What makes DirectBuy of Sunnyvale a Rip off?
Is it because the $5,000 membership for the first three years then $299.00 for the next 7 years for a grand total of $ 7,093.00 for a ten year membership. Possibly, but that is just a fact you are given the night you join so you can not truthfully call that a rip off but the other information that they fail to tell you the night you join to me is what makes this company a rip off.
They do not tell you that electronics such as TVs, DVD players and stereo equipment you can get cheaper at retail stores such as BestBuy, Frys, Wal-Mart, and Circuit City. Nor do they tell you that most large appliances such as washer, dryer, refrigerators are usually only a hundred dollars cheaper than retail stores. Also they even have you believing you are buying from the manufacturers direct when sometimes you might be getting appliances from your local SEARS, North Texas APPLIANCES and Gold Star Appliances and paying their prices... Shocker huh! Give me $500.00 and I can do the same thing for you in half the time.
They do not tell you that the so called 6 percent handling fee goes to the store.instead they might suggest that it goes to the manufacturer, not true it goes to the club. Yes EVERYTHING that you see that has a 6 % handling fee goes to club so say your furniture you bought was $8,000.00. Well since it is furniture go ahead and tack on 6 % for the club so that means the store gets $480.00. So now your furniture is costing you $8,480.00.
Now onto Freight, most of the furniture companies use the UCCD freight company. Who is UCCD? UCCD stands for UNITED CONSUMERS CLUB DISTRIBUTION, YES you have it the freight company is owned and operated by the same parent company. Let me give you an example on how there freight works. You take your total amount of weight then multiply it by it by the number given on the weight chart then multiply it by the fuel surcharge that gives you your weight. An actual example is as follows: Say your furniture ways 800 pounds well the multiplier is. 5586 so you multiply 800 times. 5586 and you come up with 446.88 then the fuel surcharge of 1.18 percent so multiply 446.88 by 1.18 and you come up with $527.32. So your freight is $527.32. Now truckers correct me if I am wrong but when, have you charged 55 cents per pound to carry something. Now are you keeping a running total? Your original cost was $8,000 plus handling brought you up to $8,480.00 now freight at $527.32. That brings your subtotal to $9007.32 now they add tax onto everything so add 8.25 % which is $743.10 so now your new total is $9,750.42 almost two thousand dollar difference.
Now on the back end it goes onto their company database and you are told your items could take 6 to 8 weeks to get to the center. What takes so it long you might ask. Well what you are told is that your items are shipped from over seas and it takes that long to ship. Well what is actually taking so long is this. It takes on average one whole week to center validate meaning it is sitting some where around the center waiting on someone else to look at it and pass it on to the corporate office. Then it goes to what is CSC validation where it can last for weeks possibly months Why you might ask? Well say that nice sofa you picked out, the one where you spent hours looking at different fabrics. Well the sofa was discontinued not yesterday or even the day you chose it but like last year. Yes the sofa you purchased for $9,750.42 was discontinued LAST YEAR! Or better yet that sofa can not have that particular fabric you chose. The center is notified of possible concerns within a week but because of short staff and improperly trained staff you will not find out until either you call checking status or in two months when someone finally gets up enough nerve to call you. Then once all is fixed you are then put into Awaiting Acknowledgement this is where the vendor actually sees it for the first time. Depending on if this item is in stock you might be able to get your merchandise in a week or two. Now do you see where the 4 to 6 weeks comes from? By this point you are most likely calling to see if your items are in the showroom since it has been 6 weeks and you are told no, but it is shipping. What does this mean? It is either actually shipping damaged to saw dust in the warehouse and is awaiting repair or lost somewhere or they have no idea where it is. If it is damaged a deluxer will come out and repair it when he has time. You see this is his side job as he has full time job somewhere else. Most of the time you are never told your item is damaged because if you knew you would be demanding a new one since you purchased a new one.in two weeks your item is ready and you are called and notified that your item is here now it has only been 8 weeks but you are greeted with a smile and told that is good timing since your stuff came from over seas.
If you are angry and want to speak with an owner good luck! You have better luck trying to reach the governor of Texas at least he shows up to his office more than once a month. Want a quick fast response? Contact the BBB or have your lawyer send them a letter that way you will get a response phone call in week or less. I can go on more about the illegal practices of this quirky place but frankly it is neither worth my time nor the effort. Take my advice and just say no to DirectBuy
Now_i_am_readysunnyvale, Texas
U.S.A.
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