Don't make our mistake

ComplaintsFurnitureDirect Buy

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

123...134135136...212213214Next
  • 0
    DBEMPLOYEE
    There are no hidden taxes... You pay the manufactures cost, plus the freight the manufactures charge, and then a handling fee of 8% on most products (things like electronics, appliances, and most lost leader items do not have a handling fee.) All of which is explained at an Open House and all price comparisons done while at an Open House.
  • 0
    Paul
    Hi Trudy,

    I've no enough words to THANK YOU! In my agreement, I was not given a 3 day cooling off period. I've sent them a registered mail (no respond yet) and planning to send another one soon with more information about their pricing.  
    I would do ANY THING to get my refund. I would go to any media to show DB's real face. I'm also thinking to going to the police to know my rights in doing a picketing in front of a DB showroom. This is truly the worst company I've ever dealt with, but I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. NEVER EVER!!! WE'LL CONTINUE THE FIGHT!!!
    Thanks again for your help Trudy. Wish you a Happy New Year!!!
  • 0
    Trudy
    To DB Employee
    You are just a typical db defender
    you double-talk & then you complete it by talkin n talkin n talkin bout nutin excect:
    your blah blah blah [***]

    ALL THE LIES LIES LIES & LIES ARE ALSO "EXPLAINED" AT THE OPEN HOUSE
    & THE beautiful trick that db uses is the fact that:

    DB WOULD NOT DARE TO PUT THEIR DIRTY REPULSIVE LIES IN WRITING........

    BUT,  they do put in the contract "DB is not bound by verbal statements..."

    AND blah blah blah...so on...

    anyone who dares to question ANYTHING THAT LOWLIFE DB "STATES" VERBALLY

    ...they are kicked out so fast that their head spins......

    db is SCUM SCUM SCUM and oh did I MENTION, CRIMINALLY PROFESSIONAL SCUM
  • 0
    Trudy
    TO DB Employee
    Do you really think that your DB   BS CAN CON US INTO BEING STALLED FURTHER

    WE DO NOT CALL---CAUSE OUR CALLS ARE TAPED
                    & db says "come in & we will help you...bs"

    WE DO NOT TALK---CAUSE  we get further conned.............

    We send REGISTERED MAil ONLY..........
    thanks for trying to waste our time....................further
  • 0
    toots
    For anyone who sends a letter by certified mail, keep your sales receipt from the post office in addition to the certified piece of mail paper the post office gives you. This is especially important if you send any enclosures (such as a cancellation form or other supporting documentation) with your letter. That sales receipt has the weight of the envelope you sent. In other words if you send a letter and a cancellation form and DB says you sent a letter and no form so therefore you did not cancel, you now have the weight of the envelope. Two sheets of paper weighs more that one sheet of paper - you now have direct evidence to refute DB's lie. Been there, done that.
  • 0
    Mikey
    Its too bad someone that got ripped off by a db sales person does not confront them out in public and  see how fast the db  scum  fold  ( or run like a little girl )
  • 0
    DB freight charge is a rip-off charge
    THE FREIGHT CHARGE IS A HIDDEN CHARGE
    BECAUSE IT PUTS THE DB PRICE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN RETAIL
    BUT, WHEN price comparing    --the db price + freight should be the DB's $$

    the extra charge puts the price over $$$$$$$$$
  • 0
    TRUDY
    HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
    db IS NOT worth confronting away from the workplace
    their lawyers can destroy you, & you risk A criminal record
    I prefer to stick to my philosophy of sticking within the law

