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12/27/2007 - Josh writes:
We called and showed up at one of their open houses. They wanted to know right from the start "Are you ready to Buy?" I told them Nope we never buy into something right away... The guy got upset and asked me the same question 3 times and told him if he asks me another question like that before showing me what it is they have to offer I am going to request another sales rep. He said he was going to call security and walled me to the front door.... I managed to stay through the presentation. The hard sell is " PAY US $7500 for the right to purchase stuff at wholesale cost" After 10yrs pay us annually $200 + increases to continue this right. Fricken SCAM SCAM SCAM dont do it!!!. First off you want wholesale you can get it from a contractor when you have them do the work. 7500 you would have to spend 25,000 in materials to breakeven... at this point is where you would start saving on only materials which could be purchases many of times whosale by the contractors you my hire to preform the work.

12/27/2007 - Qiana writes:
I too fell for this scam. My husband and I brought a home a year ago and of course I saw the informercial and became intrested so I contacted them and set up the appt. they give you no information about the company over the phone even if you ask. I should have know something was wrong when I wanted to just visit by my self, they told me I had to come in with my husband. My husband is the type of person that doesn't like to shop so I ususally do all the shopping by my self. So we set up this appt and visited our presentation was about 1 1/2 hours. They really try to make this seem like they are not trying to scam you. but they are. we paid about $4500 for membership and have only bought 2 cabinets from them. Come to find out the cabinets were cheaper some place else. I am the type of person that compares when I shop so I have done that when I have gone there I find that most of the Items I shop for I can get at the store cheaper rather than direct buy. We joined thinking we were going to save some money to fix up our new 2 family home but in the end we are paying an arm and a leg for something we are not even using. I have called them to try to cancel 1 week after we signed up and like most of you, you cant. I gave birth to my daughter in Feb 07 so I was not working, then I was laid off when I was supposed to go back to work, I called them and explained my situation to them and tried to cancel I had no luck. I had to call my attorney generals office and the BBB and they said I may be able to file a class action against them> and that they have gotten a lot of reports against Direct Buy. I honestly thought I was the only one that this has happened too. Because we have missed some payments They have now threated to send our account to a collection agency. Oh and how about them selling your account to Beta Finance. I found out that when you sign up, within 10 days they sell your account to Beta Finance for the full memebership that they charged you and then your account is owned by beta finance. BE AWARE! IT"S A SCAM! If you see anything for Direct buy or Beta Fianace RUN! I am interested in filing a suit so if anyone has anyinformation please contact my [] I live in NY!

12/21/2007 - Alfred writes:
The Direct Buy is a big scam,and the membership fee of $4,000 is a rip off,you are not allowed to view their catalogs to compare the prices with other stores,and you are told not to tell them that you are with Direct Buy.They also ask you to tell your friends about Direct Buy so as they can contact them to join,who the hell wants to your friends that you have been screwed.I have been a member for over 2 years and never have bought anything from this company,because I have never found any items that I could hold and feel them like I do in the stores,and I do not have to pay them a fee to give me an estimate like I do with Direct Buy. I would do anything to get my membership back from this company,but I guess I will just send my concerns in and hope that any future customers will be warned about the Direct Buy operations and their way of doing business,they make their money on the Membership fees not on the business that is generated?and I have purchased a few thousand dollars of goods over the past 2 years,so I am not a poor person and I should have known better about this Scam Direct Buy??

