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
Instructions for the members who wish to cancel. Take the next 3 days to prepare another letter. Brief. You wish to cancel, refund of fees paid, release from finance contract if financed, and no harm to your credit. Let's send it registered mail one more time so we will get a confirmation they received it. We all send it Monday November 29, 2010.
For Direct Buy all locations: You have until January 1, 2011 to acknowledge our requests and respond in writing. We're not interested in anything but being released without penalty from our membership and finance agreements and the refund of our money.
For members: If you receive no response or are denied, proceed with the following instructions:
1. Utilize the social network sites of your choice and post "DIRECT BUY WARNING!" Drop down and post in the comment section "Do not join under any circumstance! I purchased a membership for $______ for 3 years. These are the terms of my membership agreement: List the most offensive terms verbatim and let them speak for themselves. Make sure to the quote the cancellation policy for your particlar Direct Buy showroom.
2. Repeat this process every Friday beginning January 10, 2011 until you are no longer a member. If we truly don't want people to make our mistake we must get to them before they attend an open house.
3. Follow up on their answering machine every Thursday. They don't like to answer their phone. "Hey, this is so and so and I sent you a request for a membership cancellation on such and such. I haven't heard anything by mail and you collected from my account again so I was just going to let you know that I'm going to warn the 714 people on my friend list on such and such in the morning not to step foot near any of your stores. I know you're good at math, I'm not but I think that's $3,562,860.00 you've just lost in potential membership sales for your area. Hope you have a nice day and tell Aphie hi, hugs and kisses, luv you guys.
End all future posts on this site with the following:
Direct Buy's future losses for Jan 2011: 1 = 714 friends on social network. 714 x 4990 = $3,562,860.00 GONE. (Whatever state your in).
My contact at corporate gave me the answer that I expected on this issue, which is that the memberships just aren’t cancellable. While I understand that this is not what you want to hear, I also want you to understand that this is not bad news for you even though it doesn’t seem that way now. As a member (and a member that never actually went to the club) I’ve had enough time now to determine how I use our service. Just like I told you when you were here, saving money isn’t up to you, it’s guaranteed. However, saving you time is up to you. You’ve got to see how you want to use your membership from an hour away and decide what you want to use your membership for. You may not buy a lot of toys through us if you find that you’re looking for brands we don’t have, but you’ll buy so many other things that are just as easy as buying them anywhere else. From our conversation it was so apparent that this Christmas and some immediate things are weighing so heavily in your mind. Use us as a resource for those things (flooring/toys) now, but know that you’ll be buying gifts for the rest of your life. You’ll be maintaining a home for the rest of your life. It’s never going to stop. You didn’t decide membership was right to save on one or two things, you joined to save over time. When I show you the saving on the floor our concept will be crystal clear. I promise you that. Let me know your thoughts and questions and I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon. Have happy holidays with the family
To which I replied that I wasn't happy about an email as apposed to a phone call that I asked for. I want my money back they pressured us into this sale, well needless to say it is Monday November 22,2010 and they are not in the office so my responses are sitting in his email. I also called his cell and informed him I would be contacting the Attorney General's Office, FTC, and Consumer Affairs Office if I didnot have my money back by Wednesday. I also informed him I would be picketing his office if I didnot receive my money back by Wednesday.
I live in Kansas and would like help as to what to do...this is all just words at this point I need some guidance as to where to find laws regarding this problem. Any and all help is appreciated!!!
I'm embarassed that we were dupped into getting a membership but we are lucky to have done some research before the 3 day cooling off period was over!
PLEASE DO NOT LET THESE LOW LIVES PROUDLY STEAL YOUR MONEY
THIS IS FRAUD!!!!!!!!!
WE, of ONTARIO, have very strong laws against this type of FRAUD!!!
(IN case you don't knpw, I AM in ON, & I got my money back MONTHS AFTER JOINING, & MY CONTRACT STATED,...NO CANCEL..NO REFUND...NOT TRIAL...
THOSE WORDS ALONE, WERE VS. THE LAW (forcing consumer to give up rights...)_
PLEASE CONTACT:
ONTARIO MINISTRY OF CONSUMER SERVICES=CONSUMER PROTECYTION
This is a fantastic website, how to write a complaint...your rights...
TOLL FREE 1-877-665-0662 Mon. to Fri.
Trust me, they have even told victims of db, that the ministry will actually help jyou take them to court, if they do not answer your complaint.
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Also, refer to the CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF ON, 2002
part 2 -YOU cannot sign away your rights to complain
-AMBIGUITIES to benefit consumer
part 3 -False, misleading or deceptive representation
-uncoscionable representation
-unfair practice prohibited
DON'T LET DB AWAY WITH THESE CRIMES........
JUST BECAUSE THE POLICE DON'T COME IN & ARREST THEM,
DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS!!!!!111
THEY ARE THE MOST UNDERHANDED SNEAKY CRIMINALS AROUND!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!
THE MANAGER IS LYING, LYING & LYING!!!!WHAT A SHOCK
I have listed the references to the 3 day cooling-off period
a million times....& these low-lives still depend on the fact that what you don't know, won't hurt them!!
