We joined UCC Total Home in anticipation of saving 1/2 or more on furnishings for our new home. We were lead to believe that the money we saved on window treatments alone would pay for our membership of $2,990. This was not the case. After the 8% mark-up and delivery charges, purchasing window treatments for 38 windows saved us less than $200. I would have been much better served my purchasing them from Next Day Blinds. I would have been able to deal with a knowledgeable representative and would have received my purchase in much less than 6 weeks.
We were also lead to believe that we were going to be able to purchase merchandise at the same price that retail stores were able to purchase it from the manufactures, with no mark-up. There are manufactures that UCC works with that have 2 prices in their catalogs, one for the retail stores and a higher price for UCC. UCC also charges an 8% handling fee. What is the difference between a handling fee and a mark-up?
Once we receive a phone call to let us know that our merchandise has arrived in their warehouse we have only 3 days to pick it up or we are charged a storage fee based on per box per day. With all manufacturers that I have seen there is no option to have it delivered to our home. Is that so that UCC can collect their mark-up (oh excuse me, handling fee)?
UCC charges sales tax on everything including the shipping and handling fee. I'm not sure how they are able to get away with taxing services.
Since we are in the process of furnishing our home and were suspicious that we are finding little savings with UCC, we began to do price comparisons of UCC's TOTAL costs with other stores. We have found, consistently that UCC prices are very close to the other stores but that the other stores will deliver to your home omitting the warehouse pick-up that UCC requires.By the way, I was told to make sure that I had people with me to lift my merchandise onto my truck when I came to pick it up. So, not only do I have to borrow or rent a truck to pick up my purchases, I have to bring people with me to move the merchandise.
So, I have to wonder what the $2,990 membership fee is for, considering I still have to pay a mark-up and have to rent a truck and movers to finally get it to my home.
We are very disappointed in this company and would like to get our membership fee back. The savings we were promised were not realized. We were counseled to do price comparisons. We have only purchased from UCC because we are paying such a high membership fee. After the membership fee, the inconvenience of shopping from the UCC office and having to pick the merchandise up from their facility only to pay virtually the same (and sometimes more), we would have been much better off to have simply purchased it from our local retailer.
Also, if you are in need of an item quickly, such as a washing machine, forget it. Most everything takes 4 6 weeks for delivery. Better get out those quarters for the laundry mat.
I strongly suggest that if you are planning on joining UCC Total Home, also called Direct Buy, you reconsider and put your money into your actual merchandise, not a member ship fee, handling charge and extra delivery charges.
JenniferAshburn, Virginia
U.S.A.
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