Posted on 04/04/2008 4:41:26 PM PDT by xcamel
Direct Buy Direct Lie Frauds Liars Biggest scam ever ripoff Shrewsbury Massachusetts
"S" thompson, Connecticut:
We fell into the trap after the initial visit tour. We should have known better because of the high pressure sales tactics but unfortunately we joined DIRECT LIE.
We were builing a new home and were told that we would save tens of thousands of dollars. Yeah, right. This from someone who has no clue about building. It was not until after the first two months, we discovered that they could not beat our price quotes on windows, shingles, doors, siding and most importantly the kitchen that is their big seller. What a joke.
When we tried to approach the owner, who is not a very good business person and is actually very immature, and received no satisfaction. I called UCC headquarters and spoke to franchise relations and reported the Shrewsbury franchise and their bad business tactics.
Within four hours, I received a call from the Shrewsbury store stating that my membership was revolked with a full refund. My response was 'revoked?' more like terminated at the customers request but if it makes you feel better to say my membership was revolked so be it. Bottom line is I got my money back and never have to deal with that BS again.
DO NOT FALL PREY TO THE SCAM, YOU WILL BE SORRY
An educated customer is their worst enemy.
SB thompson, Connecticut U.S.A.
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Direct Buy Lie's When going to there presentation, No savings here, try to work with them and told you don't understand. Ripoff Midvale Utah *Consumer Suggestion ..Thanks to Santa
This company has a great sales pitch that you can save a lot of money by joining there club you can even save big money on items that are on sale at retail stores.
They claim during there sales pitch that they carry low end and high end items so there are savings for all members. Huge Lie
I have been a member for about 7 months as I really wanted to give this company a real try. however I never found anything in the club that I could not get somwhere else for less. I went to the warehouse on December 29th and the manager told me I just did not know how to read there prices. and that I should attend a direct Buy new member orientation which Me and My Wife did on December 30th. After the orientation we took the time again to look over there catalogs. with no savings found. again we talked to the Manager and at that time was told that the items we were buying were not as good a quality as the ones they carry. we even showed them items that were exactly the same item. then all of the sudden out of knowere the savings were not the great thing about direct buy it was that we could buy any product from there manufactures without going from place to place.
I joined the club to save Money. The Big Rip-off however is not only do they charge as I have learned now a huge Membership fee. that has to be renewed every year but on top of that they charge 8% of everything you buy just to make the order which if you order online they don't even do. This company is not out to save there members anything they are out to rip off all the people thay can.
There sales pitch is very convinceing when you hear it I was really looking forward to being able to save a great deal of money. as I think most people are. I made the Mistake. I really tried to give this company the oppertunity to show me that there were savings. that is why I took the extra steps with them.
However at this time I am submitting This report to hopefully stop others from making this Mistake. You will be very sorry if you do. I wish this was not the case but in all reality it is.
Just BEWARE
Santa Murray, Utah U.S.A.
Medved says he is a member and they advertise on his program. So I thought about it and checked Google and other sites and there were tons of complaints. I’m glad that I did check.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I just recently had to buy new appliances for a vacation house. I priced appliances at 3 different stores, one a big building warehouse chain, one other local store, and a store called Handy TV and Appliance. Handy beat the other onese by several hundred dollars for the whole package.
Educating some freepers is a problem for you?
When Capt’n Obvious swoops in, I hope he doesn’t land on you.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Besides the ridiculous membership fee, the buyer pays the cost of shipping...based upon weight.
Try saying money purchasing a regulation pool table with 3 pieces of thick slate. LOL!
The concept is one thing. The reality is another.
Certainly you could buy some items less expensively, if you aren't looking for a quality match, but I like the idea of being able to buy a better brand product for the same price as one of lesser quality. That's especially true with kitchen cabinets. As far as their kitchens are concerned, I've never seen cabinet prices so good.
You DO have to spend time looking at the catalogs, and understand the pricing structure. Some catalogs show on their pages the retail prices, and you have to use the formula given in that particular catalog to determine the Direct Buy price.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I am glad I DIDN’T HAVE TO PROOFREAD THIS.
I have never seen so many spelling errors.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I agree with what you posted. I was just adding my two cents worth of advice for others so that they don’t get ripped off from companies like this. I think you misunderstood my post.
bookmarked!
There is...or used to be...a showroom in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The initial membership is in the thousands of dollars...as if you were joining a country club. It’s insane.
Real retailers give you a larger discount off the true list price up front, or work on a markup from cost.
DB has a horrendous warranty track record, a dismal return exchange policy, no reliable installation contractors, and no ombudsman program.
When you add in the “membership fee”, you paid more and got less, and have no one to fall back on when it all goes bad.
I just hate seeing people get ripped off.
My business has been in my family since 1827, and I'm generation 5, with gen 6 coming along nicely. We compete with these scumbags, and end up having to “clean up their messes” when it comes to remodeling projects.
It might be a natural, considering that he sold the country on the pig-in-a-poke known as the War on Drugs.
We almost fell for it about a year ago; in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Daddy always said “If it’s a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow”. These are just good rules to live by.
When we were told that if we didn’t pony up $5,000 on the spot; we’d be denied membership for the next 7 years - alarm bells went off in my head.
If memory serves, I believe my response to the Buy Now or Don’t come back for 7 years qualifies as profanity. I’m delighted to hear that my gut instinct was correct. We saved $5,000 by not purchasing a ‘membership’.
Maybe some of Direct Buy’s ubiquitous endorsers, whose integrity is all they’ve got, should look into this issue before saying something like “you would be a fool to buy a car for 30 when you can get it for 20.”
Mr., Dr., Secretary, Whizzbag, Academic Snob, Bill Bennett said that.
Or something very close to it, about Direct Buy.
I thought Bennett’s pitch was a little “in my face” at the time, but ignored the very slight offense I took as a mere license of capitalism.
I think they changed that ad recently, but Bennett should have a more temperate approach when renting his integrity to an enterprise that, maybe, he has failed to check out diligently. His ads for Bulova watches are excellent, though.
Laura Ingraham needs to listen up, too. Laura is obviously brilliant, and she is usually able to project a populist view. I think that’s where lot’s of her radio appeal comes from. She is on thinner ice than others who endorse a rip off outfit.
Of course, I am not a member of DB so this is all my opinion and speculation based on these reports - it may suit me fine.
But...it is odd that I have never ever heard anyone saying anything at all about DB, good or bad, given its airplay. Maybe, (former) members are reluctant to admit they got took. Usually, if folks paid less for something than you did, you never hear the end of it.
But, I respect Bennett and Laura, so their continued endorsements of this company will worry me if I keep hearing stories like those above.
The stories don’t surprise me, though. The ads always seemed too earnest and full of pressure to entice me, not that I have not been suckered before. I have.
But, I don’t want a new kitchen, car (not that DB sells cars, I don’t think it does), hammock, or grill. I will buy two pairs of shoes this weekend. I am going to get a brown pair and a black pair as soon as I can decide on colors.
My wife talked me into it, so I wrote the check. When I got home I did more research. Put stop payment on the check the same day. This is a very big scam.
We have a FReeper in great standing that does ads for DirectBuy - I’ll ping him into the discussion if he wishes to participate....
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