Has anyone out there ever purchased anything from a place called DirectBuy?
Question:My wife and I are going to be making a major furniture investment within the next year. This place called DirectBuy claims that they can sell you all name brand furniture at the same price that the furniture stores pay from the manufacturers. We have a pass to get a free tour of a DirectBuy. We know that only members can buy the furniture and we know that there is a membership fee. What we don't know is what the membership fee is. Before I drive an hour and a half to this place I'd like to know what the membership fee is. The people at DirectBuy won't tell you. They want you to take the tour first.
So hey, who can tell me about DirectBuy and how much their membership fee is?
Answers:
I am a member and just purchased some furniture. First the good: the shipment came in early. Now the bad: although the original cost is much lower, by the time you include shipping and some misc. costs I only saved about $100 - then I found my vehicle wasn't big enough to get it home (they don't ship directly to you) so it was going to cost me $210 for DirectBuy to ship it to me.
Don't join - save your money and deal directly with your local furniture store - they can order anything you want if you ask nicely.
The membership fee is around $3500. Unless you are doing a whole house, it is a rip off.
I am not a member however know someone who was. If you are not spending a major amount of money it is not worth it in my op ion. The membership fee was about 3,000 this was a few years ago so it might have changed. Also everything is out of a catalog so you can not see it. When my friend was done with her purchase she paid more then if she would have went to a regular store due to the membership fee. So take the tour, find out what you need to buy and then make the decision if this is for you. If you are redoing the whole house might be worth the trip. If you are doing only 1 room I would not because I am sure you can compression shop on line and find the best for your buck.
that's a high-ball
I'd do some direct shopping at some of the cabinet makers and furniture manufactures in your area b4 doing DB.
cash is king and they all like green, so go out and make a deal you like and can live with.
if they are not going to tell you wihout you taking the tour I would be leery.also you may have to pay for membership for a year or more (think Costco) even though you won't need it that long.I wouldn't do it...think about it if it's such a good deal how are they making $$
Here's a feedback site you might want to check out-- do a search on that site for Directbuy this is from customers who have done business with them
http://www.my3cents.com/
I've never used it, but I know people who have; and they have told me that you also have to pay shipping and handling on the pieces you buy, and that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on what you buy.
I recently looked in to it and everything I could tell it is pretty much a scam, they require that both the husband and wife be there at the meeting, because they make you decide right than if you want to join, they won't let you join at a later date. The fee is thousands of dollars and everything I researched on the internet said that for the most part the prices aren't very good, especially after you pay fees for shipping and handling. I opted not to attend the meeting even though the warehouse is only 5 minutes away.
Search the major furniture stores and wait for their big sales, you'll save at least as much. I know if you have Carson Pirie Scott furniture stores around, they have several great sales a year, also look into floor models.
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