12/21/2007 - John writes:
Like all the others, I heard about this outfit via an infomercial and newspaper ads. I arranged a presentation on a Sunday when I was going to see a football game afterwards anyway, so I wasn't wasting any time or money if the thing was a farce. Which it was. I am a hard headed businessman who has dealt with all types over 30+ years and always have the reverse reaction to a hardsell than the seller wants. The more conditions, the less likely I buy--a lesson learned with hard experience. This one just took the cake. My wife and I were the only ones there, which was telling in itself. The presenter had drug out some gal who claimed she was there as a prospective client and then proceeded to agree with everything the presenter said, even saying she spent $100,000 buying stuff. No obvious shill there huh? When I heard the price, I got up right there to leave, whereupon the guy says "where are you going?" I say to see a ball game. He then says the usual bull about signing up now or never, so I say "ok never." Then he says he can't believe I would give up such a great opportunity to see a ball game and I told him I like to get my money's worth. I also told him that it was ludicrous he was right next to a Costco where I had a membership for $50 a year and can get great prices so why would any idiot pay him several thousand and be locked into him. Prices changes all the time and there are auctions to go to etc. where you can get better prices without paying these jerks outrageous fees to be locked in to them. Basically put, anyone that tells you that you have to buy something right now or lose the opportunity forever is trying to put a scam over on you. Full stop.

12/21/2007 - Dan writes:
My wife and myself just purchased a motel and felt that DB may save us some money. After multiple infomercial's of this Direct Buy scheme (which at the time sounded good)we gave the gruelling 2 plus hour speech a try. I must say the well versed representative was good at what he does. During the "presentation" he told us that today we needed to make a decision of either yes or no before we left. Our cost was about $5,000. I told him that would be very unlikely and good luck in trying to convience me. The presentation continued. We told him what type of products we were looking for and said "we have it", "we have that too". Well as we started walking around the showroom he went from this station to that explaining the major savings off retail that we could achieve(who buys stuff at retail anymore?). He told us that we would be able to purchase paint at 45% of retail, I already have a 30% discounted card (available to the public) I guess if I needed 3000 gallons of paint I could break even. All in all I didn't sign up, I never buy retail anyway, and I left sad..........he said, "I couldn't get another chance to join for 7 more years, your loss". I think not.I was waiting for the secret handshake from this "secret club". Avoid the high pressure sccam!

12/19/2007 - ubaldo writes:
i went to direct buy on 12/15/07 sounds like a great deal what they tell you so i took the plunge,but they made sound like everething was available throught the internet, but after i took the new members orantation they said it wasn't so i went home being that i have plans of possibly moving away to another state i went to check how far away they were from where i was possibly moving and foundout that the closes one was aproximatly 2hrs away.at htat moment i decided that i din't want to be a member so i try calling to let theng know but no want answer the phone so i coiln't reach then until 12/18/07 caused they are closed on sundays and mondays,when i call they ask for phone# so someone in management could reach me back,try twice and i got the same story th following day 12/19/07 call in early got the same story so try later in the day and finally they got with a supposed manager he try to comvinced that the driving was still going to be worthed it,i said no i still wanted to get out of the deal,he reply by saing that icouln't because i sign a contract and i couln't get out of it,i thought that new jersey law alow you to canceled any cintracts withing 3 bussness days but he saids that isn't so because they protected thenselves by ryding on the contrac that it can't be canceled by the consummer,din't realizes that i made a comtract with the devil. i still haven't given up i will be calling a lawyer fine out what i can do if any,hope no one is going to the same trouble that i'am going also hoping that someone knows how to get out of this contract with the devil pray for me.

12/18/2007 - Joey writes:
I too fell for the SCAM. And yes it is a SCAM. Please lets start a class action lawsuit against this so called company. THOUSAND OAKS CA

12/18/2007 - Bill writes:
My wife contacted Direct Buy through their website after viewing their infomercial and becoming interested. Apparently she provided her contact information inclusing our home telephone number. Since that time representatives for their Springfield, Mo office have called us no less than four an up to seven times a day. The calls have continued even after we have informed them they were unwanted. We re growing very annoyed with their over-bearing solicitation attempts.

