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
    Rita
    CLL, can you explain "Back out the VISA charge"
  • 0
    To the bully
    you must be the one who steals candy from little kids
  • 0
    Roger
    I found out that there are actually five class action lawsuits filed in the United States. I will post the information if anyone is interested. We should also consider contacting our local Congresspersons.
  • 0
    Mitch D
    I joined Direct Buy last year with my partner and paid $5,500. Since then I have done a galley kitchen and small bathroom floor tile job which cost me about $1,650. I am now getting quotes for a kitchen counter top granite replacement project. The trouble is the Direct Buy quote is within $100-$200 of the non Direct Buy quotes. That is the same situation I encountered with the floor tile projects. All my projects are very small and I never buy "High End" items (which seem to be the only things you get a deal on through Direct Buy). I feel totally ripped off. I will probably never spend enough to make any money back on my Direct Buy membership. I just sent an email to the law office that is doing a class action lawsuit. Thank you Trudy for the information. Sincerely, Mitch
  • 0
    Mitch D
    Roger, I just sent my first post without noticing yours. Do you know if there is a lawsuit in MA? Thanks, Mitch
  • 0
    Roger
    Hi Mitch -
    No, there isn't a case currently pending in Massachusetts. However, most (if not all) of the cases I know of are Federal Class Action lawsuits, which cover anyone in the United States who has been negatively affected by DirectBuy. There are two cases in Connecticut and one each in California (Los Angeles), Missouri & Indiana. The California case was recently remanded to California State Superior Court until there's a clear ruling on jurisdiction. I spoke to the lead attorney for that case and he's pretty sure the case will go back to the Federal Court because a majority of people who were scammed reside in California, however, overall, thousands have been ripped-off all of the country. He told me that it was a very hopeful sign that the case was not thrown out during the discovery phase & he wasn't even able to continue presenting all of the evidence. I hope someone gets DirectBuy before they take advantage of more innocent people. Thanks for letting us know about your case. I truly believe there's power in numbers & that justice will prevail.
  • 0
    rita
    trudy, I am trying to find where you say "I tell you how I did it in this website" -- I have been unable to such.  I would like to know how you got your money back ??
  • 0
    rita
    Roger, where is trudy's letter ?  I have been trying to find out how to get my money back.  I have also tried to get my money back with the owner -- I carried a Sears ad to him proving that I could buy the washer for less than DB had it listed.  He basically said -- read your contract -- no refunds for any reasons.  I sure wish I had found this site before I spent my money.  I am a senior citizen, still working full time and joined because they promised me during the presentation that I would be able to replace all my appliances which are wearing out at a  50% savings over store prices.
  • 0
    Trudy
    Hi Mitch
    I found some very interesting info for you.
    If you google:    MA CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
    TITLE:            CONSUMER PROTECTION DEMAND LETTER

    There is an example of a CHAPTER 93A letter that the Attorney General sets out as your 1st step, 30 days before starting court action, specifically set out for MA.
    I hope that you have kept copies of estimates from both db & non-db companies.  
    Also, compare what type of warranties and guarantees that you have been given, both on material and on workmanship.  If this info has not been specified in writing, contact the companies & ask them to put this in writing before you do anything else.
    My point is that the warranty info changes the value of the work, in order to make more accurate price comparisons.

    It would be very interesting to find out if any of the db companies make excuses for not putting this info in writing,  you could also use this info vs. db.

    There is lots of info under other headings, as well.
    I hope this helps.
    Any questions or comments, please fill us in soon.
  • 0
    rita
    trudy, I have and still am looking for the letters.  Perhaps you can put them on site again ??
  • 0
    rita
    What they did to me was tell me I would have my password to their site within two days and then held my password for eight days.  Thus by the time I got my pass word and found out that I could by the washer they promised at a 50% savings was cheaper at Sears -- the 3 days were past
  • 0
    Rita
    trudy, After reading almost everything on this site finally found your letter. Thanks.  I will keep all posted.
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI RITA
    I'm sorry that you had to go through so many letters to find mine.
    The 1st letter that I referred people to,on INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM was bought by db, so they could erase the approx. 1,000 complaints.
    I hope that I can help you & I try to respond to as many as possible.
    It would help me to know where you live and when did you join.

