Don't make our mistake
Complaint
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.
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
can you please me the two letters you sent. My email address is gmtor2006@gmail.com
Thanks
can email me the letter you sent to DB. My email is gmtor2006@gmail.com
Thanks
what is the result? what was DB's response and how did you handle it?
U am in a vert similar situation.
Regards
I signed on late night at 10 PM on Friday July 23rd paying fully $ 5760 in 3 payments in Ontario, Canada. I thought over it all saturday and after coming across this site decided to cancel it. They were closed on Sunday and m,onday. As per the suggestions made by you I sent a registered letter to the owner on Monday Noon. Today it is Tuesday. Should I send them an email, call or go in personally. My situation is similar to Dawn's and Bex's. I did not use any of their service nor schedule an orientation. sent them the letter within 3 days. When I showed the quote for the windows, first the manager did a quick calculation and said I'll save 1,650 $. I asked him to give me a written quote that's when he called the supplier and redid the calculation. This time first he came to close my quote then when I said there is no savings he called back the supplier. This time the manager told me the supplier will beat my quote by 10%. when I asked for it in writing, he wrote a note in his business card that db quote will be approximately $600 less than the original quote. The manager also made a copy of the quote. As I walked out, the store was closed and we three (myself, rep and the manager) were the only ones left, the manager told me there is another supplier coming on Sunday and he will ask for more discount and save me $ 1,000. First I don't understand how a supplier can quote for 11 windows just getting the total square feet of all the windows, without taing a look at the status of my current windows to estimate the labor cost. I am suspicious of the quality of the windows and the labor. I do not want to go with direct buy. I am worried they would claim 3 days cooling off period does not apply and not provide the refund. should i complain to CPA right away or wait for DB's response.
Thanks
Yes, I have contacted both local & national media with press releases on a few occasions. I either received no response or we'll add this to our files & thanks for your interest letter. Advertisers pay big bucks to the stations and the reporters shy away from stories like these. I have not followed up with any of the reporters who have already done stories. Perhaps someone could do that or forward their stories on to the national media (20/20, Nightline, 60 Minutes, etc.) Anyway, keep up the pressure. We're sure to break DB sometime......
Why do you ask? I was thinking about doing this very same thing in a big way ? Where are you located??? I'm in PA. Let me know......
I am in san diego area.
a few lines above I mention the local stations reporters I contacted.
no real action from any of them.
if everyone that ready this board would complain, I think it would increase the odds of getting db some bad recognition
YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!!!!!
MY RULES ARE ----NEVER EVER USE E-MAIL, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF AN E-MAIL----IT'S NOT A SECURE METHOD OF COMMUNICATION
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NEVER DISCUSS ANYTHING OVER THE PHONE--THEY TAPE & MANIPULATE
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I WOULDN'T GO IN PERSON EITHER, your not safe on their turf,
One of the complaints on this site, was that they delivered their letter
in person, & THEY were told to go home & rewrite the letter because they would not accept the facts that they stated,
1 of the stall method by db to confuse & manipulate & intimidate...
REMEMBER that they conned you by verbal lies & they will bombard you with the lies again because the contract even states
"...not bound by any verbal statements........."
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SO, I suggest that you call the post ofc. to confirm the date that your letter was received & send a FAX ...to confirm that db letter was rec'd by them, & you are expecting a written response within 10 bus. days of rec't of your letter,
in the fax, also state that
-you will not accept e-mails & you will not accept phone calls to discuss any matters,
-expecting confirmation in writing of the cancellation
-& full refund
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DB does not have any legit arguments that they can use,
they have to give you your money back,
google: CBC MARKETPLACE THE PRICE CUT PROMISE
VIDEO INVESTIGATION OF DB ON MAR. 27, 2009
(about 12 minutes into the video)
BARRIE, ONTARIO, DB OWNER, STATED THAT DB CORP WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF PRINTING A NEW CONTRACT, INC. A 3 DAY COOLING-OFF PERIOD
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The marketplace info can be used as your last resort, for any resistance from db......
Don't give up!!!!!!
I will try to give you some hope, if I can,
it is much more difficult since you joined almost 2 years ago,
but you must make a formal complaint in writing, prefer registered mail,
****you need to include written proof of cheaper prices,
with some research, I promise that you will definitely find some,
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...this is the only situation where I can suggest using e-mail,
just to get db to confirm their u.p.c. #, & total price,
ask for the shipping, handling...
...they will co-operate as long as you don't challenge them,
until you get some evidence
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The other idea is to look into some credit councelling,
most are non-profit, & it may be an option to help you with your job losses
***unfortunately the law usually does not have sympathy for financial hardship, so it is very important not to miss a payment, but they may consider a reduction in the payment, (UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIGHT BACK WITH PROOF OF CHEAPER PRICES.....
IT'S FREE TO INQUIRE, & IF YOU DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, YOU WON'T GET HELP,
GOOD LUCK & PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!
I'M SO GLAD TO STILL SEE THAT YOU ARE STILL HERE,
I TOOK A LONG BREAK, BUT I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO CATCH UP!!!
I hope that you & your family are well.
there should be some info that you can use to help you,
When did you join & have you sent registered mail?
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DEMAND LETTER SPECIFIC TO TEXAS?
TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT DEMAND LETTER
Hopefully you can use it, or at least use it for a guideline,
let me know where you are in your complaint,
Don't give up!!!!!
I will find out what page the law suits are on & respond shortly...
IT still shocks me, how hard they "work" to scam the public,
It still makes me as sick & angry as the first day I found this site,
over a year ago,
I WILL NOT LET ANYONE GIVE UP THE FIGHT, IF I CAN HELP IT!!!!!!
