodeled his kitchen and as a gift we chose to buy his cabinets that he wanted. Compared to the cabinet company he chose we saved over $10,000 on the exact same custom cabinets. he had a large kitchen and his cost would have been over $37,000. You do the math.

     3 – We recently moved and I had 26 windows to buy blinds for. We went with some nice high end cordless blinds. Even with the Lowes and Home Depot offerings of 30% + 10% discounts going on I still saved over $2000. Same blinds, same manufacturer, big savings.

     4 – I hate going to the show rooms. You need to dedicate a lot of time and know what your looking for. I particulary don’t like it. I usually do all my shopping ahead of time online or at retailers, negotiate my best deals and then go online to the member site and see the difference. Based off the savings I then go to the showroom and place my order. Again, depending on what I am looking for the savings may be nothing to as high as 50+% after the shipping, handling, and taxes.

     Bottom line, there are some serious savings to be had . Anyone else trying to tell you otherwise is lying, not a member, or trying to find savings on the cheapest, low margin items which will dissapoint them.

     Direct Buy is not for everyone but I guarantee anyone that has joined recently and feeling buyers remorse like we did, the first time you have a major project for your home or office, you will be happy you have your membership.

478. Mary | 07-Jan-10 at 6:11 am | Permalink

     Problem is that Directbuy keeps discounts and rebates it receives from its manufacturers and suppliers and they do not pass these savings on to the members – this tends to decrease the savings that members could have had and should be entitled to. The “savings” directbuy claims evaporates quickly when they keep all the discounts and rebates, add freight charges, and that 8-10% handling fee — all this eats away at any perceived “savings.”

479. Suzanne | 12-Jan-10 at 1:08 am | Permalink

     I think that DB is discriminatory as well…I was solicited to sign up with them, but I wanted to go alone to check it out before I pitched it to my husband. They denied me and retracted the invite because they were insistent that I have my husband join me. I asked what if I were single? Why do I have to have a husband to visit your presentation? The rep didn’t answer right away…she didn’t know how to. That alone, ticked me off. I found it incredibly rude. Yes, they have to make a profit. Yes, it’s a business. However, there are big brand businesses that do not use such poor customer service to get you to sign the bottom line. While I do agree one should do their homework first, find out if the COMPANY is benefitting you in the long run, not the other way around. As in all businesses, DB works for some and, as it appears in these blogs, in many savvy customers, DB is not the way to go! Good luck all!

480. Danielle | 13-Jan-10 at 3:45 pm | Permalink

     Worst thing we could have ever done. I’m embarrased to say we are DB members. Their customer service is terrible. It’s not worth the money at all!!!
     We were suckers, take my word and do not join. You would be better off to take advantage of sales and 0% financing than to spend the money on a membership with DB and save a few bucks. The savings are not worth the hassles.

481. Mrs. R | 15-Jan-10 at 12:23 am | Permalink

     My husband and I took a tour and we decided not to apply for the trial membership and was yelled at by the front desk clerk sho called herself Tammy when we asked for a copy of the (No we do not want a trial membership/Membership) membership form given when we first arrived. I insisted on a copy of the part my husband signed stating NO-as who knows what Direct Buy would do with a signature and your name and address since they appeared to be shaddy and behaved in a very suspicious way of being deceitful. I thank God for protecting us and getting us out of that place. Without that promotional commercial no one would probably be at Direct Buy, thus the free trial offer.
     They want you to join before they allowed you to see any of the catalogs just go by their word which was changed on the same subject many times. The Attorney General needs to investigate.

482. Steve | 15-Jan-10 at 10:57 am | Permalink

     Finally I found the info I wanted here. I wanted to know memebership fees but no one there would even talk about that on the phone. They got rude when I wouldn’t give them my personal info over the phone. I told them no fee info no personal info. I live 100 miles from the nearest store so you all saved me and my wife a lot of wasted time. Sounds like a frickin timeshare outfit. At least time shares give you some crappy free stuff. I guess if you’re going to spend 50k or more it maybe worth it but for the common DIYer I can’t see how it cash flows positive. Again thanks all for the detailed robbery fee info!!!!!!!

483. Jared | 20-Jan-10 at 4:07 pm | Permalink

     The lady I talked to on the phone sounded so curt, abrupt, invasive and pushy that I knew something was up after they contacted me by phone after registering on their website. I mean she insisted to call me to verify that I had a babysitter! I just thought that it was very strange that a company would be so concerned over such a menial issue and I told her so.

     Ive been burned once by hard ball sales tactics in my own home and swore to never fall victim EVER AGAIN. So after I got off the phone my wheels started spinning. I had my girlfriend look them up on the web and it took about 30 secs in google to see the truth behind this malicious company; finding this site and many many many others giving similiar testimonies on just how horrible this company does business.

     Its obvious that many posts here and in other places around the web are created by direct buy employees/owners. They all got that samey samey sleazy “oh but think of what you save” bit to them. And they all tend to tell us that we are “missing out”.

     Its a shame so many have fallen victim. Think of it as a lessoned learned is all I can say. One you will never forget and likely not fall victim to again.

     The logic is screwed up though… How can I be saving money when I would be spending more money than I normally would be to “save”. That makes absolutely NO SENSE.

     Direct Buy… IN THIS ENCONOMY AND CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, I HAVE NO CLUE HOW YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT TAKING THE SUCKERS’ MONEY.

484. Guru | 21-Jan-10 at 8:45 am | Permalink

     Great Blog. After watching DirectBuy ads all over TV and Internet, I decided to visit nearby DB store (Since, I am planning to buy my first home in comming November). Their unfriendly greeting and cutomer service made me leave the place in 8-10 min. Later, I google them on internet just to find what they offering to their customer(s). (Thanks to everyone, yes everyone who invented/supported/directly/indirectly/etc. to make the internet free.) I have to agree with all Negative Comments and Suggestions of the bloggers. If DB don’t respect me (as I experienced at Gaithersburg MD location) as they did during my visit, they will not get my business, simple, even if they save me fortune in the future. I don’t know what training/survey (how to fool people under the law)/model/research they are following. But these place appears to be good for people who are like them.

485. Champagne | 23-Jan-10 at 8:05 pm | Permalink

     Hi All,

     I’m very surprised to hear all the negative feedback about Direct Buy. I think that they are wonderful. I agree with some of the other comments – If you can’t afford it, then don’t sign up. It’s a great deal for what you get. I signed up after finding these through this site: Hardwood Flooring Experts. I used that site to find someone to install my floors, but purchased them through Direct Buy. I got a fab deal on the floors and got choose from several contractors.

486. volde | 23-Jan-10 at 11:05 pm | Permalink

     Here are my 2 cents:

     I am always trying to stay away from people who do business using “now or never” technique. If you want the business, you will take it tomorrow, or a week later.

     If you do not want your customer to make a well thought decision it is clear for me that it is a scam by definition (at least for me)…. even if it works for some people.

     Plus, I am a true believer that profits drive the service. DB is not a charity organization, they are in the business of making money… Even the companies with best intentions tend to give a “so-so” service if they do not see you as the source of their future income.

     So, if they do not make money out of you in the future (at least they say so, although what would you call the “handling charges”)…. do not count on the good service either. I am not saying that noone gets decent service in the future, but the chances are you will not get it. Why DB should bother if DB should care less if you buy something or not?

     Even if you have a chance to save money with them it is a gamble. If you want to gamble you might as well go to Vegas

     It was fun to read this blog. Thank you all who posted!!!

487. Lauren | 29-Jan-10 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

     LMAO! This is great stuff! The comments on here are hilarious! I want to go to this DB thing just to get my kicks off! As for “millionaire” Bill….you should be punched in the face….or actually…just punch yourself in the face you egotistical pompous ass. You probably don’t even have a J O B. Peace out…I’m going to Walmart.

488. Jen | 05-Feb-10 at 2:47 pm | Permalink

     The customer service at Direct Buy IS HORRIBLE… we ordered appliances which when delivered one was broken plus the damaged our floors upon delivery… and we have been waiting 4months for the rest of our order now. They dont know anything when you call, they have ZERO customer service – honestly – I dont care if I save money – Id rather pay twice as much, have nice and friendly customer service… we will NEVER buy an item from them again!

     HORRIBLE, worst place I have every ordered from!!

489. Steve Boorsma | 06-Feb-10 at 1:54 pm | Permalink

     I have read many of these comments. My experience is as follows. It is clear that Direct Buy is only good for those who plan on spending A LOT of money …. thousands of dollars and then maybe it will work. But if you are just like me, then it is not worth it and it is lost money. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE can find the same kind of saving of most of the items if they to their homework. I purchased furniture grade kitchen cabinets for 3200.00 where at Direct Buy would have cost me 15,000 with their savings!
     Direct Buy is a legal business, but they are not an ethical or moral one! The pressure is high just like going to one of those vacation time share sales. Any company that does not allow a person to go home and think about it is not a company that can be trusted and it will tell you what their customer service will be like.

