Real Consumer Reviews and Ratings
Direct Buy Reviews and Ratings
Consumer Ratings - Page 15 of 24
Direct Buy not a Good Buy-Evidence Included
3/10/2007 - Casey of Michigan, USA writes:
We were sketical of this outfit and went prepared to say no. We are building a home and were "promised" by the owner savings of 20-30%, approximately $45,000-70,000. We have tried to take advantage of these "savings". However, we have done better on purchases at box stores & local distributors. We purchased four stainless steel Kitchenaid appliances in and saved $311 through a big box. We found our front door for $600 less than Direct Buy's "insider" price. Other examples: Our plumbing, lighting, hardwood, and tile have all been cheaper through the installors. Our lumber, doors, siding, roofing, and window price was $52,408 through Direct Buy , but another lumber company in town is offering the same thing (apples to apples) for $49,817. We are refusing to chase our losses and have unfortunately not been able to save a penny by purchasing through Direct Buy. If things change. If we can't save at least $4500 to recoup our intiation fee than you won't be able to.
WARNING!
3/9/2007 - Heather of Utah, USA writes:
I just wanted to add my claim to Direct Buy being a big scam. We joined just under a year ago and have not saved nearly what we thought. And the little we have saved has not been worth the headache of getting it! There is no customer service at all. Once they have your money, you are completely on your own and are totally at their mercy in getting products ordered. Wish I could go back in time and think again before jumping in!
Not worth it
3/8/2007 - Jon of New Jersey, USA writes:
I invested $3000. to join this company. I then remodeled my kitchen, laundry room , office, and a bathroom. Every item I wnated to buy for this project I found cheaper without using Direct Buy. I purchased kitchen cabinets (good quality), appliances, ceramic tile etc cheaper than using Direct Buy. And did not have to wait for delivery. So it was a total waste of money. I should have known better when I heard the presentation. I told them I wanted to think about it overnight before I made a decision, but they said I had to decide right then, because they only allow you to join at the time they give the presentation and you can not come back later to join. This should have been a red flag! Anyone who says you must buy on the spot is trying to hide something or trying to scam you.
Direct Buy - no bull
3/7/2007 - Kevin of Michigan, USA writes:
My wife and I have been members of Direct Buy, which used to called the United Consumers Club, for 16 years. We've saved quite a bit of money over the years, well over the membership fee which was $1200 when we joined, plus about $200 per year in dues. I didn't like their sales tactics and thought the sales guy was like a used car salesman, but we joined and are glad we did. You have to do your research, but if you have a lot of big purchases such as furnishing a house you will save money well over and above the membership fees and annual dues. For the most part we've had a good experience. We would recommend it for people who have a lot of purchases, such as for a new home, but not for casual buying. I'd probably choke on the $4000-plus membership fee these days though.
Happy we did it, Not for everyone!
3/5/2007 - Jennifer of Utah, USA writes:
Direct Buy isn't for everyone. However, if you know you are going to spend over $10,000 on furniture, I would highly recommend Direct Buy. My husband and I just finished building our dream home and we knew we needed to get new furniture for almost every room in our house, because all the stuff we had was hand-me-down furniture we got when we were first married. The membership price was expensive but it more than paid for itself with our first two purchases. We bought a custom made dinning set that retailed for almost$5000 for about $2100, we also got our top of the line refrigerator that retailed for over $2500 for less than $1700 and those prices included shipping and taxes. We have also purchased a beautiful entertainment armoire and desk for less than half of the retail cost. I would highly recommend Direct Buy if you are going to buy a of high quality furniture.
Direct Buy saved me thousands
3/4/2007 - Andy of Arkansas, USA writes:
I saved $6000 on hardwood floors alone. I had researched my lowest possible price before i went in to the direct buy "sales pitch," and saw where they had the hardwood floors i wanted for $6K less. This more than made up for the $3000 joining fee. I then went on to major savings on kitchen appliances, master bathroom tubs, plumbing, hardware, interior doors, exterior doors, paint, tile. I saved several thousand dollars instead of paying retail. I have since started remodelling my lake house, getting all my supplies through direct buy. I have purchased a 73" DLP TV through direct buy that was $1800 cheaper than the same model at []. It is inconvenient when you order, but if you're spending big bucks on a remodel or new home construction, THEN THIS IS FOR YOU.
