I called the manager of the showroom I signed up at, which I only visited once since joining (at my ex’s request) to browse. We weren’t pricing anything, had no specific intent to buy.

The manager there probably doesn’t remember me or wasn’t even working there when I signed up. I talked with him very politely about my situation and how I felt since the membership has never been used that I would like to cancel it and that they can have whatever I’ve paid them and I relinquish membership or possibility for future membership. I compared it to a pair of shoes you purchase and later return to the store afterward because after bringing them home, you realize they don’t match your dress. He said he couldn’t help me because Direct Buy has already been paid by the ‘finance company’, Beta Finance.

I found out online that they own Beta Finance. That night, I was surprised they had approved financing in our names. I can’t even get a credit card.

I remember that night like it was yesterday. The fact that the presentation took place at night should have eluded me to something shifty goin’ down. You know? It was raining and I went outside to have a cigarette (trying to quit at the present). I told him I felt it was a bad idea and bit my lip as I said aloud “I know I’m going to regret this.” But the pressure was on.

I don’t remember them saying we’d have to wait ‘7 years’ before being eligible for a membership again, as I’ve seen on blogs and such while researching my situation. I specifically remember them saying that if we refuse their offer, we would be “permanently” unable to become members. So it was now or never, it felt like, that night.

I knew the person I was with at the time with had good work ethics. I made it known to him that if we purchase this thing, he will continue to pay half, even if things ‘didn’t work out’ (He continues to do so, which doesn’t help with his current living conditions, needless to say.)

When we parted ways, I called the number on my bill and I tried to have the bill split right down the middle; so that I’ll only be responsible for my half and he’d be responsible for his. That way if he didn’t pay his half, my credit would not suffer. This seemed logical to me. They said they couldn’t do that.

Can anyone help? Any advice?

If you were scammed by DirectBuy, like my friends, you should contact
the law firm Craig T. Matthews & Associates at cmatthews@ctmlaw.com or
937.434.9393. That law firm has sued DirectBuy before in both Ohio and
Indiana (where DirectBuy’s are located), and it’s conducting an
investigation about DirectBuy’s misleading promises. If you want your
membership fee refunded, you should contact Craig Matthews to pursue a
class action case against DirectBuy. No matter what state you’re from,
his firm should be able to help you. Be warned!!

Next time they call, I’ll report them to the BBB and to the PA Attorney General’s office.

Run from these people. I don’t know if they’re a scam or not, because I’ve never been interested in joining at 5k a pop? Get real, people.

But just dealing with them as telemarketers, convinces me they are truly a scary outfit, and their sales tactics need to be looked at by each State’s Attorney General.

And when we wanted to leave, they locked the doors! We threatened to call the police right then and there. Because of their actions, my wife and I make the effort to let others know what happened to us.

If this is true, I hope you called the fire marshal!

This sounds like very disturbing behavior!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Here is a review of DirectBuy, from Brad’s Blog [1]

1) It cost $5,000 to join? too much money for what you get.
2) Must go to a ?store?, find what I like, get the product numbers, then spend another day going to Direct Buy, looking thru the catalogs to search for the item I?m interested in, then place the order, pay upfront and wait 2-8 weeks. Are you kidding?
3) Orders must be placed at the store, which is not open on Friday?s.
4) Can?t order most items on-line.
5) Must click on the item and/or ?View Price? to see the price? takes too long to do any kind of searching/shopping.
6) Would like to ?View? all items on the website, not by manufacturer, because many times I really don?t care or know who makes it.
7) On many items, I must wait 6-8 weeks for delivery? but pay up front? that?s too long. I can find most items at a cheaper price, by shopping for an off-brand.
9) The cost for shipping is crazy. I realize that it is based on the location of the manufacturer, but if I wanted a specific item and then paid shipping, it would be about the same as if I went to the store to buy it.
10) Appliances aren?t any cheaper than if I bought them from Lowe?s ?on sale?.

I have never used the service, so I do not have any first-hand experience with them.

[1] http://www.bradsblog.net/beware-directbuy.htm

Thank you.

I have been the victim of strategic action against public participation, as have many others.

It is harder for those who twist the law in this way when many are willing to speak up.

Directbuy is a corporation that is franchised, which means that someone owns each center, so they are all run differently. The one I worked for was Directbuy of Burbank California owned by Greg and Gail Ruetz. They are absolute blood suckers! They promised each employee a 401k when the center opened in 2007, not one employee has seen a 401k, any type of retirement plan, or even a christmas bonus!!!! All they care about is YOUR MONEY. They know nothing, not one thing about the products they sell, but you can be assured one of them will greet you with a fake smile as soon as you walk in the door.

From the moment you walk in the door, you will be preyed upon. Its costs $6500 to join this garbage corp for 2 years. They say they dont mark anything up, but there is a 8% handling charge on everything, isnt that a markup? None of the employees are actually trained, I was thrown onto the floor and forced to learn about 800 manufacturers on my own. Then, two weeks later, 75% of our staff was laid off. Wow. All the owners want is more money and more members! To give you an example of the service you will get, our center has 1500 members and 3, yes 3 people that work in the service department!! Unbelievable.

When you walk in the door, everything is set up. From the way the greasy salesman shakes your hand to the “hows your day going so far” questions, its all script. Then you hear the stupid story about Directbuy and they act like your friend with small talk. Then, you watch 3 horrific movies about DB in a presentation that is much like a timeshare presentation. After the ordeal, where they lie to you about many many things, then you are sent off to a high pressure salesman who will tell you to join or never comeback. If you are not smart enough to smell scam at this point, you are simply weak.

Once they have your money, they couldnt care less about you or what you need. The fake smiles go away, and the truth comes out. You will wait from 4 weeks to 16 weeks for your merchandise, and if it comes in damaged, you will wait that long again. Shipping is expensive and in most cases will bring the cost of the merchandise well above what you could have gotten it in the store for.

You will not save money at Directbuy unless you are remodeling a kitchen with $100,000 budget, and even then its not worth the hassle, problems, and the wait!!

I despise this company. They are immoral, they treat their employees like garbage, and they lie about everything.

Bottom line, run away from Directbuy! Thank god I no longer work there. Now I can sleep at night.