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2/27/2008 - Adele writes:
My son called direct buy to find out about TV sets. He didn't know anything about how Direct Buy works. He is only 15 years old. Direct Buy has been calling our house ever since wanting to talk to him. After learning that he is only 15 they were only too happy to "claim to take us off of their calling list". The salesperson was extremely rude and hung-up on me. I am only too glad to learn the tactics that Direct Buy uses simply with rude phone calls. I can't believe after reading all of these complaints that they are still in business.

2/27/2008 - Robert writes:
I applied for a warehouse receiving supervisor position over a month ago. Finally two days ago I got the call and set up the interview for yesterday at 4 pm. I arived at 3:30 and waitied until 3:55 to go in. I then had to fill out the application and take a five part test that is usually given to a first or second grader. Then at 3:37 I finally go in for the interview which involved not only the person I was told I was meeting but one other person. Halfway through the questions which he ask from a sheet and with her writing down my replies the question was ask if I had a problem with driving a delivery truck or lifting heavy objects. I then ask the question if this was still the supervisor position I applied for. I was informed that it is advertised as a supervisor position but everyone starts at entry level and has to prove themself to the company. I then replied that I had spent 14 years in the Marine Corps obtaing the rank of Sergeant and spent two years as a drill instructor and had already proven myself. He then ask the question if I had ever worked in an ever changing fast paced environment. I looked him in the eyes as I had the entire interview and said it is obvious you never served in the Marines or any other branch of service. To this he dropped his head in shame and said no. Not only do they falsely advertise for a position but they give you a series of test that are easier that questions ask on ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER.

2/26/2008 - sl writes:
Hi, I just recieved a phone call from a very rude person from Direct Buy. By the way, I have been called everyday for a week. When I spoke w/ this person on the phone, he asked me if I recieved the visitors pass and told me it was for a specific date and at a specific time. I told him I did recieve it. I then went on to speak about the poor call I had w/ the last rep I spoke w/. I told him that I really did not like the last phone conversation that I had, since the last person could not give me any info. I did drag some info out of the previous caller. Since he could not answer how much it would be for a "membership" I asked if he were a member. He said yes. I asked him point blank, how much do you pay? He says "2". I said, "2 what"? He coughed it up. 2,000. that's a lot!!!!!!! I was mereley complaining about the first caller when I refered to the previous as being "brilliant". I also told the second caller that I was so annoyed w/ the constant phone calls!!! He then began to argue by saying, 2 phone calls a day is not calling too much!!!! I asked, Are you actually arguing w/ me? He was!!!Then he went on to say to me, let me explain to you brilliant people how it works then. He was insulting me w/ his comback!!! I was so wierded out that he would argue w/ me about something sooo stupid. then i told him that I did not want to come to the appointment and for the not to call back. He said enjoy retail. Enjoy retail?!!!!!! People out there, It's called discernment!!!!! I think it's safe to say after 10 phone calls and 2 wierd callers that it's a no go!!!!!

2/26/2008 - Tony writes:
After our close call experience with Direct Buy scam, I still wonder why the government still allows this company to exploit the consumers. My wife and I were planning to refurbish our kitchen when we came upon the DB tv ad. At first, I thought it was a greaqt deal until we attended their sales presentation. As a professional salesman and a handyman in my house, I could smell the lies they told about appliance and furniture prices they used in their presentation. The hyoe about the savings was what got me. Because I had been to [] [] and [] stores a few days to check out prices for my project, I was insulted and offended by the blatant lies they were telling the public. When they talked about the so-called benefits of DB membership, I pinched my wife and asked her to hold tight to her purse before the company started snatching purses for the audience. I knew we had to get out there as fast aw we could. It immedicdately dawned on me that one had to be a big time contractor to be able to buy for a long time from the company to break even. When a s contractor sitting next to us couldn't sign up, I told my wife it was time for us to leave. I'll advise any one planning to do some home improvement to go to [] or any of the chain stores in their neighborhoods to buy what they need on a deferred payment basis just as we ended up doing. In this way you get to pay it off in 12 months or so without paying finance charges anda also not worry about embarking on endless home improvement projects so as to recoupe your expenses. If we had used DB we should have still been paying our expensive DB membership years after our original projects were done and we must have paid too much for our kitchen project. Avoid Direct Buy as you would a plague. Good luck. shameless claims. in the presentatwife attendi=ded their

