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2/20/2008 - james writes:
You know, my wife and myself have been a member for more than a year. I learned lot, and mostly that the savings are real at Directbuy. I also started to investigate how many companies there are in the "network". I am a member of more than 158 locations. Man, that is awesome. To think, that there is only about 300 some odd complaints on the web, total, and to think that more than half the complainers weren't even actual users or members of Directbuy in the first place. They just complain cause they don't want to make a decision the same day. Did you ever think that is there to protect the million or so members from loosing vendors? That is what they say during the tour. Did you listen to the tour guy? Is that bad to protect the vendors? I believe the membership is only valuable if the only thing they offer is cost books and the ability to buy at cost. Another fact, they have millions of members. Another fact is they were rated #1 in Entreprenuer Magazine in there category. They added more than 15 centers in the last year since I joined. They have been around since 1971. I know my wife and I are happy members in NY. Go figure.

2/19/2008 - John writes:
You know, at my club in Rockland, MA, I learned alot. First of all, you don't get a BBB (Better Business Beureu) Ratings of Perfect unless you are just that...not just for one year, but for more than 3 Torch award recomendations. Thats nine years of no complaints and thousands of customers who are happy over 20 years. Yes, there is a fee...did you think they are like the Church...oh wait even the Church makes money. They just dont make any money on your purchses. Period. Yes, there is a shipping fee, duh, did you think cost includes shipping? Did you ever think of a store owner not paying for shipping? You become the store owner and incur the same costs...like shipping, but no overhead and no need to make a relationship with more than 700 brand names. Did you ever think it was easy for them (directbuy) to cultivate a relationship with so many (700) brand names? Stop and think about how much research they must have done before letting people, namely members, see cost for items evryday? And what of their policy of "Scaming" to make you make a decision. Lets see, if you give them the membership money a day latter after the tour, they will refuse it. Why? Why would anyone business refuse the money...if it weren't really a policy made by the manufacturers, they dictate that policy. The policy protects brand names, not guests who may or may not disrupt the retail and DirectBuy world. Members protect themselves and their investment. They would never ever divulge or disrupt the retail world. Bottom line, only 158 stores for DirectBuy, millions of members. There are millions of retail stores. And only 300 complaints on line complete. That, my firends, is insignificant. And if you think that a fraction of those 'complaints' aren't even members. Curious. Very curious. I say, decide for yourself, and if you need to, read my comment again. Then, think of 158 centers, they are all, all individually owned. Some great, like mine in Rockland, and some not so much. Bottom line, cost is cost, and unbiased opinions are people who know better. Guess who might be telling lies..can you say retailers or maybe slighted salespeople out the commisions of the vendors? Peace and decide with your brain, not the escalading repeated slander angainst such a great and old company. 36 Years people.

2/19/2008 - David writes:
My wife and I joined in 2005 when we were rennovating our home. I can only tell you this - I bought a GE Monogram Refrigerator double door stainless steel, A Kitchen Aid 50 bottle wine refrigerator stainless steel and a stainless steel vent hood for our stove for $ 2000.00 less then the price of the refrigerator at home depot expo. All were delivered within 3 weeks. The refrigerator had a problem after 2 years of service and GE came and fixed it without cost. The price of my wood floor - 4 inch prefinshed Asian Cherry (1.89 per sqft) You could not get it for under 13.00 at the time. Overall, my membership paid for itself in the first 6 months in savings. I do not believe that I have been ripped off at all. However, I am honest, I do not buy everything through direct buy because on some items their pricing is only as competive as the stores. It is not worth my time when I can walk in and just buy it and have it home. One other note - I heard the pitch the other day while in the showroom and the price went up tremendously since I joined. I was in shock it was up over $ 2,500.00. I would have to think long and hard about joining at the new price. If you were doing what I did to your house - you really have to consider this vendor. The Pros: You will save big money on Furniture, KITCHEN CABINETS !!!Flooring, Tile, Refrigerators and some other items The cons of direct buy are the following - it can take a long time for some items (faucets if they are in special finishes) - their pitch is fast and furious. If you think you are going to save on a TV forget it. For a TV or other electronics you are better off going to PC Richard, Circuit City, Sears - negotiate the price down and you get your TV that day. The markup in TVs are only about 15 to 20%.

