At the time of our interest in purchasing a Direct Buy membership my husband and I were about to close on property in Northern Michigan where we plan to build our retirement home. The night of our tour of the Direct Buy in Rochester Hills which is located near our current place of residence, it was shared with the sales person assigned to us that we were about to build a home up north. So our purchase of a membership was contingent on a Direct Buy location near the city we were moving to.
We were told by the sales woman that yes indeed there was a location in the city of Cadilac Michigan, a 50 mile drive from Manistee Michigan where we were building. Our adult daughter and her boyfriend were with us and heard the saleswoman say this to us. After purchasing the membership for over $4000. Plus we find out that there is NO location in Cadilac Michigan. The closest location is a 3 1/2 hour drive from Manistee.
First I called the Direct Buy Corporate Headquarters and was told that I needed to take the matter up with the Rochester Hills Direct Buy. When I spoke to the wife of the owner of the Rochester Hills Direct Buy she was rude, and said no one would give us that information.in other words I was lying. I told her the conversation was also heard by my adult daughter and her boyfriend. She said it was only hearsay.
She told me that on the night of our tour we were give a brochure with a listing of all the Direct Buy branches in the state and it was our responsibility to look at the brochure to determine this. She said, 'Why would the saleswoman tell us that there was a location in Cadilac when there wasn't one?'
Could it be to make a sale and get a commission? She certainly knew we wanted the membership if a location was close to the city we were retiring to. The sales woman told us with authority that there was a location in Cadilac Michigan. She didn't say.'I think so but you need to look in the brochure I gave you.'
I told the Owner's wife something needs to be done about this. She refused. Said we signed a contract. I was distraught at her uncaring and unyielding attitude. When I put the phone down to tell my husband the bad news, she hung up on me. I have written the BBB of Michigan about this. The Owner's wife replied with a twisted lying account of conversation we had.
Beware about Direct Buy tours. They are filled with sales pitches and videos to listen to glorifying the perks of a Direct Buy Membership. Then you are left alone to look at their library of catalogs which are confusing to say the least. Each catalog has a different formula for pricing and shipping.
Then the salesperson comes back and puts pressure on you to buy the membership. You are told you will never be asked back if you don't buy the membership that night. A red flag should have gone up right then.
Also when you order from Direct Buy you have to do it in person. No online sales or orders. That involves a trip to the location followed by another one to pick up the merchandise. They don't deliver to your home. Can you imagine a 3 1/2 hour drive every time an order is placed and then a return to pick up the merchandise. Especially the number of materials it takes to construct a new home. Impossible.
I also sent a letter to the Direct Buy Corporate Headquarters. They never responded.
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