Complaint Review: DirectBuy - MajorCities Nationwide

We saved so much money on our home renovation project using Direct Buy. I think the hardest part of the process was choosing from the vast catalog of products.

My spouse and I were roped into a "special viewing" event at Direct Buy in Austin TX when they were supposedly giving away a BBQ as a raffle prize through the Home and Garden show. One had to visit the showroom to qualify for the drawing. We figured, well lets check it out. One has to go to the Direct Buy on a specific date and time to a small sectioned off area and watch a video. One is limited to only viewing a small collection of catalogs where you get to see these well over inflated prices. Which it might be OK if one is buying a couple hundred faucets, but the average homeowner does not really save that much to offset the couple thousand dollars just to be a member and then to continue to be a member a few hundred dollars a year. We did not join and we are glad. The whole sales pitch was a total turn off. You could not take any brochure outside the building and YES they try to strong arm one into believing that the offer is only good for today, and one will not be given the opportunity ever to join after that day. If the company is legitimately trying to attract people to waste thousands on a membership, they are doing a poor job by intimidating people with high pressure tactic selling. The local news station even profiled Direct Buy on the news about consumer complaints. How much merchandise would the average homeowner have to purchase in order to offset the cost of membership? A whole lot of of stuff! Our sales pitch person could only allow certain catalogs to be seen by potential members, which immediately threw up a red flag with us. Then we started to look around the room and we felt that the people were like staged actors pretending to buy things from the catalog to promote the "hey look how many people are in here buying stuff" syndrome so one feels they need to be a part of this too. My spouse worked at a huge television manufacturing place. The Direct Buy prices were still way over what the normal consumer would purchase at retail. Because technology changes so quickly, electronics have an extremely small price margin. One is better off waiting for a good sale at the local appliance store, where extended warranties and better return/exchange policies are in place. Overall, the whole operation just seemed to be a shoddy setup that looked like they could just close their doors and leave in less than ten minutes. They don't care if they close their doors, becasue they already have your money. Buyer beware on this one. NEVER fall for high pressure sales tactics. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Remember Direct Buy is in business to make themseleves money NOT make you money. Go invest the couple thousand dollars on the stock market instead and make yourself some money then go buy whatever you want, where ever you want. Direct Buy is not a Texas friendly business either.

My spouse and I were roped into a "special viewing" event at Direct Buy in Austin TX when they were supposedly giving away a BBQ as a raffle prize through the Home and Garden show. One had to visit the showroom to qualify for the drawing. We figured, well lets check it out. One has to go to the Direct Buy on a specific date and time to a small sectioned off area and watch a video. One is limited to only viewing a small collection of catalogs where you get to see these well over inflated prices. Which it might be OK if one is buying a couple hundred faucets, but the average homeowner does not really save that much to offset the couple thousand dollars just to be a member and then to continue to be a member a few hundred dollars a year. We did not join and we are glad. The whole sales pitch was a total turn off. You could not take any brochure outside the building and YES they try to strong arm one into believing that the offer is only good for today, and one will not be given the opportunity ever to join after that day. If the company is legitimately trying to attract people to waste thousands on a membership, they are doing a poor job by intimidating people with high pressure tactic selling. The local news station even profiled Direct Buy on the news about consumer complaints. How much merchandise would the average homeowner have to purchase in order to offset the cost of membership? A whole lot of of stuff! Our sales pitch person could only allow certain catalogs to be seen by potential members, which immediately threw up a red flag with us. Then we started to look around the room and we felt that the people were like staged actors pretending to buy things from the catalog to promote the "hey look how many people are in here buying stuff" syndrome so one feels they need to be a part of this too. My spouse worked at a huge television manufacturing place. The Direct Buy prices were still way over what the normal consumer would purchase at retail. Because technology changes so quickly, electronics have an extremely small price margin. One is better off waiting for a good sale at the local appliance store, where extended warranties and better return/exchange policies are in place. Overall, the whole operation just seemed to be a shoddy setup that looked like they could just close their doors and leave in less than ten minutes. They don't care if they close their doors, becasue they already have your money. Buyer beware on this one. NEVER fall for high pressure sales tactics. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Remember Direct Buy is in business to make themseleves money NOT make you money. Go invest the couple thousand dollars on the stock market instead and make yourself some money then go buy whatever you want, where ever you want. Direct Buy is not a Texas friendly business either.

