Why You Should Avoid DirectBuy

They have just completed a DirectBuy "showroom" in my city. The infomercials that play late at night tell people locally and across the country all about DirectBuy, about how it can save them thousands of dollars on home items. For remodeling a home or appointing a new home, they claim to be an exclusive club that allows the public to get items for hundreds to thousands of dollars less than at a retail store or catalog. The problem is, these claims are backed up by absolutely nothing.

Problem #1: Sexism

A relative of mine called the local showroom and asked about going in to look at their showroom and perhaps join the club. No. she was told that she was not allowed to come unless she brought her husband. A little shocked, as anyone should rightfully be, she asked why. The answer was that they wanted each couple to be able to decide together whether or not to join. She came away confused about this rule and vowed not to bother with this company. Unfortunately, this is the standard response that the company gives to any woman who wants to join.

The reason for this is that DirectBuy isn't just a club you sign up for and then shop in like a Sam's. The membership costs thousands of dollars, an expense that the company believes a woman won't spend without her husband present. This is likely legal, as DirectBuy is a private club and can probably discriminate based on sex, much like the Freemasons and the Masters. The question many women probably want to know, however, is why they can't look around and then go home to discuss it with their husbands? Because the hard sell delivered by DirectBuy is driven home with a vengeance. If you don't decide to join right then and there, you are banned from coming back. In come locations, this is a lifetime ban. In others it's in effect for seven years. If the deals are really that great, why would this be necessary? Why not just let people think about it? To put it simply, it's because the deals aren't that great.

Problem #2: Where are the Deals?