Don't make our mistake

Complaint

-1
Polly Globe
Country: United States
We attended their presentation and after some calculation decided to pay for the membership which was $4990. We wanted to update our kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as bedroom furniture. We put down about $1000, and the rest was financed through their lender Beta Finance.

A month later we started planning our purchases and realized we were about to pay more by buying through them than we would otherwise. What the don't tell you on their presentation is that while you save about 10% on furniture they add 8 % handling charge in addition to 7% tax, and that doesn't include shipping.

I am now trying to get our membership money back. Do not become a member! Buy from other stores.

Comments

  • 0
    URGENT RESPONSE TO T'S UP
    Response from Trudy above to T's up
    Time's not up!!! Please comment at the end of the file, I will try to help
  • 0
    T's Up
    Trudy - do you have a sample for the letter, and I will write letter ASAP.

    My husband called and they said Chris is not in the office - Of Course.  Let me know.  Thanks!
  • 0
    Bj in Ut
    Trudy
    I just wanted to thank you for all the info you and the others have put on this web site. Time was not on my side tho I wated to long and am paying for it. The bbb is no help nor is consumer protection. There on the side of the big company, iam waiting to see if i can tag along on a law suit.

    But really thank you and everyone for all the help and keep going!!!!!
    Thank you Thank you
    Bj
  • 0
    Di in CA
    I followed this thread somewhat -- but what I really want to do is post yet ANOTHER complaint about DB.  We got sucked into the membership and immediately began to wonder why we joined.  They made it look like you were saving money -- but NO!  In fact we went into the store in Bakersfield to order a new fridge and a pellet stove.  When the sales rep pulled up the prices of the fridge there was one on there that was cheaper than their price.  When I mentioned it she didn't respond.  So I took the info to research later.  The next item was the stove.  She never heard of a pellet stove so it took a while to get the right book.  They only had one and it was the lowest quality stove on the market. We also looked at furniture -- everything I liked was dicontinued.  We left.
    Later on I looked into the fridge and placed the order with DB.  When I got the PO it said to pay the non-refundable price of the fridge and sales tax with a credit card.  The lines where it says handling and freight had zero's and it would take 30 days to get to their warehouse!! I called and left a message for explanation -- she never called me back.  Yesterday I went to HomeDepot got the same fridge with a one year warranty, free delivery and set up AND a 10% discount.  The total price was LESS than their so called bargain.  I too asked for my money back -- no one called.  They are a rip off and I would shout it from the roof tops to NEVER buy from them.  THis was the worst impulsive mistake I have made.
  • 0
    T's Up
    SENT CERTIFIED LETTER WHICH READ:

    June 30, 2010                            

    Owner DBDN, LLC.
    611 East SH 121
    Building 3, Suite 220
    Coppell, TX  75019

    Dear Mr. Chris Beile,

    Our names are __________ and ____________.  On Sunday, June 27, 2010, we signed a Silver Membership Agreement contract with DirectBuy to be financed over 36 months at $100.88 a month after a $190 down payment was put on my credit card on June 28th.

    I am requesting a rescission of the 3-year Membership Agreement contract, a full refund of the $190.00 down payment, and confirmation in writing that I do not owe any money to you and/or Versa Finance Company whom the Retail Installment Contract is held.  We will also be sending Versa Finance Company a copy of this Certified Letter.

    We are rescinding our Membership based upon the following:

    On Tuesday, June 29, 2010 we called, under a 24 hour business period, 2 times at 3:45pm and 4:15pm and requested a revoke of our Membership Agreement.  A request has been made under the 72 hour cooling down period.   I herby request a revoke of our membership contract under your company policy of 72 hours.  C.T. Miller responded to our call, however he was unable to do anything about, and would have to contact his manager Jesse and have him call us.  After numerous attempts yesterday and today to get in touch with Jesse, we are left with a letter as our final form of communication and it is observed by we the buyers that our attempt at communication is being screened.

    We explained our financial situation to CT Miller at the time of our visit, and feel that the pressure to purchase and save money with no time to compare prices & check into the terms (not written in the contract), and with no ability to access “OUR NEW MEMBERSHIP” in a timely fashion to compare prices has not been honored by your agreement.  We feel we were put under UNDUE PRESSURE to purchase this membership.  

    For the reasons enumerated above, which violates the protection we have under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DPTA); most notably clause #5, 7, 11, & 23, and the 72 hour cooling down period, and you the seller’s company policy, we are exercising our right to cancel all contracts with you and demand a rescission of the 3-year Membership Agreement contract, a full refund of the $190 down payment and confirmation in writing that we do not owe any money to you and/or any companies to whom you may try to submit the Retail Installment Contract.

