Complain about a product or service

DirectBuy

Joanne of Easton, PA November 16, 2009

Direct Buy closed without even informing us. We were members for about six months. We figured that since they closed and they do not expect to reopen we wouldn't continue to make payments. However, that is not the case. We have to continue paying even though we do not have anywhere to shop.

Karen of Colonial Heights, VA November 15, 2009

I had the typical experience that I have read others having with a hard sales pitch without much details. The additional thing I found to be totally dishonest was the 30-day free trial membership. After hours of pursuation, I saw potential benefits but was concerned about the membership tiers (silver, gold, platinum) and how manufacturers were assigned to them. I didn't want to sign of for the silver, for example, just to find that I couldn't purchase kitchen cabinets, or from a manufacturer that I like. The man I spoke with (the owner) told me that he couldn't produce a list that showed the manufactuer by tier so I wanted to be able to use my membership to see if I would really be able to buy the things that were interesting to me.

He pressed and pressed me to sign up today but I told him clearly that I would not and wanted the trial membership. He told me that I would only be able to purchase up to 1000 which is reasonable but that I would only be able to buy out of one magazine they publish. He really didn't want to give me the trial membership but when I insisted, he finally told me that I would not be able to look at the pricing books nor would I be able to get help from the sales associates. He went on to say that he didn't want me to spend much time in the show room either since I hadn't paid for a real membership.

They put a lot of emphasis on the secrecy of thier setup so that customers don't take the prices to other retailers and use them to negotiate. The truth is they don't want you to find out how they really operate and how little you would really get for your membership dues. After reading the other complaints on this website, I see I made the right decision by walking away but I wanted to make the specific point that the 30-day free trial membership is absolutely false. They have no intentions of letting potential members "start enjoying access to the direct cost price without the hidden markups like hundreds of thousands of DirectBuy Club members already enjoy". They should really be stopped from advertising something they have no intention of delivering.

Barry of Schenectady, NY November 15, 2009

I have been a member for over 9 years and have had a great experience with them. Its seems to me that the people here were lied to during the sales process and that is too bad cause it it a great experience. Ove the years I have purchased flooring, forks, knives, plates, bedding, electric razors and a ton more. I have done comparison shopping at kmart, walmart and sears on the items that I have purchased and have saved money on EVERY SINGLE ITEM! I am not sure where you are looking to find prices that are cheaper for the exact same item? For instance at the time when I bought my electric razor (2008) its was running in the stores for about 120-130 at direct buy with the shipping & handling it was 106. Not much of a saving but its still a savings and it was shipped to my house. I simply emailed my order in to my local club. No problems and no fuss.

On my kitchen cabinets I saved over 2300 vs Lowes or Homedepot where my wife works as a kitchen desinger! So Again I question the krap that people are saying on here about this place. My first experience with directbuy was with a couch that was on sale at a furniture store called stickley's its on wold rd in albany. The cost of the couch at the store was 3700 we got the same exact model number at the club delivered to our home a

And put where we wanted it was 2200! Thats 1500 less than the store plus they were going to charge us an additional 150 for delivery!!! So all in all over the years I have saved literally thousands of dollars. And yes at the current cost of membership it sounds like you have to be purchasing around 20,000 to make up the fees, but do you ever really look at how much you spend on stuff over a 3 year or 10 year membership. I mean when my wife and I joined we were renting and didnt really use the club for major purchases. We did buy smaller things backpacks,etc with great savings. But we knew that when we got into a house we would use it and we have a lot.. The saving on the window treatments are out of site. Over JC Penny and Macy's we saved over 5000 on our window treatments and that is not a joke! Cash is king and I like saving it.

william of harrison twp, MI October 29, 2009

we were asked to come in for a sales pitch and free 30 day membership. when we asked a question to the salesman (Dan) the owner ran up to us, told us he didnt like us and to leave.

