What’s it called when a blogger starts to write about things that happen on his own blog? Most of the time it’s under a headline like, “How I got 100,000 visitors in 30 days,” or “My Google Adsense Figures,” or something like that. Heck, I’ve even done it once.
It’s like the blog takes on a life of its own so that every once in awhile it’s interesting in and of itself. Is there a name for that?
While this probably isn’t something I’d want to do all that often, I thought this comment was interesting:
It came recently in response to a post I wrote about our experience at a Direct Buy presentation . It comes from John, an alert reader who also happens to work for Direct Buy.
He writes (*paragraph breaks inserted by me):
To be more non bias you might try talking to a person who has used the service for something. You come across as a hard to please jerk in your article here.
I work at a Direct Buy and I can tell you that most people are there for about 2 hours. Some centers get people in and out in about 60 - 90 minutes.
It’s funny that with over 1 million products to choose from from over 800 manufacturers and outside suppliers, you had trouble finding something. I guess with nearly 1 million members maybe one or two of them have had trouble finding something, then again they had more then 3 hours to look for it….they’re members…. they get tons of help.
I would love to meet you and show you what you are missing. I’d even give you a membership for free to let you see the benefits. I’d only ask that when you see how it works and that you will save in many areas, you pay your membership like anyone else. What do you say? E-mail me…. (edited).
Let’s see if you really want the truth, or if you survive off knowing what suits your interests.
I thought that was a pretty accurate and fair comment.
I probably am somewhat of a “hard to please jerk” when making a decisions about what are to me (at this time), large sums of money. Sums of money that I don’t currently have in my bank account. Sums of money that I would have to borrow and pay interest on. Sums of money on which I would be very keen on getting a quick and fair return.
And no, it wasn’t really a non-biased post. That’s a lot of work. I was only hoping to accurately communicate my personal experience.
At any rate, I will be emailing this gentleman in the coming days. I mean, who knows, right?
But it’ll have to wait until I iron out a few more glitches with my new web server. I get an email account with my web page now, which is pretty cool, but for some reason, I can only send emails with it. I can’t receive them. Soon as I get that figured out though, I’ll be blogging and emailing like a rock star.
And we’ll all learn what John has in mind.
I’ll keep you posted.
Related Articles:
16 responses so far ↓
1 Mark // Apr 12, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Chris,
Very cool. I an anxious to see how this what your experience will be. Keep us posted!
2 Direct Buy: A Consumer Report // Apr 18, 2007 at 4:45 pm
[…] Links: Direct Buy: Most Loyal Employees in the Trade? var sc_project=2445718; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=23; var […]
3 Clyde Hanson // Apr 23, 2007 at 6:30 am
I am a member of Direct Buy since 2004, and I can tell you from first hand experienc that Direct Buy is a scam. They promise all kinds of savings, but I didn’t find any,and wasted hours of my time and $3500.
4 stephen king // Jul 4, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Dear Sirs,
I actually work for the direct buy in the Wyoming, Michigan area. (hence the faux pen name to keep from being fired )Let me tell you this we are a complete scam. Im a Telemarketer, (something our company hates to say and prefers the term marketing rep) We are charged with the soul corrupting task of getting 40 ppl a week (per person… there are 6 “marketing reps” calling anyone that comes into our database from 3pm-9pm mon-fri) to come into our center by way of cold calling them and telling them they are semi-finalists in our 50k dollar home makeover. In fact one person wins this prize once every 6 months in the whole michigan area. We tell you that you’ll be sent a key and if it fits the lock in the showroom you’ll win the make over or the cash if you prefer. And to sweeten the pot we will give you 2 of the 5 bonus gifts (you will always get the $20 gift certificate and vacation package although I never found out where that is to, im assuming a local motel 6) just for trying your key. Afterwords we will ask if you are married (If so you and spouse must come in together theres really no way around it and if your single you must have 5k worth of home projects to be sent a pass) and then you’ll be asked if your between the ages of 25-60 (if you are older or younger you will not be sent a pass because they feel you dont make enough for the membership fee which i’ll get to later) then the final question do you make over or under 40k (only 40k or over will let you through) then my job ends but its hardly over for you. By the way you MUST simply MUST when we call you tell us to put you on the no call list if you dont want to be bothered. If you yell, slam the phone, ignore the phone, pretend to be someone else and say they are not interested, (which alot of ppl do) say they (you) arent home, etc etc then we will call again for the next 10-12 days until our computer filters you out and even then in 3 months later we will call you again and the cycle continues and direct buy gets the last laugh. From there you will be called by a booker who will