     Now, my wife and I went and our experience was like many who told their story. We got the high pressure, and then it happened. Like any good consumer we started asking questions to better understand. We asked questions about how much we would have to spend in order to realize savings. We asked questions about return policies. We asked questions about if we made a purchase, but then found the same product cheaper in the open market is their a policy about a refund since we are paying thousands to get products cheaper. We were basically doing our own high pressure good consumer questions when after about 15 minutes into OUR questions, the person looked at me and said …
     “I will tell you what, I am going to invite you NOT to join, and you can now leave the building.” That was it, he did not like us asking questions, because other people were also in this open room and they began listening to our questions and he did like it … SO HE INVITED US NOT TO JOIN! What does this say for the company?!

490. robert ragonese | 09-Feb-10 at 7:31 pm | Permalink

     I just got wind to this site and to the “Direct Buy” experience and after reading these posts, well for one I?m not going to bother in joining, and two, I?m with Li, I?m willing on playing the husband role and having so fun with this….it would be a good time

491. Vince | 14-Feb-10 at 9:12 pm | Permalink

     Using my usual “plan of attack” when dealing with a new company I know little about, I used an email address specifically for new companies so they can’t bug me if I don’t like them or I’ll update it if they pass muster.

     I’m a very “common sense” kinda guy, so when I saw pics but no prices, a “membership” with NO details until I make an appointment, and…..actually, I don’t remember seeing ONE price anywhere although they boast they beat everyone’s prices.

     So I thank whatever higher power I/you/we believe in for the internet, because I’m not going to let them waste 1-3hrs of MY life. Thanks people!

492. Debbie | 16-Feb-10 at 10:01 am | Permalink

     TEXAS, DO NOT BUY, YOU HAVE NOT OUT!!!! Unfortunately my husband and I went to their high pressure sales pitch, were never offered the 30 days free. We pd 2000.00 on credit card and 2000.00 by ck which we did a stop pay on. We had buyers remorse and called within 48 hrs to cancel but once you sign the contract with them on site in TEXAS you have not out of this contract. I am now disputing the other 2000.00 with my credit card company as I have not received any service from them or used any of their services. Just beware of what you are getting into and do not sign contract without an out clause as we were stupid and did.

493. iris hunter | 18-Feb-10 at 3:47 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is the biggest con game ever, you are pressured into joining. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Purchased a new kitchen and hired the contractor on site. What was to be my dream kitchen turned into a nightmare. It took months to get the units and as my kichen has already been torn out I had to cook on a hotplate in the garage. When the units finally did come they had the wrong measurements and units did not fit so some had to be left out and the design was not what I had wanted. I was not reimbursed for the unused units. They were supposed to do the electrical work and I had to end up paying $1300 to an electrician to do it. 1 month later the finish started to come of units and they said it was because they got some water on them, they did fix this after many many phone calls. The units are five years old now the fronts are constantly falling off, the sliding drawers had to be repaired (more money) and the glazing has turned colour and coming off. The result is I will have to paint these units that cost me $28,000.00. If you are smart run a mile if you see these guys.

494. Dave M. | 19-Feb-10 at 4:55 pm | Permalink

     My wife dragged me along for an open house meeting when I was off one day from work, and I knew from the beginning how these types of sales approaches worked, so I went in with my defenses flying high. After the initial cheesy videos we sat down with what I thought was a sales associate who explained everything to us in great detail, allowed us to browse through catalogs are things we were interested in and took over an hour with us before we made any decisions. I appreciated the low pressure sales approach, and it made the difference when my wife and I signed up for their silver (lowest end) package. We were buying furniture for a new home and the savings alone on basic furniture (we checked multiple catalogs to make sure) were almost enough to pay back our deposit. Crunching some numbers for a two year time span of very conservative estimates would pay back the entire 2 year membership plus around 250 dollars net in our pocket savings… and we do NOT spend much money on expensive furniture (if you are a well established middle-high income family, you can save thousands.. and if you are affluent you can save ten of thousands easily, and I am not exaggerating).Every year thereafter up to the 10 year mark is only 198 dollars….thats YEARLY… even if you only bought minor appliances for the next ten years you would save a few thousand dollars. Turns out the sales associate was one of the part owners of two of the local Direct Buys and has been very helpful ever since we obtained our membership for even small requests (emails about pricings if we cant make it in… which really makes or breaks the place for me). I am VERY skeptical of sales tactics, and Im sure other Direct Buys may NOT be as considerate or as well run, but the one in Rancho Cucamonga and Corona California have been nothing short of impressive and as long as you have a moderate amount of money to spend in the beginning (around 700 dollars down and 2 years of payments approx 150 dollars for the silver membership) AND you at least rent or own and plan on making semi serious purchases (some basic furniture, television, fridge, bedroom stuff or have kids who need bedroom stuff), you will without question save a minimum a few thousand dollars over a 5-10 year period and probably in the low tens of thousands of dollars. If you are in the area or Rancho Cucamonga, I highly recommend the Direct Buy off or Arrow and Rochester. It was very well run, laid back, with helpful people who at least in our experience, gave us plenty of time to throw around questions and do some basic in-store research to make sure we were comfortable with our decision. On a side note, the owner said the retention rate he has for employees is phenomenal. The least senior employee has been with the company three years and they only lose people to retirement or promoting to different lines of work. I hope this review was helpful to those who are skeptics (believe me, when I was sitting through the silly video presentation, I was giving my wife the evil eye the whole time for dragging me along).

495. Dave M. | 19-Feb-10 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

     Just a side note, seems that though the company generally has similarities across the country, it depends highly on the owner ship of each individually run store (obviously its franchised out) as far as the service is concerned.

496. Dave M. | 19-Feb-10 at 5:09 pm | Permalink

     Oh, and to answer the question of how the make profit in the future after the initial membership dues.. I would suspect that they earn a percentage commission from each retail supplier based on amount sold, as to not effect their pricings (at least on the surface) and through referrals (considering most people who stay THAT long are happy customers and would probably refer at least 5-10 members of their own). Only reason I answer these questions is because I have an economics and business background and am unfortunately VERY familiar with scams from my younger years…lol.

497. JC | 20-Feb-10 at 12:45 pm | Permalink

     We went to the open house in our area last night. What a total and complete waste of time! We were held captive there for almost 2 hours. We went to check it out because we are looking to replace living room furniture and bedroom furniture. At first, I was interested because they also do electronics and appliances, and we are looking for a new big-screen TV and will eventually need to replace our refrigerator. Beyond that, very little of what they offer would be of interest, since we are not home owners. The owner had one of those slick stage hypnotist voices, which put me off immediately. The salesperson we were with was very nice, but spent a lot of time just chatting and stalling us until it was time for the big sales pitch to begin. We were hardly allowed to look at any of the catalogs at all, except from a distance.
     The sales pitch had several pre-canned video sections that I thought were insulting. In between the owner went through almost two dozen examples of items and what you could save. One in particular was for a Lane reclining sofa. It retailed for over $2000 and the member price was $715. Interestingly enough, the furniture I’m looking to replace is Lane, and I bought it over 15 years ago from a North Carolina furniture wholesaler in my area–and paid exactly the same price.
     So, after the long video droning and all of the many and varied examples, finally it comes time to talk about the cost of membership. Going in, I figured it might be $200-250/year. When the man said $6500 for the first three years and $190/year for the next seven–I almost fell out of my chair.
     We were then returned to our original salesperson and I very politely told her that the membership fee would be more than the amount I’m looking to spend to replace my furniture!
     MAYBE if you have $100,000 to put into a new house for furnishings, this would be worth it. I did not like the fact that you could not really look at the catalogs, and frankly, especially when it comes to furniture, don’t you want to sit on it, try it out, see how it feels? There is NO way to do this through Direct Buy. I would also be very leary about the shipping and handling charges, as I am sure these can be enormous for some categories of items.

     No Direct Buy for us, thanks. I’ll shop around and support a local store with my business–and keep close to $8,000 in my pocket by skipping the membership dues!

498. preciousjo | 22-Feb-10 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

     I am so happy I found this website. I will be canceling my appointment with DB as soon as I send this post. Off to Home Depot I go for my tiny little bathroom needs!

499. Patrick | 23-Feb-10 at 7:51 am | Permalink

     I don’t have much experience with DirectBuy. I had signed up for a open house once and didn’t show up (I don’t know if this means I’d be black listed if I tried to sign up).

     With that said, my father has since gotten a membership and has flipped a home. He’s saved a ton of cash on cabinetry, windows, furniture, etc. He says that some things are not much cheaper, but some have a significant difference (ie, he said that hardwood isn’t any cheaper, for example).

     I’ve also had the chance to go in when he came to visit me here in my home town. We had to pretend that I lived with him though, which was a little weird (and I forget how we pulled it off because they asked for our driver’s licenses.

     However, when we went in, I looked around at the catalogs and things really were significantly cheaper.

     I don’t know if I’d sign up for DB, but I’m happy I have him to buy through. It just sucks that I can’t go in and shop with him.