2/17/2008 - Sue writes:
We are building a house and Direct Buy has saved us a lot of money. We recouped our membership fee plus some just with our front entry door. We do a lot of research on quality before buying. Once we've settled on a brand and model, we do a web search for on-line pricing, check out local stores, then check Direct Buy. We factor in any builders discount we would get locally, any fees plus shipping if applicable for on-line or Direct Buy, and the hassle factor of picking up ourselves from Direct Buy warehouse versus having delivered by local or on-line company. We purchased tubs locally due to the hassle factor. We had our cabinets custom made locally due to issues with our design that needed to be corrected by a knowledgable cabinet maker in real time. Most everything else we purchased through Direct Buy. We upgraded all plumbing fixtures and saved several thousand dollars off what we would have paid for builder grade locally. We got casement windows and some specialty exterior doors from a top manufacturer for about $15,000 less then a decent manufacturer's double hung windows and specialty doors locally. We saved over $1.00/square foot on tile and $1.50/square foot for hardwood for total savings over $7000, again going with high quality products. We saved over $4000 on appliances delivered and set in place, and got great lights for about half of what they cost on sale locally. We saved on everything from door handles/locks to toilet paper holders. We've just started getting serious about furniture but have been monitoring sales prices for months and Direct Buy is always about 25% less then sale prices. We've already saved well in excess of $50,000. If we had chosen lesser quality builders grade items, our savings would have been much more. Direct Buy isn't for everyone. If we weren't building or remodelling, we may not have joined. If we didn't always do extensive research before purchasing and instead relied on salespeople to help us select, Direct Buy would have been a culture shock. For us it was definitely the right decision.

2/16/2008 - bobbie writes:
My husband and I just arrived home from DB. We are quite satisfied that we saved over $500.00 buying a Maytag French Door, stainless steel fridge that [] wanted $2500 (We paid $1700, including tax)... [] had the fridge on sale at $2200. Because we are in the process of moving into a brand new Tuscany-esque "villa-turreted, over 3,000 square foot home, we need to furnish every room, as well as the eight "niches" throughout the "humble" abode... While I was perusing many lighting books, my husband was searching for cabinet door knobs/handles... [] wanted from $4.00-$6.00 for each one knob/handle---the ones he had liked would cost us 45% of [] tag... [] is a playground for our family...we own a few bricks outside the building...however, DB's manufacture prices tell the story... The site (DB) this Saturday was so packed with members, one could hardly find a seat. The employees COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUl. My husband is a VIRGO...he crosses and dots not just every "t" and "i" but the entire alphabet... His threshold of paying thousands of dollars "now," not later, is not his modus operandus...he needs time to weight pros and cons...However, he knows people are in business to make money. The dues one pays is the "mark-up." Plain and simple. A buyer is going to pay up front to DB or pay whenever he/she goes shopping...akin to going through the buffet line or when the waiter brings one's check. Simply, there is no free lunch.
Knowing this, knowing we needed a legion of household goods, from doorknobs to dining room chairs, we "threw the dice, paid the dues" and have no regrets, thus far. Yes, the membership price is steep; yes, the sales pitch is a "gentle" strong arming. Still, the bottom line is the bottom line: How much will one save compared to retail, even "sale prices?" A "skeptical" almost member came up to our table today to inquire about how "Direct" or "Indirect" this outfit is.
We had nothing negative to contribute. She, too, has bought a new home and must purchase kitchen cabinets---the whole "kitchen sink worth of goods and beyond." I read a baker's dozen of grumpy sentimentss from people who can't understand why they are unable to obtain some "wait" time after the "present"-ation (obviously, no gift for them). DB is in a unique position...with the millions of members, true and those "prospective," DB cannot take a chance that even "one" guest might be allowed to look through the books, gasp at the low price that he/she just paid for a GE high-end washer/dryer...head out the door, tearing through the parking lot, zoom over to [] or [] and scream at the salesperson over the "penthouse" cost he/she paid last month to the retail store"...when I could have bought your "#2,083.03 appliances for 55% less at Direct Buy... As the "pitch" goes, "Everyone is working to make a living...it's not fair to blare and glare at the RETAIL guy/gal who is working on making a commission... Whatever the deal, there will always be "too hot, too cold, Just Right" consumers who laud or disdain a particular restaurant, school system, neighborhood, even the "Direct Buy Way"; instead, they make their idiosyncratic experiences into an "Eleventh Commandment": Thou Shalt Not Buy Direct." Stil, more people remain members than leave "the flock." Most people who can afford the membership are not transients or hobos...they make a decent living; they UNDERSTAND what they will be getting having paid their dues... a legion of co$t-$aving goods. Too bad, I'm preaching to the choir during this "high-fiving" the company...This monologue should really be read by those whose sour grapes are "pitted" with petulance and pre-conceived negatives...I think it's the membership cost, not the DB concept...they are angry, for the most part--not all, that they are only getting huge discounts on HUGE, medium, small objects. Besides the "cake," they want it frosted with a membership deep discount...enough said...

