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
I'm so glad that you got your money back.
You have given some really good advice, registered letter first before going in to talk to them. You are a very strong person to be able to face them, and not let them manipulate you to keep the membership. You did a fantastic job.
Usually my advice is to never go back in there because they are so desperate to keep your money.
Like the situation with Bex in Ontario, Canada.
They made up phoney prices for Windows, to get her to join.
They forced her to have a meeting with the owners and the 2 window companies, who gave her crazy prices. The reps still were not obligated in any way to produce their prices in writting at the meeting.
DB stalled & stalled, made up a "SILVER MEMBERSHIP" Offer to con her, less companies and lower prices.
LESS COMPANIES...COMPARED TO WHAT??????????? ONE of the companies did not even have all of the windows she wanted, & was still allowed to participate in the insane "PRICE WAR"
"...I promise you everything you wish for..."
When Bex catches them scamming higher prices in the future,
they will "MATCH THE PRICE & GIVE A 10% DISCOUNT"
Home Depot & Canadian Tire & many retailers offer this deal every day of the year, without any upfront fees or obligations.
Home Depot offers installation services with no pre-payments and payment plans for up to a year or year and a half, with no interest charges.
We wish Bex luck & we have not heard from her in about 2 weeks.
I'm glad to see that we are still making a difference,
BUT I am very worried about the newest strategy of the 30 day trial offer.
They have just revamped their commercial...
We need a new strategy...the only thing I can thing of, is to encourage members to let us know every time they find proof of cheaper prices.
One example with Bex, is the fact that she looked at the Triwin binder with the db staff, before she joined.
After she got her quotes, they were outrageously different.
When she went back to the binder shortly after joining, the first page had been changed, & it still did not have all the details in it.
THE contract promises nothing, no notice of price increases...or anything else...
The other thing is that other big companies offer interest free payment plans for so many months, DB never offers that.
It cost so much more at db because you have to pre-pay everything and wait 6 to 8 weeks for deliveries (extra for delivery from warehouse to your home) They make interest off your membership fee and money off the pre-payment that you have to make.
PLEASE READ THOSE CONTRACTS CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SHARING AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE.
Thanks,
Hal
I joined Condon Direct, LLC located at 1414 Reynolds Rd in Maumee, OH in Dec. 2007. I bought a kitchen and some other cabinets, and a fireplace for my new home. I did not save 20-40% Other items for the house were bought retail because they were the same price or less! How do I proceed in getting my membership money back? I cannot begin to mention the lies told to me by them.
Thanks,
Hal
Yes, we are still making a difference.....especially you! Thanks for taking the time to do all of the research and replying to everyone in need of assistance. You personalize every post & really take the time to handle each person on an idividual basis. This is very rare indeed!
The bew 30-day membership offer is disturbing. I wonder what type of information DB asks for up front. Are they in fact making people sign a contract stating that they are members or if they don't cancel that they automatically become members and negate the 3-day waiting period so there's no way out?
There's no way for anyone to save money with DB because you have to factor in the membership fee on top of the shipping / handling charges & merchandise you have to pay up front for & have to wait to get. I would not put it past DB to change pages......slimy, huh?
If you hear of anyone getting the new 30-day offer, please encourage them to share the language contained in their "contract" so we know what our next move will be.
Keep up the great work!
Could you please share what was on the 30-day trial paperwork with everyone on this site. We believe it's just another DB scam to steal the money out of your pocket while you're sitting there drinking coffee.
If you have not already gone to an Open House......Stay home and keep your money out of their hands. We all know you can find better deals everywhere else. DB is pond scum!
I'm back I got legal counsel after checking deeper into the 6-1-706 "buyers club" and the Colorado Consumer Protecction Act, and also the details on the "default of agreement" its clear they violated some of my consumer rights but the bottom line is I signed the contract- my legal counsel says, this in some ways trumps my claims- but he said the misrepresentation is a weak fight but a fight nonetheless and the best I can hope for is for them to just let me out the contract-no one has contacted me regarding the stop payment on the check and I have not received the Beta Finance payment book yet. My legal counsel is going to prepare a letter on my behalf- CERTIFIED! to send to db with description and facts for my demand request to release me from the agreement ...wish me luck -I'm so physically sick to my stomach from this whole db crap I don't want them to get a dime from me. Thanks so much for all who have given me advice! and I'll keep you updated
Please try to turn that "sick to your stomach" feeling into the kind of anger that encourages you to fight for your rights.
NOTHING "TRUMPS" your consumer rights (except for the fact that your lawyer might be implying that you can't afford the legal fees.)
I do not understand the lawyer's comments that "the best that you can hope for" is for db to let you out of your contract...That is what you would be asking for whether you used a lawyer or not,
BUT If your lawyer is a professional, he will word it properly,
You are requesting to "RESCIND" your contract (as if it never existed) and you would like a full refund.
What makes me feel sick is every time I hear comments from some lazy lawyers who try to make you feel that it is not really important to fight for your rights.
"the criminal has more rights than you do"
Lawyers also use their power and control to make you feel even worse and unworthy.
Previous comments from lawyers on this site are:
"It's buyers regret... you have no rights..."
& the lawyer that provides "advice" and "consultation" TELLS YOU TO CONTACT ANOTHER LAWYER....