Not a good deal
3/4/2007 - Rich of Missouri, USA writes:
Like a fool I joined Direct Buy without throughly checking them out. 99% of what I wished to buy there, by the time you added in their outrageous shipping charges I could either by cheaper locally, or looking online for free shipping. Remeber the old saying, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is."
Biggest scam!!!!!!!!
3/2/2007 - Vladimir of New York, USA writes:
Never trust Direct Buy!!!!! They are all co artists. I will better damage my credit history than pay the rest of the payments. We have to bring a class action against them!!!!
Works for some, but deceptive
3/2/2007 - Gary of Oregon, USA writes:
I had a UCC membership before it became DirectBuy. I probably did a bit better than breaking even through furniture purchases. Their "direct" prices are not wholesale. I found many cases where [] had an item priced less than their direct price. Do you really think a company would allow [] to print (or know) what price a [] or [] pays? I don't think so. I eventually dropped my membership when the yearly dues were more than my savings.
Rip Off Big Time
2/28/2007 - Vikas of New York, USA writes:
Biggest Mistake of My Life which i will pay for Long time. Please if you read this don't take this they are giving a little less than market but there is no bird name Customer Service and endup you loose money instead of saving. Thank God if you are reading Before joining but i didn't read all the reviews and joined them.
Don't waste your money
2/28/2007 - Leah of Ohio, USA writes:
I went for the 1 hour presentation. They show you all of these big savings, but after joining, I looked at things that would save me 10 %. And you would have to wait for it. I put 1500 down, and set up for payments. Within 2 days I was requesting a cancellation. My salesmen kept telling me the owner of that store would call me. He finally did, and told me there was no 3 day cancellation period because I came to them. I had me atty. look at the contract, and he noticed the salesmen marked paid in full. I closed the discover card they were charging my monthly fees on, and emailed them they owe me what they have taken out, because I am paid in full. I have not heard anything more from them. I still get catalogs, so I guess I am still a member. My advice, go to [] or look for sales, their fees are outrageous.
Good in the right situation
2/27/2007 - Mark of Illinois, USA writes:
We joined in 2002 for $2,700 for a ten year membership. In renovating our Master Bath Suite and we more than recouped the cost of membership. Because of the pricing we were able to upgrade the cabinets, jacuzzi and shower from what our contractor was proposing at slightly higher cost. We are now planning our kitchen remodeling. We joined in Hoffman Estates, IL and the manager was very upfront in that the savings are in furniture and major home remodeling and NOT appliances. You need to be aware that there is a lot of planning, work and time pouring through catalogs to make it happen. You have to deal with the delivery schedules of multiple vendors which can make a large project trying. If this is not your thing, do not join. My advice is that if you are not doing a $20K or larger remodeling, the current membership cost of $5K or more would make it difficult to justify. Good luck!
Saved by "cooling off period"
2/24/2007 - Chip of California, USA writes:
Why we got out: They claim the membership "opporunity" is a one time only offer- we can't stand "high pressure sales". You make purchases from catelogues, without really seeing what you are getting. There is little or no return policy, other than a manufactur's warranty. The products apparantly take up to six to eight weeks to recieve (or longer). They say the prices are saving of up to fifty percent; there is probably one item at that rate and from what we saw, the majority are down near the ten to twenty percent range. The membership in the Bay Area of California is now $6300 for the first two years!!! What happens if the company goes out of business? All of these concerns led us to cancel our contract under California's three day "cooling off period". My advice: think it through and always understand your state specific legal recourse.
