Is DirectBuy a Scam?

Any of you fine residents care to comment on DirectBuy?

Anyone been to their "open house"?

My Spidey-sense tells me it's a scam:

Both spouses MUST attend, 1.5 hour "preview" (which I'm guessing is the high pressure sales pitch), appointment only, behind closed doors, etc.

Thoughts or experiences?

 

Bob, check out this site. Not very favorable.

http://www.infomercialratings.com/product/direct_buy

Googled some others and I personally would turn down the invitation.

 

They have gotten some bad press, but I've been a member at the Chantilly location for over 3 years and have had only minor complaints...and I've saved a considerable amount of money...you have to be willing to "do-it yourself" the staff is pretty much just order takers and you have to be planning to a lot of stuff to make it worthwhile...I bought the new Community Center furniture through them and saved about 40% off Belfort's prices on Pennsylvania House...for my own purchases, I didn't spend less but I got better quality items for the same price.

 

Maureen, what was the initiation fee and did you pay it or did the HOA?

 

Yeah, isn't it some ridiculous amount like $5000

 

I wasn't even working for the HOA when I joined! So they received the benefit of my membership...not to mention my excellent taste in home furnishings free! When I joined it was $2999...At the time I was doing a major project and furnishing a new house so even with that expense I saved a lot of money!

 

DirectBuy members are not allowed to share that information (the fee itself).
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edit: OK, I don't want to get anyone in trouble, perhaps we are allowed to share it. It's closer to boomertsfx's number now. It goes up and down with inflation.
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Wife and I are members, and let me just say -- it's useful if you KNOW you will be making several high-price purchases over the next 3 years, and have a streak of DIY in you. If you plan properly, the membership can pay for itself in that time.

If you are unsure you will be purchasing several high-ticket items, in that kind of time frame, then don't go to an open-house.

We feel that for the prices we've gotten so far on what we've purchased there, we are not being ripped off. Obviously, YMMV and everyone will have a different experience. While websites like the one posted above are useful, take them with a grain of salt -- it's the people with the most to complain about who will take the time to write about their problems. People happy with a service rarely think to write good reviews about the service....

I can't say for anyone but myself if DirectBuy is worthwhile... but we've always gotten decent customer service and saved quite a bit on the items we've purchased even with the service fees that some manufacturers may add.

I will also say that if you're looking to remodel ie. new carpet or tile, after pricing out your products at DB don't forget you need to install it... for example we just recarpeted our house and it was the same price to hire a pro company to order our carpet and do it for us, as it was to order the carpet from DB and hire a company just to install it.

Sometimes, DB isn't the best deal in town. For the example above, consider how carpet is sold -- the pro installers order it direct from the manufacturers, just like you would at DirectBuy... so they get the same pricing. You only save if you can install it yourself.

As I said... YMMV.

- A

 

I think electronics and the such aren't a great price. my friend who has directbuy says you can find them cheaper online, etc. Also, they have some old-style system where you have to email them what you want and wait for a reply on prices, etc.

 

Sam's and Costco continue to span their furniture lines. You can many deeply discounted things from their websites. Items not available via their stores.

DirectBuy seems like a waste.

 

It used to be called United Consumers Club and we joined when we lived in Indiana. Back then, it was $1000 to join.
Never had a bad exerience with the club, and saved untold thousands on purchases. You get the best bang for the buck with more expensive things like furniture.