2/26/2008 - Megan writes:
I went in because I had just bought a new home with my husband and we needed some new appliances and furniture, also with a baby on the way i thought they might have some of the neccesities as well. We were lead in like cattle made to sit and watch a movie i felt like i was in grade school because if i tried to speak to my husband i got a harsh look by the fellow standing behind the group of us, i was not having anymore of it and decided after watching part of the video that this service was not just for me, i dont like waiting for my things and i cannot wait 8-10 weeks for a baby crib because if my baby decided to come before that i will have to go out and by one ANYWAYS! my husband agreed waited until the video was over to be polite to the others in the room once it was over i was ready to stand up and another fellow came in and started writing stuff done, at this time i had no idea how much it would cost to join when he wrote down $5,000.00 my head nearly burst i am not going to pay someone $5,000.00 for the priviledge to purchase things through them (mind you i do have a sams card which is very reasonably priced) we walked out and were told numerous times we could NEVER come back, after we returned home i googled and site and found this site, BOY am i glad I trusted my gut intinct and went with my heart of hearts because i knew that was just too good to be true .. and i was correct and so are others on this website.

2/24/2008 - Leo writes:
I am sorry I did not research this first. I just got scammed like a complete moron. I am laughing at myself. However, I'm going to call and cancel this crap right now and I'm going to cancel the card before I get charged for this nonsense. If these people are this low down and dirty, I wouldn't even trust them to cancel. If they think they are going to get a dime out of me, well, All I can say is come and get it buddy. Lessons learned: 1. If you can't preview what you're buying, dont' buy it. 2. Some people don't love their lives enough to get real jobs. 3. Now I know why they don't have internet in there.

2/24/2008 - wayne writes:
We were sucked into attending an open house yesterday. From about 3 minutes into the program we realized it was complete and utter bullshit. We stayed around to see what the final push was going to be like and experienced a lot of pressure and bullying, some really inane arguments about why we should part with $5400. We got the now of never line of crap too. I have delt with time share people who are much nicer and at least not out and out rude. When it became clear we would not buy in the guy we were stuck with turned into a Super ASS. This was in the Springfield, MO hell hole. I agree with one of the other people reposnding RUN, Forrest, RUN!

2/22/2008 - Russ writes:
Save yourself the trouble...dont do go. They say it will cost you 6390 for a membership of 2 years... Exact words were "sixty three ninety", even written on the white board by the lady was 6390. There print was 6390...Sounds good??? Don't be fooled, its actually 6,390.00!!! WTF! Go back to grade school!!!

2/22/2008 - nothanks writes:
I called for the info packet after seeing the ad on tv. I then got a follow up phone call, and 5 hang up calls from them. I was thinking they were awful before I went to the open house. A 6th call persuaded me to attend the open house - but the caller wouldn't even tell me if they had installers if I purchased cabinets through them - that was crazy sounding! Like everyone else I feel it was a waste of time. The first sales person I met was really stiff young man, not a hair out of place. He reeled off his pitch without blinking. I told him I felt like I was being indoctrinated into a cult, weird religion, or one of those high pressure time share events - the place and people have a very weird secretive vibe about them. I sat through the 45 minute video/talk presentation. Saw all the "amazing" savings. Then we heard it was $6000 to join for 2 years, with $300 a year for the remaining 8. And so many rules. You can't let family members use the service. Can't tell anyone about the pricing - blah, blah. I was so gobb-smacked it was that expensive, after that I lost all interest. Obviously that 6K goes towards the showrooms, and salaries of all the smarmy employees. No thanks! I'm sorry to hear that other people joined and now feel ripped off with bad service and false promises. I hope by releasing some of the 'secrets' of this place I'll save some good folks a visit and the time out of their day. Just shop smart retail is my motto!