confirm a date for you to come in (they will lure you with fake testimonials and tell you about the direct buy advantage) and will continue to call until they can do so. After you come in you will be treated to a video (yawn) and will be thrown sales pitches and will be given a tour of the sales room as well. After it is all over you will have to make a choice to either join or decline a membership. The cost for ours is 4,500 for 4 years and im not sure about any recurring fees for we are not told much ourselves. All our showrooms are privately owned so member fees and the like will vary from each center. You can also opt to pay 400 a month for a certain amount of time as well. If you do decline you will be banned from all centers for the next 7 years (a psychological sales approach) and we do keep those records because we all share the same operating system that keeps track of all our calls along with names numbers and addresses. Thats the fat of it and please allow me to beg please dont scream and curse at us who call you. Matter of fact 80% of us hate the place. I loath it and how they operate their center but the owners and the ppl who profit (our owners just bought a hummer) do not take the brunt of your anger we the peons do. So why do we stay…because dear reader this is Michigan unemployment is our only other option and at only $9 per hr for 30hrs its better than nothing. Most of us are just out of college or working 2 jobs and none of us can even dream to afford to even member at our “respective” centers. If you are frustrated and want to see where the money goes ask for the owners. As for savings just Google the manufactures websites and buy directly from them believe me it’ll save you alot of time and misery. Now I must go scan the web for job sites and I wish you all the best of luck.
5 John // Aug 1, 2007 at 4:15 am
Directbuy might not be a scam, but it’s definitely a disgusting company. I worked there for a month and I just couldn’t take it.
First of all, the owner treated us marketing reps (DB’s fancy name for Telemarketer) like children, and placed ridiculous expectations. i.e “you must get 15-20 interested parties every night”. In other words, we were to call someone up and be so good on the phone that those people would accept our “free” information. HA!
Second, DB tries to brainwash its employees. They don’t tell you that their purpose is to sell memberships. They say it’s to help families…. >_>
charing 3,500-6000 for a concept, which is all DirectBuy is, is NOT helping anybody.
People need to realize that they’re not selling you cabinets or the appliances. They don’t make any money off that, all their revenue comes from membership sales. Which is why saying they help people is absurd.
All the showrooms are owned by separate owners and some have better customer service, and sales department, but they all share one thing. That’s the marketing system and sales process. They all use the same scripts to hook people on the phone and the same high pressure sales tactics.
I had a chance to look through their catalogs and do my own price comparison, and I also went through their “beliefs training sessions” ( basically they tell and show us how good DB is and how much money they save its members)
They do save you money, specially on things such as kitchen cabinets and countertops, and they also have the top name brands for almost everything.
The problem is, the “savings” vary from product to product, and even then don’t expect to really save as much as they claim you will.
I wanted a Sharp Aquos TV, which for the size I wanted cost $2099 at Best Buy. Now, Directbuy’s catalog for Sharp said MSRP $2099, and Member price of $1690. Good deal no? Well, that price of 1690 doesn’t include shipping and handling + the 8% that DB charges for no reason AND the long wait times till you get your merchandise. Through BB I got a special offer of $1950 including tax, and shipping and handling (5 days). Compare that to DB’s 1934 ( tax + DB’s 8% handling fee). I didn’t bother looking up what shipping and handling would be for them to send the item to me.
Another thing to keep in mind is that after you order your merchandise, you have to wait a long time 4 – 8 weeks if not more, and the manufacturers don’t even ship to your home! They send it to the showroom where it will sit until YOU come pick it up or you pay DB EXTRA money to ship it to your home.
In conclusion, Directbuy is a great business from a money making point of view. They make a LOT of money and are legit, otherwise they wouldn’t be in business. They do what they claim they do, they let their members buy directly from the manufacturers and save money in the process. However, that amount is ridiculously low and NOT worth it unless you’re buying a lot of stuff for your house and or doing some major remodeling. I know for a fact that kitchen cabinets do come out to be cheaper through DB than regular retailers, even after all the hidden fees they don’t disclose to you until after you’re a member.
I probably ranted on this but the bottom line is: DirectBuy is not worth your time, don’t even call the infomercial.
6 The Telemarket From The Source. // Aug 30, 2007 at 3:59 am
I as well am a Telemarketer with DirecBuy. To be exact, I come from the center where these, and most DirectBuy center’s tactics were created!
The Telemarketing tactics are Exactly as described by ‘Stephen King’, however, I believe that DirectBuy can be beneficial if:
-You are financially comfortable, and will be making high-end furniture or flooring purchases.
