• Report: #117214

Complaint Review: DirectBuy

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  • Submitted: Wednesday, November 10, 2004
  • Last Posting: Friday, November 02, 2007
  • Reported By:stuttgart Arkansas
DirectBuy
12120 Colonel Glenn Road Little Rock Arkansas 72160 U.S.A.

INVESTIGATION: DirectBuy members can feel safe, confident & secure when doing business with Direct Buy. DirectBuy 100% commitment to member satisfaction helping them realize their dreams through exceptional customer experiences & unparalleled savings, service, & selection. Commitment to Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program, ..A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence. Merrillville Indiana
*UPDATE: Direct Buy partnered with world-renowned customer service authority Maritz Corporation to assist them in customer feedback & improving policies & procedures. Rip-off Report Verified Safe


1Author 2Consumer 1Employee/Owner

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Rip-off Report Investigation:

EDitor’s UPDATE: Positive Rating and Recognition has been given to DirectBuy for its Commitment to Excellence in customer service.

Rip-off Report’s investigation of DirectBuy uncovers an ongoing commitment to total client satisfaction. This means that clients can expect the company will always work towards finding a mutually satisfactory resolution to any complaints or concerns in the past, present or future. DirectBuy pledges to help members and guests realize their dreams through exceptional customer experiences and unparalleled savings, service, and selection.

The Rip-Off Report Investigation revealed a demonstrated commitment by DirectBuy to providing excellent customer service and resolving customer issues. They achieve this through several means, including a recent partnership with customer service experts to actively survey their members and guests and make changes that improve their processes and ensure a uniform exceptional experience for every customer. To address the most common concerns, DirectBuy recently started offering free trial memberships at participating club locations, as well as additional tiers and terms of membership to meet a broader range of household budgets.

The Investigation also showed that DirectBuy members are renewing their memberships at record rates, indicating members are still very satisfied with the value they receive through DirectBuy’s home furnishings and home improvement products and services. DirectBuy is one of the largest consumer buying clubs of its kind, and we are convinced they are dedicated to using feedback from customers to continually improve their policies and procedures.

One DirectBuy executive explained about their many changes stating, “We have a team of service support specialists available specifically to address concerns from members and guests who visit Rip-Off Report. We want to ensure that their experiences with DirectBuy are positive, whether they join or not." Should you require this assistance, please contact them at DirectBuyHELP@directbuy.com Provide your name, the date of your issue, and the name of the location you visited. If you are a member, please include your member number if available.

Given DirectBuy’s commitment to excellent customer service, they were alarmed by some of the complaints lodged with Rip-off Report. Rip-off Report found that most complaints about DirectBuy were made by non-members who were critical of the cost of membership and the policy that a decision about membership must be made the same day of the open house visit. The policy is there to protect the manufacturers. It ensures their confidential pricing cannot be used by non-members to negotiate better deals with retail stores, thereby protecting the best possible pricing to members. The policy has not changed, but as stated above, new tiers and terms of membership are being offered at participating club locations

DIRECT BUY recognizes that complaints posted on Rip-off Report (true or not) are issues that need to be addressed and if handled correctly can be valuable learning opportunities. With the feedback generated by Rip-off Report’s Investigation DirectBuy has made the necessary organizational changes to allow their members a more streamlined approach to problem resolution and a total overall commitment to customer experience. As one senior executive stated, “We have learned that even the most committed companies can make mistakes, but if you really pay attention, you can learn from them. We’ve adjusted policies to please both members and manufacturers, and we hope that anyone who has further suggestions on how we can improve our services will contact us with their ideas.”

In summary, after our investigation, which included discussions with DirectBuy Senior Management, Rip-off Report is convinced that the company has been and is committed to quality delivery of services resulting in total client satisfaction.

Read about DirectBuy .. see their websites and the services they have to offer.

Read more about DirectBuy’s Commitment to Excellence and Total Consumer Satisfaction and why consumers should feel safe, confident and secure when doing business with a member of Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. ..yes, a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike.

Read about Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program,..A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. this program works.