2/22/2008 - Catherine writes:
I just went to Direct Buys so-called "Open House", when I was informed that I needed to spend an hour and half. I said that when the appointment was made I was not told that so much time was needed and that I could not spend that much time. I was basically called a liar, he said that all phone representatives are trained to inform us of the time limit and that all conversations are taped. He would listen to the tape and if it was omitted he would re-train the rep. Then I was immediately escorted out. I wasted my time and gas and was treated extremely rude. I hope no one else wastes their time.

2/22/2008 - Larry writes:
We went to an Open House recently in Burbank, CA, and were amazed at the high pressure scam these people were perpetrating. They gave us the impression of a cult; Scientology, LDS? Clean cut, happy, and all reciting pre-rehearsed rhetoric like true believers. They had already irritated us with all their many "Pre Open House" calls to make sure we would be on time, sitters for the kids, directions; Enough already!! But we tried to put on a positive attitude and see what was what. I like to get a good deal, but "Great" deals make me skeptical. Yes, we all know that cutting out the middleman will save money; you don't have to have beat us over the head with it by saying it 20 different ways. What surprises me, is that I don't see too many of these blogs focusing on the "Sign up tonight or you will never get the chance again" When I saw that in the video, that ended any chance of us joining. Do others not see what a red flag that is? Arrive for information and then be coerced to make a $6,000 decision or "No Soup for You". Frankly I think people's greed outweighs their common sense. They want something for nothing and are willing to be bullied and intimidated in making rash decisions in the hopes that they're getting over on everybody else. I'm sure DB's suckers (members) are the same people who signed up for sub prime mortgages in order to buy houses they could never afford. While DB's sales tactics are Nazi like and reprehensible, we all have to take responsibility for our decisions. If someone has to hold a gun to your head to get you to sign up, it's probably not something they want you to look at too closely. This doesn't seem to phase many people, but it makes me want to run for the door. At the end of the presentation, I asked the Rep to be sure I heard it correctly "Do you really expect us to make a decision tonight, or else we're banned?". When the answer was yes, I said that makes it an easy decision, and they showed us to the door. No trying to convince us, no "Stay and look around some more"; Out you go. I guess they don't want people around who think too much, it might contaminate the other prospects. As for the others at the open house that night, I don't know how many signed up or not. They were sheperded off to rooms for the sales team to work over. Sheperded is the right term, for they looked like sheep, with dollar signs in their eyes. Forget logic and common sense, the sheep are smarter then the rest of us, we just don't understand economics, Right?

2/21/2008 - LYNNE writes:
My husband and I were stupid enough to join in 2006- we planned on remodeling our kitchen in a few years and wanted to check it out. We went to the "open house" and were sucked in by the "join now or never" ploy and dreaming of the savings that we would have in the future when we finally did remodel! We haven't ordered much since then. On many items that we have considered buying, by the time you add tax and shipping and handling the price is not worth it! We ordered a swingset for our children and paid for it at the showroom. Two days later we received a call saying that a slide was not included in the set - did we want one? We were told that we had to pay extra for a slide. When we told them that the catalog said that the slide was included they played it out that they had never ordered a swingset before and that company said that it was not included in the package. Then we were called back again saying that they had underestimated the freight costs and that we owed additional freight in order for the company to ship it. Since we had told our children that they were getting this great new swingset - how could we refuse! We bought our daughter a new bed out of the "Directions Catalog" which is supposed to be like a sales catalog - and the shipping and handling costs were as much as the headboard!- no deal there either! I was just online looking to buy a new couch and chair and for $450.00 worth of furniture they tack on an extra $184.00 in additional fees --- Rip off! I know that I could find a couch and chair for just as much or less than that on sale at a local furniture store! Where is the savings? Then after I cancelled out my on-line order I happened upon this web site. I wish that I had known this earlier - I never would have joined! I feel so stupid!!! I am torn between buying from them in the hopes to regain some of the $ that we shelled out or just forgetting it and chalking it up to my gulibility. What do you have to do to make this investment worthwhile? Buy a shitload of high end merchandise? Order a lot of crap from one manufacturer in order to reduce shipping costs? Any ideas on how to salvage some of my investment? I hate DB for conning me into this!!

