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

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  • 0
    NoMoreBuyersRemorse
    | 1 reply
    I hear stories like these all the time. I joined DirectBuy in 2007 so I have not only paid my membership, I have also renewed twice already and will be renewing again in July. And, YES, I was feeling squeamish at first after having joined. I immediately got cold feet about re-doing my kitchen even though that's why I joined. I would have gladly taken my money back if they offered it to me. And I bet I would have convinced myself I had dodged a bullet. But I would have been SOOO wrong. I have saved over and over and over since joining. I have bought shoes, a briefcase, luggage, Christmas ornaments, stationery, kitchen utensils AND appliances, a t.v., a radar detector, sports shirts, dress shirts, a barbeque grill and barbeque utensils, carpeting, 2 area rugs and on and on and on. And I still haven't made that one "big time purchase" that I joined for, and that I hear everybody talking about. Sure the jump was big to get in. But how do you think I'm going to feel when I spend $35,000 for my $85,000 kitchen in a year I'm only spending $200 to be a member? It's a true change in lifestyle, not "year style" LIFEstyle. Let me ask you, if somebody told you you could save $45,000 on your kitchen but you had to put $5,000 down first, would that still be a scam? So what is so different about paying $5,000 for a membership to save $50,000? And as a bonus get to save on just about everything forever more! I was a skeptic, now I'm a disciple. And proud to be. Even though sites like this one will probably engender me 100 posts saying I'm a moron or a shill for DirectBuy. I am neither. I merely have the long term perspective now after having been a member for 5 years.
    • 0
      Voice of Reason replies to NoMoreBuyersRemorse
      You are the person Direct Buy targets, a rich shopaholic.  Or, did you put these purchases on a credit card?  By the time you add in fees and interest you come out on the short end of the stick.
      BTW: Most people don't spend $85,000 renovating a kitchen, $35,000 does it very well (eighteen and counting).  NEVER spend more than 50% renovating part of your house (assuming a median priced home), you will never recoup it.
      When your estate is liquidated you will find out just how much that stuff was worth.  (I'll give you $20.00 for those shoes, $10.00 for the briefcase if you can find the keys, the luggage is a little dated, say $50.00?, who needs a radar detector?  Police use another system now, the thrift shop will take those shirts, wow! the grill was never used, how about $100?, meanwhile the ornaments sit on the floor, hey wait is that brass?  I can get $5.00 per pound scrap value for that ...)

      All in all there's a lot of people in China very happy with purchase that you make.
  • 0
    Friend
    I am not mentioningmy name for a reason. I am a formal employee I recently quit. I agree with every one that direct buy lutes aboit every thing, when I started I was told that after probation time I will get raise which never happened after seven months.they dont have employee hand book or any thing my part checks were short every time I jave to beg for my money I earned and they still owe money for chritmas and new years day.
    I met very nice people there and I am sorry fot every one who are going through direct buy lies. I quit crevasse I can't lite to people every day it's a karma which I guess I am paying fot it still. I wish I can drop flyers from plane aboit direct buy our sure them.
    Only you guys can do is yell scream and be rude to managers thats how direct buy works our else they will think you are a joke.
    I have so much to say but my anger our my frustration making me upset.gud luck to you all
  • 0
    Mel from NYC
    We also signed the contract recently, and asked for a no obligation letter which we can cancel within 30 days.  Now they are saying they need proof that we did the research and that we don't see any savings, Only then they will cancel.  This is ridiculous so we are getting a lawyer to fight this.  Even if we lose a few hundreds it is worth it than losing thousands and we want to help others. When we signed up we felt like we were under duress and it was insane how their sales pitch is scary to foolish and innocent folks like us. I'm going to fight this and not lose money esp. when we have a letter that says we have until 30 days to review and cancel.

