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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OH WOW!!! MY HUSBAND AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIRECTBUY 2DAY 7/3/09. AFTER READING THE MEMBERSHIP PRICES THEY MUST BE OUT THERE MINDS. WE IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING A FOUR FLAT BUILDING. WE ONLY WANT TO MAKE OVER OUR APARTMENT NOT THE WHOLE BUILDING. WE DO NOT HAVE 2500.00 - 5000.00 TO SPEND ON A STUPID MEMBERSHIP. I'D RATHER GO TO WAL-MART OR BEST BUY. WITHOUT A MEMBERSHIP. I DON'T EVEN THINK IF WE WERE RICH WE WOULD GET HOOKED UP WITH DIRECTBUY. I THANK EVERYONE FOR THERE OPINIONS ABOUT DIRECTBUY. THERE WERE SOME POSITIVE OUTLOOKS ABOUT DIRECTBUY FROM SOME OF YOU GUYS. LOL BUT MAJORITY BASICALLY SAID ITS NOT WORTH IT. PLUS SPENDING THAT MUCH MONEY UP FRONT FOR A MEMBERSHIP IS NEVER WORTH IT TO ME. THANKS AGAIN......
I joined Direct Buy about a year ago, and now have some perspective on the pros and cons.
Yes, it is expensive to join. It is not likely worth it for the average person to join. Certain items are not a huge savings when you figure in tax and handling and delivery, etc. There are a lot of manufacturers represented, though not every one you might be looking for. It takes awhile to get your items (sometimes up to 3 months), and it is frustrating when you know you can order the same thing off of the internet and receive it in a week.
However, that said, it was still a smart choice for us, because we were in the process of building a custom home. We exceeded our membership cost in savings practically within the first few purchases (bathroom cabinets, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans . . .right off the bat). And there is no question that high end furniture in particular is drastically reduced in price--even when you figure in all of the extra charges for tax, S&H, delivery, etc . . .and even compared to the most discounted furniture outlet in North Carolina.
So, if you plan to buy a lot of furniture, build a home, or do a major remodel . . .you will save money far beyond recovering your membership fee. However, otherwise it's probably not worth it. Once our membership expires and our home is completely decorated, I imagine we might let it go.
Thanks for the info everyone.
We just bought an old house that we plan to renovate...the membership is pricey but it seems like for what I have in mind...a direct buy membership may be the way to go. I wonder if in this economic climate...direct buy is willing to negotiate on the cost of a membership? Even with all that I have to do...I am not sure any membership should cost more than $2500.00 especially in this climate.
thanks!
Try Funituregeek.com. They have outstanding prices. Their prices are only a few hundred dollars more than direct buy and no membership fee. They are based in North Carolina.
It's $6500 for mandatory two years and if you have decide before you leave your first visit. They want to pressure you into paying $6500 before you leave or you can never join. Google "DirectBuy complaints" before visiting.
Thank You , Thank you , Thank You !
I just want to know how much it cost to join before I agree to come in for a sales pitch.Please just tell me how much or I will never come in
Al,
It's at least 5K in case you didn't see it in my comment. Crazy huh?
Thank you for the info everyone. Doing a search online reveals an approximate $5,000 upfront fee to joing. GEEZ. I just do not have this money!
Seems that as others have stated, good if you are purchasing ALOT, which my hubby and I are not. Paying $5K to save $1K on a furniture set is overboard for me.
What would Suze Orman say!?
Tx again!
Thank you, My husband and I were scheduled today to the open house, and I know for a fact that my husband (retired Army) would have gone into one of his intermittent explosive disorder phases and probably knock the directbuy rep out, OR WORSE. Especially after my husband talked to the rep on the phone twice and he refused to say if there is a fee, and My husband is already hurting from the low retirement check he recieves after serving 20years plus for his country and to feel as if he gets swanked by a fellow american would probably have thrown him over the edge. THank you for these posts.
Jillian comment from february 2 2008 said it all. I am a member and I put a lot of thought before considering becoming a member.
And I bought a lot of things at a much cheeper prices.(ie: flat screen tv 52" is at least $500 cheeper any brands). added it pay for the membership. The thing is people wants everything free and when is to put money on the table on that day. nobody is willing. That's right Jillian Direct buy is not for everybody at least not for the complainers who do research on the internet, collect couples complaints and are even not a member. I have nothing to promote or sale with Direct buy but although the membership is pricey(it will pay for itself) if you buy important items-not small junks. Go with furnitures-tvs-appliances.electronics..ect..Negative people like that guy, we do have plenty in this world of internet and it is easy to collect few complaints and make it a fraud company. Direct buy is in my opignion as a consumer very good. I tried it and compared prices and bought appliances(wall oven-saved 200 bucks)(flat screen tv(saved 500 bucks). fridge (saved 400 bucks) delivery time each time 2 weeks.(I was told 4 weeks).each time products came earlier- so to respond to the guy supposely research? about Direct buy. HAVE YOU TRY IT?
I was considering a membership but the closest store was 120 miles away! My husband and I would both have to take a day off work to travel there. How could they expect us to do that and still be able to afford their runaround salespitch crap!!! They would not give me any details over the phone except that you are responsible for paying them to ship the items to you(he said it would be a reasonable fee)or hauling the stuff home yourself. cha ching!!!The salesperson told me you have to pay for membership that day because they don't want you to go home and compare prices!! If their prices are that good then they should be happy to let you do some research! He told me they get the stuff for wholesale prices and it wouldn't be fair to their suppliers to advertise Direct Buys prices. He wouldn't even tell me some of the brands they carry. Leave this company to the super rich and the stupid!!
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.
Wow! Thanks for posting this. I've always wondered if it was really all that it was cracked up to be! I didn't give it too much thought, as I am trying to use salvaged and used materials instead, but there are a few things we've had to buy new. I'm glad I didn't even waste my time!