Those are questions I've asked myself over and over -- practically every time I see the commercial for DirectBuy on TV.
Jim says we should try it. I'm more hesitant.
I know they offer a "free visitor's pass" to familiarize you with their club. But I figure it's more of a ploy to try & sell you a membership on the spot -- and their membership fee is probably a few hundred dollars or something.
So I've been asking around...
Even though there's a DirectBuy club near me, most people I've asked haven't really considered visiting. Only one contractor friend of ours knew much about it. He said, "It's not worth it. I wouldn't do it." He knows a handful of people who have joined, and he made it sound like they didn't get too many "great" deals. He said you can find better deals on your own -- if you look.
But I recently heard from a reputable source a whole 'nother take on DirectBuy. This one is a bit more controversial.
I found it quite interesting...
Steve Bass, an Internet and computer pro at PC World magazine recently posted an excellent summary of DirectBuy on his "Tips & Tweaks" blog.
He started out something like this: "I saved $4,300 because I had access to the Internet. How? I didn't sign up for DirectBuy!"
That got my attention alright. To me, that said a member at DirectBuy costs $4,300. Wow, I didn't think it would be that much!
So, I read on.
Steve dug around on the Net -- he actually did a lot of the legwork for people like you & me who are simply curious about the club. In the end, he found some pretty revealing articles that anyone considering a membership in DirectBuy might want to read first.
From Steve's article...
Here's a list of sites that talk about DirectBuy. Give them a look, then come to your own conclusions:
- Consumer Reports recently posted an article that'll give you some insights into DirectBuy's tactics; see "With DirectBuy, it will cost you a lot to save."
- InfomercialRatings.com has ratings and reviews about DirectBuy.
- Ripoff Report also has product and company reviews. Here are the results from a search on Direct Buy.
...Be sure to click on the links that he provided. [Thanks, Steve.]
But, it doesn't stop there.
Apparently, DirectBuy sent a cease-and-desist letter to at least one site that wrote something bad about them. Then, a non-profit public interest organization stepped in. And things spun out of control from there.
Check out Steve's links to those stories.
More About Direct Buy:
Their tagline is "DirectBuy... The #1 way to buy direct for your home." 
They have 130 private members-only showroom throughout North America.
Members have access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in the U.S. and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.
Members have the ability to custom-order furniture and cabinets, as well as arrange for delivery and installation.
There is no obligation associated with attending the Open House (the event that "free visitor's pass" gets you into).They ask for your decision (to join) on-the-spot at the end of the Open House event.They keep the membership dues confidential until you attend an Open House "and take a good, honest look at what DirectBuy has to offer." Source: DirectBuy FAQs
People Are Talking About DirectBuy
For the most part, it appears that you ether love 'em or you hate 'em... A number of people seem quite satisfied with their DirectBuy memberships, while a lot of people obviously aren't.
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I'm thankful for sites like this where people can view their opinions about their experience with companies such as directbuy. It has definitely helped me with my decision to stay as far away from that company as I can. I'd rather go out and do my own research on products I want and compare prices than to get caught up in some scam like that.
Again, Thank you all.
And I complain about costco. I was intrigued by there commercial, however thanks for your un-biased thoughts. Reminds me of the gym or time shares...come in here and let us "sale " you hard on something that they KNOW and count on you not using...
On the other hand, every single response here sounds like a Direct Buy dealer making sure there is a positive response to the Post.
I suggest that before you yourself judge whether this report is biased or not, Google the keywords as follows:
+"Direct Buy" +"Membership Fee"
You will find literally thousands of reports, good and bad, and you can take your lead from there. From what I saw, initial membership fees range from $3,500 to over $7,000.
I just went on a scheduled visit to a well-equipped DirectBuy showroom in Markham, Ontario, Canada without my wife (she hurt her kneee and could not attend) and they gave me a very quick whisked-through tour, asking me to book another visit when my wife could visit as well.
So I have not yet had the membership payment ultimatum, but my observant 21-year-old stepson (who came with me instead) said when he looked at the electronics catalog open on a desk the prices were in line with sales at local electronics stores (WalMart, Best Buy, TigerDirect, etc.). Who's going to beat WalMart prices, anyway?
Personally, reading the reports I think it's a bit steep (and cheeky) to charge someone between $3,500 and $7,00 for a membership - that really all sounds like an aribitrary number somebody just made up. And to demand that they make up their mind - and pay that kind of money - in less than 5 minutes is just plain illegal.
I don't think we will be joining, for the basic reason that we'd rather take our chances with reputable installers we know or have been referred to and buy from local stores where we can get proper after-sales service. Everyone knows of, uses or can be fererred by a friend or relative to a reliable contractor who makes their living by reputation. These kinds of people work hard at satisfaction and doing a good job first time around.
Just my preference... make up your own mind. And THIS time you have more than 5 minutes!!!
Jim
thank you!!! you saved me the gas money to the open house on sunday!
my husband would have flipped to find out when we got their about that fee! I didn't know either.
thanks again!
I actually am familiar with direct buy through my parents who are members and love it. They recently purchased a dining room and bedroom set for what it would cost to buy just the bedroom set locally in the store. They've purchased everything from furniture, to vaccuum cleaners to sewing machines and are pricing an upcoming plan to replace the windows in their home and have nothing but good things to say about their membership.
The thing is yes the membership is pricey but you have to seriously look at what you plan to buy and what prices you can get. They joined because they will save more than the cost of the membership just on the windows - everything else is just an added bonus. But this is not right for everyone. If you're just going to make small purchases or do not have much disposable income perhaps you should opt out. Oh yeah and should you choose to attend an open house due to the draw of a promised prize, and you are seriously considering such a membership in the future, you have to be ready to put the money on the table that day because you are not allowed another chance.
The only real problem I see with this article is that it's obviously biased against DirectBuy. The way it's written, even the way the other sources are presented...it's very clear what the writer is trying to do--steer anyone and everyone away from the company. This is not a "make up your own mind" kind of piece. Rather it seems more to say "we're saying 'make up your mind' but what we mean is 'you'll regret it if you join'." I guess the piece is a rather accurate example of yellow journalism, though, if nothing else.
ditto, i'm glad to see this post lynnette. i've been wondering about just how good of a deal one could get at direct buy as well.