    Thanks,
    Mel
  • 0
    Buyer Beware
    We received an invitation to Direct Buy.  Not knowing what the company was, I first checked the internet and Direct Buy complaints.  We were offered a $100 dining card and a Google tablet.  We went to the showroom and sat through the 2 hour presentation and video.   The video was informing but the people must think Direct Buy is the only place to shop.  You need to listen to it carefully.  THEY USE IT AS BAIT.  Both employees were very knowledgeable about the product and membership. (MORE BAIT)  They even showed us examples of how we can save -(MORE BAIT) but they were careful in never mentioning anything like guaranteed savings.  When it came time for the membership  price I almost fell off the chair.  $4990.00 for years 1 to 3 then $150.00 a year thereafter.  I couldn't believe it.  Takes some big balls to try to lure someone in with that kind of invitation for a membership.  Oh one tid-bit, they came down to an even $4000.00. How generous.  Made me feel warm all over.  When we flatly turned it down they offered an internet only membership for I believe $2000.00.  Yea, spend $2000 for a freaking user name and password.  ANOTHER RIPOFF!!!!!!!!!!!  And they did mention we could finance the membership with their company.  Now I wonder what the interest rate would be.

    We had a lot of questions they did answer, but when they said they had "THEIR PREFERRED CONTRACTORS AND VENDORS" the red flag went up.  And when I asked about shipping, it was either shop from a catalogue, internet, or come into the store to see samples.  Items get delivered to their warehouse, they inspect it, we inspect it and we pick it up. NOW GET ME OUTTA HERE FAST. Never once did they mention anything about any fees except for shipping.  Oh, and they NEVER ONCE OFFERED TO SHOW ME A CONTRACT.  I should have asked for a blank contract, and request to have an attorney review it. As for shipping they did mention shipping at the table.  They made it seem the shipping charge was minimal.  Again no guarantees with this either.  When I buy large products I get free shipping from almost all businesses I deal with.  

    While we were there we saw a grand total of 3 people in the showroom looking at interior decorating items.  Where are the members??????  Is was late in the afternoon and by all fairness maybe it was a bad shopping day with it being an overcast day.

