Direct Buy

[parallel]

Anyone have any experiences with the Direct Buy club? I know that you must join before they will reveal the pricing structure, which is a rule that they say is due to the contract that they have with the manufacturers. I can understand that, having contracts with manufacturers of building materials and systems myself I don't doubt that what they say is true. I am just wondering if anyone has actually joined and are the prices really all that much better?

 

[m1gunner]

You aren't talking about that pyramid scheme that exists to sell new memberships,are you?

National marketing or something like that.

 

[parallel]

Originally posted by m1gunner:
You aren't talking about that pyramid scheme that exists to sell new memberships,are you?

National marketing or something like that.

I don't know... is that what it is? This is what I'm talking about.

 

[m1gunner]

That isn't the same operation I ran into.

 

[Photog]

My personal feeling is that if it costs something to join it probably isn't worth it. Figure out how much you would save compared to costs to join. Then shop the same items at places like Lowes, Home Depot, or big chain furniture stores.
If you can save more than it costs to join, it may be a deal.

 

[Titan]

I was a member when it operated under its previous name ...United Consumers Club.

They charge a very large fee ($1,500 quite a few years ago) for a five year membership.

They sell out of wholesalers catalogs mounted on racks. The catalogs can be either up to date or out of date.

If you have a lot of buying to do (building, renovating, or refurbishing a home), it will defintely pay off.

Downides are that questions back and forth to manufacturers can be pretty slow (days for a response), and you have to be prepared to pick up all the goods yourself, or arrange for pickup by a third-party carrier.

For my wife and I it was well worth while at the time, but we didn't renew because our needs changed and the fees were climbing.

 

[dovekiller]

They have changed their name about 3 times and they have about 300 lawsuits pending against them. Your state Attorney General is probably acquainted with them.

 

[Igiveup]

A couple years ago I contacted them to go visit their showroom. They were located in Portland, Or., three hundred miles from me. They only would give me a "pass" for three days during the week when I couldn't go, were somewhat high pressured and I bowed out. I am now in the process of building and was just thinking about them again, as they have a store in Ca., just 140 miles south. I think I will just buy locally and be done with it.

 

[parallel]

Glad I asked... I knew something didn't feel right. I have gotten a bunch of info on this outfit. It seems that Titan is correct, if one were buying a whole lot of flooring, cabinets and furniture it might be worth it. Otherwise, it is not. I called and left a message to cancel my appointment for an "open house". I wonder just how nasty I'm going to have to get with them for them to just move on. I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[Silver77]

Here is a consumer review.

http://www.consumerreviews.org...rect%20buy%20reviews

Here is a blog:

http://www.bradsblog.net/beware-directbuy.htm

 

[m1gunner]

Right now and untill the housing business fires up again, it is a buyers market.

For large purchases, if you know what you want, how much you need, and they have it in stock, make them an offer.

I had been looking at some flooring for over a year, and finally found a style I liked at Lowes. I asked them if they would be interested in selling for what would be 32% off (for what I needed, it made a nice round number). The cashier didn't bat an eye, she said yes.

Wife and I went and loaded a cart and bought it right there, saved close to 300 bucks.

If they wouldn't have cut the price, we would have just bought the roll of tape and 2 paint brushes we came to get and left the flooring project for the future.

It never hurts to ask, all they can say is no.

 

[parallel]

Originally posted by m1gunner:
Right now and untill the housing business fires up again, it is a buyers market.

For large purchases, if you know what you want, how much you need, and they have it in stock, make them an offer.

I had been looking at some flooring for over a year, and finally found a style I liked at Lowes. I asked them if they would be interested in selling for what would be 32% off (for what I needed, it made a nice round number). The cashier didn't bat an eye, she said yes.

Wife and I went and loaded a cart and bought it right there, saved close to 300 bucks.

If they wouldn't have cut the price, we would have just bought the roll of tape and 2 paint brushes we came to get and left the flooring project for the future.

It never hurts to ask, all they can say is no.

Hmmmm... it's worth a try.

I actually got a call from the guy who set up the appointment after I left a message canceling it. He was very polite and courteous and said that if I decide in the future that I would like to come and see what they have to offer I would certainly be welcome to do so. I must admit that I was a bit surprised, as I was expecting the hard sell.

 

[BlackAgnes]

The company bases their claims of "savings" on retail costs.

Who the hell pays retail?

Example: kitchen cabinets are often discounted 50/10/2, in other words, fifty percent off, ten percent off that, and two percent for cash. If you hire a contractor, he will often pass most or all of those discounts on to you.

And have you ever paid retail for furniture???

There are those folks who pay full boat for cars, furniture, cabinets, guns (!!) etc., and those are the people whom this advertising targets.

 

[Titan]

Originally posted by Silver77:
Here is a consumer review.

http://www.consumerreviews.org...rect%20buy%20reviews

Here is a blog:

http://www.bradsblog.net/beware-directbuy.htm

From one of the review posts, the guy mentioned savings of $2,400 and that it was almost half of his membership fee that he expected to recoup.

Wow - up to $5,000 just to join?

As for the hard sell, you will definitely see that once you agree to attend their 'pitch'. They only allow members to join on the night of the pitch. They assure you that if you leave and call the next day, the deal will no longer be available.

Does that sound like a reputable practice?


I also found that you'll save more money on VERY high end stuff, but will be tempted to put the 'savings' into buyin even more or buying a more expensive product than you had planned.

If you're looking to buy a $20,000 dining room set for example, you'll probably save a good amount. On the other hand, most folks aren't in that ballpark.

.