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
This is an article posted in the WCVB TV5 abc Boston webpage.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13332558/detail.html
close to the end of the article,statement on cancellation.
"Regarding our cancellation policy, any new member can cancel their membership within three days of joining. Members outside of the three-day policy who are experiencing problems with their membership are welcome to contact their local franchise to discuss resolution."
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Statement From DirectBuy
Full statements from DirectBuy headquarters in Indiana:
May 16, 2007
At this time, a representative of DirectBuy is not available for an on-camera interview. However, in review of the e-mails you sent, we are very alarmed by these concerns and are quickly working to understand each situation so we can reach a resolution and make process improvements going forward. We are committed to making sure each member is satisfied.
Sincerely,
Bart Fesperman
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
8450 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46411
May 22, 2007
The satisfaction of all members is DirectBuy's number one priority. DirectBuy has a long track record of hundreds of thousands of satisfied members in North America, and thousands in the state of Massachusetts, who have enjoyed undeniable savings on a wide array of merchandise.
To ensure member satisfaction, DirectBuy has always promised to provide our members with:
1. Tremendous savings via manufacturer-direct pricing.
2. Access to more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, including the leading brands in furnishings, home improvement, flooring, entertainment and outdoor, and accessories.
3. A comfortable, no pressure, shopping environment where they can purchase nearly everything for in and around their homes.
4. An informative new member orientation, knowledgeable customer service associates and product specialists, and access to design, delivery and installation services.
I also encourage you to visit DirectBuy to hear from a few of our satisfied members.
Regarding our cancellation policy, any new member can cancel their membership within three days of joining. Members outside of the three-day policy who are experiencing problems with their membership are welcome to contact their local franchise to discuss resolution.
We look forward to continuing to help families in New England create and enjoy the homes of their dreams.
Sincerely yours,
Bart Fesperman
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
DirectBuy, Inc.
where can i find information on how to deal with THE CONN ARTIST KNOWN AS DIRECT BUY?" want to be apart of class action lawsuit if any in California! I They manipulated me and never told me about having to pay for freight cost, s&h, and tax....then the total of my merchandise was reasonable at first however the freight amount and s&h cost more than merchandise! So I end up paying double and then found out the store price was cheaper and they delivered to your home for free!!! DIRECT BUY CLEARLY IS A RIP OFF!!!!!!
Please tell us why you would want to give db your money, again??????????
They are a total rip-off!!!!!!!! & you have to save every penny,
when you are in financial difficulty,
you can get better deals everywhere, with the competitive market, we have now!!!!!
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!
BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH THE LAWYER CAUSE THEY ARE CROOKS TOO!!!!
VERY NARROW MINDED & take their sweet time, delaying cases,
putting priority on bigger cases & more money.......
***Any questions & comments, do not hesitate to share them here.
We never even attended the Orientation: supposedly they then explain how to save money through DB wholesale deals and how to shop DB. We just said 'later'.
It isn't pleasant there and trying to shop in the showroom, it's not condusive to purchasing anything. (opps - I have bought a couple of items - one from the showrm floor and also had ordered a vacuum cleaner).
Of course, no big savings at all. Vacuum was later found cheaper online. No S & H fee.
I've been through a few catalogues at showrm and asked for advice from one of the sales assistants.. she's very nice. She always tried to help me but it's impossible to choose what to buy when you're overwhelmed by their selections. Plus, you cannot see a product up close and touch it unless it's in the showrm where they need to unload it. Where I got my appliance.
We're moving ahead with our kitchen update/ bathrms remodeling, but will not go through DB's recommended contractor. Not their designer either. Nor will we purchase any of their high-end products they offer. AND, hopefully someday we will procure our $5,490 back. They say ignorance is bliss; in this case we are NOT blissed out.
(there is more than one way to skin a cat)
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT!
I DO GET BURNT OUT SOMETIMES FROM REPEATING MYSELF,
& I HAVE NEEDED LONGER BREAKS AWAY FROM OUR DB WAR
BUT I DO MY BEST TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO STAY WITH THE FIGHT!
spoke with an Attn today. She handles Class Action Suits. She will 'noodle' all the info we spoke of. it's a small step but one in the rt direction.. god bless u Trud & Roge.. (as it's been said before, your support is priceless) +++
I signed a 3 years membership agreement with DB Brampton - ON franchise, on June 22.
Before going to their showroom I had my doubts regarding DB, but because I am a new homeowner and I do plan to spend some $ in renovations, I decided to attend their sales presentation. I was aware of the “The Price Cut Promise” 2009 TV investigation and the “un-official” 3 days cool-off period so, after long deliberation, and personal franchise’s owner reassurance that we could find whatever we need at DB, we signed the agreement at ~ 23:30 !. We’ve been also told that our online access information will be provided in maximum 2 days (we received it one month later!).
