Melissa
Miami,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, July 31, 2009
I've saved so much using Direct Buy to renovate my new home. Suggested them to a friend and her and her husband have saved also. I've been a member for almost 2 years, her for 1. We both have saved more than the initial membership fee.
Deborah
ELKMONT,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, August 08, 2006
I recently had a bad experience with Direct Buy. When I contacted the franchise to request that my membership be cancelled, I was told the membership could not be cancelled. I told them I would picket their business location. They decided to cancel my membership.
Tom
Chantilly,#4Consumer Comment
Thu, December 30, 2004
I have been saved...........saved in the matter of keeping $3500 buckerooo's in my pocket. I just have returned from attending a presentation of Direct Buy. I am one of those suckerd' people who just closed on a new purchase of a home and just moved in 6 days ago and ready to get a new dining room set,a new living set, a new projection TV for my ultimate bachelor pad and new carpet for the old condo i was selling. I saw there Infomercial on TV late one night and I had nothing better to do but to bite the hook, take the bait and dial Direct Buy. After the typical telemarketing approach of confirmation, literature to read coming and the last minute call to make sure my a*s is there, I went. I thought the entrance was kinda yuckee, with some cheap furniture in the dis-organized showroom, and lot's of bindered books on the walls like a library. Very impressive, NOT. What a high pressure sales presentation, and telling you if you don't don't buy tonite, your toast. You can never buy the program again.I am SAVED, my deal is, I have $3500.00 to spend somewhere else. You can be saved too. Don't go.
Tara
Levittown,#5Consumer Comment
Mon, December 06, 2004
Today my husband and I visited the location in Nassau County New York. The salesman refused to tell us the membership price before we watched the video. He then snatched the cheap catalog off the table that he had given us. I had set it down in front of me when we sat down. I had already had the opportunity to look at the claimed savings. There are no savings! We left without even finding out the membership fees. After researching the company tonight I am happy that I didn't stick around! I believe that these people weed away the strong and independent so that they can sway the weak. They tried to usher us out so as to not make a scene. The are extremely rude, and think they are clever. I also find it infuriating that the company goes online to refute honest responses written from experiences. Something must be done to stop this scam! Right from the beginning with the online appointment I felt it was a scam. The way they order you in an almost cultish fashion of their expectations. They order that both spouses MUST be present, and other MUSTS! You must ask, WHY is asking what the membership fee such a taboo! You must first sit through a video that aims to brainwash the weak. STOP THE SCAM!!!!!!!!!! Isn't This illegal? Well it should be!!!!! DON"T BELIEVE THE RESPONSES THAT THIS COMPANY IS GREAT! THEY WERE WRITTEN BY BESTBUY REPRESENTATIVES/OWNERS. GOOD LUCK
Crystal
Edmonton,#6Consumer Comment
Sat, October 23, 2004
Hello to all the smart buyers that are doing thier research before they fall into a shady companys trap. My spouse and I just came back from DirectBuys open house and I can see how easily people would fall for thier lies. They sound good, they look good. I was been sweet talked by the sales lady at directbuy, lost in her words of promises of all the great big savings when she gave an example of how kitchen cabinets from any old retailer would cost me 16 to 20 thousand dollars and BAM just like that I snapped out of the hypnotic stage of looking for a deal. "wohhh.."I said. You see I was looking to buy cabinets and have been researching them for a while, I found the best deal at Rona for an 8 by 10 T style kitchen $2500. I told her this immedietly and she looked at me like I was a fool and tried to convince me that I was wrong and I must have been mistaken. (like I was born yesterday) Also while we were been showed around thier cheesy cheap floor displays she made a point to say "Matthew" (my spouse) "look at this great flooring!" and "Crystal" (me) look at this great fabric, you can bring the binders home and match it to your preference. Right then I felt insulted. Little did she know I am the handy woman of the house. I take care of the car, pick out flooring, install flooring, plan reno's and fix whatever I know how to in the home, not pick out pretty colors for the drapes and couches. The sales lady happilly informed us we would save our membership fee just in buying some drapery. The drapery and window coverings I chose were 2000 dollars, I dont know what kind of blinds she was going to sell me mayber if they were lined with gold.... Anyone with common sense would see that a pressured deal of having to make a choice of spending four thousand dollars in a matter of an hour and a half, without being able to compare prices, without a day or two to think about and with no turning back when all is said and done is WRONG. Its not a choice of buying a donut from timmys even at timmys they give you a lifetime of deciding what you want and when you want it and if you dont like it you can take it back... for any reason, Its FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS non refundable at that. A good respectible company would be proud of its name, not changing it every once a while when the BBB claims get to large or the news reports to damaging. If you are about to make a four thousand dollar decision, do one simple thing research it your self ! phone BBB or better yet go there your self with comparable prices and questions about thier contract like the warranty(they told us its a full warranty) tell them you would like to fully read the contract before handing over the money. see what they say...... If they were sucha great company they would have such a huge customer basis there would be no need to charge a membership fee of 4000!!!! GoodLuck and shopsmart not spontaneous!!!!!