David of Tuckahoe, NY October 9, 2009

We joined directbuy in July based on their claims that we would save up to 50% on major purchases including furniture and electronics. But their claims are false and misleading. Every time we tried to order a product it was either discontinued or their price was higher than we could get it for elsewhere. their claims are fraudulent and their advertising is false, thus we should be able to cancel the contract. the problem is that their contract claims to be non-cancellable. We believe the contract is invalid becuase there is no legal consideration - they dont offer to provide any thing in return for the 5400 we supposedly owe them.

Wanda of Greenville, SC October 7, 2009

I signed their three year contract in December 2005 and paid 3590.00 with the understanding that I would now be able to purchase items I needed or items I wanted that I could not otherwise afford at substantial savings over retail stores. Not only have I not found any savings in that three year period, I have wasted a great deal of my time familiarizing myself with their catalogs and the products they offer and navigating their difficult web site shopping for savings over local stores. Before my contract expired, I made a last ditch effort to purchase a washer and dryer from them. I asked for their help after I complained that I had been a member for three years and had not purchased a thing because I couldn't find any savings.

The manager helped me and we looked through the catalogs together. He found the same thing I did. The local store was offering me the same washer and dryer at basically the same price once you added the shipping and handling costs AND the local store would deliver free the next day! No waiting 6 weeks and having to pick them up or pay for delivery! The manager then offered me another year at no cost and I accepted because I didn't know what else to do. My free year is close to expiring and I have decided not to sit back and let this happen. I want my money back. Their false advertising has caused me to lose not only a great deal of money, but a great deal of my time and energy. Also, I just got a letter from them looking for buyers for their business so I am afraid that they might close up shop before I am able to resolve this. I believe that they have already changed hands once since I have been a member. Would small claims court be a good and quick option?

William of Seminole, FL September 30, 2009

Went to open house. Was told I would save between 35-70% off retail on almost anything related to our home or the homes we rehab. I asked for specific examples and I had a list of products to compare prices. Was told I couldn't check prices until my membership came. They said I could put 1000 down until the next day and then I could pay by check for full amount. They wound up charging the full amount to my card and I found out thier prices are not as promised and they charge an 8% charge on the products. They pressured me into signing and now won't give refund. It has been less than 24 hours. I feel ripped off and need a refund.

Fiona of dallas, TX September 27, 2009

This outfit deals only with couples of any kind as long as you come in as a couple. So ridiculous and stupid marketing strategy nowadays! Wake up people you are no longer in the middle ages!!! Thera are independent and single people who are smart and responsible to make their own decisions! I will never even think about this outfit again...

Margo of Chicago, IL September 26, 2009

I keep getting email from Direct Buy I summitted the buttom for take me off your list three time now. And they keep emailing me. This is harrasement, I even wrote to them and said, I don't want your stuff and leave me alone please. These people are malipulators, and don't care about who they harrass just to get some money.

Stephen of Waxahachie, TX September 18, 2009

I purchased 5,200 in flooring from the Coppell, Texas DirectBuy (included cost of flooring, 8% "service charge", 2% "fuel charge", and tax). After receiving directly from teh supplier and having it partcially installed Direct Buy calls last night to say, "Oh we discovered we did not charge you enough (under charged. We charged teh wrong per SF price, need another 1,000 for tile and 800 in fees & taxes." I told them "Oh no you aren't, you have a process where I fill out the order sheet and bring the vendor books to yo for validation.

[They] then revalidate all the pricing information and make final calcualation. Also had a 2nd person in Customer Service dept do another review and validation. So, NO. That was the correct price and if [their] books were wrong, that is just too bad!" They swore that the Accounting dept tripled checked it, but she would get back to them on this. Not 5 minutes later I get a call saying, "Never mind, they were looking at the price for a different tile. No under charge after all." So much for triple checking.

Had I not resisted and said it was OK to charge my account for the additional 1,800 they would have taken the money with nothing further said and made no further investigation. Wonder how many times this has happened before with others who might be less inclined to challenge them? But have to concur with others who have mentioned the undisclosed 8% service charge (or Mark-up in other words) the cost at DirectBuy is no longer that attractive.

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