    SO, l KEEP SAYING, DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 0
    Frank
    We wish we had read all these complaints before going-after about 2 hours at DB we finally gave in to the "Silver" with the agreement that if if worked out we would upgrade in a few months.  Not a chance-the $3100 + 17% interest we are out will be enough thank you very much.  Would have made a good dent in the remodel we wanted to do-we just finally buckled under the pressure!  What were we thinking?  I did not check out thinking that we would just see what it was about.  I am so darned MAD at myself for letting them get to me!!!
  • 0
    DBEMPLOYEE
    I was assuming you had already sent a letter of cancellation and that you were still having difficulty after talking to a sales director, which should not be the case but unfortunately some sales members try forcing the issue. I was simply explaining DirectBuy policy and how to deal if you are have problems within the three day cancellation period. even after that period corporate still wants each franchise to do the right thing and will force the issue if you are having difficulty. I am sorry if you did not appreciate my assistance but no ill will was intended. You need to have the best interest of the people at mind and not your own ego.
  • 0
    DBEMPLOYEE
    The handling fees are explained in the contract as well, everything is in writing. I said I agree DirectBuy is not for everyone and unfortunately I agree there are sales members that enroll families that cannot afford a DirectBuy membership or afford the purchases necessary to save their membership fee in order to see a benefit. But I do believe in the benefit of DirectBuy but in to way defend the practices of all its employees. And I assure you I nothing like the "typical db defender" I am willing to speak the truth; the good and the bad!
  • 0
    HI
    Actually Trudy,
    It is quite noble of you to help people to get their money back.  I do believe that you may have the best of intentions.  However, as a Membership Director currently employed by a Direct Buy club, I can tell tell you first hand, that we are required, by our franchise agreement, to mention that all of our price comparisons, mentioned during the open house, do include any and all distribution, shipping, and/or and fees from the manufacturer.  In addition, mail in rebates issued from a manufacturer are just like those you get from a retail store; you have to mail them in to receive them.  All other rebates are sent to members in a quarterly magazine to their home.  
    The contract is legal and enforceable by law.  

    Remember, people buy health club memberships every january and then never use them.  Then they blame the club why they never got in shape and they want their money back.  I have dealt with hundreds of happy members in my two  and half years with the company.  And in like any business, no matter how hard you try, you will always have people who aren't happy.  At the end of the day, we help families save alot of money and I sleep well knowing that.

    Michael M
  • 0
    FRank A.
    I am a Direct Buy member from the Ottawa branch and I really feel that I have been ripped off. There is no savings whats so ever.  We also have a warranty issue to clear with them. They at the Ottawa branch are claiming that they can't warrant the part that we are claiming because we did not call within the 72 hrs.  My wife did call, however by the time someone competent could have served us, a month went by. I joined as a member because I want to renovate my kitchen and apparently the savings are supposed to be great. My experience so far tells me otherwise.  I am discouraged and wish I could get my money back.
  • 0
    Vanessa
    Hi Trudy, its Vanessa in Ottawa,
    I will be sending them a letter registered but i needed your help a little. Would it be possible to help me with the letter. What to say to them and most importantly where to mail this letter?
    Can you please help me with this matter
    Thank you
    Vanessa
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI Vanessa in ONTARIO

    See p. 114  CPA of ON  & Consumer PROTECTION BUREAU INFO
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    -... requesting a RESCISION of the contract
    due to the fraudulant misrepresentation  experienced

    Acc. to the CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF ONTARIO
        Part 3--the act protects against
    false, misleading ANd deceptive representation

    ...LIST details of how the prices that db has, are over-priced

    you have been sold an contract claiming to have

    1. services with benefits, uses, and qualities  THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE
    3.               PARTICULAR STANDARD              "

    8. & 9.  RELATE this to the waiting for months for delivery...
            & they  claim that their SERVICES are better than retail
    waiting months for deliveries is unreasonable & TAKING advantage of you
    demanding obligation of your payment. but paying for nothing...in return

    11. claim Specific PRICE ADVANTAGE THAT DOES NOT EXIST

    13. (IF your contract states NO REFUNDS..NOT TRIAL...no CANCELLATIONS..
    you have been forced to give up your rights, entitled to you by CPA

    14. unclear contract, exaggeration of OMMISSION OF MATERIAL FACTS OF CONTRACT
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    unconscionable representation
    ---PRICE GROSSLY EXCEEDS SIMILAR...
      one sided contract in favour of db
     
    ...undue pressure...
    =========================================================

    ==inc. proof of the cheaper prices found   (keep copies of everything)
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    END YOUR LETTER BY ADDING:
    you are expecting a full refund,
    & COHFIRMATION IN WRITING, that you do not owe any money to db,
    or to any other loan co. associated with db
    ...expecting a written response, delivered to you, ONLY BY MAIL
    ,,,you will not accept telephone calls or e-mails for a response
    ...PLEASE respond within 10 business days of THE date that you received, this Registered LETTER