     (Apparently their website kinda sucks for shopping on too)

500. Wisteria Webster | 24-Feb-10 at 12:38 pm | Permalink

     Key items to know about Direct Buy:
     - The 40% discount isn’t the price you necessarily pay. You add on all sorts of “handling” fees which vary from product to product, so sometimes it’s cheaper to buy products elsewhere. MSRP is an inflated price to begin with. Add on taxes, delivery (if they’re even willing to deliver it…many items are showroom pickup only), etc.
     - Their website sucks, sucks, sucks. Once you pay them the membership fee, they don’t care about the quality of the customer experience. Their site is painful slow, the search engine doesn’t work properly, and the search results show up as an alphabetical manufacturer name listing that you then have to sift through. Way too many items just tell you to “visit the showroom” for a price or to order.
     - If you don’t have a showroom nearby, forget it. Too many elements of their process require showroom visits where you spend hours combing through massive 3-ring binders looking at product serial numbers. Yuck.
     - You have to know the specific mfr and model # of the items you want to buy, and then look manually through catalog after catalog to see if they carry it or if it’s actually cheaper than elsewhere. Extremely time consuming.
     - I don’t like their hard sell process where you have to buy a membership today or you can never buy in the future. If their deal was truly great, they wouldn’t have to push so hard. I don’t get that.
     - You can’t bring friends into the showroom to shop with you. It’s like the mafia. Ridiculous.
     - If you are redoing a complete household top to bottom, you can probably save some money on certain items, but not as much as Direct Buy leads you to believe. We renovated our kitchen and master bath and so far haven’t found a single item to purchase through Direct Buy. Appliances are extremely cheap to buy locally, granite isn’t convenient to buy from another state, etc.
     - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

501. Jim | 25-Feb-10 at 11:21 pm | Permalink

     Pure, unadulterated SCAM. If DB was in fact legit, why would they need to call me 4 times every day? Are they such good friggin’ Samaritans, eager to shower me in savings? Walmart never called me.

     I have since learned that every telemarketer in their call centre is obliged to pressure at least 10 new suckers per month into buying a $5000 membership. Stay away!

502. Mark made a bad direct buy | 27-Feb-10 at 9:33 pm | Permalink

     About a year ago I posted how I wasted $5,500 on my useless Direct Buy membership (post 350) and have followed the comments ever since. I honestly feel that many positive comments are generated by employees/owners of Direct Buy or by consumers who buy into “perceived value” (retail price vs Direct Buy price) because I never realized savings to equate with my membership cost. This December I got my Direct Buy renewal billing..ha ha ha.ha .. I gleefully laughed as I shredded that sucker. Free at last, free at last. Please do not buy a Direct Buy membership unless you really understand the savings they promise but never demonstrate. I have another big project coming up and no need for Direct Buy.

503. Tony Smith | 27-Feb-10 at 11:47 pm | Permalink

     Fireplace Purchase Gone Bad
     I joined Direct Buy for home remodel savings as well,
     purchased gas fireplace after checking out through local retail showroom as advised by Direct Buy rep.
     I saved 25% on retail, but now none of the local fireplace install company’s are willing to install it and I have been informed all warranty are void because they are only honored by the retail store that I did not purchase from. I am in a real pickle!
     First hand I see the value in the retail professionals.
     IT IS NOT WORTH IT !!!

504. Joel S. Hirschhorn | 28-Feb-10 at 6:16 pm | Permalink

     There are two reasons why consumers continue to be victimized. Greedy and dishonest companies and individuals are willing to go to extraordinary extremes to steal peoples? money. So many consumers have too little intelligence to detect the truth about those who want to steal their money. Here is my newest discovery of a major consumer scam.

     If you want to experience one of the most painful, hard sales pitches in the universe, then accept an invitation to an open house at a Direct Buy showroom. If you have ever suffered through a lengthy sales pitch for a time share or remember your absolutely worst experience in a car dealership, then you have a hint of how awful the Direct Buy sales pitch is. From reading many comments from people all over the US who have also been suckered into a Direct Buy showroom there is a highly structured sales pitch given everywhere.

     The process consists of three time-wasting stages: first spend time with small talk with a smiling sales person, then get herded into a room with other couples attending the open house to hear a much more detailed sales presentation, including several videos and lots of clever question and answer sessions with the audience. Following that you are taken back for another private conversation with the first sales person who is clearly the closer; that is when you really get the high pressure treatment designed to get you to sign up that day and pluck down about $7,000 for a ten year membership (though the price seems to vary with location). If you don?t sign up that day you are told that it will cost another $1,000 at a later time.

     With the original invitation to the open house you are told that you will get a 30 day free membership. But that membership is very limited. What really angered me was that there was no piece of literature that we were given to look at with details about membership rights and costs that we could take with us. Talk about a high pressure sales pitch!

     After my bad experience I discovered that there is a national class action lawsuit against Direct Buy for fraudulent marketing. Here is what the suit claims: The company misleads customers by promoting a $5,000 membership fee which entitles members to purchase a wide array of goods at wholesale prices with no markup, and that it makes no profits other than from the membership fees. In reality, it makes a substantial profit from product markups, exorbitant shipping and handling fees, and tens of millions in annual rebates from manufacturers that it conceals from customers.

     I know lots of Direct Buy members will surely write in that they are very happy and satisfied. Scammers, rip-off artists and thieves like Bernie Madoff are so successful because such a large fraction of people are dimwits or just too busy to carefully examine things. And once someone pays more than $5,000 upfront for a membership they are psychologically programmed to conclude that they have made a smart choice.

     Here is my bottom line: The very nature of the sales pitch used by Direct Buy says something very, very negative about the company and what it is selling. The way I was treated was not appreciated and I do not want to patronize a company that uses such tactics.

505. MDL | 28-Feb-10 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

     IN RE: DIRECTBUY, INC., MARKETING AND SALES PRACTICES LITIGATION

     MDL No. 2132

     JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION

     2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10390

     February 5, 2010, Filed

     PRIOR HISTORY: Ganezer v. Directbuy, Inc., 571 F.3d 846, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 13676 (9th Cir. Cal., 2009)

     CORE TERMS: centralization, convenience, factual questions, oppose, oral argument, proposed settlement, centralize, transferee, settlement

     JUDGES: [*1] John G. Heyburn II, Chairman. Robert L. Miller, Jr., David R. Hansen, * Frank C. Damrell, Jr., Kathryn H. Vratil, W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., David G. Trager.
     * Judge Hansen took no part in the decision of this matter.

     OPINION BY: John G. Heyburn II

     OPINION
     ORDER DENYING TRANSFER

     Before the entire Panel *: Plaintiff in an action in the Southern District of Indiana has moved, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ? 1407, to centralize this litigation in the Southern District of Indiana. This litigation currently consists of four actions pending as follows: an action each in the Central District of California, the District of Connecticut, the Southern District of Indiana, and the Eastern District of New York, as listed on Schedule A.

     - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Footnotes – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
     * Judge Hansen took no part in the decision of this matter.

     - – - – - – - – - – - – End Footnotes- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

     Plaintiffs in the Central District of California action support the motion in its entirety. Plaintiffs in the Eastern District of New York action initially opposed centralization and, alternatively, supported selection of the Eastern District of New York as the transferee district; however, at oral argument, these plaintiffs expressed their support of centralization in the District of Connecticut. Plaintiffs in the District of Connecticut action [*2] oppose centralization and, alternatively, favor transfer to the District of Connecticut. Defendants 1 oppose centralization.

     - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Footnotes – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
     1 DirectBuy, Inc.; United Consumers Club, Inc.; DirectBuy Holdings, Inc.; UCC Distribution, Inc.; Beta Finance Company, Inc.; National Management Corporation, Inc.; Trivest Partners IV, Inc.; and The Sequoia Group — Thousand Oaks LLC (collectively DirectBuy defendants).

     - – - – - – - – - – - – End Footnotes- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

     At oral argument, attorneys for plaintiffs supporting centralization expressed concern that they were “frozen out” of settlement discussions in another action. We do not consider the DirectBuy defendants’ apparent preference to negotiate with certain plaintiffs’ counsel over counsel for other plaintiffs as particularly relevant to our primary statutory inquiry — whether centralization of actions containing common factual questions will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and further the just and efficient conduct of the actions. See 28 U.S.C. ? 1407(a). Regardless of our decision on centralization, if (as some plaintiffs presume) plaintiffs in one or more of the actions reach a nationwide settlement with the DirectBuy defendants, plaintiffs in the non-settling actions should reasonably [*3] anticipate an opportunity to object to the proposed settlement at any fairness hearing regarding the proposed settlement.

     We have long held that the convenience of counsel “is not by itself a factor to be considered under Section 1407 in the Panel’s decision whether to order transfer or in the selection of a transferee forum for a group of actions. Only if the inconvenience of counsel would impinge on the convenience of the parties or witnesses would the convenience of counsel become a factor to be considered by the Panel.” In re Anthracite Coal Antitrust Litigation, 436 F.Supp. 402, 404 (J.P.M.L. 1977). Plaintiffs supporting centralization have failed to make such a showing.