2/21/2008 - mommyof2 writes:
I am sad to say that my husband and I succumbed to the DB pressure 3 years ago when we started building our house. Let me just say, that these people are really nice until you're a member. Then you don't matter, because they already have your money. Well, it turned out that the only things we even purchases from there were a couch and sofa set, dining room table, and basement carpet. By the time you added on the shipping and the 8% "handling charge, they were more expensive than other places! By the way, our dining room set, took over 3 MONTHS to get here!!!! and they were VERY rude about helping me with it all! ya, so please be smarter than us and don't join! we will not be renewing our membership. just chalk it up to a lesson learned! i always feel like telling the poor "open house" guests to run and not look back!

2/20/2008 - R. Barlow writes:
My husband and I attended Direct Buy's 2 hour presentation here in Indianpolis, Indiana. After the presentation, my husband signed up for the membership. We told the supervisor I we will call back the next day to give the credit card to pay the downpayment of $560. My husband traveled for two weeks and totally forgot about the pmt. We assumed that since there was no payment made, the memebership is not valid. Just today, I opened a mail from a Law Office who handles legal business matter of Direct Buy. The letter was demanding us to pay the membership or else they Direct buy will file a lawsuit against us. Direct Buy is making it sound like we owe them the full amount of $4,500 for the whole 3 year contract. I felt like we are being "ripped-off" If there is any class action against this company, please contact me. I will hire an attorney to get involve with this.

2/20/2008 - joe writes:
they wouldnt quantify their savings claims when i offered them a product list for a pending remodel so i walked. how can they hustle me for 2 hours and not be willing to spend 15 minutes backing up their savings claims so that i could give them $5300? smells funny...

2/20/2008 - phil writes:
Run do NOT walk from this company. I did in fact fall for the same repeated story, discount pricing! But when they called me for the appointment I first stated no wife and wanted a few basic questions answered. This is the first indicator that they are a company that has alot to hide. NO answers, just the same story line that has been noted on this website, great service and savings. Based on the lack of answers, actually a rude person with no answers it appears that I am one of the luck ones to save the $5-6k and join! I am going to report DB to the Ohio attorney generals office. Again, run do not walk from this company! No answers up front, equals poor service on the back end!

2/20/2008 - Nancy writes:
I wish I had read all of these reviews BEFORE wasting three hours listening to a Direct Buy sales pitch. We didn't fall for it, but we did think that a company that advertises "you are guaranteed to win two of five prizes" is actually obligated to do what they advertise. When we declined to shell out almost $5000 for membership dues, we were shown the way out. When we stopped at the reception desk to ask for our "promised prizes", the receptionist looked at us like we were aliens! Then, she handed us a vacation brochure which contained no vacation sites in our state. When we asked about the free luggage, she acted surprised and asked a colleague, "Do we have any of that luggage or are we out?" Of course, they were "out." She then said we would have to come back when they had some. We asked her to write on a piece of paper that we were entitled to receive a set of luggage from Direct Buy. She snickered and flippantly complied. We have the paper in our possession, but realized that there was never any intention to offer free luggage. Just wondering - has anyone out there EVER gotten the free set of luggage????? If nothing else, this false advertising alone should be grounds for some kind of consumer action. We tend to be skeptical of ANYONE who says we have to made a decision right then and there. They also emphasize that failure to sign up means you have missed the chance of ever being invited back - thank goodness! I hope that part of their spiel is correct.