12/17/2007 - Howard writes:
Although most of the complaints about DB are/appear to be related to the cost and savings, in my opinion there is more of a problem in the type of shopping and related aggravation. When I shop retail I can I do not assumer the full responsibility for the product, delivery and installation, and the amount of savings available is usually not worth this. For example, my builders created serious delays and the place I ordered the kitchen from has held it, without cost, for the entire time of the delay, as has the furniture company. This is not possible with DB. Also, the builder screwed up his measurements when building the kitchen area and the supplier I used came to the site, made the measurement and suggested a solution on the spot and revised the order. This service is worth a lot of money. However, my kitchen, which in my estimation will be the same quality with equal or more choices, will not cost more. The design and consulting service was included, including full plans and layout etc. On other attempted purchases the product choice was always outdated (cameras for example). Extended warranties were not available, even to buy. Although many claims significant savings, and there may be some, by the time you deal with the design/order, waiting times, charges for not picking up your product on time, opportunity cost on not getting warranties extensions etc, pick up/delivery, installation, disposal of packaging etc, and toatl lack of recourse on product damage during shipping or your transport to your home, it is just not my buying style. And, regarding savings, I suspect that if you shop prudently, take advantage of sales etc, then you can do just as well on pricing. Bottom line: I would NOT recommend this place. $4500 to $6000 membership fees go a long way to buying at discounted retail.

12/15/2007 - Peter writes:
Let me get this straight. I have to make an appointment to listen to a 2 hour pitch about how wonderful DirectBuy is. Then cut a check on the spot for $6000. I can't think about it and come back tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I can NEVER come back if I don't pay you now. I can take a few minutes to browse the catalogs, but I can't write down any prices. I'm not allowed to tell retail stores that I've found a better price at DirectBuy. I have someone following me around as I browse catalogs. I feel like the Gestapo is watching me. Do not fall for this ridiculous scam. There are discounts on most items, but the $6000 membership fee offsets any savings. PLUS, you pay them an 8% handling fee, pick up items at their warehouse (which is in the middle of nowhere for me) and the delivery time on most items is a joke. If I want to save $100 on a plasma tv, I have to order it, wait 4 weeks, pick it up myself, and pay them 8% for their trouble. Unless your a builder of 100 track homes and can justify a $6000 membership to save $10 on a shower head, it's not worth it. If it were a good deal, wouldn't they be as big as [] or [], two companies which charge a membership and offers discounts?

12/14/2007 - Tim writes:
We are interested in a class action suit. We joined approximately 6 weeks ago with promises that we would save money on a leather couch, a desk, cabinets, counter tops, washer and dryer etc. In all cases, we have been able to find less expensive items from local stores. What is the next step?

12/13/2007 - larry writes:
Well Just like everyone else, I sent for the Info on direct buy,I had a message the next day on my answering machine, the tip off on the scam was the way the lady identified herself, and claiming that she was "calling back" from direct buy...I never called her in the first place, all i did was order a visitor pass online..I was on guard after her message, she then called a few hrs later, told me she sent the pass, called later that day and told me what information was on the pass....this indicated to me high pressure sales. next day, another message, then a few hrs later another. This has been going on for a week, relentless phone calls, twice a day just like all sales scams...they lose patience and try to rush things..ill let her just waste her time on calling my answering machine..Im glad that instead of spending my time sitting through a high pressure sales pitch, i spent my time reading about the company online

12/12/2007 - Kevin writes:
My wife got harangued on the phone by this outfit here in Calgary until she relented and gave them permission to send an invitation, I got it in the mail and wondered, 'what the hell?' and searched them with google with the additional term 'membership fee' and found this site. $5000 is a ripoff, I don't care what you save, it's not worth the risk of them fleeing town with all the membership fees and leaving you a fleeced sheep. DO NOT buy into this scam, it smells like the old layaway scams that Krazy Krazy used to pull... you know, where they get your lawaway money on Friday night, and by Saturday morning they've left town? Trust them no further than you can throw them. OR alternatively buy one membership with 50 friends, $100 each. Some of the DB proponents, aka suckas, apparently do mass renovations with a single membership, well then share the membership over 50 renos with a syndicate of your friends! It's no different. I can't think of any other way of lowering your risk of membership in this ridiculous pyramid scheme. My brother bought a membership, but he's a greedy fool susceptible to garbage like this. In Alberta you've got at least 48 hrs to walk away from the contract, just walk in the door and tell them the Goddam deal is off.