     Otherwise, this is a close case; one which in other circumstances we might centralize. The actions may share some factual questions regarding the DirectBuy defendants’ marketing practices. Movant has failed to convince us, however, that these common factual questions are sufficiently complex and/or numerous to justify Section 1407 transfer at this time. Defendants and some of the plaintiffs oppose centralization as unnecessary. Two of the cases predate by a considerable time those filed by the plaintiffs supporting [*4] centralization. On the basis of the papers filed and hearing session held, we are not persuaded that the benefits of Section 1407 centralization are sufficient to outweigh the objections. The parties are encouraged to employ alternatives to transfer to minimize whatever possibilities may arise of duplicative discovery and/or inconsistent pretrial rulings. See, e.g., In re Eli Lilly and Co. (Cephalexin Monohydrate) Patent Litigation, 446 F.Supp. 242, 244 (J.P.M.L. 1978); see also Manual for Complex Litigation, Fourth, ? 20.14 (2004).

     IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ? 1407, for centralization of the actions listed on Schedule A is denied.

     PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION

     /s/ John G. Heyburn II

     John G. Heyburn II

     Chairman

     Robert L. Miller, Jr.

     David R. Hansen *

     - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Footnotes – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
     * Judge Hansen took no part in the decision of this matter.

     - – - – - – - – - – - – End Footnotes- – - – - – - – - – - – - -

     Frank C. Damrell, Jr.

     Kathryn H. Vratil

     W. Royal Furgeson, Jr.

     David G. Trager
     SCHEDULE A
     Central District of California

     Phil Ganezer, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-8666
     District of Connecticut

     Christopher Wilson, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:09-590
     Southern District of Indiana

     Brian Vance v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. [*5] No. 1:09-1360
     Eastern District of New York

     Jamila Swift, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:09-4067

506. The Champagnes | 01-Mar-10 at 1:35 pm | Permalink

     Thank you for your postings. My husband and I are scheduled for an orientation tomorrow. We planned to bring our father because we were excited about the possibilities for him and ourselves. After reading many postings, we wouldn’t have been able to bring him anyhow. We are building a home with Mcmillin homes and though they offer luxury upgrades, we are not willing to pay the mark ups. So I thought Direct Buy might be a way to get the luxury items we desire without having to pay the retail costs. Immediately after scheduling our appt. it felt like a timeshare sales experience as they do not indicate how much the membership fees are and that you must bring your spouse. Furthermore, the sales tactics that they use are a turn off and according to many peoples experiences, Direct Buy operates dishonestly. ( Pricing varies from store to store, no refund allowed, upon refusal to join they, escort you out through the back door,manipulative “one time” offer, etc.) So, as a result of our investigation, we have decided to forego our Direct Buy “Timeshare”. Thanks fellow consumers.

507. Tobias | 02-Mar-10 at 7:53 am | Permalink

     Just curious, it seems that most folks compare the prices at direct buy to big box home improvement stores. Does anybody realize that if you work with a local builders supply store or lumber yard you?ll often save 30% or more? Just remodeled my bathroom and for the tub alone Lowe’s and Home Depot wanted over twice what I paid for it and they couldn?t get the color I wanted. The only reason I go to the ?box? stores is to get a look at what styles I?m interested in. Then I call up my local ?contractor orientated? stores and save big money ordering the same items, seems to me that this is almost the same process as direct buy without the fees. These stores may not be fancy, but they?re not there to pitch you a product and you?ll never find people more knowledgeable about their work. After all they get feedback from contractors who do hundreds of installations a year and if the contractor?s get a bad product the related call backs costs them money. So you can bet they know what works and what doesn?t.

508. Tom Smitters | 02-Mar-10 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

     This place is a fraud. Remember that many of the postings here are by DirectBuy employees pretending to be real customers.

509. Marcy | 06-Mar-10 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

     I swear some people are so stupid. I am a Direct Buy member and former employee of the Direct Buy from another state. The people posting negative comments are people who are not members. They should not be trusted because they dont know anything about how Direct Buy really works. Direct Buy is not for everybody, its only for people who are patient and smart enough to realize a good deal. You need to be patient because you need to be able to do your own research, the staff is not there to pressure you to buy or tell you what to buy. That falls on the member to make their own decisions. Direct Buy is not a retail store. The employees that work there dont receive commission, their only objective is to help members. They could care less whether you buy something or not. They are there to make the experience as easy for the member as possible. People who dont use their memberships are stupid for signing up in the first place. You have a few days after you sign your contract to change your mind and receive a full refund, granted you dont purchase anything in that time frame. The people who complain about that are people who let the alloted amount of time to change their minds pass and are stuck with the membership. Everything you buy is direct from the manufacturer which is why you dont pay retail. The salesmen make you fully aware of everything before you sign a contract. There are no hidden fees. You know exactly what you will pay when you make a purchase. Since you are buying directly from the manufacturer you have to pay for the item to be shipped. That’s not a profit for Direct Buy. Even with the shipping you still save way more than buying from a retail store. Items that are purchased are not used, dented, or whatever other lies people are saying. They are brand new and if your item came in damaged, they return it for a new one. Once an item is discontinued from the manufacturer it is discontinued from the catalogs because Direct Buy cant get it from the manufacturer anymore. If you find it in a retail store, its because they have a butt load of stock. Every order from Direct Buy is considered special order from the manufacturer. They cut out the middle man and that is why you get everything at a wholesale price. It bothers me to see how many people are so naive and gullible. Get your facts straight before you start bashing a corporation you know nothing about. Tell me what company doesnt have any complaints against them. I have seen some of the owners I worked for bend over backwards for their members. I have known members that have built their houses from mostly Direct Buy catalogs. People do and can save thousands of dollars. In California, people even save a hundred thousand dollars. But you have to use your membership. You cant make your investment back if you dont purchase anything. Direct Buy is not for everyone and as a former employee I would rather people like you that post negative comments about it rather not try to be members. FYI, I have seen many people turned away from Direct Buy because the salesmen dont want members that are not going to take respect the staff or just be negative about the whole experience. People complain about paying a membership, how else do you expect a business to sustain itself. I guarantee you will not find better prices. The reason you have to make a decision that day is because you are looking at confidential catalogs when your not a member and Direct Buy has a deal to protect the manufacturers from people who will go to retail stores and try to use the confidential prices to get the retail stores to lower theirs. That is why you have to make a decision that day or not come back for seven years. I have also seen the salesmen turn people away because they changed their minds after they refused the offer. If it was only profit oriented, they wouldnt turn away money. My point is that if you dont believe it, that’s fine. Direct Buy is exclusive. Only the salesmen are trained to explain the concept of Direct Buy, that is why when you call them, they only take your info and not answer questions. The rest of the employees are not trained to discuss the concept, they are only there to assist the members.

510. john | 11-Mar-10 at 5:06 pm | Permalink

     direct is not always the best deal you can find most things on sale such as a samsung washer and dryer. try sears when they have their sales of 15 to25 percent. direct buy will charge you handling fee of 8 per cent nad you have to pick up your item. could be a 10 to 50 mile drive. also after two years you cannot go into a direct buy warehouse unless you renew your yearly membership of 214 dollars each year even if your have no remodel plans. otherwise you cannot go in to compare prices against other retail shops. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND JUST SHOP FOR SALES.

511. Jennifer | 13-Mar-10 at 8:45 am | Permalink

     Don’t do it. Do not make the mistake I made. Even if they advertise they have an item on their website they often don’t. Complete waste of money.

512. Laurie | 17-Mar-10 at 1:54 pm | Permalink

     I considered DirectBuy twice. I have purchased whole rooms of furniture (greatroom, dining, informal dinning and bedrooms) The second time I went, my husband found out we would have to shell out almost 5500.00 for the right to use them as a resource to find inexpensive deals. We left, much to the dismay and irritation of the sales-lady, no kidding, she gave us a “face”. I think if you don’t want to take the time and energy to find good deals yourself, by all means pay someone else to find them for you for 5500.00. I do my research, I purchased my leather sectional custom made to order, and paid to have it delivered to my door for 3900.00 less then the model at HOM Furniture. I bought the exact dining set I wanted, a floor model for 1500.00 off the original price, and went directly to Pulaski to order two more chairs..and the list goes on! These deals might be great to someone who isn’t sure what they want and would like the help. I had the time, energy and drive to do the leg work myself. I talked to manufacturers, high end furniture stores and let them make the deal for my business. I made alot of friends and saved thousands without the hassle. These people more than likely will do the homework for you, but by no means are they the be all end all of bargains. I think if you have a group of neighbors and you all go in on one couples membership it might make sense. Just my thoughts! Happy Hunting!

513. Laurie | 17-Mar-10 at 2:38 pm | Permalink

     Just another note. I went to furniture stores to pick out furniture, found out the manufacturer, then contacted them directly. They were in NC, but mailed me leather samples, and design drawings for 6 different sectionals. They answered every email and phone call. Our neighbor is a carpenter, not only did he custom design our cabinet quality furntiture, but installed it and got it at the builder rate. Seriously, do your homework, and be patient. I originally wanted a dinning set I saw at Thomasville, but bawked at the price. 2 months after I had first come in and told the saleslady how much I loved the dinning set, she called me and told me they were about the put the whole display on clearence. Table, 4 chairs and the china hutch, for 1500.00 off. I snapped that up and also paid another 380.00 for two more chairs from the manufacturer to go with it. I get rave reviews on all my furniture, I see it in high end houses all across america when I look at million dollar properties for fun. Do your own homework, make connections and let people from showrooms and manufacturers, as well as builders help you! Use your 5500.00 to buy something nice for your hard work!