2/18/2008 - BringdownDirectBuy writes:
I am an employee at a Direct Buy location. I cannot disclose which one for obvious reasons. I have consulted with a lawyer who happens to be a member of my family and after showing him the scripts we are force-fed and required to memorize verbatim, scatch-off-card, key and other information they send you he says there may be grounds for a class-action lawsuit but he needs to do research with the FTC and others to determine if there is anything we can do as a group. It will take money and time in order for this to happen and Direct Buy treats their employees like crap. I have also managed to acquire some of their so-called savings pricing and compared it with retail prices and some of the other posts on this board are correct. The price at Direct Buy is higher. Plus the lead-times can be 4-8 weeks (or longer) and in addition they charge an 8% handling fee plus shipping on top of everything else. Direct Buy is an out & out SCAM and I have set up an e-mail address and a Paypal account in case anyone wishes to contribute to this. I can get a job elsewhere so I'm not worried about that. I just want this company brought to it's knees. The owner has multiple homes, drives a fancy car & is a scumbag & I would like nothing more than to see his empire destroyed. Please send whatever you can through Paypal to []. Everyone who contributes will be added to the mailing list and kept informed as things progress. I am very serious about this & need your help to make it happen. At the very least I am writing to the editor of my local newspaper & if necessary will take out ads in papers and magaizines across the country to insure that others don't fall victim to their advertising and high-pressure sales tactics. While I am on the inside I will continue to gather damaging evidence against them for any court cases we may get out of this. I cannot do it alone & need as much help as possible to acheive this goal. Thank you in advance to all who contribute.

2/17/2008 - bruce writes:
my wife and i saw threir infomarical.so we watched it thought well why not check it out. so we went to db. and listened to their lecture. and how much we can save. and at the end their you get a free gift. that was a joke.so after you listen they come to your table. we got the db nazi.he was not going to take no for a answer. and i just had my arm amputated.and i told him that i was not going to give you my money that i lost my arm for.he then got up escorted us to the door told the woman at the front desk they didn't join. the free gifgt was a big joke a vacation that you got to pay for. and you get a key if it opens a lock you win.hey db. i go to lowes and home depot get scratch and dents and its alot cheaper then you offer. think about this people. you pay 5 grand to join. then say you pay thirteen hundred for what ever then you have to pay them db to deliever it.please don't waste your money.

2/17/2008 - Karen writes:
As with everyone else - we have seen the DB infomercials over and over and over again. Since we are trying to gut and redo our kitchen, I thought I would call the number and check it out. The young lady wanted us to set an 'appointment' to come in. I told her I was available on Saturdays, but my husband works most Saturdays. She said it was a REQUIREMENT that we BOTH come in....now, it's starting to sound like one of those sick sales jobs...yes...'timeshare' comes to mind. As an independent career woman -- I also take offense at the requirement of having my 'husband' there. So, I told her so. Didn't make any difference....it was a requirement. So, I took a stab at a Saturday date...and she said that this is a very limited group of appointments & to call if we couldn't make it. I informed my husband that we were going to drive about 60 mi....on that Saturday to see what DB had to say. Well - he had to work...so I called & reset the appointment. 2 days prior to the appointment, I got a 'reminder' call. Again, he had to work - and the young lady (a different one) was quite 'snippy' with me about our missed appointment. I let her know, in a very business like manner, that I could only attempt the appointment - it was their rule that my husband attend with me. At that time, my husband's uncle became gravely ill and was put into hospice. There wasn't any hope of him living. When I called to let them know - they were quite irritating - acting as though my husband's uncle did this on purpose - and we couldn't just keep changing appointments - as there were a LOT of people waiting! THAT DID IT! I told them they could take their sexist 'appointment' and put it where the sun don't shine. After reading everyone else's comments & the ridiculous fees they charge -- with mis-information and the usual 'sleezy sales pitch' -- I am glad we never attended!

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