-You can deal with buying out of a book, which TAKE TIME to learn how to use, much like re-learning how to use the phone book.
-Your capable of shopping alone and don’t need your hand held.
-You live within 30-40 miles of your local center
BY THE WAY: As an employee, I get a 66% discount on the membership fee, so I think it’s great!
If you were looking for Grills, Siding, and Clothing, I’m afraid that’s not DirectBuy’s focus: It obviously wasn’t for you.
Yes, I too hate my job, please just be kind to us on the phone. I cant tell you how many thing’s I have thrown against the wall just because you decided to be an a$$ on the phone. Thanks.
7 Marie // Sep 6, 2007 at 5:16 am
A question for any DirectBuy employees out there…I am wondering what a Membership Director earns in other areas. I am in Florida, and I get $150 for a PIF, $100 for good credit finacing and $50 fr bad credit finacing. Wht they hell do I get shafted if I “help a family” (close the deal), if they have BAD credit??????? Also, do yu feel it just the lucj of the draw on which “family” you help???? Help put things in perspective for me, cause I am begining to wonder, should I really continue to work fr my Franchisee? Help any employee’s wh might be out there reading this. Thanks a million!
8 Marie // Sep 6, 2007 at 5:18 am
Srry to all, my 0’s are missing and didn’t realize it. Next time I will use 0 (zer0’s)
9 Sue Williary // Oct 7, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Here’s what’s interesting about your “research,” about the policy of not returning to the club within 4 years, (by the way, I thought it is 7 years in most states). Anyone can go online and print another visitors pass, so I don’t know why you’re so proud of yourself for doing that. Your information goes into a corporate database, so will John at the door know you were there a year ago? Probably not, but if you decide to become a member and submit your paperwork, Direct Buy’s corporate office will kick that right back to you. Sorry to burst your bubble…you seem so…proud of your false findings…
10 AnInsider // Oct 12, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Let’s see if you post this. For starters you say that you visited the DirectBuy site after rejecting the offer at your first Open House. You then scheduled another Open House time. I bet they didn’t call you did they. That’s because the internet site and their in-house software are two different things. You may be able to schedule a time online. Try attending another Open House. You’re right, you show up in the showroom with the cash DirectBuy would be all over it. The major manufacturers they partner with would not. The manufacturers don’t care where you buy. They simply give a chance to get out of the retail cycle if you are decisive enough to act. There are benefits to them in your doing so but the benefits to the manufacturers don’t outweigh the business they currently generate in the stores. So they have outlined that if DirectBuy wants to offer the same cost price, DirectBuy pays, to their customers(ie members), which they only usually offer to retail stores, than those they offer those prices to must not use those prices in retail stores. The only way to assure a manufacturer of this is the “sales” process you described. Try this, walk into a showroom with cash for membership in hand, having not attended an Open House, and see if they don’t require you to follow the same Open House procedure. Then tell me the procedure is only a pitch.
An insider.
11 Sue Williary // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Both I and AnInsider have put a challenge to your “research.” Come on, put your money where your mouth is. Print out another pass, make an appointment and try to become a member. Let’s see what happens!!! We’re waiting for more “findings!”
Sue,
You’re probably right. Though I haven’t tested it, after reading and hearing from a number of different sources, I believe that DB probably does have my name in a database and would reject my money. So I’m sorry I won’t be taking you up on your challenge.
If you’re the kind of person as passionate about the truth as it sounds you are, however . . . I encourage you to stick around. I’ve got something in the works that should prove to be very interesting. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a DB update post withing the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for stopping and sharing your thoughts.
Chris
12 Anonymous // Nov 30, 2007 at 11:56 pm
i work for DB, associate/director, for one we are not telemarketers i havent cold called anyone since i have been working there. everyone that i talked to has requested information from us and we are calling them back. i dont agree with everything we do ie calling them 3 to 4 times a day, however i see the benefit in the company. when i sit with a family i tell them we are set up for people who are in the process of making significant purchases for their homes, if not we wouldnt be for you at this time. there isn’t any pressure to join we would like you to but we dont twist your arm. you have a choice yes or no, its that simple. and it is easy to use the cataloges if you have a brain and if you dont use the online services get the make and model number come in and place the order then leave, dont use the books. we do not have quotas to meet at the DB i work at u set a goal at the beginning of the month and try to meet it if you dont then thats fine try harder next month. we dont offer any gifts to you, we dont try to find out how much u make before we invite you in, everyone is welcome just not children under 12 FOR THE FIRST VISIT. each center is privately owned so use this one, the gulfcoast region where everyone needs everything all over!!!! figure it out!