514. Pam | 22-Mar-10 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

     I bought a thomasville bedroom set for 40% off and no tax. It still was a fortune but if you wait, there will be a sale. I would never pay a ridiculous price to join when I can save the same amount if I wait for sales. Wait for Basset Sales and anywhere else. To pay 5,000 or 2,500 to join is just crazy. This sounds as shady as the Amway and pyramid schemes. You can buy furniture for less from North Carolina stores and ship.

515. BM | 25-Mar-10 at 6:50 pm | Permalink

     We too are planning a reno and contacted Direct Buy to see if there would be some benefit to joining signing up. Like so many others they offer no information. “Buy now or never” This is 2010 are these guys for real. Maybe they haven’t been reading the papers but consumer convenience is the answer these days. You have got to wonder…

516. MarCya | 31-Mar-10 at 12:03 am | Permalink

     If it quacks like a duck… well you know the rest!
     Anyone who will not let you research their company before joining is a SCAM plan and simple! You’d be crazy to join anything based simply on “There word”
     They are hiding something or they would be happy to let you do the research and then join.

517. vinyl floor covering | 02-Apr-10 at 7:24 am | Permalink

     A hard wood floor varies from solid wood flooring since it consists of layered sheets of wood creating a plank rather than the solid piece found with the other. Installation and appearance of a hard wood floor is almost identical to solid wood flooring but can offer you savings in regards to the product itself.

518. cooper4 | 03-Apr-10 at 4:12 am | Permalink

     My husband and I just went to a DB open house and sat through the sales presentation. We have been to many timeshare presentations and have been able to walk away from all of them knowing that they would be a complete waste of money, but DB made sense for us. We are a very young couple with two young kids and we know we are going to be buying a lot of stuff over the next several years. Yes, the up-front cost was a lot to take in, but I truely believe we will make up for it in savings. We were able to but the membership fee on our low interest credit card (compared to the 17.75% apr DB used for financing). After 3 years we are garenteed a locked price of $199/year (That’s only around $17/month). Our sales person was very upfront and helped us weigh all our options. We didn’t feel like there was any pressure. After coming home we decided to do more research to see if we made a total mistake. I looked up several items from the Directions catologe we received and I found out that the savings really is true. For example: a Samsung dryer at Best Buy is currently on sale for $799 (supposedly $200 off), but $799 is what DB says the suggested retail price should be. Their same Samsung dryer is $300 lower that that. We have not had the opportunity to expericence the delivery wait or customer service, but I can comfortably say that I am happy with our INVESTMENT and feel that in the LONG RUN our family will greatly benefit from it. This doesn’t mean that I will buy everything from DB now without doing a ton of research first, but I do this anyway. I went in knowing the sale prices I have paid on items and I was appauld at how much money I have wasted. Our sales person also reminded us that this is a member owned company. If we do not like something then we should complain about it. I don’t think they would still be in business today if people were losing money.

519. Bobby | 06-Apr-10 at 2:40 pm | Permalink

     As a member I can emphatically say that Direct Buy is NOT worth it for most people! You have to look very closely at the prices then make sure you know what ALL the extra fees are! I find it hard to believe their only source of income is through the membership fees. Once you add the shipping, handling, etc. fees the deals aren’t so good anymore. Buying big to huge ticket items is the only way (unless you’re buying the smaller items in bulk) to make the membership worthwhile. I purchased a Keurig coffee maker (~$115). By the time all the fees, etc. are added I paid almost $145. Still a good deal? Nope! Try eBay or Amazon and I could have saved money AND had it delivered to my door instead of having to wait weeks to only have to drive to the showroom (or warehouse) to pick it up!! Similar situation with a softball bat and set of Callaway golf clubs! Except I could have got the clubs at any one of a number of local retailers for the same price. Yes the retailers had a ’sale’. But I would have walked out of the store with the clubs instead of having to wait for delivery (weeks later). So my first few purchase were relatively small. But I haven’t saved any money and spent thousands up front. Ok so we moved and need new furniture. Now I’m going to save! WRONG!! Doing some research, I can get the ‘retail’ price down to a mere $200 more than what Direct buy will sell me the same leather couch and rocker/recliner. How many of those couches and recliners will I have to buy to even break even? How about over 26!!!! I shouldn’t have to buy 26 couches and recliners to just break even.

     The Direct Buy Shopping experience: is an exercise in patience! You thumb through catalog after catalog after catalog looking at whatever it is you’re shopping for. Prices … sometimes updated and found within the catalog, other times not! I did a major remodel on our house and wanted to price fixtures; faucets, sinks, bathtubs, etc. I gave up! I couldn’t just look up faucets. I had to go through every suppliers catalog wading through all of their other items I wasn’t interested in to find faucets. There was no easy way to eliminate anything based on anything other than price (they have $$ marked on the books to give you an idea of price). Even that was not very accurate! Oh yeah, what you know as a particular brand in the stores or on the streets most likely has a different name within Direct Buy. So now you have to be a detective too just to order something?!? Sometimes you’re lucky and their selection is poor (e.g. riding lawn mowers = I got a great deal on a John Deere through Lowe’s) and you don’t have to go through so many catalogs.

     Customer Service: As in Direct Buy has ZERO customer service. When we signed up, we knew we were going to move. We discussed it with the salesperson. I have dealt with four different showrooms. On a scale of 1 – 10 w/10 being happy, I’d rate each one of the four showrooms a -5!!! Absolutely horrible experience each and every time!! Remember the golf clubs I ordered? Well no one told me the shipment was going to be split. I would expect the woods and irons to maybe sent separately. I was horrified when my 3 & 5 woods showed up but the driver was missing and I could not reach ANYONE, period! Maybe you’re thinking I called after hours or on days when they were closed. You would be right … initially! I left multiple voice messages even during their normal business hours. I actually received a survey about that shopping experience. I was brutally honest and made sure my frustrations were conveyed. Still never heard from anyone! If you think this was an isolated incident at one showroom, think again. I have NEVER received a call back from voice messages I have left for several of these showrooms! Oh and by the way try looking up the phone numbers. Ridiculous! So I thought I would contact the corporate office. I would say the lady I spoke with was polite. However she could do NOTHING to help me nor was she concerned with addressing any of the issues I had. She only politely listened to me then told me I have to contact each individual showroom as they are (almost all) franchised. A quality franchise should and would have quality controls at the corporate level. You should lose your franchise if you are a habitual offender. In being fair and honest there were times when I felt I received great attention and service; twice. The first was when we signed up (shocker there). The second was when I placed my first order. After the order was place and money in their hands, customer service went out the door. Even as I tried to place the order for the couch and recliner, I got run around after run around! Their website is RIDICULOUS! It’s slow, cumbersome and very incomplete. We tried to order the couch online and couldn’t. So we thought we’d make a call but wait they are closed Sunday and Monday and their hours when they are open are roughly 12 – 8. So we wait to call (because I already know I won’t get a call back if I leave a voice message). Now I get the run around. Apparently our account suspended. WHAT?!?! It turns out a computer error on their part created all of this hassle which prevented us from ordering online and had suspended our account. That nice lady from the corporate office was very nice in letting me know I could contact the showroom I originally joined to discuss getting a refund of my membership. She politely informed me she doubted very highly they would offer me a refund. I was so anger I did not contact them and haven’t as of yet, but will as soon as I can calm down.

     I could detail more of the terrible experiences I have had with Direct Buy but will quit here. I would like to add that I believe some of the pro Direct Buy comments sound awfully fishy. They sound WAY too much like some corporate spokesperson. There may be a few legitimate pro Direct Buy people, but suspect those are very rare!

     Signed,
     A HUGELY disappointed member!!!

520. Diamondgirl_313 | 06-Apr-10 at 6:15 pm | Permalink

     I just left from Direct Buy, I had to lie my way out the door,I had to tell the man I had a emergency phone call, I got in my car and drove off! because I almost was forced into a contract. I said “I am not filling out any contract at this time” and he said well “I will do the filling out for you” I totally agree with Wendy above I am not building a house or building a luxurious castle either, I am renting a home so Direct Buy would be a waste of my money, I am looking for little things like a bedroom set or maybe some appliances here and there down the path maybe a mirror for my foyer. Direct Buy is not for everyone. I did see that they are pretty cheap on their stuff. I didn’t like how the sales person kept out the delivery charges and he didn’t mention to me about paying for sales taxes on the furniture either! When he got up from the table to get the catalogs I grabbed the pamplet and I READ IT while he was away. After I read about the hidden charges his sales pitch wasn’t so great. So I immediately got out of there. I did do the math I am better off getting the bedroom set from the furniture store there is no sales tax or delivery fees. Not to mention a $5000 membership fee!
     Direct Buy isn’t for little fishes like myself. :-]

521. Diamondgirl_313 | 06-Apr-10 at 6:28 pm | Permalink

     I’m sorry I wrote the membership fee wrongly It is 84 hundred and something. THAT IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!