    WE the buyer requests a full refund within 10 days, by mail, or reversal of our credit transaction.
    WE the buyer requests a written confirmation of cancelation of our DirectBuy membership and contract.
    WE the buyer will no longer accept any communication from DirectBuy, other than in writing, after the receipt of this letter has been verified.
    WE the buyer will contact the Better Business Bureau in attempt of resolving this conflict.

    Respectfully,


    XXXXXXXXXX – Buyer                        XXXXXXXXX – Co-Buyer

    CC:  Versa Finance Company – Bossier City, LA  71171-5190


    I flipped thru quite a few pages and did a hodge podge of items previously mentioned.  Hopefully I covered just about everything.  I faxed a copy to both DB and the Finance company around 3 pm.  Around 6 pm we got a call from Jesse on the cell phone.  Didn't answer though.  So wehre do we go from here?  Do we wait the 10 days and see if we get a return on our deposit?
  • 0
    TRUDY
    HI BJ
     I know that we have corresponded before but I can't recall your details,
    if you would like to refresh my memory, maybe I can still help you
      If you joined less than a year ago, I always encourage those scammed,
    to fight back by collecting proof of cheaper written prices
    & SENDING REGISTERED MAIL
    ]Request a RESCISION  of the contract
    -Refer to your CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OR UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT
    ...false claims of exaggerated prices that do not exist
      claims to have qualities and benefits it does not have,
      put under undue pressure to join also,
      If you are paying a Finance co., then you were high pressured into a loan with outrageous interest charges, absolutely hypocritical, when you add up all the interest charges, you could Never Save Money...
    ***in most cases, if db used proper procedures to qualify their potential victims, most people would never qualify for their loan
    & db would have to let people leave,  
    but they move in like vultures and won't take no for an answer,

    iF THE contract states No Refunds, No cancellations,
    it is against the law, because it forces you to give up your legal right to make a complaint
    -Ask for a written response within 10 business days of receiving your letter
    -include that you will not accept telephone calls & will not accept e-mails

    PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LET'S KEEP WARNING AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 0
    Trudy
    Hi Di in CA
    When did you join?   I just wrote some detailed in to Bj that I hope will help you, too.  Let me know any questions or comments that you have.
  • 0
    trudy
    HI T'S UP
    YOU had me worried when you asked for a form letter because I thought you might let your 3 days run out,
    but I am relieved because you stayed in your time limit,
    I suggest waiting til July 16th & send a Fax reminding them the date that they recieved your letter (confirm with post office)
    -you requested a written response & a rescision within 10 bus. days of rec't of your Registered Letter
    -you have not heard from them & thank them in advance for a timely response,...  Any questions, let me know.....
  • 0
    duped2
    We too, fell for DB's bait = hook, line & sinker for the amount of $5,490. DB's "exclusive buying club" (sickening). the fall of 2009.  I've found at least two items with proof of the pricing; they're less than DB's.  What an ordeal and we were total fools to take that contract and pay the very day of the presentation!  What great salesmanship we were put under.    
    I'm now putting a letter together and will try and find three other items less than DB.  
     HAS Anyone Else, here in the States found comparable items less than DB's you can refer me to for my letter to my franchise owner?  Thx for your attention. hopefully response...
  • 0
    Trudy
    HOW can we help you if you don't say where you live?
    EVERY State has different stores, different prices & different purchasing options.
    No price is ever the same & sales always have different dates & time limits are different.  DB prices change from State to State & EVEN prices in different Cities are diff't too.
      YOU HAVE TO BE 100% accurate with date time price u.p.c. codes, brand names, descriptions, something might only be on sale in one Colour,
    limited supplies....  ONE DAY ONLY...

    PHOTOCOPY OR PRINT OUT ALL THE SPECIFICS ON EVERY ITEM,
    MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE WHOLE PRICE FROM DB,
    INCLUDING:     -DB'S HIDDEN SHIPPING/HANDLING FEES IN WRITING
             DB OFTEN REFUSES TO PUT THE DETAILS IN WRITING
    THAT is how you know they are scammers,
    they don't put in writing the fact that you have to pick up your merch. at their warehouse either---------your proof that you can't save money or time-
    -hire a private co. to p/up  & deliver to your home

    The other costs are the high pressure, high interest loan they add to the bill....
    \hope this helps
  • 0
    TRUDY
    Hi everyone who has been scammed by DirectBuy -DirectLie!!!!!
    Please read through the last few pages.
    There have been many responses to help others,
    but some moron keeps repeating some moronic spam-----6 times now!!!!!!!
    Please help me by clicking on the red exclamation symbol,