Iva
Merrillville,#7Consumer Comment
Sat, July 03, 2004
Directbuy is a scam that use to go by the name UCC Totalhome. Before that they were known as United Consumers Club. They are trying to get consumers to buy a non-refundable, non-cancellable "membership" contract costing $3000 or more, payable in advance. You are led into this trap by thinking that by paying $3000 (or more) membership fee (in advance) that you will get better prices - that you will be able to buy at "cost." But there are no guarantees. The National Post news article got it right when they reported: "Another fine print stipulation stated: "No oral promises or statements not contained in this agreement shall bind or obligate the club." News Net 5's expose on what was then UCC Totalhome (now DirectBuy) found out: "But UCC's contract states: "No oral promises or statements not contained in this membership agreement are binding." There are no guarantees that you will be buying at "cost" and that there are no guarantees of savings whatsoever. Since the "membership" fee is non-refundable and non-cancellable, should you not realize any savings, oh well, too bad - no refunds! Buyer beware this scam! Here are some links to more information about them- http://www.nationalpost.com/financialpost/story.html?id=19E244B1-7DD0-45A2-B66D-7883F94E1DB4 http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/services/ucc/ http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/video/programs%5f2001%5f02/ucc%5fqt%5f020306.html http://www.newsnet5.com/news/335540/detail.html http://www.wbz4.com/lyons/local%5fstory%5f063165203.html http://www.startribune.com/stories/1229/4780642.html http://formeraboutguides.com/investingcanada/library/weekly/1999a/aa062399.htm http://formeraboutguides.com/investingcanada/library/weekly/1999b/aa110499.htm http://formeraboutguides.com/investingcanada/library/weekly/2000b/aa122100a.htm CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report. A NY court found the membership contract "grossly unconscionable" and that "Club membership is nothing more than a cleverly disguised method of selling nothing but hopes and dreams." http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/cases/mlm/state/nyniemiec.htm A Canadian court found the membership agreement untenable and unenforcable because it violated the Consumer Protection Act, the Sales of Goods Act, and The Trade Practice Act. Read this at at paragraphs 13-20 of the ruling. http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/judgments/pc/2002/01/p02%5F0197.htm Paragraph 8 is where they said they aren't required to give any service after the sale. Yes, see for yourself they used it in court to try to save themselves. http://www.sconet.state.oh.us./rod/documents/2/2002/2002-ohio-3806.doc UCC blames the member for the delay in receiving merchandise for over 4 months! Read it for yourself at paragraph number 33! http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/documents/2/2004/2004-ohio-2426.doc Lawsuit shows lack of moral and ethical conduct by UCC/TH/DB franchisee Darryn Fossand. http://www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/archive/ctapun/0405/opa031376-0511.htm BEWARE: The contract specifically states: There are no merchandise returns. There are no refunds if not satisfied. Merchandise is sold without warranty. There is no after sale support or service. DIRECTBUY FYI: http://free.hostdepartment.com/d/directbuyinfo/ MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT - READ IT BEFORE YOU GO IN FOR THE PRESENTATION: http://free.hostdepartment.com/d/directbuyinfo/MembershipAgreement.htm
Steve
Chicago,#8Consumer Comment
Sun, March 07, 2004
When we bought our home in Chicago, we were contacted by UCC within days of moving in. They were secretive but courteous, and we scheduled an appointment (more out of curiosity than anything else). We went, waited to see if we "qualified" and (when we were told we DID qualify) sat through a long, relatively uninformative meeting with the owner. Afterwards we sat down with a sales rep who explained the "membership" fee (yikes!) and what you get for it. We were MOST DEFINITELY skeptical, but after doing some comparatives on furniture we had been looking at, and knowing that we in the market to furnish an ENTIRE home, we went for it. We had MAJOR buyers remorse afterwards. We felt like we had spent money foolishly, and what the hell were we gonna get out of this membership. Well, some time went by and we remembered to USE our UCC membership (as there are TONS of things that you can get from them-clothes, healthcare products, flooring, cabinets) and found that we have in fact saved a great deal of money over retail. NOT Suggested retail, but true retail. I think it depends on what you are looking to buy, and how many things you are looking for. We needed a whole home full of things (as we had sold everything from our last home and were starting from scratch), not just a few pieces. We were told that electronics is a cutthroat market and that we wouldn't be saving tons (if anything) on those items. We have purchased over $15,000 (real retail, not suggested) worth of items for less than $9,000. So that, combined with the $3600 membership fee mean s that we still saved $2,400. If that's not good enough for anyone, go buy your products from Sears and give them the extra $2,400! Or give it to me if it's not important enough of a savings! :-) I don't mean to be flippant, I am merely saying that it is NOT for everyone, and clearly some consumers are going to benefit from it compared to others. I am sorry for anyone who has had a bad experience. I know the feeling. We were feeling TRULY ripped-off. Then we decided to USE the service, instead of complain about it. We are now on our fourth year with UCC, and are planning on purchasing a new sofa very soon. Just got a great washer/dryer combo for about $600 less than we've seen out in the stores. Just wanted to offer my 2 cents.
Tracy
Stuart,#9Consumer Comment
Wed, February 25, 2004
I have been seeing infomercials for DirectBuy and was considering it. We just bought a house and we are starting to remodel it and buy new furniture. Your report saved my time and sanity!!!!!! I love this site, I can check on companies that I am thinking of spending money with and see if anyone has had any problems with them. Thanks again!