522. Diamondgirl_313 | 06-Apr-10 at 6:42 pm | Permalink

     And another thing I forgot to add…When he pulled out the contract esp when it comes to my money; I am a quick reader I can read sideways, upside down ect.. LOL) little he knew that I looked the whole thing over before he mentioned the Contract word to me. I saw bank acct number and social security number… Those are RED FLAGS. Is this like Fitness U.S.A. scam?!!! if you sign the dotted line they garnish your wages or it goes on your credit report?!!!Then they are calling your grandma harassing her?!!!

     I need to know if I miss a payment are there any late fees or will there be any interest added upon late payed. What happens If I don’t pay the Annual fee? Will any of this show up on my Credit Report? What if I withdraw is there a cancellation fee. I know most places like this have that. This sounds way to shady too me.

523. Tanya | 07-Apr-10 at 1:40 pm | Permalink

     Thank you so much for all your postings! I had no idea that the membership fees for this company were so high. I received a call from them last night and an email with my 30 trial membership shortly after. After reading all the previous postings I have decided not to bother to even book an appointment. I emailed them today to have them remove me from their call and email list. I tried to call the number back that called me last night to to verbally tell them not to call anymore and the number they called from does not accept calls! That right there is enough to send me running. What legitimate business number does not accept calls? Anyway thanks for the heads up!

524. Diamondgirl_313 | 08-Apr-10 at 8:34 pm | Permalink

     Dear Sugarwalls or Sugarnuts,LOL We ALL know that you work for DirectBuy so get off the site, it’s not rocket science dah!

525. Diamondgirl_313 | 08-Apr-10 at 8:49 pm | Permalink

     A special thanks too Jill the link is very handy.

526. Duncan | 09-Apr-10 at 7:21 am | Permalink

     Marcy | 06-Mar-10 at 5:15 pm #509 – Marcy, that is the biggest load of crap I have read. Sales people will turn away a potential customer if they think they might not be a nice customer to deal with???? lol, seriously, lol.

     cooper4 | 03-Apr-10 at @518 – The trouble is, once you have added all the extra’s, including the time for pickup and costs etc.. that 300 saving suddenly becomes 100. You absolutely have to factor in time to the process. With best buy, you can walk out with the item immediately or just sign to get it delivered. The 2 items I did buy from DB took 5 weeks to arrive. I would rather spend a hundred dollars more and have the item today than wait 4-5 weeks.

527. Christina | 15-Apr-10 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

     I honestly don’t think they are so bad. They are a ligitimate company with ligitimate savings, and if you focus on the little things ‘poor customer service’ or ’sales people jumping down your throat’ then you might as well not shop anywhere. Don’t go buy a car, dont go to Walmart or any big retailer because you will get ZERO customer service. Half the time there arn’t even people on the floor in which you can ask questions. And the ‘hidden’ fees include things such as ‘paying the installers for their work’. If you choose to do your job for free, then maybe you have an arguement, but installers and manufactures have to be paid too. The membership costs quite a bit of money if you look at it in a single installment, OR, you can think of it as 3-5 thousand dollars over the course of 3 years. How much money do you spend on meals out, or movies or booze or toys for your kids in three years? Does 5k really put a dent in things over three years? We have been members of Direct Buy for years, they are a great company and I wish there was more like them. Do yourself a favour, and look for Christmas presents, shop for furniture, appliances, kitchen cabinets, you WILL save a lot of money in the long run, but if you are interested in coffee makers or blenders, don’t bother.

528. Barry B | 17-Apr-10 at 9:50 am | Permalink

     I am so glad I found this blog site before our scheduled appointment today! I may have wound up hurting someone had I actually gone to the presentation. I’m sure DirectBuy has some merit for certain consumers and I am equally sure I am not one of them! Far too many negative postings for this to be a good choice for average consumers. Thank you all for saving my time and keeping me out of jail!

529. W.Storms | 28-Apr-10 at 1:51 pm | Permalink

     Wow…just got out of one of their open houses today. I thought i was doing a good thing by going ahead and attending..blindsided by the pricetag as well as the fact I had to sign up for it immediately. I’m moving in with my partner, and we were looking to get some good deals here for furnishing…explained to the rep i couldnt commit to such a huge pricetag right now. He told me that it was now or never and that i could finance at a rate double my credit card…hah, right.. Told him i needed to go over everything with my partner and he snapped at me and said i was told specifically to bring them along. I’m not married to my partner, and under legal circumstances we arent a common law, so i put my status as single. It was a good idea I let him know that i am not committing right now, but he could expect my partner to sign up in the future if we decided it was worth it….I was then told to leave!!

     So yeah…if we ever do decide to do some heavy refinishing…i know my partner can definitely do it..lol

530. Robyn | 30-Apr-10 at 8:23 pm | Permalink

     Well, wished I’d researched Direct Buy before I spent $5000 to join! I’ve just completed a TOTAL house remodel/addition including 2-bathrooms, kitchen, windows, doors, flooring, hardware, etc……….The final straw for me today was the bid from DB to install the exact slab of granite I found for $50 MORE than a top fabricator I know from my area bid for the same slab! Are you kidding me????? I’ve been a member since 2/09 and haven’t even saved as much as I spent to join and I’ve spent $250k on the remodel! Got cabinets, windows, doors, hardware, appliances all elsewhere for less that their prices!

     I called James Valiquette, owner of DB in Westminster, CO today and what a jerk. He didn’t care about all the prices being higher, the false advertising or the very recent cost of granite countertops. Told me he had heard from his staff I was unhappy 6 mos ago, but he NEVER bothered to contact me because they don’t care! He made sure to tell me the contract says they don’t give refunds–well, I’m contacting everyone and filing complaints–including with the local news channel. Then I may sit outside showroom and warn other victims of this scam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

531. Jonas S | 03-May-10 at 11:59 am | Permalink

     The amount of astroturfing by DirectBuy employees here is amazing. The posts are nearly word-for-word the same on every site even remotely critical of DB. They are really dedicated to the scam.

532. kathy | 07-May-10 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

     Just found this website. I am a member of DB since late 2009. Here is my experience. If you are not building a home or doing major renovations this place is NOT for you. We are building a house, and we will recoup and save even with the $5,600 entrance fee. Some things are very little in savings and not worth it. Electronics especially. Very low margins on these things make it so Best Buy sales can match or come close – difference is I get to walk out the door with the product. I

     On other stuff like major appliances, windows, flooring, etc it was a huge savings. We even bought our lumber for our home through them. I will be buying over 250k of material, so, for us it was worth it. Its for this reason only that this place becomes worth it.

     As for the time consuming searching through catalogs. Its painful. I have helped this by walking in with my laptop and a wireless card to search the catalogs online to narrow my searching. That helps.

     The WORST – is the customer service. We use the Rocklin Ca store. They are horrible!!! When you have to get pricing on stuff from their suppliers, they never follow up with you, they never call you, the manager is a useless waste of skin. If I treated my customers with the same responsiveness, I wouldn’t have any customers.

     Again, if your doing major building it works, otherwise its not for you.

533. Melissa | 11-May-10 at 3:07 pm | Permalink

     I work for directbuy,its never been a scam nor a rip-off our company save many families money and help them to purchase more with there savings. Yes the memebership is an significate finanical investment and those who are Financally perpared will become memebers..Our company dont pressure anyone into becoming memebers its your choice there is no Hard sales. To be honest the ppl that are saying bad things about the company couldnt afford us anyway so of course there alittle upset.. But I learned along time to not allow another person decison to shape my choices. For example My girl friend and i went shoe shoppin and picked out the same shoe same size and color she took hers home and wore them but comlained hurt called me up ask if mines did the same I reply no so my girlfriend throw the shoes away.. Was warning me to do the same.. I now had those same shoes for three year and I love them.. Bottom lines is everything isnt for everybody..
     Take care all you nay-sayers Enjoy the retail marks
     for all you smart families out there congratulations on the Long term SAVING Im sure your friends are impressed..:)

534. Melissa | 11-May-10 at 3:11 pm | Permalink

     F.y.i Ive been a memeber for 7yrs before i became an employee; and have save or 15,000 on my entire home. with the money i saved I was able to take and extended vacation. Gotta love those Saving

535. Brad Schaff | 13-May-10 at 2:35 pm | Permalink

     I find it interesting all the things i continue to read about direct buy. I find it entertaining all the complaints and negativity i read from all the people that never became members and really have no idea about the savings and “scam” of Direct Buy. Dont you need to know about something before you can judge and give your oppinion? Thats the same as not voting at all in an election but still feeling as though you can complain as to who became president. LOL come on now really people? I have been a Direct Buy member for 2 years and continue to save money, tackle projects and have been more than satisfied with my experience. I also have to thank Kim and Francis at the woodlands location for always continueing to help me!!!

536. ex member | 14-May-10 at 8:50 am | Permalink

     My husband joined several years ago when we were building. IT WAS WORTH IT. We saved up to 30,000 in furniture, appliances, cabinets etc. We reclaimed our start up fee easily. Once we had everything bought, we ended the membership. plain and simple. bottom line – if you aren’t remodeling or building -it would not be worth it.