    Don't give up because it's worth all the energy that it takes you to fight them and we are here to help.
    No matter what you do, you MUST SEND THEM A REGISTERED LETTER first.

    Try to fill me in, soon so I can try to guide you.   Good Luck
  • 0
    TRUDY
    HI RITA
    I just responded to you above...fill us in soon...
    Make sure that you photocopy all ads that you find with better prices and make sure you know the make, model and year, because they might try to tell you that it's not exactly the same item... respond soon...
  • 0
    Timmy
    You guys are SERIOUS?  You idiots actually paid thousands of dollars upfront for a "membership fee" for promises?  What, are you STOOPID?  But hey, you saved ME some problems.  I saw your comments and there's NO WAY I'm giving them an hour and a half of my valuable time so they can try to sell me a "membership" to further rip me off.  It's insane.  What the [***] do you people do, watch goddam infomercials all day?  Go to a high school shop class and learn how to make your own goddam cabinets for christ's sake.  What a bunch of losers.
  • 0
    rita
    Before I found this site, I had already tried to get my money back at the store where I joined -- SC.  Took proof -- prices on items at other places and prices on items through DB showing that by the time I added their shipping and handling charges, which were of course not mentioned during their presentation, that I would be paying more through DB.  Then I would still have to drive to their warehouse to pick up the "must contact store to get price."  This contacting store was also never mentioned during the presentation.  I joined in 2009.  Since I found your site, I have sent a registered letter to their Corporate Headquarters.  Thus far no response.
  • 0
    rita
    Just read my reply to you of a few minutes ago.  Part of reply was missing.
    should have read drive to warehouse to pick up order.  Regarding their web site -- too many items I looked at did not have a price listed had must call store for price
  • 0
    rita
    I have the model numbers and the ads.  I have sent a registered letter to our local DirectBuy and one to Corporate -- both registered.  Thus far have heard nothing.  Doubt if Corporate has had time to receive their letter.  I guess times have changed.  I tend to trust too much.  I am a senior citizen and still working full time to try to make ends meet.  My appliances have started giving me trouble, or I never would have gone to the presentation.  When I found out I had been mislead, and instead of being able to save 30, 40 and 50 percent on my appliances I need, I was actually physically sick.  Waiting for a response to my letters.
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI Rita
    I am happy to hear that you have been able to use the advice that you have found in this site.
    There is always good news & bad news.
    The good news if that fact that, at least your letter was definitely received because it was not returned back to you.
    The fact that you are not giving up, they should give your $ back if you keep up the fight.

    There might be a problem if it not addressed to the right person.
    As far as I know, db locations are franchises.
    It is essential for you to know who is the owner or "director" of your specific location, since you must send address it directly to that person.  Hopefully you have the right person.

    I suggest sending a follow-up fax, including a time limit for them to respond.
    ...upon receiving this follow-up fax, please respond in writing, within
    10 business days...
    Then wait & see what happens
    Good Luck                  Keep us posted
    I will have more info for you, shortly so keep checking in
  • 0
    TRUDY
    Why did you waste your time finding this site and waste your time reading it and responding?????????????????????????????

    If you are so intelligent & so "cowardly tough"
    Go to a DB seminar & experience it yourself, so that you will know what we are talking about!!!!!!!!!!!! Then you can use your superior skills(since we are so beneath you) to investigate and tell them no....

    You admit that this site was valuable to you
    But... instead of saying thank-you..........you call people names

    You are just another cowardly bully!!!!!!!!!!!
    This is the only time that I will waste my time responding to you.

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