It's One Big Hassle With Questionable Savings
2/24/2007 - Eileen of Illinois, USA writes:
It's just not worth the $5,000 membership fee. Savings are subpar in most product categories except furniture. Then the extra fees on purchases, S&H fees(handling?, sales taxes and additional delivery charges to get the big items from their warehouse to you. But it is the "experience" of shopping with Direct Buy that I really hate. It took me about 24 hours over several days searching through catalogs and fabric swatches to order 2 sofas and 4 chairs only to find out that some of the fabrics I chose were no longer available several weeks after placing my order. During those countless hours spent in the showroom, I had to listen to them hard sell all of their new victims over and over again. You just want to scream "run as fast as you can." Oh how I yearn for my local retailer, sales, discounts and free delivery!
Misleading
2/22/2007 - Steve of South Carolina, USA writes:
TV said save 40%-60% off retail, but those savings are based only on certain items, like furniture, and pretty much only furniture. They gave us a presentation, and showed us items we had purchased in the past 2 years, and their “savings” ranged from $80 to $150. We need various appliances now, and that’s why we went, but the appliance savings are “10%-20%” yet they would not show us prices in their catalogues, and we were hesitant to believe the salespeople. The membership was $4200 for the first 2 years, so my wife and I figured we would have to buy a lot of items at $80-$150 per item to make the payback. On a positive note, the salespeople were polite, less pushy than a typical car salesman, and they didn’t chase us out the door or threaten us when we said “no thanks.” My advice is don’t waste your time unless you plan on buying $20,000+ in furniture over the next 2 years.
Great experience!!!
2/21/2007 - Rob of Tennessee, USA writes:
What a wonderful experience! After joining 6 months ago my wife and I have saved much more than the cost of membership. And their service is outstanding. When a piece of furniture arrived damaged from the maniuufacturer Direct Buy took care of the problem immediately. I have recommended it to all my friends!
liers
2/17/2007 - Sue of Ontario, Canada writes:
We went in to check it out, and beacuse we got a key in the mail to say we had a chance to win 25000 makeover. the sales man was nice at the being, then at the end he got shady. we didn't join for a few reasons. if they le to get you in, why join.
SCAM
2/17/2007 - Frank of New York, USA writes:
i attended a direct buy open house today,listened to the presentatiion but the dues to join is crazy. ($4,700) i had several questions that were not answered and products and prices are not revealed. please i was born in the night but it was'nt last night. if i wanted to order a washer machine asap because my washer at home broke down and i had to wait 2 weeks for it to be delivered my wife would kill me. please save your money it's a scam
NO ETHICS!!
2/16/2007 - Hans of Manitoba, Canada writes:
These people are aboput as slick as telemarketers! First there is the 500sq ft showroom! Then the 4 year old video with price comparisons so far out of whack you might as well be shopping on Mars!! I went to the presentation with great intrepetation...and I was right! I was in direct retail sales for years, in the Car business and at least our customers drove away with something! The only thing you will come away from a direct buy showroom is lighter in the wallet! No wonder they have idiot rules like "no price shopping" "no devulging of prices to retailers" Of course not they would be lauging there heads off! That is of course why you must make a decision immediately!! If you leave you will come to your senses!!!
Truth About Direct Buy
2/16/2007 - Charles of California, USA writes:
After the presentation we were assigned a sales person to work with us. OK, sounds good, we thumbed through a couple of catalogs at item we were thinking of replacing within our home. Prices looked good! So we joined $5000.00. Here's the catcher we have gone shopping for items that need replacing. stove, dish washer, refrigerator, couch and carpet. Guess what the exact items that we have picked out at public stores have been anywhere from 20-60% cheaper. We have purchased a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher from [] and carpet from a carpet store. We remodeled our bathroom picked up new shower, sink, toilet, vanity and all the needed accessories much cheaper than quoted by Direct Buy's Merchandise Service representative (MSR) I want my money back! I will be looking into a class action law suit against Direct Buy. Email me [], if you are interested in this possible suit.