12/12/2007 - Maral writes:
WOW! I should've done my research PRIOR to going and wasting almost 3hrs of our time at this stupid presentation! My husband is a skeptic...thank God, and I'm a little more gullable to what others have to convince me of. I had finally convinced my husband into going to this presentation in Markham, Ontario last night as we've just bought a new home and ready to furnish it completely. The presentation we were faced with was a joke, the only answer we kept getting for our questions were...you're going to save big! At first the $4590.00 membership fee almost had us choking (with an additional annual of $299.00 for the next ten years) Not to mention....you had to decided right then and there without the chance of sleeping on it!!!(That's how good this deal was!)Nothing was explained in detail and specific questions were replaced with vague answers and other "too good to be true" stories. We left without signing the "one time deal" and somehow they succeeded in making me feel like I missed out on something!The next day, my husband e-mails me this website only to make me feel better (and horrible for almost falling for the scam!)And only then did I read the feedbacks on this website which people should do before they're thrown to the kind of sales sharks we had to deal with. Even if you may save on the manufacturer's pricing...they don't mention any specifics of the "other" fees such as the shipping and handling, delivery, and installation charges. They also don't mention any support services such as Customer Service (which I now understand, there is none) and how about extended warranties? Sure you get the manufacturer's warranties but how about extended on major appliances and equipment? Again, it's an innocent mistake and yet an expensive mistake nonetheless. Thanks to a smart husband..I can see the "catch" now.

12/11/2007 - larry writes:
I kept hearing direct buy on the radio, so I decided to go online and request information. wow what an eye opener. this Lady has been calling me relentlessly, first to tell me she sent an invitation, then every day after that twice a day, Im scared to answer my phone!, she calls all the time!after I got the invite in the mail i was taken aback by the demands..no kids..and no showing up without your spouse..good thing i dont have one. so after i read it...i tossed it. Looked like a scam..that lady is STILL calling me! i really dont feel like explaining why Im not going to drive an hr to their showroom..ill just let her leave messages..eventually she will get the hint.

12/11/2007 - Ali writes:
I am glad that I didn't buy so called "membership" from Direct Buy. I am currently remodeling my house, and need many products such as Kitchen Cabinets, refrigerator, dish washer, stove, fire place, drywall, bathtub, toilet, shower unit, lighting fixtures, and so on. I wanted to lean how Direct Buy works. So I requested a free pass. They kept on calling me insisting that I only have one chance, and I can't bring my kids with me to the showroom. OK. I was very uncomfortable but, I asked my family to take care of them. One day before the appointment day, they called back making sure that I would not bring my kids with me to the showroom. They insisted to call my baby sitter to make sure she's available. Well, I live with my family. I don't need to CALL them. It took me about 5 minutes to convince them that my kids would not be there. Finally, he backed off. Phew. Now he wanted to make sure that I bring my wife only to the showroom. But I wanted to go with my brother, since it's his project and I'm only helping him. When I asked him that, the guy on the phone got MAD! I mean, really really MAD. It was bizarre. I said OK, I'd bring my wife to shut him up. So he did. Next, I asked him about the membership fee. He refused to tell. I told him I understand that there're various kinds of membership they offer, but I just want to learn the rough estimate before I drive one hour to the show room. But he refused. He would never tell me. I didn't want to go on anymore. I told him that I don't feel comfortable, and not interested anymore. Guess what he said. "Good luck finding any retailer who would treat you better than us!!" I just hang up on him. Obviously, I don't need any luck for that. That was the worst experience that I have ever encountered as a customer. I am so glad that I didn't go to the showroom, nor see that sales guy. Direct Buy is some kind of lame game. BE AWARE!!

