Direct Buy Arkansas, Little Rock And NWA, NEVER ... NEVER ... BUY ANYTHING THIS WAY! Little Rock & Bentonville Arkansas

This company changes its name frequently because of a poor consumer record. It was formerly known as UCCTotalHome.

There are many online reports on both companies regarding their poor consumer record. Look up "direct buy scam" on any search engine.

Since you are reading this you probably don't know much about how a company like this does business.

A company with a dubious product or service for sale (like this one) will attempt to use coercive persuasion to make you buy. This may be a 'fear of loss' technique (you will not be able to tour the showroom and check prices again for 7 years if you don't buy a membership today) or 'power close' techniques to 'intimidate' you into buying. Remember, they have nothing to lose ... they will not see you again if you don't buy 'today' so they are liable to try anything that might 'close the sale' with your personality type.

Time share is sold this way and some health club memberships because so many people drop out and don't use their memberships. They are really just selling 'time' to use their facility ... they have virtually no additional expenses when you join.

The contract, which no attorney would ever let you sign, is so one sided that it is patently fraudulent. But since you cannot take it home to review it ... most people who do join based on hype and inaccurate claims, find themselves holding a document that gives them virtually nothing for their money.

They are selling the equivalent of a SAMS CLUB membership for thousands!

You can normally find better pricing on the internet (that deliver to your home, not a warehouse) so DirectBuy selling for thousands is a total RipOff!

You are paying for a 'buying club' that gives almost no service, has prices that can be beaten by almost any discount retailer. They hide behind a clever contract that gives you no rights to contest anything.

AVOID! If it were a good, decent company they would be happy to let you pay monthly.

But if they did that no one would ever stay with the membership.

Consumer Review
Little Rock, Arkansas
U.S.A.

Son of DirectBuy founder says he was forced out of dad's company
CLAIMS AGE DISCRIMINATION IN FEDERAL LAWSUIT
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By Dan Hinkel - [email protected], (219) 852-4317 | Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010 12:00 am | 1 Comment
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HAMMOND | The son of the founder of home furnishing buying club company DirectBuy is suing the Merrillville-based company's parent group over alleged age discrimination, accusing DirectBuy's corporate parent of depriving him of $900, 000 in yearly pay when he was purportedly forced to retire at age 53.
Sara Butler, spokeswoman for DirectBuy parent United Consumers Club, said her company's leaders "could not disagree more strongly with the allegations"of plaintiff Jack Gagan.
"All employees are given equal employment opportunity without regard to age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law, " she said.
"The company looks forward to defeating Mr. Gagan's claims in court, " she said.
Gagan claims in a lawsuit filed last week in Hammond federal court that after Trivest Partners bought United Consumers Club in 2007, the company's president, who is slightly younger than Gagan, demanded in 2008 that Gagan retire at age 53. Gagan, who had been the parent company's vice president of merchandising, told United President Scott Powell and the company's lawyer that he did not want to retire until age 65, the suit claims.
But Powell and the lawyer persisted, according to the suit. On July 22, 2008, the men asked Gagan if he wanted to publically announce his retirement at a manager's meeting the next day, the suit claims. During the same meeting, the men said they wanted to fire one of the company's oldest employees, a 63-year-old man with a "demonstrated record of excellent job performance, " and Gagan spoke against the firing, Gagan alleges.
At the end of that meeting, Gagan was told not to come to work the next day, according to the suit. Company officials told Gagan, who made a $600, 000 salary and $75, 000 quarterly bonuses in 2007, he should "consult" for the company from home and, if they needed his help, they would contact him, the suit claims.
United Consumers Club executives announced Gagan's retirement a few days later, Gagan claims.
The company has continued to fire employees upwards of 40, the suit claims.
Gagan's attorney could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Jack Gagan's father, James L. Gagan Sr., founded DirectBuy in Merrillville in 1971. The company's franchises offer members home furnishings at what the company calls "direct insider prices." Jack Gagan was recently hired as an executive with Khoury Furniture, according to furniture industry trade publications

OMG! This place is rude. I had heard good things about purchases, under retail prices. I wanted to check it out as a possible resource for my kitchen remodel. I proceeded to schedule a "tour" through a salesperson named John Irish. This man was so annoying. He called almost every day to ensure that I will make my appointment, know the directions there, etc.

The "visitor pass" was for a Sunday, at 11:00 AM. A family situation came up. So, I called on Saturday to tell someone and cancel. I DID NOT SPEAK TO John. This person was nice and understanding. No high pressure sales from him.

Anyway, on Monday I was back home and my twin toddler grandsons are busy and I am trying to feed them. John calls me, chews me out for not attending, as I had scheduled, and wanted to discuss what he said, "Common courtesy". WHAT?!!! I explained to this fool that I had called on Saturday. He did not get the message. I the asked why he would do this and that I was with my grandsons! He kept referring to me saying that I had stated that I would be there and did not. I told him that my family was first and he was acting like a telemarketer! He did not like that comment.

Since this event I have read much about their high-pressure sales and rude tactics. I can only state that this is so true. And I hadn't even made it to the showroom, yet!

Run away; do not walk away, from this company! I am going to contact the attorney general's office next!

We were warned by friends that they were cheated out of about $5, 000 for a DirectBuy membership fee. They forked over all that money because DirectBuy told them that they would be able to buy things for their new home at the manufacturers’ price — at a 50% to 60% discount. Little did they know, after DirectBuy tacked on hefty shipping and handling fees, they were able to find most of the items for sale through DirectBuy at the same prices, if not lower prices, at retail stores like Lowes and Best Buy!!

If you were scammed by DirectBuy, like my friends, you should contact the law firm Craig T. Matthews & Associates at [email protected] or 937.434.9393. That law firm has sued DirectBuy before in both Ohio and Indiana (where DirectBuy’s headquarters is located), and it’s conducting an investigation about DirectBuy’s misleading promises. If you want your membership fee refunded, you should contact Craig Matthews to pursue a class action case against DirectBuy. No matter what state you’re from, his firm should be able to help you. Be warned!!

I been paying my membership fee to a debt collection agency by the name of Sterling and King, INC A Debt Collection Agency out of Fern Park, Florida neither company won't return calls we have made. We been making payments on this ripoff plan every month and no response from them. I can't use the membership because my membership expired and they are still taking my money. I knew from the start it was a bad idea but hey they talk real nice when they want something from you. I am complaining about what they are doing with the money I am sending to this agency and why they haven't call or sent me any mail about this mess they got going on. I can't buy anything, it won't let me login or anything.