Direct Buy is a rip-off. You can get better prices just by surfing the internet, or going to your local stores and negotiating a bit. You will never make up the upfront fee to join Direct Buy. This topic has been discussed on this forum before, and the conclusion is always the same.

They charge about $5000 for a "Contract". They had sent me a "Key" that suppossedly if it opened a door I would win 50 grand of merchandise.I was gonna go and check them out, but they Insisted wife be there---They want to Sic closers on you to sign a contract for 5 grand or whatever, and without both signatures it is not a valid contract so I told them "Forget It". I do know that a woman that works with wife paid the 5 grand and wants it back but so far She has had no luck.
Because of their tactics (sicking "closers" on you, and their secrecy, I would recommend staying away!!!!

Gary

We have been members or Direct Buy for over 8 years now. When we joined it was $2500 we had just purchased our first condo and we had no furniture etc so we have definitely saved the initial fee since (we are now on house #3 and we have furnished many rooms). Having said all that, I would not join now in order to save money on your kitchen. You "might" save it but they only offer a few brands of cabinets. I believe the brands they offer depend on location too. Our club offers, Decora, Omega and a few others that I know nothing about. When we finally do our kitchen we will probably purchase our cabs through them but you have to go through the layout process to know what your actual costs will be.

We also are current members of Direct Buy but when we joined the membership was $2500. Their sales tactics are creepy and I was a nervous wreck after we joined. But we made up that money in savings our first year on furniture and I had priced out through several locations including North Carolina. We have purchased many things there at a good savings but I have also found things cheaper on certain items through the internet.

We are in the process of doing out kitchen but I did not use Direct Buy for the cabinets. At our location you have to pay for the kitchen design (ridiculous considering the membership fee)plus they do not come to your house or do the measurements. You are solely responsible and if anything goes wrong you will be responsible unless it was an ordering mistake on their part.

I do feel that we got a very good savings on the granite and tile and definitely furniture but I don't know if I would join at $5,000. I know there are mostly negative opinions about Direct Buy and had I read those when I joined I think I would have turned and run. I think it depends on the location but we have been very satisfied but I also think we are more the exception than the norm.

Pre-internet, it might have made sense. But, nowadays you can scour around for bargains and even lower prices that their limited selection offers. You have to make a lot of purchases to make up for the membership fee. Personally, I think you can get a better deal and more service by hiring a decorator. They get to purchase wholesale and the savings can more than pay for their services.

Of course, it you want someone else to do all the bargain hunting or don't have time ti do so yourself. Or if you don't know Google, it might be worth it for you.

Thanks so much everyone. That clinched it for me. I got "the Call" this afternoon and did set up an appointment. I will cancel tomorrow. It felt a little creepy and way too mysterious. Almost like a bad time share pitch. They told me that I would have a 30 day free membership, but I'm sure there is a catch to that too. The woman was not happy that I insisted my husband was available the day we picked. She really wanted to call back and speak to him personally. OY!

I was only looking to do appliances with them anyway. We have a "kitchen Lady" in NYC doing our cabinets and she is too great to pass up. Plus, with 1 phone call telling her that her prices were too high, $5000 magically dissappeared from the estimate.

It looks like PC Richards may be the best for my appliances. They are bending over backwards to beat my lowest prices. Hey, a store in business for 100 years can't be too bad.