537. Blank Clothing | 17-May-10 at 1:31 pm | Permalink

     I’m glad someone actually called up to investigate this stuff. I just don’t trust that kind of stuff.

538. Carl | 19-May-10 at 11:15 am | Permalink

     If you are going to remodel and want to get tons of great unique stuff, spend the $4k on a trip to Bali or Philippines, hand pick everything you want for cheap, spend $4k on a 40 ft container, furnish nearly everything if a home for pennies on the dollar, get a ‘free’ trip out of it by the time you are done, sell anything else to fill a container if you can’t make 40′ of stuff you need. This is the way to do it. Screw any brick and mortar scam like Direct Buy.

539. Jake | 21-May-10 at 2:52 am | Permalink

     Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You for that site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

540. Dont_Do_It | 30-May-10 at 5:37 pm | Permalink

     Joined 3 years ago and would never do it again. VERY DECEIVING. Maybe somne people can make it work if doing a TOTAL remodel or custom new build but average consumer will lose money. Their shipping is high, everything gets taxed (not always the case when buying online) and you STILL have to pick up from their warehouse or pay evenb more for delivery.

     We have tried to purchase no less than 18 things including appliances, sinks, faucets, exercise equipment, and furniture. In every case except one, we were able to find it 5-10% cheaper online, sometimes 15% cheapere when DB’s tax and shipping is added.

     They also do NOT have all lines available – thre times we tried to buy a model from a mmanufacturer that they claimed “we offer everything from Mfg XXX” only to be told latere “except for that model” (e.g., ICON series from Electrolux; specific weight bench from Nautulus)

     One purchase was great – Stanley dining room set. Even with shipping and extra delivery fee from independent compnay, still saved about $3,000. Not nearly enought to cover our $5,600 membership!

541. Been There | 01-Jun-10 at 9:25 am | Permalink

     DONT DO IT!!!! Take your 5 grand and use it on the savings you`ll get at Conn’s or Lowes,Home depot. They offer package deals if you ask for them and they deal on the price if you ask. Direct Buy is all based on SUGGESTED Retail not what it list for in the store. I have not found one thing and I did all the book wasting time. Their are online dealers who offer free shipping unlike Direct Buy who jacks up Handling and shipping fees. Save your time and Money go do the real searching and find the right deal yourself.

542. Anita | 01-Jun-10 at 10:49 am | Permalink

     Not worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!
     In the 5 years we where a member with direct buy, we maybe broke even. But with the choices only being the high end products, too high membership start up fee, not all brands avaiblable, never being able to get a cataloge and the WORST customer service we have ever seen, it is not worth your money or sanity !!

     You are better off to look at the sales at reg. stores. With way better customer service and with sales reps that don’t blame you for not paying even though you can prove you did (yes a little bit of bitterness there).

     I wish I found these blogs before we signed up.

543. Edward | 02-Jun-10 at 6:43 am | Permalink

     “Our company dont pressure anyone into becoming memebers its your choice there is no Hard sales. ”

     No hard sale? Just now or you will be banned from returning for 7 years. If you do not call that a hard sale, then I would love to know what you do class a hard sale as..

     As someone has stated, their listed ’savings’ are based on full retail price which few people ever pay.

     If DB had a great website with fully functioning search and everything listed with prices, then *maybe* people would be able to save more money.. but to go into the store and spend hours with catalogs for every item is not a great way to spend time. I believe this is the whole point in how DB makes it difficult for people to use them and therefore even attempt to save money.

     I recently stocked an entire kitchen and did 100% of the shopping on Amazon.com. I had access to reviews, comparable products and prices and free 2 day shipping. I could never have used DB for that 1500 I ended up spending.

544. bill t | 11-Jun-10 at 5:37 pm | Permalink

     Wow, some people are really gullible and stupid. In a world where anyone can shop the best deal on the internet, some poor fools are shelling out $5,000.00 for nothing. I went and was pressured into signing and told them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. A friend bought a couch (ouch) and then we compared the price online. Guess What? Yep, we were able to beat DirectBuy’s price.

545. Chick | 16-Jun-10 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

     I was doing my due dilligence research before going to an appointment with DirectBuy. I have been feeling kind of sick about going to a presentation in case it was like some of the high pressure ones in Mexico and Hawaii. If even half of the people who have posted here are right, I think I’ll go with my first instinct and be a no-show. Even if the ‘club’. is worth it financially, high pressure sales are wrong.

546. krys | 21-Jun-10 at 11:23 am | Permalink

     So, my husband and I went to the open house this past Saturday. We are buying a multi-dwelling property in about 6 – 12mths and we are planning on getting into the real estate business. The start up cost was a SHOCK to say the least (lol). The guy that served us was a little pushy and we almost walked out, but we were thinking long term.

     We are newly weds and currently rent and need EVERYTHING including a baby room, in our current apartment and will need alot of raw material in our fixer upper (for sure).

     I HATE PRESSED WOOD, and have been looking for QUALITY furniture, but cannot afford the quality prices *smile*. I came home, researched some of the stuff I wanted (bedroom, living room, and babyroom), created my excel spread sheet (I’m an account by day) and did the numbers. Just in those 3 rooms we recoup the sign up fee. What I have noticed is the electronics and appliances are not were the savings are, it’s in the high end furniture and the newer / avant guard models of electronics. We (meaning I) really want to get a 3D TV and the prices right now are CRAZY, if I’m to buy it today from DB, we would save 2750 on just that TV!

     Yes, looking at catalogues is annoying to say the least, but when renovating and choosing cabinets, flooring, windows, light fixtures etc, I would not want to pick this stuff out on the internet. I want to see it, touch the quality, imagine it my home… My husband works in the construction industry so he knows alot about pricing and the flooring is what sold him. For me it was the furniture manufacturers, I’ve been looking at most of them before hand and knew the pricing and was taken a back by the difference in pricing.

     The thing I will say is; do not finace the fee it’s NOT WORTH IT!!! DB is worth it if you starting out in life, a home owner looking to remodel, have expensive taste like me lol and already have some ins on the remodeling. If you are the average renter only looking to refurnish your place or buying new stuff every few years, you a WAISTING YOUR MONEY!!

     I already for-see frustration (delivery being on the top of my list), but we will deal with it.

547. Roger | 22-Jun-10 at 12:03 pm | Permalink

     In response to Krys-
     I wish you well in your endeavors with DirectBuy. When you get the wrong item or something that’s broken (because they bought it broken & tried to repair it) and they won’t give you a refund or help replace it, I hope you don’t come crying to this blog. We all warned you. Just wait until you see the service & delivery charges. They may have a slightly lower price on some items, if you can find what you want…..often times, they will be selling older version merchandise not the newest models or don’t carry the popular manufacturer’s lines. Once you add tax and your membership fee, you’re out of luck. Sorry……sounds like you work for DB and are trying hard to defend them.

548. Derek | 25-Jun-10 at 11:26 am | Permalink

     There are definitely savings to be had on the higher end stuff, but who has the money to buy top quality items even with the savings? Why even bother, buy cheaper and save the money and do something better than plow it into furniture for the house.

     It is a sign of today’s society that there are people that must have the best stuff and absolutely can’t stand something like pressed wood. Having lived in other countries, being picky about this stuff just blows my mind.

     I honestly don’t know how people have the time to spend searching the catalog, and you don’t get to see or touch anything.

     You don’t “need EVERYTHING” .. and things you do really need, you can buy 2nd hand or cheaper items.

549. lb | 02-Jul-10 at 6:21 pm | Permalink

     Glad I came here, just googled directbuy. I am cancelling my appointment. They din’t give me any other info than to just make an appointment. Should have known.

550. DirectBuy info | 08-Jul-10 at 12:44 pm | Permalink

     DirectBuy has changed much of their policies since this blog was first started. Click on my name to view their newest policies.

551. Roger | 09-Jul-10 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

     Although DirectBuy’s policies may have changed, their high-pressure sales, intimidation tactics, rude staff & substandard overpriced merchandise & high membership + outrageous shipping & handling charges all still the same…. HORRIBLE! Buyer beware, be VERY aware. Google them, they are scum.

552. Mharley | 15-Jul-10 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

     WE’RE TRYING TO GET OUT THE CONTRACT.. THEY REPORT TO YOUR CREDIT. EVERYTHING BETA FINANCE IS TALKING ABOUT…IT WASN’T DISCUSSED IN THE SELLERS ONE ON ONE WITH US. HE COMPLETLY LIED TO US. HE DIDN’T MENTION A 3 DAY REMORSE PERIOD. HE DIDN’T SAY IT WAS ALOAN. HE EVEN SAID THE PAPER WAS ONLY FOR THEIR FILES. NO CREDIT CHECK. HE EVEN WROTE ON OUR PAPER ANOTHER GUYS NAME. AND THE GUYS NAME WHOSE ON THE PAPER HE QUIT TODAY. JUST RIDICULOUS. HE EVEN WROTE ON OUR CONTRACT DO NOT REPORT. THEY ARE A SCAM. THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY. WE EVEN DELIVERED A BEDROOM SUIT, THAT TOOK 4 MONTHS. NEVER AGAIN. BASTARDS… ITS OKAY THOUGH. PEOPLE PLEASE… DON’T DO IT. WHEN YOU’RE WATCHING THAT PRESENTATION, THE SELLER’S ARE BEING RECORDED. AFTER THAT THEY TELL YOU ANYTHING.