MY guideline has currently been forwarded to p. 44,
when people add new posts, it bounces forward...
let me know where you are at...
I HAVE TAKEN A LONG BREAK, SO I AM SORRY FOR MISSING MANY POSTS RECENTLY,
IF I MISSED YOURS, PLEASE POST A SUMMARY AT THE END OF THIS FILE,
-State or Province? DATE you joined, & how you have made your complaints so far?
I have just responded to:
MFERG,------DD,---EGNAR,-----& ROGER
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I HOPE TO CATCH UP SOON!!!!!!
Here is another case as I research more about direct buy. Some in this blog were asking about picketing. It sounds it is not safe and police does not seem to support it.
regards
***********
Financial Post Investing: Money
Couple take buying club fight to streets: Directbuy picketing
David Menzies
Financial Post
20 November 2004
National Post
For James and Mona Daniels of Ottawa, the marketing pitch for DirectBuy of Ottawa West looked so appealing on paper. DirectBuy promises would-be members it can "eliminate the middleman." By doing so, the Merrillville, Ind.-based buying club claims consumers can purchase everything from furniture to jewelry "at savings up to 50% and more off store prices."
In June, the Daniels attended a DirectBuy open house and were persuaded to join. The biggest selling point: the Daniels, who were hoping to buy 240 feet of commercial grade fencing for their funeral home, were told the savings achieved via DirectBuy would more than pay for the club's $3,177.90 two-year membership. The owners of the franchise, Robert and Carla Smith, were all too happy to sign up another couple to their $6-million a year business.
But in hindsight, the Daniels wish they had never set foot in the DirectBuy showroom -- a sentiment shared wholeheartedly by the franchise's owners.
At issue: The Daniels claim they were victims of "bait and switch" tactics by DirectBuy in that the company wasn't able to deliver a certain kind of fence. As well, they accuse Mr. Smith of uttering verbal threats and even physically assaulting them. (At time of writing, the Ottawa Police Service confirmed charges are pending.)
For their part, the Smiths claim the Daniels have done "irreparable damage" to their business due to the couple's public protests that saw them picket in front of the Smiths' DirectBuy outlet.
So, what went wrong?
Ms. Daniels says DirectBuy simply couldn't deliver on verbal guarantees made during the open house session. Namely, she had been told by a DirectBuy representative to obtain two quotes from Ottawa-area fencing companies for the sought-after fence; DirectBuy would then contact a fence manufacturer it deals with, Gentec, to obtain a fence at substantial savings.
However, after the Daniels acquired two estimates (ranging from $17,000 to $18,000) and submitted the information to DirectBuy, Ms. Daniels says the buying club essentially ignored them.
"We phoned and phoned," says Ms. Daniels. "Finally, after weeks, we get a call from Beth Taylor, member services manager. We're asking 'What's happening?'"
Ms. Taylor followed up with a letter of apology agreeing that the club's response to the Daniels' "requests and needs" was "far to [sic] slow." Missing from the letter, however, was a quotation.
By now, the Daniels were steaming, feeling as if they had been duped.
On July 31, Mr. Daniels confronted DirectBuy co-owner Mr. Smith and complained about the customer service. Mr. Daniels asked that his membership be terminated and membership fees refunded. But Mr. Smith said he required "more time" to source a fence. Given that several weeks had passed with no firm quotations, the Daniels were not in the mood to wait any longer. They wanted out.
In a letter dated Aug. 9, 2004, Mr. Smith agreed to terminate the Daniels' membership, minus $755.10 (half of expenses identified by DirectBuy). But the Daniels declined to accept the condition.
Ms. Daniels then lodged a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau. After the BBB made note of her "unresolved complaint" against DirectBuy, Mr. Smith soon followed up with another letter offering a full refund of membership fees. But this time, there were five conditions attached including that the Daniels withdraw their BBB complaint. The Daniels refused.
The dispute escalated last month when the Daniels decided to create public awareness over their dilemma by picketing DirectBuy. One sign proclaimed: "I got took at DirectBuy for $3,000." The Daniels also handed out media reports critical of DirectBuy.
Last Saturday, however, Ms. Daniels claims Mr. Smith "lost it" and tried to run them down with a vehicle. She says he also uttered verbal threats. The altercation led to Mr. Smith being cuffed and taken away in a police cruiser.
When contacted, Mr. Smith refused to comment. But Ms. Smith -- who refers to the Daniels as "whackos" -- says she can't understand why the couple continued to picket their operation given they received a full refund. (The Daniels have yet to cash the cheque based on legal advice.)
Meanwhile, the Smiths' legal counsel, David Dwoskin, notes that litigation will almost certainly commence against the Daniels should they continue to picket in front of the DirectBuy office.
"From my point of view, the Daniels are no longer seeking to recover anything because they already have what a court is likely to give them," says Mr. Dwoskin. "But they are really doing some damage to this business. It is not an issue of freedom of speech -- they are simply trying to destroy the contractual relationship between [DirectBuy] and anyone that wants a contractual relationship with them."
Ms. Daniels says her picketing days are over. She says police have told her it is "not safe" for her and her husband to return to the DirectBuy premises. Instead, she plans on writing government authorities -- from the RCMP to the Competition Bureau -- to make them aware of DirectBuy's business practices. Says Ms. Daniels: "It's not about the money anymore."
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Direct buy is closed on sunday and Monday. Are tjhose days counted for the three day cooling off period. Since If someone signs on Friday, like me, would the three days end on Monday (saturday, sunday, Monday) or wednesday
(saturday, tuesday, wednesday)
I am taking up the cause with you and will do more research to shed light about direct buy scam and save some more good souls.
regards
I agree with Mikey....we really need to all stand together and get this company brought to their knees!