2/16/2008 - Fred writes:
On Friday we went to a Direct Buy sales pitch. I was not happy to find out the pricing structure and I did not have enough items to do a good price comparison. I was concern about the 8% handling and additional shipping charges. With all that said, we purchased the membership. We were there longer than I had planned, but that was our choice. Again, I thought they would give a night to thing about it. The staff was very helpful and were not pushy. The next day, we decided to cancel our membership. I read the negative blogs and was ready for bad experince. To my suprise, the owner, Mark came out and spoke with us. We explained we did not feel this was right for us. He then promtly told us he would refund our money. He want us to be happy and if were not going to be, he felt it would be better not being members. I live in Rochester, NY and the store was ranked first in the nation for customer service. For us they lived up to that ranking. Sorry for everyone that did not have as good an experince canceling their membership.

2/15/2008 - rita writes:
we joined DB a few months ago and have realized amazing savings on our remodeling project. our windows were almost 40% less than the lowest estimate elsewhere, the kitchen and bathroom cabinets saved us almost $18,000 over the home depot proposal and $22000 over a local kitchen gallery, the prices on the toilets, bathtubs and sinks we ordered were all much lower than i could find anywhere else.
so obviously, i'm happy.

2/14/2008 - Amanda writes:
i have been a memeber since 2004. and have bought alot of things. i`m currently remodling my bath and with all materials have spent 2500 where if i went commercial i would have spent aleast 5000. i have bought great appliances too for very little and the best part is i don`t have to drive all over to do it.

2/12/2008 - Jessica writes:
Hi, I have been a member of direct for about a year now. So far we have bough several things there. We are a young couple and when we bought our first house DB offered us a membership. We thought the membership was a little pricy but we figured we could get it back in the savings. I will tell you, I can't tell you anywhere I can go and save that much money. Just in the last two weeks, I bought a siverware set, a whirpool duet washer and dryer, and a whole living room suit and my total savings was 2500.00. I don't think these people are looking at the right items if the stuff was more expensive!! I have never had that problem no matter what I was looking for. Being a young mother of two, who wants to make her house look wonderful for company, and anybody, I completely recommend DB to anybody. Thank you DB for saving me sooooooooooooo much money!!

2/12/2008 - Michele writes:
I have been a member of Direct Buy for a little over a year and have nothing but praise for the company and their employees. I am suprised at the negetive blogs posted and I DO NOT work for DB nor am I getting paid to write this (as someone suggested). I also happen to be a savvy shopper. I decided to give DB a try when I purchased a new house and decided that I wanted to remodel a good portion of it. When I went to the sales presentation I was told that the savings on certain things (electronics and appliances) were not great because there is not a lot of mark-up on these items. I was also told that the high-end items were where you would save the most. I happen to have expensive taste so that fit me perfectly. I signed up and since then I have saved quite a bit on furniture and lighting. I also am suprised by the blogs telling of the difficulties of ordering, delivery times, and returns. I have never had any problems getting what I ordered and I have always gotten my orders ahead of schedule. I also have had no problems with returns. As a matter of a fact, I put in a very large lighting order which consisted of lighting from three different manufacturers. A couple of days later I came across a fantastic wrought iron manufacturer in Atlanta that had the exact lighting that I wanted. I called DB and asked if I could cancel my order. I was told that it was no problem as long as it hadn't shipped. The employee that I spoke to said that she would call the companies that I had placed orders with,check the statis of the orders, cancel if possible, and call me back. An hour and a half later I got a call that it was all canceled and that there would be a credit issued the next day on my card. And true to her word, the next day my money was back in my band account. I agree that this company is not for everyone. I didn't experience the pressure sale because I had pretty much made up my mind beforehand. I knew what I was looking for and DB fit the bill for me. I also have had some experience with this kind of buying(shopping out of catalogs). I have been a member of Uniway in Atlanta for 7 years and have saved quite a bit of money with them as well. I agree that you need to research this company and decide if this is for you. It is a large initial investment and if you are a occasional purchaser then you will probably be dissapointed. But if you are going to be spending a large sum of money building or remodeling, I would recommend DB.