    So before anyone even thinks about signing a contract, do your homework.  Don't fall into their trap either sign not or never as some mentioned.  That was never mentioned to me.  Anytime someone wants you to sign a contract right away, something is wrong.  Your internal antenna should go up warning you to STOP RIGHT THERE-GO NO FURTHER-DON'T SIGN ANYTHING.   They have alot of bait to throw perspective customers.  DON'T TAKE IT.  BE CAREFUL.
  • 0
    carolyn
    We just bought a direct buy contract today and we want too cancel. There is nothing in the contract about a cooling off period. We live in the state of va. They r closed on sunday and monday when does the cooling off period began. We plan too return to direct buy and ask to cancel the contract please advise. We should have done the research first. Thanks
  • 0
    DB Vendor
    | 2 replies
    Let me start off by saying I have been a vendor at DB for 7 years, besides selling to members I also run a succesfull business outside of DB doing the exact same thing just under a different name. My prices for both businesses is exactly identical. In order for me to get my "foot in the door" I was forced to become a member by purchasing a membership at $5600.00, which in a million years I would have never used. I feel bad for people that purchase these memberships and I always provided my customers incredible service, those customers in turn gave me referals to their friends who are NOT DB members. DB has been a gold mine for me because people felt that they needed to buy from me just because they spent $5000 plus. Even though I do well with DB I will strongly encourage people to start doing their research and stopped being duped into this poor excuse for an organization. I feel really bad for the employees as well because I have seen soooo many people quit and get fired from constant customer complaints. I'm glad to see that sites such as this are making a difference. The franchisees are really hurting financialy right now after spending their money buying new Mercedeses at the expense of average folks trying to save some money for their homes. Franchisees look at all the people as suckers and that fact alone killed me. More and more centers are being shut down and I feel bad for the employees that have little clue of whats going on. Just this past weekend I heard a rumor that the Brampton store in Canada shut down (Apr 14/2012) and all I can say to that is good riddance!  This may give you a good excuse to fight for you membership money back since the centre in which you signed up is no longer operational. I'm very curious to see how the employees  will get compensated.
    • 0
      L.Castillo replies to DB Vendor
      | 1 reply
      Really?  You are going to go on a public forum and say that Directbuy is scamming people because YOU are ripping members off?  I know some Local Vendors at our DB Club and I know that they sign a contract assuring that they will be providing members a discount on their products and services.  I am guessing that the Directbuy you were associated with found this out and dropped you as a local vendor and this is your way of getting back at them because you have lost your "gold mine".  It is you that should be ashamed of yourself.  
      I am a happy Calgary Directbuy Member.  We have saved a TON of $$ with our membership both through the Club and with a few of the local vendors (granite counters for instance).  We consider our membership an investment and have been able to upgrade our home with items and furnishings that we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.  We referred friends and they said that they have found lots of negativity online about DB, so I thought I would check it out.  It surprises me really, since my experience has only been a positive one.  This post makes DB look bad, but the vendor is really the bad guy here.
      • 0
        the Majority replies to L.Castillo
        If you read through so many of the posts it's clear to see that the majority of us who were taken for a ride by DB (memberships $5,000 plus) that we are not happy with DirectBuy...
         The majority of the stories are so similar; being co-erced into signing a contract that is so binding it makes us sick...
         They are very slick and conniving sales people... We sure haven't saved ANY money... We don't even shop there now after buying some mediocre kitchen cabinets and an outdated dishwasher... They're just after the hefty membership fees...
         BUYERS BEWARE - DON'T MAKE OUR MISTAKE
  • 0
    martin
    | 1 reply
    see they have now gone bankrupt in ottawa ont.another one down
    • 0
      cougar79 replies to martin
      Yes DirectBuy Ottawa closed down, but not because DirectBuy went bankrupt, it was the owner of the franchise that did! DirectBuy is well known company that has helped many families and I can assure you it will help many more. I have been a happy member for 7 years, and would recommend DirectBuy any day!
  • 0
    ANP
    Yes, Direct Buy does save you quite a bit of money on furniture and other household items but like some other complaints said-they don't tell you about all the additional fees added on that seriously cut the savings.  After joining we were shocked to learn that our first purchases included an 8% service fee.  When we questioned them we were told the charge is assessed by the manufacturer, not DB.  We challenged that excuse by asking them to explain why every single manufacturer just happens to charge the same amount-which they couldn't.  

    When you take the tour they make it sound so convenient and easy to shop in the store or online but what they don't tell you is that they only have a small sampling of each vendor available on their website and the books, upholstery samples, price lists aren't kept up to date so you really don't have access to the most current product lines from most of the vendors.  

    I've been trying to order furntiture for our house for 3 months.  I know what i'm looking for but I have had to request updated prices, fabric samples, books, etc. which means putting ordering on hold for up to 2 weeks because everything has to go through corporate.  It has been the most irriatating experience.  

    I get so angry when I'm in the store and I hear them giving tours and telling people half truths about how their business runs.
  • 0
    sandra mccormack
    i have filed  a complaint with the federal trade commision
    although they dont investigate one complaint they will if there are enough of the complaints sent
    i am disputing this on my credit report also.
  • 0
    Jennifer
    Hi Trudy,

    I just recently came across this web page. My husband and I signed up with DB about 2 years ago. We unfortantally got caught up in the DB scheme, and are now stuck making payments to Beta Finance, and have never once made a purchase from DB. I find they're products VERY EXPENSIVE. I tried calling and speaking with someone from the DB office that we did our contract with, but it lead us no where. I live in West Virginia, and the DB store that we went to was in PA. Is there any advice that you could give me that would be able to help my husband and I get out of this mess??