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ON P. 91,there is a link to the boston channel article
-print a copy of the letter, highlight the clause at the bottom,
...3 day cooling-off...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------INC. the info about the CBC MARKETPLACE PRICE CUT PROMISE VIDEO
Mar. 27, 2009,BARRIE, ON, owner, Christine DeMarsh,
stated that db corp. was in the process of printing new contracts,
inc. the 3 day...
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the law you need is:
Kansas Statutes Chapter 50: Unfair trade & consumer protection
Article 6: Consumer protection
50-626 Deceptive acts & practices
-627 & 50-6, 101
I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE MORE SECTIONS, but it is a very long law
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Send registered mail, to the location where you joined,
ask for response by mail only, within 10 bus. days,
add that they have taken advantage of the fact that you did not know the info listed here...this is biased & deceitful...
Ask for confirmation in writing of your rescission, full refund,
& ensure you that you do not owe any money to db or any other...
PRINT ANY QUESTIONS HERE, DO NOT LET THEM AWAY WITH THIS!!!
To: (owner of Direct Buy)
Effective immediately, We are requesting immediate cancellation of our Direct Buy membership and a full refund of my down payment of (______) and collected monthly installments totaling (____________). We are also requesting to be released from the finance agreement without penalty or damage to our credit.
On March 29, 2009, Direct Buy owner Christine DeMarsh appeared in a public video stating the Direct Buy corporation was in the process of printing new membership agreements that would allow ALL future members a 3 day cancellation period. Since a 3 day cancellation period has been implemented into the Direct Buy corporate policy your franchise location has willingly and purposely violated this policy by using an older membership agreement that does not allow new members any option to cancel.
In addition to sending this letter to you, we will also be filing a complaint against your franchise location with the Direct Buy Corporation headquarters located in Merriville, Indiana as well as the Better Business Bureau in which we will include published press statements and articles from the Direct Buy corporation as well as links to public videos in which the 3 day cancellation policy is discussed.
We are expecting a response from you in writing within 10 days regarding this matter. We are expecting a full cancellation of our membership, release from our finance contract without penalty and damage to our credit, and a full refund of any money applied towards our membership. We will not discuss this matter by phone or email.
Sincerely
(our names)
Does this sound okay? Have another idea to follow in a few minutes.
In additon to printing the names of our Direct Buy buddies under the nickname "The Direct Buy Registered Liars List" and warning as many people as we can on the social networks, lets add something else.
Starting Jan 2, we also start visiting our local store in person and asking for our refunds. Print off as much stuff as you can find that states Direct Buy corporate has initiated a 3 day cancellation period and take it with you. Hopefully by using the social networks you can find other members who feel taken advantage of and make a group trip to your local Direct Buy together.
I'm not asking anyone to intentionally slander DB on any social network. I am only asking you to type verbatim the most offensive terms of your agreement and allow DB's own membership agreement to lose them as many potential future members as it possibly can. I don't think any of us would have signed it if someone had warned us ahead of time what we were actually getting into.
Added some friends. Now have 722 I think. $4990 x 722 = $3,602,780.00
Direct Buy Local Franchise predicted future losses for Jan 2011: $3,602,780. Lying little salesmen that's about $18,050.00 out of YOUR pockets in sales commissions on new contracts. Won't be long till it may be a burden for you to keep up your end of your own membership agreement.
I am going to the courthouse on Friday to file the paperwork to sue the local DB scumbag and perhaps Beta Finance as well... I will have some interesting facts for you all I am sure, but I am looking for some help.
Can anyone or everyone who knows of specific reasons how DB violates the law ie title and code... post them. I am interested in all their violations from illegal contracts to unfair sales practices etc...
Thanks
Thanks for your time and help
When we met that louse
We were sent an invitation
To an evil Direct Buy open house
They promised us savings
Told us of things we could buy
They sold us a membership
But it was all based on lies
We signed their contract
We turned their key
"Welcome to the club"
That cheesy owner grinned with glee
We talked about projects
All the things we could do
And with what we'll save
We'll have enough for
our kids school
But on the way home
There arose such a clatter
My spouse almost wrecked
And yelled "what's the matter"
I said "oh my goodness this just can't be"
As I read the contract
My heart sank to my knees
"They don't stand by anything not even their word"
"There's no promised savings and hidden fee's
of which we hadn't heard"
"We can't even cancel and they'll sue if we dare"
"They tricked us into signing we're caught in their snare"
We've tried to cancel but we've had no sucess
Because our store ignores us and pretends we don't exist
Then I discovered this website and a salesman who posts,
Who pretends to be helpful and then tears down our hope
They think they are slick cause they sucked us in
They make me sick and I'll fight to the end
My goal is simple and please join if you care
Direct Buy is a SCAM so Buyer Beware
I'll explain their contract in it's own offensive terms
I'll spread like a virus until there's a cure for that germ.
Merry Christmas to Direct Buy and I hope it's your last
There's gonna be alot less new victims for your icy grasp.
Can you do a sample of a follow up letter? What can we write to the owner in Barrie and the Indiana HQ fellow BF?
What should the follow up letter in ON include and how many days for the reply 5? Would it benefit us to write to the owner in Barrie and the Indiana HQ, Bret F? What fax numbers can we use for these places? Should we file a complaint with Consumer Protection Branch when db doesn't reply to the first letter? Really, really appreciate your time and help.