13 Insight // Dec 17, 2007 at 12:31 am
Sucker or not, I have yet to find out for sure. I can say that the books can be a bit confusing and definatly time consuming. There are a lot of nice products and many of the prices I have seen seam to be significantly lower than retail. I do wonder, we’re cutting out the middle man?? What is DB, then there are also the % fees that are imposed on some of the merchandise, not all though. I am a member, I do think the membership is steap for what you get. Definatly if you are not building right off hand or totally refurnishing your home. There was a posting about electronics previously, my experiance, you can do better shopping around, not alot of savings at DB for these such products. But, keep in mind the closer you are to buying direct through the manufacture the better off you are. Always shop around, no matter where you are thinking of buying. “Homework always makes the student better”!! Overall they do have a legitamate business and they do very well. In WichitaKs. they are very curtious and helpful in the showroom. Buyer beware, this is not an expense to make if you do not seriously plan on purchasing “many” products in the years to come. They do have products of many dif price ranges. I would not advise financing of the membership fee, better to have the cash or pay it off with something of very, very minimal interest. I do not think DB is a scam, this is a very harsh term to use and is thrown around all too often for things that people either don’t really know about or don’t take the time to properly research before they jump and realize it’s too deep. GOOD DAY, research and buy smart!!!
14 Rin // Jan 24, 2008 at 2:34 am
Maybe the experience differs dramatically from center to center. We went to one on Long Island here in NY and it was AWFUL. We were a young couple at the time and the pitch was very high pressure.
I was not impressed by the showroom which had the books for the manufactures in all the wrong places, the two items I found in the catalogs that I wanted we found out were discontinued. But, we only found that out after the fact. In all it was just a waste of our time as we were not the target for their services. However, even once that was clear, our guide still kept pushing us to sign. She kept presenting credit options, and when we wanted to leave, she kept saying “One more thing.” I think they hope to get people in who are polite. Because while they don’t lock you in the showroom, they definitely play upon you not being rude enough to just storm off.
At one point I commented to my husband, I need to call my mom. The woman who was our guide snarked, “Can’t you see this is a good deal, why do you have to call your mommy for permission.
Now in fact I had to call to ask my mom to make sure my daughter had taken the last of her antibiotics.
After a rude comment like that before we had even signed and they had gotten our money, I decided that it was not for us.
15 Rick // Feb 3, 2008 at 11:30 pm
To both Sue and AnInsider, I did exactly what you challenged, and guess what? Cash is King! I was welcomed with open arms. Now, I did not join (for the second time) but I got in nontheless. And I will bet a month’s pay I could have joined without a hitch.
Here is the rub, all you have to do is this: If you registered as Bob, use Robert. If you initially registered as William, go for Bill. If Williard, use Mitt. etc. You can vary your address too.
Maybe you see this as slightly dishonest. I don’t. First its not a lie, and second that silly pitch about “our mfgrs require this rule” is really bunk. What the mfgs want is to keep their pricing out of the public eye. This is just DBs way of doing it.
16 Roland // Mar 28, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Here’s the thing. When I go to purchase something. Anything. I AM IN CONTROL of the sale. NOT YOU! It’s MY money. You want it? You get it on MY terms. I don’t care if your offering me a new car for $50 bucks.
I know a few DB Members and they have mixed reviews. A few have remodeled their houses with two coming out ahead and one breaking even. That’s neither here nor there. If you try to pressure me or hide facts from me, you are lying about something. Period. Fact.
And that crap about the MFG dictating terms to you? BS. No MFG give less than two SH**s about your business. They have their own to worry about. They have a price and a minimum for a product. It’s not a secret. Call any MFG you can think of. Tell them you want 100 of something and they will give you a price.
So basically your business model is flawed in two places. One, those who are to become members are most likly already decided before they come to you so high pressure is useless. Two, using phrases like “helping families” or “MFG Restrictions” is BS and anyone with an IQ over 6 knows it so stop lying!
I know you have a million members. So good, you have a large pool to get stats from. What’s the average time it takes a member to recoup their cost? If it was 1 month or 1 year I bet you a nickel it would be part of your pitch. Only one reason to leave it out or claim you don’t know…ditto for any real useful information.
BTW DB really lost my respect when my english language challenged parents were refused a request to bring me in to help with any barriers. I let them go but before they left I physically took their checkbook so they were literally unable to pay for anything right there.
Leave a Comment