I can't believe the place is still in business; nor can I believe that people pay those exorbitant fees to join.

Search the web and you will read many stories of what a rip off they are...prices are all MSRP...you don't get to find out the brands they carry until you fork over the fee to join...you are then relegated to the brands they DO carry...some say they are seconds and/or those that did not sell well retail...and I understand that you are on your own with any problems that occur. Save your money...choose what you would like..and shop around for the best price....you will do FAR better.

Here is a link that might be useful: Infomercial Scams

we went there once.....all i remember is that they sold omega cabinets. we were very turned off by the whole place and didn't join. i don't know about scams or not, but i will tell you that they "invite" you to see a presentation and then browse the store ONCE. by the end of that session, you need to join or you are never "invited" back again.

maybe if we went and were really prepared, it would have made sense. they did let us look up pricing for certain items though so if you are thinking about it....i would go with a list of appliances and cabinets that you KNOW you want and then spend the time pulling up their pricing to see if it makes sense....it didn't for us!

Do your homework before even thinking of joining DB. We joined many years ago when the entry fee was $1500 (now $5000K I believe, and didn't re-sign after our 3 years. I would NEVER encourage anyone to join this place. While we did buy a few things there, it's was huge hassle and not convenient at all. Alot of the books they have there are outdated and the products discontinued. At least that's what I found.

Do a search on the forums here and you'll find out plenty - mostly negative.

Sorry to be a Debi Downer in this situation, but I learned from experience. I'm sure there's a "handful" of people who may think differently.

As I suspected, Omega is a MasterBrand company.

I am a member of Direct Buy. My husband and I are upgrading our existing home to be competitive in the tanked real estate market, because we must sell and move. We will build a new home after the sale. So, we calculated we will recoup our investment, and save in the long run. I am not an employee nor paid to advocate for Direct Buy.

1. I would advise people to consider a Direct Buy membership if they are building a new home or doing extensive remodeling. It really is more geared to that. You must be willing to do your own research for what you need, because Direct Buy will not substitute as your general contractor. The fanchises do have kitchen designers, but you must be prepared at the design session. Your experience will not be like hiring a kitchen or bath installation company to wrangle all your various subcontractors.
2. Go into the sale presentation well prepared with products you anticipate utilizing. Estimates for: cabinets, granite or quartz counter tops, appliances, sinks, fixtures, tiles, hardwood flooring, home theater, electronics, lighting, window treatments. You get the idea.
That is the only way to determine if you will eventually recoup your membership fee, which is hefty. Most people are not that prepared, probably.
3. Each Direct Buy is a franchise, and customer support is only as good as the people hired and the demands of the franchise owner. You will not be able to determine that until you are a member or unless you personally know people who have joined your local franchise.
4. I know that I have saved substantially on my appliances. I will save substantially on my granite. If I wanted, I could obtain far more expensive granites for the same price as local cabinet companies offered for the least expensive granite level. I do not have first hand experience with cabinets offered through Direct Buy. That will be a factor after I sell my existing home, and build another home.
5. Direct Buy carries most of the major appliance dealers, a wide, wide selection of bathroom and kitchen sink and fixture companies, Mirage, BR111, Bruce hardwood flooring. I suppose you can get lower prices on flooring on sale, if that meets the timing of your remodel or home building. Competitive prices on the internet, but I've been burned with misrepresentation of product and true availability. Direct Buy does not carry Bosche, but are trying to get that product line. They do not carry Viking, Wolf, Electrolux (I think), Thermadore, Sears, of course. They do carry Kitchen Aid and Heartland, the other major appliance companies. I think the selection of stone and porcelain flooring and back splash materials is lacking. You won't be able to get everything on earth there, but a lot is available.
6. The products are not closeouts. You order directly from the manufacturer. Everything I ordered is currently available to all consumers at retail outlets throughout the country, and arrived in beautiful condition. There was one minor price increase in one faucet I ordered, and I could have substituted or cancelled. One appliance I ordered, was discontinued about two weeks after order, and I substituted the manufacturer's updated replacement which was actually a better product at a lower cost.
7. Direct Buy furniture line is not deep, because it would compete directly with the major furniture manufacture show rooms in North Carolina, where I have purchased many times. However, people really do order furniture there. Every time I go in my local Direct Buy franchise customers are working with the designer for sofas, chairs, etc.