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NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

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DirectBuy ripoff Little Rock Arkansas

I am going to start building a house, I seen the commercial about DirectBuy saving alot of people money so I got on the internet and filled out a request to tour the showroom. I received a letter in the mail which didn't state anything about paying $3590.00 when I come. I also received 2 phone calls making sure that I was going to be there and again I was not told that I would need to bring money. I drove about an hour to get there I set and watched films and listened to sales people for over an hour before I was told that in order to look at any of the so called great deals I must pay them $3590.00 membership fee and if I wanted I could also pay $500.00 down and $90.00 a month for 3 years. When I told them that I was going to have to think about this they said that if I didn't do it right now that I would not be allowed to comeback ever. This really made me think that this was kind of crazy, so I asked to talk to the owners and lucky enough one was there. VICKY SMITH told me that I should have been informed about this already, Ha! She said that the manufacturers would not allow me to hear about these great deals and not become a memeber. I don't know what I could possible have learned in waiting a day or a week or however long it took me to decide, that could have upset the manufacturers so much since i wasn't even allowed to look at any of the great deals or compare anything with anything. I smell ripoff and I hope that whoever reads this doesn't pay $3590.00 for a hope to save money.

Mike
stuttgart, Arkansas
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 11/10/2004 9:06:49 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/consumer-services/directbuy/investigation-directbuy-membe-ab4fy.htm.

Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author 2Consumer 1Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals

#1 Ex-Employee

DirectBuy in Little Rock and Bentonville, Ar...you dont know the half of it....

AUTHOR: Scott - Benton (U.S.A.)

As an ex employee of Jim Smith and his wife Vickie, I can tell you of all the horror stories of DirectBuy. The actual name of the Smith's companies are Best Home Solutions(Sherwood,Ar) and All Home Interiors(Bentonville,Ar). Any damages or leftovers from DirectBuy stores are sold again at these "retail" outlets owned by the Smiths. The DirectBuy scam is just a franchise, just like Mickey D's or Arbys. Anyone can buy a franchise for your city or state, and make their own deals with local vendors, under the table. Jim and Vickie Smith are ripping off the consumer AND Directbuy, buying most of their Whirlpool, Frigidare, and other appliances and plumbing supplies from local vendors here in Little Rock, Arkansas. The plumbing supplies and appliances are marked up, then sold as "bargains" to the unsuspecting consumer.

The furniture and appliances are checked when they come in on the dock, and if there is any damage, they are "deluxed". That means a furniture doctor comes in and fixes the blemishes and damages where they are not seen by the unsuspecting customer. Only months down the road, as you are closely looking at the part do you see the damage. By then, it is too late. The promises of when the freight will hit the doctor is overstated ( see lied to) by the salespeople and understated by the dock help. Ashley Furniture usually runs THREE MONTHS behind.......not the three to four weeks that the salesman promises. When I left today, there was over 100 customer complaints yet to be resolved out of the DBLR facility alone......and that is not a great thing.......some being over a year old.

Their high pressure tactics are for real also. They use people in the pghone rooms to encourage people what a great deal DirectBuy is, then pop the $4,000.00 membership fee on you. If you dont sign up that day, these snake oil salesman scream at you that you will never be able to come back again. EVER. So take my advice, and theirs, and never do come back.
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#2 Consumer Comment

satisfied DirecctBuy member

AUTHOR: Amateur Stargazer - Portage (U.S.A.)

It seems like submissions from ex-employees should be taken with a grain of salt. Why are you an ex-employee? Are you a disgruntled, dismissed employee? I just place 3 huge Ashley orders, two of them were here in 1 week, in perfect condition-plus I saved hundreds of dollars. I know other members that have been members for 15-20 years, why would they continue to renew if they were not saving money? I guess it is like any other company, satisfied customers do not take the time to write about it. Dissatisfied people will write, they may have a valid point or they may be the type of people who are never happy no matter what you do for them, I don't know. Anyway-I will go on the record as a satisfied customer.
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#3 Consumer Comment

NANNA NANNA NAHH NAHHH !!

AUTHOR: Consumer19 - Atlanta (U.S.A.)

I spent a little money for the Private Membership and to this day I can walk into the WalMART most of you "I Don Wanna" be a member benchmark your prices at, and still end up buying better more name brand items than you, and have money left to buy more. oh I think Hilliary wont be the next pres. Take that conservative view to Target. Best Buy, Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, Furniture World and whatever other I stay cheap by researching the best price place you decide to shop at and then know that everything you buy there. I am Getting it SOOOO much Cheaper!! NANNA NANNA NAHHH NAAAHH Fruitcakes!
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