Anyone have experience with DirectBuy?
Question:OK-I have heard all the propoganda on DirectBuy. AND, it truly sounds like a good deal. HOWEVER, the membership fee is awfully expensive. My question is this: is it worth the membership fee? Does anyone have direct experience with them (without being employed by them) and find that it is well worth the fee? We are getting ready to build a new home and I have talked to them several times and they have assured me that I can save up to 40% on my materials if I go through them. Is this true? I have not had a "meeting" with them yet, as they want a yes/no answer on membership on the spot. You don't have the luxury of going home and thinking about it. That scares me. I want to make an educated and well-thought decision on how/where I spend my money. Saving 40% on materials sounds really awesome--more house, less money--but if it is not true, then I would rather put that membership fee directly into my new home. Please help!
Answers:
Save the money for your home. Being an interior designer, I know the mark-ups on everything from flooring to appliances to cabinetry to lighting to window treatments to fixtures to furniture. First of all, there isn't a 40% markup on appliances, electronics and fixtures. You will do better shopping places like Brand Source, Pacific Sales and doing the price match gurantees with the major home improvement centers. Second, you can purchase flooring whether it be wood (lumber liquidators), stone or tile most of the time near cost by being a savvy shopper. If you, for example, are doing granite counter tops, physically go to the slab yards. Know that every yard has a different name for a type of stone, it is the grade you comparision shop. Hire your own fabricator to save on installation. Many will work with you to find your grade and color at their discount. Third, for window treatments use a company like Budget Blinds a nationwide firm that offers discounts by the amount you purchase. Most window treatments can be installed by a homeowner with basic skills to save $$$. Most furniture does have a 60% mark up which you can save all by yourself by knowing when manufacturer's introduce and discontinue their lines. Plus, now there are so many on-line furniture providers shipping factory direct. Then, you can use your local showroom to determine fabric, wood, and other options on cushions and construction. Price against the on-line venders and a lot of showrooms will match that price. On cabinetry for kitchens and baths, KraftMaid sells direct and when the home improvement stores have their sales on other lines, you are close to cost.
As I tell my clients, if an offer is that good, it should be there tomorrow. And in the case of Direct Buy, the offer just ain't that good in my experience. Their 40% savings is off MSRP which no budget stretching homeowner would pay any way. Simply by being an informed consumer, shopping smart and doing your research you will save not only the 40%, but the membership fee, all by yourself!
to tell the truth, I saw a big write up on them on a scam page. Not that they are scamming, its just that their fee's are out of line and their escape fee's are not spelled out and are also out of range. go on line and look at some of the unhappy ex-customers. I did not join up after I checked them out.
Aside from the 3 to 4 thousand dollar membership fee, you also pay shipping. Good luck trying to get things fixed if damaged in shipping. I belonged to a similar club years ago and found, after joining, that their products were surplus goods and many were no longer made. If you go to the "meeting", ask them to put all the promises in writing. Each club is a privately owned franchise so some are better than others, some worse.
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