Why, then, if they are reputable do they have the hurry-up-and-join mentality? That's a big investment, and it seems so shady to rush you through and give you no time to really research your savings. If I could look through the store, go home and determine, yes, I could get my investment back and then some with quality products, I'd call back and join. But this "join now or forever hold your peace" attitude (and not letting me come without my husband, they said) seems so not on the level. If they are truly proud of their business and offering a quality service, they'd encourage consumer savvy.

Direct Buy sells only one thing, membership. No service, no shipping, no delivery, just ordering out of a catalog. You can shop around and do just as well or better price-wise without paying for a membership.

I appreciate all the responses - negative and positive. Thank you all. Keep 'em coming.

My husband and I were naive enough to join when we were first married. I hate it!!!!! I have ordered some furniture and lenox china, but it has always been a huge hassle. I don't think it's really "wholesale" because they charge you shipping, and a handling fee and tax. I also ordered a pot and pan set that never came and when I called I just kept getting the run around. I finally went to the club to get answers and found out it was discontinued. They weren't even apologetic and I had to fight for the entire refund on my credit card. DON'T JOIN!!!

DH and I own a handful of small apartment buildings. Since we are always looking for good deals for renovations, several years ago we went to a Direct Buy presentation.

After the presentation, they refused to let us look around and they refused to tell us what brands they carry.

They wanted us to commit right then and there. We said we couldn't commit without knowing what products they carry. So they "escorted" us out of the building like we were criminals.

I'm shocked that they are still around.

jerseydeb hit the nail on the head:

"Each Direct Buy is a franchise, and customer support is only as good as the people hired and the demands of the franchise owner. You will not be able to determine that until you are a member or unless you personally know people who have joined your local franchise."

Most Direct Buy franchises make their money off membership fees. They could care less is you order any thing. A few people on these boards have been happy with DB, but they are the exception.

"

We are members of Direct Buy in central Arkansas. Our DB does have a few lines of cabinets, some of which were carried by Lowe's - I was impressed by what I saw. Unfortunately, we could not get the cabinet people there to get us an estimate in a timely manner. We took him our architectural drawings, he came to our home to look at the kitchen, etc and we never heard back from him even after repeated phone calls. We ended up have custom cabinets made by a local cabinet maker. Our architect tells us that they have continually found that is it cheaper to have cabinets constructed than by prefab at Home Depot, Lowe's or where ever. We did order most of our appliances from DB and some light fixtures, faucets, 2 of 3 sinks, etc. If we are still members will are looking forward to buying architectural roofing shingles when it is time to replace the roof. It can be inconvenient if you have not figured out what style faucet, appliance, etc you want by the time you need it - it usually takes 6-8 weeks to get that sort of thing in. We probably would not do it again.

Jaksopcam: Did you follow logic's link in the first post? There are over 800 detailed complaints there. The same things are being said here. What more do you need to know? Their business is not technically illegal, but consider their business model. Even if they TRY to be helpful and nice, any business that gets all of its money up front (the membership) and then incurs nothing but expenses when the customers actually try to use the service is doomed to be a frustrating experience for customers.

Plus, no one argues that they don't use all of the classic high pressure sales tactics. No business that is truly saving you money or trying to forge a long term relationship operates that way. Why? Because they don't need to. Customers come to them, stay happy, refer others etc. When a businesses' goal is to extract as much money as possible from every customer and then do nothing for them, then it has to work very hard on sales, which is where high pressure sales come in.

I remember when DH and I went to the presentation, it was a one time "opportunity". Like someone else posted, they are totally secretive about their brands, etc. I even asked for references and they would not give me any. I asked to look around their showroom and look through the books, and I wasn't allowed. I told them I wanted to think on it for a few days, and my reply was "It's now or never". Yep, those red flags were waving, but...

We were stupid and signed up thinking we MIGHT be missing out on something with another "opportunity". Wrong decision and big mistake. I wasted more time in their shop looking through books for furniture, etc. to be constantly told IT'S DISCONTINUED.

To someone else's credit, I can see if you are remodeling an entire house. DB might come in handy there, and I use the word "might" loosely.

You will pay a very high shipping fee for products. And if you are an impatience person, this place will be the death of you. Patience is a must if you decide to join.