12/8/2007 - Greg writes:
Attention Centerville Ohio Direct Buy members! I am approaching a lawyer about a class action lawsuit for the Centerville members. The owner of our Direct Buy franchise was selling many products outside the Direct Buy vendor group and was kicked out of the business by Direct Buy corporate. When we bought into the concept, the storeroom was awesome with so many products to choose from. It was explained to us that we could have all the products in such a showroom for the rest of our lives. Since the owner was barred from all Direct Buy business activities, the showroom was shut down and relocated to some empty retail space that was available. The place is barren with nothing in it except some book cases and a few samples (this is many months after the move). The transition from a spectacular store to a substandard room is incredibly painful when we think about the initiation fee we paid. What makes it worse is that we did not complete finishing our house and now the cabinets that we want to match or the carpet is no longer available! With no owner stepping up for the Centerville location it seems very unlikely that a showroom with something worth while will ever materialize. I tried to simply ask for my initiation fee back and the Direct Buy Corporate played real hard ball with me stating that my fee was non-refundable. Additionally, they showed absolute no empathy for what happened to all the local members. We need people to contact me so that they can help with this class action lawsuit. Please call me at [] during the weekdays to leave your contact info or at [] during other times. Hope to hear from fellow frustrated members…

12/7/2007 - Joyce writes:
I attended the presentation approximately 1 year ago because we were doing some home remodeling. They tell you that you only have one chance to join, they also told me that they would be opening a center in Richmond/Highland Heights 2 months later, today 1 year later still no opening. I drove to canton once for Pella windows at that time I was told that they did not have a supplier something smelled fishy, especially when I specifically asked when I joined. I called recently to see if they got the supplier I was told yes and they had someone come to measure my windows but no one has yet to call me back with the estimate. I am really ashamed to admit to this scam. I have talked to people who have used other centers and had nothing bad to say, However the CANTON, Ohio center is definitely a SCAM....

12/6/2007 - Bob writes:
Terrible experience with DirectBuy! I was foolish enough to inquire for a visitor's pass(which I thought was to view offerings on the web). Received a call for onsite 'Open House. Fron the getgo it smelled like a 'TimeShare' - hard sell approach, and it was. I have damaged home with $60-70K of work. The pitch was slick, yet afterwards told of $ 6,000 membership fee and lots of promises of savings... but no hard #'s to support it. All on the 'If come'. Wouldn't show me any clear prices ' to protect the vendors'... all promises and no show. Don't do it, it's also a franchise and each location can charge different fees... yet membership is good anywhere... why spend $6K here when it can be bought elsewhere for $ 2,500? I would interested in knowing of any class action suits?

12/5/2007 - LINDA writes:
ijoined direct buy 6 weeks ago FOR 45OO DOLLARS UP FRONT.in clevelanD ohio and i am a shamed of my self for falling for the scam. what they tell u is an out right LIE to your face. i too was rehabing a house and thought it would be g agood thing to do. iwas trying to purchase a professional jenn air refridgerator and stove. when i compared db price it was real clear that you will not save any money with this membership. the priced if found locally and on inter net were cheaper than db price. when they add their 8%, which is nalmost as much as the fright there were no savings at all. i hAVEN'T TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THIS DB IS SCAM BECAUSE HE WILL TELL ME I TOLD YOU SO... I FEEL SICK EVERYTIME IT THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE OR HEAR their NAME> i have reported them to BBB and AG. I will sue them in sm claims court if i have too.THIS IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY,AND SOMEONE HAS TO STOP THESE PEOPLE... IF WE ALL GET TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THESE PEOPLE. LIKE CALLING THE US ATTORNEY GENERAL. THEY ARE SCAMMING EVERYBODY. THE OPOPLE ON TV ARE PLANTS AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE PLANTS IN THE STORE ALSO... I HATE MYSELF, I HATE MYSELF FOR BEING SO STUPID, STUPID, STUPID... THEY ARE OPENING A STORE IN WARRENSVILLE OHIO JUST EAST of cleveland....don't do it YOU WILL BE SORRY , SORRY. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES. REMEMBER MOVIE FORREST GUMP. LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GE FORM DIRECT BUY.....NOTHING , NOTHING. I AM A SICK PUPPIE. IF SOMEONE KNOW HOW TO GET OUT OF THIS HOAX PLEASE TELL ME...

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