    & ask for the blogs to be removed.
    Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!They cannot stop us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 0
    Trudy
    there are a lot of good responses from p. 83 onward, someone keeps posting some stupid spam to ruin our site, please help me by reporting it
    thanks everyone
  • 0
    duped2
    Thk U thk u thk u for still attending to this your site!  the moral support is priceless.  I did not mention Tampa FL because some posts' content had me paranoid to reveal that. Our location seems to have their bases covered pretty well, like a 3-day cancel policy; they will & do call back, they actually have fair to good customer service but everything in our contract is all on their side.  We've bought 2 items and that's it. One was in their showroom and the other arrived within 3 or 4 weeks.  Standard S&H fee plus taxes.  That ordered item we later saw online, free shipping for about $55 less. Our DB location does their homework. They apparently have complied with the rules and restriction laws (as far as I know). So, so disgusted we spent so much money for DB membrshp without doing our homewk.  stupid stupid stupid.  oh well..Since I haven't put all my info together for the letter to them yet I certainly don't want the owner to have a heads up..  I'm on the war path.  so to speak..  It's going to take tons of work to search for prices, proofs and comparisons to DB's offers but I hope to try.... sorry so long-winded, goodnight..
  • 0
    Roger
    Thanks Trudy for looking out for the site & hopefully getting rid of the spam. Yes, it's annoying and off topic.
  • 0
    Roger
    I also sent an email to "Contact Us" on the Site Menu (above & to your right) Maybe the webmaster will clear these posts.
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI ROGER!!
    IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU STILL STICKING IT OUT HERE!!!!!!
    IT'S A MUCH TOUGHER BATTLE THAN I THOUGHT, PEOPLE DO NOT SEEN TO BE AS UNITED AS I HAD HOPED, BUT THAT ISN'T A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO STOP US!!!!!

    I SWEAR THAT I JUST SAW A RESPONSE FROM YOU, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT GOT ERASED WITH THE ALL OF THE SPAM SCAM,
    I KEPT REPORTING IT, LIKE I HAVE WITH OTHER HORRIBLE COMMENTS IN THE PAST,
    & am very happy to say, that this site is still going strong,
    & the owner of this site is so powerful
    & I am so greatful for the power that the site owner has allowed us,
    it is so very valuable, that is why I try to help strangers if I can,
    where ever I am, if I can...
    it's a small world & I may have helped the owner, somewhere on my travels,
      that's my philosophy input for the month........

    Anyway, keep up the good work, Roger!!!!!!!!!!
    talk to you soon........
  • 0
    Roger
    Go Trudy!!
    You continue to impress me with your generosity in helping others. I know people might not be seemingly united, however, this is a big world wide web! It seems there are a few that keep coming back and commenting. Really, more people read than comment, so I KNOW we are making a BIG impact! I am sure people are listening to their friends, relatives and co-workers horror stories. Remember that if you tell two friends and I tell two friends and so on, exponentially I believe we will win this fight. DB is going down in the end. I am so thankful for this website and truly appreciate the fact that DB hasn't bought them out or threatened to sue.

    Thanks for the suggestion to report. I did the same as well everywhere I saw that SPAM. I also sent a message on the Contact Us portion of the site menu. I am very pleased that they took all of the information that wasn't on topic off. I will follow-up with a thank you.

    You are truly a special person Trudy and I (along with many) are grateful for your service to this community. Keep up the OUTSTANDING work!!! You are the BEST!
  • 0
    Conni Difuntorum
    Direct Buy verbally misrepresented what they could do for me. I was very misled with the product they were selling. I have not been able to access vendors, have had trouble navigating their web, the prices have not been the lowest. I wasted about $3900. I asked for a refund and was told that it will NEVER happen, because I signed on the dotted line. I tried to resolve this and was insulted by a team member their.
  • 0
    Fed Up
    Does anyone have any information on the current financial health of Directbuy?  I figured they would have been out of business by now.  They still have to sell enough memberships to keep paying their leases and employees.
  • 0
    duped2
    I believe the Tampa FL store is thriving.  the owner seems to have all his bases covered.  they carry hundreds and hundreds of items.  I've purchased two items but found Sears had the same thing $3 more but we chould p/u there not the warehouse of DB.  we save S/H on that item because it was in showrm.  Second purchase came within 3 - 4 weeks but we found the same item online cheaper than DB.  Does anyone in Tampa want to picket tAMPA'S  store one SAT a.m. when they schedule their presentations?? I think that's the way to go here, finding price comparisons and writing the ltrs, etc isn't my forte'.  We were duped sept '09.  I need resolution.. Out $5,490!

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