2/11/2008 - Susan writes:
I happened on this web site while trying to shop for furniture and am amazed at the uneducated remarks made by some people. (At first, I thought it was a sarcastic joke) My husband and I have been members since 2003. We were planning to build a house and had heard from friends that Direct Buy would be able to help us save money on everything from cabinets, doors, siding, windows, furtiture, carpeting...you name it. When we attended the sales "pitch" as so many called it, we did not find it to be a hard sell. It was very informative and interesting. We did not receive solicitation calls of any kind. Since we have joined, we have bought appliances, carpeting and furniture. We have found we saved at least half of what we would have paid retail on every purchase we have made through Direct Buy. I won't say the process is as simple as walking into a store and picking out what you want. It does take some research to make sure you are getting the best deal you can, but it is well worth the effort for anyone who wants or needs to stretch their dollar. We still haven't built our house, but plan to in the near future. The associates in the showroom are always friendly and helpful. I would and do recommend DB to all of our friends and family.

2/8/2008 - Trish writes:
Although we haven't yet visited the new DB showroom in Centerville nor placed an order since the split and DBs move from the Kingsridge location, my husband and I have been satisfied with our past 5 years' experience. We purchased a membership when it was UCC/Total Home and, apparently, when the cost of the membership was considerably less. (I hadn't realized that the price had increased so much.) We recouped our membership fee from the savings of our first 3 purchases...Kohler bath fixtures and GE appliances for a bath, kitchen and laundryroom remodel. All items were first-quality and received on time and undamaged. Actually, a couple of our orders arrived earlier than expected. Since joining, we've purchased everything from major appliances to furniture to ceramic flooring to fine china and crystal. We've even utilized the wedding registry for one of our daughters; family/friends were amazed at the savings compared to the same items at, for example, Macys. I have to agree, though, that the savings depends on the item and whether or not it's stocked (and on sale) at a national chain store...some chain store pricing might be a little better or close enough to Direct Buy's to not make it worth utilizing our membership. Direct Buy isn't for the impatient or spontaneous shopper, and the savings are much greater on higher-end items. You have to plan ahead, do a little leg work, shop around and compare -- and know particulars on what it is you need to order, i.e., serial numbers, style numbers, color identifiers, etc. We, too, also found that customer service in certain areas hasn't always been DB\'s strong-suit, often due to employee turnover and new staff\'s unfamiliarity with the products and catalogs. We\'ve had just one bad experience in getting the correct merchandise. When we first joined, we relied on one of their newer agents to help us interpret ordering info in a GE catalog; we received the wrong stove. Management addressed the problem to our satisfaction; we returned the stove to DB and ordered the correct one...no hassle. A frustration in the past has been not being able to get pricing over the phone on items not available on the website...the drive isn\'t always convenient just to obtain a price and then find it might not be the lowest; however, the website has improved greatly and most pricing is now available at the click of your mouse. A disappointment was a change in their delivery policy...a few years ago they decided to only deliver to your door, making it the member\'s responsibility to get it inside. Depending on the size and weight of the item, it can create a challenge. I haven\'t checked to see if that policy is still in effect. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate our satisfaction with our membership at a 4. We plan to remain members. If folks can afford the initial investment and, particularly if they\'re planning to build, remodel or purchase a vacation home, it\'s well worth it.

2/5/2008 - Linda writes:
My husband and I joined Direct Buy in October 2007 and have already reaped the benefits and recouped our membership fee. We ordered kitchen cabinets at a savings of more than $10,000 over the traditional home improvement stores. None of the cabinets were damaged when they arrived. We're planning to do our bathrooms, order new appliances and flooring and we don't hesitate to purchase from Direct Buy. The savings is incredible and just as they described in the sales pitch.

1/29/2008 - Marianne writes:
OK- so DirectBuy is NOT a scam. Yes, it does involve a significant investment that is WORTH it! You will save loads of money not just by buying at wholesale value but also in sales tax. The reason for the "sign up today or your not welcome back" is a sales tactic- CREATE A URGENCY. Every sales person does this! Now let's say that DirectBuy savings are only good enough to break even with what you would've spent if buying in a retail store-because you WILL definitely break even!-you need to ask yourself is it ONLY about receiving your merchandise? OR do you care about receiving personalized service, and a one-stop-shopping experience? I encourage you to research as much as you can about the company and retail companies and come to the Open House with your questions. The Open House is definitely worth checking out! DirectBuy is a good way to save YOU money!