They basically figure out that the case is not big enough or important enough for them AND they won't make any money from you, or not make enough money from you.
Big corporations, especially db consciously knows they are violating your rights. They are incredibly sneaky about it.
WE CAN'T LET ANYONE MAKE US THINK WE DON'T HAVE RIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK
The good news is that Ohio has tons of experience and history of suing db.
Craig T. Matthews (937)-434-9393
He sued them before, both in Ohio & Indiana
As far as I know, he has 2 Class Action Suits,
To be combined into a 3rd Federal suit
HE IS TRYING TO FILE THE ONLY NATIONAL CLASS ACTION SUIT
They are looking for db members and previous members who have purchased...
SO I really really hope that you have a copy of your contract & bills...
We would really appreciate if you would stay in touch with this site & let us know what the lawyer has to say...
Also, if you google "Condon Direct"
you will find "BBB Review..."
Info says new owners in 2007, incorporated the co.
Oct. 22,2008 They registered with the BBB
In less that 1 year, they have 19 complaints vs. them
& only 5 have been closed...
The BBB is quite useless, but it is interesting to research the types of complaints that have been filed.
Good Luck
unfortunately i view this website very late as i sign a contract with DB mid of august 2009 as at that time the sales person clearly said that the finance dept will not check credit history because beta financing is from direct but and everyone approved for that.they did not took any of my jobs or landlord info but yesterday i received a letter that my financing was approved and i was shocked that they actually checked my credit history which i did not authorized them to do so.i want to purchase a house and now this $5k loan shown in my history.
i read the conversation and call consumer protection office in Alberta but they said that if the contract said cannot cancel in any circumstances than nothing we can do about it. don't know what else i can do to cancel it as this is just a beginning. sales man while signing t he contract said a different story and now what we are hearing its totally different.
Sorry you're feeling badly. However, don't....you're just part of a club of people who were taken advantage of. I also agree with Trudy that attorneys can sometimes be insensitive. A good attorney would see DB for the scam they are and not only get your contract recinded but also have them pay for your legal fees as part of the settlement. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. I do wish you well and hope you'll be able to get your money back. Anything is possible! Keep your chin up and don't give in.
looks like directbuy is corrupting sources on the net, I hope they dont get to this forum also.
Thanks for the update, I just looked it up and I feel sick.
Ripoffreport.com is a duplicate of Infomercialscams.com
I just typed in "directbuy" in the SEARCH box (top right corner)
When people see the comments, they will feel sick, too.
Please keep on helping us to spreading the word as fast as possible!!!
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Also, google: directbuy 30 day money back guarantee
August 25th - the new policy started
It appears that they do not stop harassing you, until they
"Help you find the membership best suited to you"
Bottom line: Do anything they can to check "what you can afford"
so they keep your money whichever way they can....
CHOOSE FROM 3 MONTHS TO 10 YEARS...SLIVER OR GOLD MEMBERSHIPS.....
You have the "PRIVILEGE" of spending up to $1,000 during your 30 days..WOW.
Remember how sappy sweet they were til they got your money
I hope everyone remembers that ALL THEIR PRICE BOOKS are in loose leaf binders - & they have been reported millions of times for slipping a new price increase into the book, WITHOUT NOTICE
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Another site that has mixed reviews is DIRECTBUY TOPIX...interesting
PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP HOPE & GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!1
Whoever you talked to at the Alberta gov't was lazy, maybe some rotten kid who doesn't want to go back to school on Tuesday.
GOOGLE: Service Alberta consumer tipsheet- unfair practices
TITLE: (same name)
Consumer tipsheet
Unfair practices:the Fair Trading Act Page 2
FTA does not allow the consumer to waive their rights,
or restrict any rights
-If the contract is vague, it must be interpreted in favour of the consumer
-You were put under "UNDUE PRESSURE " to join (illegal practices)
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Send Registered mail, only, directly to owner(s)
Include that the fact that the contract states "no refunds" under any circumstances, is an unfair practice under the Alberta Fair Trading Act
You were put under undue pressure to join, and sign a contract asking you to give up your right to cancel
You would like to RESCIND the contract and would like a full refund
including a statement from beta financing stating that you do not owe any money.
You will only accept their response by mail & will not accept any phone calls or e-mails to discuss the matter. Add that you will not accept any kind of offer that suggest any kind of meeting with them.
tell them to answer by mail only, within 10 business days.
DB always wants to talk by phone (so they can tape and quote you)
OR wants to meet on their turf... NO NO NO WAY
Any questions, please ask.....Good Luck!!!!!
You must be prepared to send a registered letter as fast as possible.
What date did you join & where do you live?
If you answer quickly, we can try to help you.
Contact me at:
608-219-0515
Thank you.
I can't believe that DB also got to RipoffReport.com, too. I'm with Trudy. This makes me sick. I wonder how long we'll be able to go on before they get us here as well. The only thing I can suggest is that we keep printed copies of the complaints on this website. We must remember that these complaint websites are a threat to DB's business and they have a full staff that will do anything in their power to get negative comments off of the internet. I guess only time will tell. I am committed to staying on this website until we all have our money back in our hands. I wonder what the Ripoff Report people have to say about all of this and if DB paid them off. Keep us posted & thanks for your dedication.