I am one of those who 'caved in' and signed on for a membership after attending a high pressure sales presentation. After the presentation, I came home and did research on the internet. After reading all the complaints, I felt sick to my stomach, at the decision I'd made. Luckily, I had gone without my husband, AND the owner refunded my money (I used the "oh, my DH is mad that I signed on...blah, blah, blah.)Whether or not, my money would have been returned if we both had gone, I don't know. But, I was given a list of local companies that give discounts to members, and one of them was a local Canadian kitchen cabinet manufacturer, and the listed discount was 40%. I noted that my real estate agent was also on the list- I never did contact her and ask if she was happy. But, in my case the building was located a fair ways (few cities) away, and I could see that ordering large ticket items through catalogues, and having to pay restocking fees/delivery was a potential nightmare.

This was even before we decided to remodel our entire home. Not sure how much it costs to join now, but the whole premise is so shady/ high pressure/ as nearly everyone above has stated, that even if I could save money, my spidey sense, says stay clear.

i am a member of directbuy of new york city (manhattan) and have purchased omega cabinets and a craft-art island top through directbuy's kitchen designer. i am very pleased with my experience. it was a pleasure working with the kitchen designer whose service is top notch and free of charge.

details of my purchases through directbuy:

1. $12,000 for 13 omega signature cabinets (18 linear feet, parisian doors, maple, pearl white)

2. $4,600 for craft-art brazillian cherry island top (26 square feet, edge grain, ogee edge, double double notch curve)

i've also received excellent after sale service from the kitchen designer. i needed crown molding and toekick replacements which were taken cared of with a simple phone call.

i don't think i've saved a lot with my kitchen after factoring in the $5,000 membership fee. but i am still very happy with the entire experience.

however it is definitely not worth going through directbuy for less costly items as service and shipping charges are too high.

scottielee, I am curious...did you price the same cabs and island top elsewhere....and/or did you price having them constructed by a cabinetmaker?

I have a membership at Direct Buy. I built a house 15 years ago and recently remodeled an old one so it was worth every penny of my investment. The owners of the franchise here in Grand Rapids, MI are super nice, fair and honest people, too. My new $15,000 Omega cherry kitchen is beautiful! We priced out the same exact kitchen at a kitchen shop and the cost was over $40,000.

Some people are just whiners. Look, you know it's gonna cost a big chunk of change to join so it won't be any big sticker shock...right? If you do join, know that not everything is going to be a doorbuster. You won't save on electronics like cameras or televisions but you will do well on other things like cabinets and furniture. One more thing... I wouldn't buy a membership to remodel an apartment building (like gardenburgher). You won't get anything cheap and that's what you want for an apartment. If you like high end stuff (like me) DB is the place for you.

Good luck!

logic, to answer your question, i've not priced my cabinets anywhere else. but i do know that a friend with a kitchen 2/3 the size of mine did receive a quote of $12,000 for kraftmaid cabinets from homedepot. i am also aware of the retail price of omega cabinets from its ordering catalog and from homedepot displays. directbuy offers 60% off retail for omega and charges about 15% for handling and shipping.

Aside from conventional buying clubs such as Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club, I really never understood the appeal of DB. If you do your homework, you can usually find (in this case) cabinetry for less without having to invest in a costly membership. That said, the big box stores aren't really less either. If you don't think that TV and print ads are expensive, think again, you are paying for them. Don't get caught up in the mystique - do your due diligence, you'll find it for the right price without having to commit to a costly membership.

I realize the original post is old, however, if someone new happens upon it, I would like to add some positive experiences I've had with my Direct Buy membership over the past five years.

First, don't join if you aren't planning a big remodel/redecorate project in the near future. I joined because we were going to eventually remodel everything in our house. It has definitely been worthwhile. We ordered 20 cabinets (a mix of custom/stock) from Omega for our large kitchen remodel. The cabinets are just as beautiful as the custom Rutt cabinets we put in our previous home, at a fraction of the cost. They are very well made and we couldn't be happier. My contractor is a custom cabinet maker and couldn't believe the low price we paid for the quality of the product. I ordered appliances (all but one) elsewhere. Light fixtures are a bargain; electronics usually are not. I have ordered furniture at a huge discount (great brands). I have found that for the amount of money that I might spend on a moderately priced item, I can afford a nicer, better quality product for the same price. You have to be willing to do research to make your membership worthwhile. I have saved about twice or three times my membership costs. The customer service at my local DB is fantastic. I have only had two issues-- both warranty items-- and they handled it for me (unheard of at a retail store nowadays).