1/28/2008 - Ted writes:
We went to the sales pitch about 2 months ago. Factual points: The video was approximately 30 minutes. You can have some items shipped directly to your home (depends on manufacturer). There is shipping and taxes and a fee (usually 8%) on most items but not on all. Since you're paying taxes on the lower cost you still save. We will recoup the membership fees plus some this year because we are doing a remodel of the kitchen. The shipping is very reasonable (like $25 for a major appliance...as an example) The entire presentation lasted close to the 90 minutes and when we decided to purchase it took about another 30 minutes. You only have one shot to go to a presentation and make up your mind on the spot. However, if you live in CA you can purchase, then cancel in 72 hours with a full refund via state law. Little legal trick if you get cold feet later. It may not be for everyone but it is definitely NOT a SCAM! There is real savings to be found. It takes some patience getting used to the system but all the employees at our store have been extremely helpful.

1/28/2008 - Darrin writes:
My wife and I joined Direct Buy 2 years ago and are extremely happy with the product and service. The Fort Myers store has been extremely helpful and they are always interested in what we buy. In Fort Myers, everything is "sea shells" and "Dolphins" for furniture, so the only place to go for furniture that is modern and stylish without driving to Miami is Direct Buy. Also, it is worth it if you intend to spend a lot, as we bought a new house and started with all new furniture. We purchased Minka ceilings for manufacturer prices, which can't be found in any store here. However, thanks to a member who violated practices and tried to negotiate with retailers, those fans are no longer available. Hence the stringent rules, as the repercussions are for real. I also admit that as a litigation attorney, I was at first skeptical, but I have purchased office furniture, bedroom furniture, lighting (again, better than the "beach cottage" furniture every midwestern transplant thinks is mandatory in Florida)and even garage furniture for much cheaper than in the store or online. It is expensive, but with a lot to do, it saved us a lot of money.

1/25/2008 - Amanda writes:
Well today me and my husband just got back from a Direct Buy Open House. First I would like to say that everyone there was nice. The previous night I was a little upset that DirectBuy kept calling and calling to try to confirm that we were coming (my cell phone service wasn't picking up). I am so glad that we decided to join. We are getting ready to start of building/furnishing a home so now we will be able to do so much more with our home because of all the savings we were getting. I really didn't like being put on the spot of paying a 2 year membership of $4200 but after writing down figures of everything we would be purchasing in the next 2 years, it would be silly not to get the membership. If your not going to be purchasing alot of items, this is probably not for you, but if you are I would 100% recommend it! All I have to say is to schedule a time to visit the kind and helpful people of the Greenville, SC showroom. Ask for Shan he was so great and kind to us.

1/24/2008 - Sheila writes:
I am a former employee who worked for the company for 5 1/2 yrs. The things that I am reading are distorted. It makes me very sad.

1/22/2008 - Jason writes:
I can't get over the hostility expressed by some people regarding The DirectBuy Sales Pitch. I have been to a few time shares in my life and gotten some good deals that I have used and some free promotional prizes as well, like the free round of golf I got last month when my wife dragged me out to one in El Paso. We joined in Albuquerque a few years back and have recently gone to the local store where we live. DirectBuy IS for some people and ISN't for others, but they don't twist your arm or make you feel bad if you don't want to be a part of it. People need to grow up and accept responsibility for their decisions and use the membership for their benefit-because it saves smart people a lot of money. We're glad we joined because we enjoy shopping in a nice place where the people are nice and we save a bunch!

1/21/2008 - Barbara writes:
My husband and I have been members of direct buy for about a year and have really enjoyed the benefits. We have been doing some remodeling and paid for our membership within the first few months. I also use DB for gifts for family, friends and clients. Direct Buy is not for someone who normally shops at discount stores or does not appreciate quality merchandise. We have been thrilled with all of the appliances, furnishings and do-dads that we\'ve purchased and anytime that we have had issues, we have not had the bad experiences that so many people that I\'ve read about on this site have. DB is not for just anyone but I would recommend it to those who enjoy quality products at great prices.

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