Are you retarded? You call yourself Truth? You think just because you say nice things about the company that it's the truth? Your little speech is the same BS we were taught to say. Can you think for yourself or had an original thought lately? Way to follow the script. I left the company because I got a degree and did not have to rip people off anymore. Once you figure out that there are better jobs out there than ripping people off then I'm sure you will do the same. I said in my report that I did not write "many" contracts. I don't know how big your franchise was, but the one in Boise was very small. I had to memorize the script like everyone else and knew all the facets of every department. I know what people were charged for membership because I wrote "some" contract memberships. I also took the complaints from the previous members. The only reason most people even used their membership was because they paid so much for it and could not get a refund. Do you seriously think that people enjoy ordering out of catalogs? I took the orders from the customers, I was the one charging them that extra 6% and shipping. That's how I know how much they were being charged! In many cases we weren't sure what the exact shipping charges would be and charged them 15%. Once we got the freight bill we would refund the difference. That is the only way they get a refund for shipping. Out of the 300 members I worked with only two of them said they did NOT feel ripped off. Everyone else hated that place. They especially hated having to wait three-six week for their orders to get shipped there and then have to rent a truck to move it from our showroom to their house. For those of you who want the real truth, all you have to do is go into the showroom during the day and ask the members there what they really think of the place. Ever wondered why all the presentations are only at night when no real members are around?

I think most of the public knows that when someone is fired or leaves a company that they do not like, they trash talk the company to make it look bad for everyone else to eliminate them from their options and to ruin the company's reputatiuon. I for one understand what it takes for a company to grow and regardless of the hard feelings that an EX-employee may have---they are IRRELEVANT! I have been an employee of DirectBuy for 2 years and know both the customer service and sales pitch. DirectBuy is in my opinion a GREAT company that DOES provide superior customer service. The LIES that you speak of that the company withholds makes you look foolish and are untrue b/c if you are a customer representative--how would you know what the customers are being charged?? Or what goes on in the showroom between the representative and the customer?? Well, for someone of my caliber that decides to be fair rather than being right will say this about the company.... the sales tax..the customers DO get it back! As long as it IS shipped to them and they do not come to pick it up, DirectBuy refunds them back that percent. The membership fee is something that HAS to be discussed inside the showroom b/c once a rep sees your situation and knows the type of project that you are doing in your home...they more than likely can negociate! If you are doing something big in your home, of course we can accomodate you! That's what we call....DOING BUSINESS!!! We eliminate the middleman and we do make our business a place where our members feel secure and NOT RIPPED OFF!!! But who am I say anything about the company...why don't all of you readers and debaters come in to your DirectBuy showroom and see for yourself. It costs you nothing and its a valuable opportunity even if you don't become a member. Then you can opinionate on the company. Not everyone's experience is the same. I personally think it is a great experience and check this out...I'm not even a member....yet. Just working here has made me explain these facts to people and you know what?!! I get about 20 members a MONTH b/c they see how great the opportunity is. So instead of degrading the company...why not find out for yourself and make your OWN opinion. And by the way, if you can't say anything nice, then keep it yourself! ENJOY!

I worked at a Direct Buy in Illinois and I agree with the Ex employee from Boise. 8% Handling fee on all purches. If your purchase is in excess of 1000.00, (in some cases people are purchasing 25,000 worth of items at a time) the handling fee alone is outrageous. The fee to join this club is 5600.00 and then 175.00 per year after 10 years. They do police what you buy and why you are buying it. They will cancel your membership if they feel you are abusing it. Such as, if you buy two sets of washers ans dryers they can make you prove to them that you are not purchasing for other "non members". So you pay 5600.00 to then be told how you can spend future money with them.

Well, Lisa Hart used to be the owner of Hartland (a direct buy type company) My dad was a member. They went out of business and left him high and dry. I went to another company offering a chance to win a Truck. This company was called NSA (National savers). I told them about Hartland and they told me they used to be Hartland and if I would join they would give me a discount. I paid $1200 for the membership like an idoit and they closed the doors a year later. HMMMMM.. Now they have this direct buy company and they swear they are not associated with NSA or Hartland. BS! They are and I can prove it. I have collected proof and I will take them down one day and hopefully put them in Jail for screwing me and countless others.

My wife and I went to one of the Direct Buy presentations in Minnesota. We were told we had to make a multi-thousand dollar membership buying decision on the spot. I have worked all my life in retail management, and was amazed at the audacity of the Direct Buy scam. The so-called membership people told us we could not join later. We of course walked out and told our neighbors that Direct Buy is a farce. Then two weeks later we received a phone call from Direct Buy that we could join after all. I was overwhelmed by their kindness (LOL!!!) Believe the other postings on this site regarding the sleazy business practices of Direct Buy.