DirectBuy - is it a Ticket to the House of Style or the Poorhouse?

The infomercial

I don't generally make a habit of watching infomercials.  I did happen to catch one yesterday, though, having awakened early.  Like most other infomercials I've seen, on the one I saw yesterday, there were lots of people giving glowing testimonials about the product being pitched.  My eyes zeroed in on the screen, where a middle aged couple was standing in what looked like a beautiful living room.  Although the living room was impressive, the people were rather plainly dressed.  The man was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt.  The rather well-endowed woman was wearing a t-shirt that was a little too tight for her and old, faded jeans.  They were talking about how much money they had saved furnishing their living room through DirectBuy.

Intrigued, I kept watching as another woman described how she had remodeled and furnished her home at a great bargain, thanks to DirectBuy.  The camera panned around her patio, which was decked out with fancy looking outdoor furnishings.  I could see a body of water in the background, suggesting that this lady lived in a nice neighborhood.  Then the camera showed her dining room, where the lady showed off a lovely table set with fine china and crystal and surrounded by beautiful chairs. 

A chirpy blonde woman with perfect white teeth suddenly appeared on the screen.  She explained that DirectBuy is a club that allows ordinary people like you and me to buy furniture, building materials, and household goods and luxury items at wholesale prices.  The spokeswoman kept her voice light and dynamic.  She sounded friendly and energetic and smiled a lot, showing off those gorgeous teeth that probably cost her a fortune.  No doubt about it, I was interested in what she had to say even though I had no desire to join the club, because as I was watching the infomercial, it suddenly occurred to me why the scheme seemed so familiar.