553. Rocket | 18-Jul-10 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

     A friend of mine had a membership and was always bragging that he was getting such a good deal. Well, we compared identical models and here is what we found.

     Whirlpool Dryer – Best Buy $369.00, Futureshop $299.98
     LG 43″ Plasma – Best Buy $827.00, Audio 2000 $798.00
     GE over the range Microwave – Best Buy $380.00, Sears $469.99 but they said they would match Best Buy’s price.

     Don’t be a fool. Save your money.

554. desinerd | 19-Jul-10 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

     We went to their “open house” last weekend and the experience was exactly how other people described it. They quickly showed us through their showroom but didn’t allow us to see anything in detail.

     Next they took us to the presentation room and showed us infomercial and some example of how much certain items cost in stores and in DirectBuy. They asked us not to ask any questions until the end.

     For all the examples they showed us, I realized I could find those items for less myself. I can spend few minutes on sites like Deals2buy or Slickdeals and find a better deal. They gave example a 55″ LCD TV (Mitsubishi) which the store was setting for $2100 and directbuy was selling for $1700. I looked online and found TV with similar specs (but LG) for $1400. Same thing with the fridge. They gave us an example of a 22CuFt french door fridge (Whirlpool) which was sold by retailers for $2200 and by DirectBuy for $1600. Later I found a similar fridge (Samsung) on clearance at BestBuy for $1500. They also showed a dining table and chairs set which was sold at retailers for $12000. What was funny that they asked people to guess the DirectBuy price and someone said $2000. I found that a little funny because the DirectBuy price was $3100. I could have found a similar set in an outlet store for $1000.

     They also have shipping and handling charges (which by the way do not cover shipping to your house) and delivery charges (unless you want to haul your fridge and sofa in your own truck). Compare that to BestBuy, Lowes etc which either do free delivery or charge a very small flat fee for the same thing)

     Then they went into showing that an average family that makes $60000 a year spends $15000 of that on things they sell at DirectBuy. I don’t know about other people, but I certainly do not spend one-forth of my salary every year on furniture, appliances etc.

     To sum up, it is good for people who are not savvy enough to use deals sites or Google shopping, people who buy very high end stuff and people who shop a lot.

555. Duncan | 21-Jul-10 at 6:59 am | Permalink

     Desinerd highlights exactly why they pressure you into signing after seeing the presentation and telling you that you will be banned from joining for 7 years if you leave the building without paying.

     All of the items they show can be found elsewhere at the directbuy price, if not cheaper, and comes with better protection, delivery and warranty, and you can get it same day instead of waiting 4-6 weeks.

556. Steve | 22-Jul-10 at 8:49 pm | Permalink

     Direct Buy is a blatant scam! Unless you are building a house you are going to lose more money than you save. Dont’ believe their MSRP pricing. Very few businesses sell at MSRP. The actual prices are usually lower at most stores. They will show you the $200 slab of countertop granite that seems to be the only $200 slab of granite in existence. In reality, it will cost thousands more once you purchase what you want, but you have to pay a $4500 membership fee to find this out. Don’t fall for the Better Business Bureau plaques all over the walls either. The Better Business Bureau is as much of a scam as Direct Buy.

557. Nasty Yasty | 25-Jul-10 at 11:01 am | Permalink

     According to:

     IN RE: DIRECTBUY, INC., MARKETING AND SALES PRACTICES LITIGATION
     MDL No. 2132
     JUDICIAL PANEL ON MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION
     682 F. Supp. 2d 1349, February 5, 2010

     The following federal level class action cases will not be consolidated:

     Phil Ganezer, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 2:08-8666, Central District of California

     Christopher Wilson, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:09-590, District of Connecticut

     Brian Vance v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:09-1360, Southern District of Indiana

     Jamila Swift, et al. v. DirectBuy, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1:09-4067, Eastern District of New York

     Directbuy is subject to 4 Federal Class action lawsuits and at least one State level class action lawsuit over its marketing and sales practices.

     Do you think this is a good time to become a member or a franchisee?

558. Kim | 27-Jul-10 at 10:07 am | Permalink

     1. I am a Direct Buy member in Ontario, Canada. Most of the comments I am reading on this site seem to be from people who are not members. I can?t believe some of the things they are saying. They know nothing about Direct Buy. Direct Buy is not a scam. To quote Marci above ?Direct Buy is not for everybody, it?s only for people who are patient and smart enough to realize a good deal. You need to be patient because you need to be able to do your own research?.
     2. I have only been a member less than a year. I was planning on renovating my home and my brother, who was already a member, filled me in on the benefits of membership and suggested I join. I was pretty prepared when I went to the membership seminar but the membership fee was so high it was pretty scary ? I almost walked out of the presentation ? but I did sign up because I knew it would be worth it for me.
     3. Since I joined I have purchased appliances, granite, flooring, faucets, blinds, and door knobs (to name a few things) and so far I have saved over $8,000 dollars as compared to if I had bought these items at retail stores. I have made up the cost of my membership fee. That was the one thing I wanted to be able to do ? recoup my membership. I have done that and more.
     4. Yes, it?s a pain to have to drive to the center. Yes, you have to do a lot of the research work yourself. For instance, I knew I wanted GE appliances and I viewed and priced them at various stores at retail prices. I then went to Direct Buy and ordered them out of a catalogue and saved $1,000?s of dollars in total. I needed a new sink. I checked out the retail prices, and then went to Direct Buy. The sink I wanted was not in the manufacturer?s catalogue at Direct Buy. I asked a customer service rep if I could get the sink and she checked with the manufacturer and they said they would sell me the sink I wanted, even though it wasn?t in the Direct Buy catalogue. For everything I bought at Direct Buy I checked out the prices in the stores first and, so far, Direct Buy has been cheaper for everything.
     5. No, I have not purchased everything from Direct Buy. For instance I wanted to buy some bathroom light fixtures and picked Kichler products. These come from the U.S. The catalogue price was great but by the time the U.S. exchange, duty, shipping, and taxes were added, the price went from $300 to $500. It was still cheaper to buy through Direct Buy but, because I was so angry with all the extra fees, I decided to buy from a retailer. I paid more, but I walked out of the retail store with the product in my hands instead of having to wait 2-3 weeks for the product to be delivered from the U.S. to Canada. You have to do your homework with Direct Buy. You have to take everything into account before you make a purchase, including final price, delivery, return policy, etc.
     6. I do have a few complaints with Direct Buy but, so far, nothing major that would make me walk away from my membership. Mostly these are things that could be corrected with good management policies.
     1. Slow delivery times. Most things come within 1-2 weeks but sometimes you can be waiting a month or longer. I waited 4 months for hardwood flooring.
     2. Delivery services. Many of the manufacturers will deliver right to your door but a lot will just delivery to the Direct Buy warehouse. Then you have to figure out a way to get the stuff to your house. If it is big or heavy items, I have no idea how I would get it. With my flooring I was lucky because my contractor picked it up. What will I do when I am no longer renovating and he is gone?
     3. You only have 3 days to pick up your merchandise at their warehouse before they start charging storage fees. 3 days isn?t a heck of a lot of time when you work Monday to Friday and you only have Saturdays to pick up your merchandise.
     4. You have to make a special appointment if you want to pick up your items on a Saturday. So far I have been lucky but try getting a person on the phone at the Warehouse in order to make that appointment. Almost impossible.
     5. They don?t accept cash. (Huh? How stupid.)
     6. They will accept VISA, but only if you pay an extra service charge. That?s a rip off and should be illegal.
     7. Their web site has very poor response times. It?s so slow I sometimes forget what I am looking for while I am waiting for the screens to redisplay! LOL!
     8. The web site does not contain all the items and manufacturers that can be ordered through the store. It gives you an idea but you still have to go to the store to see the catalogues and what is available.
     9. You can?t order on-line from their web site. It takes me half an hour to drive to their store so if I could order on-line it would save me tons of time. I?m getting tired of making that long trip out there just to look through catalogues. I would rather let my fingers do the walking??
     7. In summary, I think Direct Buy has been a good investment for me and well worth the cost of membership. Just remember that with Direct Buy you have to do your leg work, and don?t be in too much of a hurry!

559. Roger | 28-Jul-10 at 9:40 am | Permalink

     In response to Kim:
     I am a member and have never found DirectBuy to give me a better deal. It’s a scam and an overpriced hassle. If you read this site and many others, a lot of the respondents are members and unhappy ones at that. It sounds like you are a franchise owner or from corporate. How many “members” would actually take the time to defend this horrible company. It’s a ripoff & I’m still going to warn as many people as I can to stay away. If DirectBuy were such a good deal they wouldn’t have to employ intimidation tactics during their open house and they’d gladly refund members if they were unhappy with their services. If they were above board, they would ensure everyone was satisfied instead of hiding, lying and taking money and running like cowards.

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