    Thank you for your time.
  • 0
    Jennifer
    It doesn't look like Trudy replies to messages any longer, or atleast not since Oct 2011
  • 0
    frank
    We attended their presentation at Memphis location on May 4th 2012. They promised to give a 7 inch tablet. After presentation told, they ran out of 7 inch tablet and will mail It to my address. We didn't get anything.We called many times no use. I don't suggest any one to attend presentation and get member ship. It's 100% waste of time and money. Please please please avoid this kind of things
  • 0
    Honesty
    I think people that say that they have saved by being a member  with Direct Buy are home owners. I live in an one bedroom apartment. When I moved in my new apartment I needed furniture for it quick. I searched the internet for stores that I have seen their advertisements in the newspapers. Direct Buy seen my search on the internet and emailed me. They said that I could save money by contacting them. There was no comment in their email to say that their memberships are  long term membership requirements with Direct Buy to get savings. Also in their email to me their was no mention of a no early cancellation of membership with them. I have been a member of a lot of organizations and I have never heard of a policy like that. I think it is insidious of an organization to say you can not cancel your membership with them early without owing them money. A agency has the right to cancel your services or benifits if you have stopped paying membership fees, but to say you owe them thousands of dollars for cancelling your membership with them would be stealing.I live In a one bedroom apartment and  it would be stupidity for me to be spending hundreds of dollars on it every month for 3 years.Paying a monthly fee of .$151.06 says I must spend over $300.00 on my apartment to see any savings. My apartment now has all the basic furnituring,and these things are going to last me for years. Say if I see something in a store selling for $400.00 and Direct Buy sell it for $300.00, there is no  savings there. I would have spent $451.06 for that month buy because of the membership fee.If I spend $50.00 that would $201.06 that month.Direct Buy is not for people who live in apartments,because there would be no place in their to put items costing hundreds of dollars every month. I don't have a license to sell items to my neighbors,and I wouldn't have any friends if I keep asking them to buy from me. I give presents to people I like not sell presents to them. Those are the reasons I cancelled my membership with them.
  • 0
    Very happy member!
    | 2 replies
    Wow not to sure what to say about all the negativity! I have been a member for over 3 years! My first transaction I made through them saved me almost half of my membership dues! I purchased a dining set that a furniture store (Ashley) had for $5300.00 I paid $2300 for the dining room table that I gave my sister in-law as a house warming gift! I then purchased all my appliances for my new home and saved another $2100.00 which almost covered all of my $4850.00 membership dues! I have a photography business and paid almost $2600.00 over the cost at best buy! I later found that direct buy carries cannon products and saved over $600.00 just on lenses alone! For someone to call my investment a scam is soo fullish when I know I have already made my membership back plus! All of us are compulsive buyers but I don't hear anyone nocking down the retailers who rape us daily without a care except for our next dollars! What I have learned is to tame my compulsive buying and call my direct buy club and shop the items I want before making the purchase! I have been after 2 sets of leather sectionals for my new home! A California company is advertising the same set for $2695 and direct by has a nicer sectional from a reputable manufacturer on sale for under $1100. So where is the scam? I refuse to be ripped off by retailers any longer! I wait, I shop and I am loving the savings! My $200 renewal fee his nothing compared to the savings I will continue to add up by simply taking the time to buy smart and shop for what I want and need!
    • 0
      A Big Mistake replies to Very happy member!
      | 1 reply
      DirectBuy is a scam - it's just for the franchise owners to pad their pockets with their enterprising careers... wish we could warn all the potential sitting ducks they hustle into their flaky presentations... what a mistake.. they should all be shut down..
      • 0
        mikey replies to A Big Mistake
        My neighbor works on the same  lot as the san diego directbuy (Corporate Court)

        he notices the same faces ( shills)  in with a few new ones every  presentation

        also, he has witnessed some unhappy customers being ejected from the building during business hours ( ones that went there to complain  he figures from the shouts)
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