    Any questions, please ask
  • 0
    KC 2000
    Thanks Trudy for all the hard work.  I live in Vancouver and joined DB in 2000 for $3500 up front.  They got our contact from a wedding show and was giving the typical "join now or never" speech.  Wife and I thought it would be some saving as we planned to reno our place, but we never got to all these years as money is tight and DB never really provided much saving on product they offered after all the shipping and handling fee.  We continue to pay ~$230 annual fee from year 4 to 10 as we hope having some saving one day.  However, they have closed the showroom in our city and moved to the suburb which makes visiting more difficult.  They recently contacted me as the 10 years term is up and hoping I will pay for another $2490 to stay on. Obviously, I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

    I purchased about 30 movie tickets and a $60 carpet cleaner in 10 years.  I never look into getting my money back all these years as I have signed the contract and didn't feel I was entitled to.  I don't assume there's much hope for me getting any of my money back after 10 years.  

    Joining DB is one of the biggest mistake I have made in my life.
  • 0
    KC 2000
    Forgot to state the main reason that I found this site...

    I received an email today from the settlement administrator from Wilson v. DirectBuy, Inc. regards to lawsuit setting with DB.  I wasn't sure if it's a scam hence I google about lawsuit VS DB.  I was provided a user name(DB ID#) and password to login to www.Settlement-Direct.com.  There is more info available after logged in.

    Below is part of email info.  For full notice, please see here: https://cert.gardencitygroup.com/dby/jasper/notice.pdf

    You may be affected by the Settlement if, as of December 14, 2010, you were either a current DirectBuy member, or had been a DirectBuy member at any time between October 11, 2002 and December 14, 2010, but were no longer a current member as of December 14, 2010.

    The proposed Settlement, if approved, will provide current and former DirectBuy members with certain benefits. Current DirectBuy members will receive a free, automatic two month extension of their DirectBuy membership, and the opportunity after that extension to renew their membership for either 28 months at the price of a 24 month membership or for 13 months at the price of a 12 month membership. Former DirectBuy members, upon filing a timely and complete Registration Form, will receive two months of free DirectBuy membership, and for any former member who paid the initial membership fee in full, the ability to renew their membership.
  • 0
    andrew norris
    Hi,
    we joined direct buy Atlanta in Nov 2010, it sounded so great, we just moved from Australia and needed to buy a lot of furniture, after doing the sums we worked out we could save a lot of money.
    we purchased furniture/sports equipment/bedroom furniture to approx 25k, one particular order was for dining room furniture 9.5k, we were assured that the furniture was made in the USA, The local Direct Buy manager called to say there was a delay as the goods were manufactured in Malaysia and we would receive the goods 7 weeks late.
    we requested cancellation and were told this was not accepted and to read the contract, the same guy said that we were 99.9% sure that cancellation would be fine, we concequently purchased more dining room furniture from a retailer who's service was fantastic, we now have 2 dining room tables,24 chairs and 4 cabinets and a very bad taste in our mouth.
    my father once told me that 'if it sounds to good to be true then it's not' we will attend Direct Buy in Roswell GA on a regular basis to tell existing and prospective members about our experience, I encourage other dissatisfied members to do the same.

    PS, what about the crap website they provide, we have received our orders and most are still showing as un delivered.
    they do not care at all.
    let me join the class action.

    regards unhappy Aussie.
  • 0
    r98
    i hear a lot of disgruntled people on this site - our experience at our store has been very good - they have been upfront right from the presentation and showed how the admin fees and shipping works.  While it negates some of your savings on a lot of products there are areas like custom kitchens, shutters etc where the savings are substantial and make the fee worthwhile.  I think each city is probably different but where we live they seem to have partnered with a number of reliable contractors that I wouldn't hesitate recomending to my friends or family.  I think the real issue here is that people feel that they were pressured into signing up and forking over the membership fee or worse financing it... It really isn't that different than buying a car - did you really need leather or the navigation system?
  • 0
    andrew norris
    hi, just read thru the settlement, what a load of BS,you actually have to stay being a member longer to benefit from the settlement.
    who was the lawyer? a relative of Direct Buy?
123...134135136...212213214Next

Post a new comment