In the next 2 days we visited other 2 showrooms in GTA, and we realized the selection of the products we were looking for was limited and not meeting our needs and taste.
On June 25, before 3 days cool-off period expiration, I sent a fax and a registered letter to the Franchise’s Owner, explaining our situation and requesting the cancellation of the membership agreement and reimbursement of the membership advance payment (we paid $590, and signed a pre-authorized form for financing of the remaining 5K with Travelers Acceptance Corp.).
On June 30, I received a letter from the owner, confirming the reception of the letter on June 29, and expressing concern about not being provided with a proper new member orientation session that would allow me to find the products I was looking for.
Also he mentioned the Page 15 of the contract statement “ it is not our policy to refund a membership as result of a member’s failure to follow-through on previous anticipated purchases”.
On July 7, I replied with a fax and registered letter containing the original fax receipt page from June25, 8:18 PM.
This time I mentioned the undue pressure to purchase the membership, our reliance in the good faith of his promises, and meeting the 3-day cool-off corporate policy mentioned in “The Price Cut Promise”.
I mentioned also, the on-line access promised and not received till that date, and my right under Ontario Consumer Protection Act to complain to whatever forum I consider fit, regardless any written contract stipulation.
In the end, I asked again for contract cancellation and reimbursement of my down payment, which would avoid a potential litigation with effect on DB public image and specifically on his franchise.
Unfortunately, on July 8 I received his reply, with a copy of the first registered letter (sent on June 24, received on June 29), with no mentioning about cool-off period policy, and a traffic log that he claimed it shows we did not visit any other location.
Also he enclosed a copy of the member process history showing the contract reviewed on June 26, and membership active from June 28.
Since then, I tried twice to meet him in person, at his franchise, in order to avoid future “ping-pong” letters, but every time he did not show up (each time we told the receptionist we are waiting for him).
I would really appreciate your advice regarding my remaining options to cancel the Membership Agreement and recover my advance payment.
Thanks for help.
TIME TO REALLY GET TOUGH WITH THEM
DB IS SCUM & I CANNOT REPEAT THIS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ON P. 92, we have an almost identical case from EGNAR, (also in ONTARIO)
He called hd. ofc. in INDIANA, & asked about the 3 day cooling-off
of course, he was LIED TO, BY DIRECT LIE
& he had to mention the article I refer to below,
DB ADMITTED THAT THAT ALLLLLLLLLLL DB'S MUST HONOUR THE POLICY...
1) HE has printed a link to the boston channel
click on that & PRINT 2 FULL COPIES OF THE ARTICLE
AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE, it confirms that there is a corp. policy
of a 3 day cooling-off period,
2) cALL HD. OFC. SEE WHAT DB SAYS THIS TIME.....
========================================================================
WITH ALL of your proof of cancelling on time,
picketing is starting to sound good.....
On P.1, a successful refund by JIM PICKETER -NEAR END OF THE PAGE.,,
I WILL HAVE MORE ADVICE SOON....
I am trying to cover all the technicalities of the 3 days cool-off period before engaging DB-Brampton again.
I signed the contract on June 22, and sent my cancellation fax and registered letter on Friday, June 25, before 3 days period expiration.
Can a fax be considered a legal official document in court for such notice?
Is the date you send the registered letter, or the date it is received (i.e. June29), considered as notice day for the same purpose?
I received my first credit card charge for the monthly payment of the membership from Traveler Acceptance. Is there any way to postpone future payment until the litigation is solved? Should I simply deny the payment through Amex (i.e. credit card company)?
Would such denial affect my credit rating or trigger the actions of a collection agency? It seems the picketing laws in Ontario are more “gray” than in US. Police has more liberty to consider the picket a nuisance and order you to leave the place.
Any advice on “proper” way to picket in ON? Is there any approval required from police prior picketing?
Your advice or any advice from someone with expertise or experience in similar matter would be appreciated,
Thank you.
I did this in Maryland, and I did not leave until the contract was torn up and the credit card statement was voided. I even called my bank to verify before i left. Don't let these FRAUDS, who are being sued as we speak, get away with your money. If they say they won't let you out of the contract, won't let you speak to a manager, or any of the above, tell them you will come with picket signs or will also call your local news station to let the town and city know how they have defrauded you.
GREAT IDEA! BUT, WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR IDENTITIES,
DB IS VERY REVENGEFUL....
LOOK HOW THEY HAVE TREATED US BASED ON WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW.....