originally published at http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=Forum&report=Subtopic&SubtopicID=00031706&firstrecord=0&finalrecord=14
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 17 Jul 2003 at 12:34.42 AM E-mail:target_bs@yahoo.com Company Country:US_United StatesThat's right !
They want you to pay them over $3500 and what do you get for that? The UCC membership agreement says this:
"Members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership, including the right to order carpeting, furniture, appliances and merchandise for Member's personal use or as bona fide gifts through said club at the manufacturer's or supplier's price plus sales taxes, freight charges and handling fee."
So what is "manufacturer's or supplier's price" ? Is that the LOWEST PRICE? I mean you certainly are expected to assume that this price that members would get would CERTAINLY be lower than anyone who HAD NOT PAID $3500 OR MORE to join a special club could get,right?
UCC/DIRECTBUY CANNOT GARANTEE LOWEST PRICES ON ANY ITEMS THEY SELL! SOME MEMBERS HAVE NEVER SAVED A PENNY!
So then what, do they get to cancel their membership and get a refund? NO, NO WAY! THE MEMBERSHIP CONTRACT SAYS:
"Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and no refund of membership fees will be made. "
They planned ahead, they figured out that a lot of people would want their money back after finding that they had spent several thousands of dollars to join a club EXPRESSLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THE LOWEST PRICES ON MERCHANDISE, only to find that they were not able to find anything at all for lowest price at UCC/DirectBuy!!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK and research UCC/DirectBuy before you make your appointment!
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 17 Jul 2003 at 07:20.28 PM Company Country:US_United StatesSOME MEMBERS HAVE NEVER SAVED A PENNY!
Conversly, many thousands of members HAVE saved their penny's. Remember that if you look after your penny's, the dollars will take care of themselves.
The previous poster would have you believe that if you join UCC you won't save ANYTHING. This is not true.
Obviously, people do save money otherwise Direct Buy would not be around anymore.
It is market driven and the bottom line is that if something works the free market will support the concept.
If Direct Buy does not work the free market would cause it to drop from view.
Simple supply and demand.
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 17 Jul 2003 at 10:09.03 PM Type:Products Company Country:US_United StatesEven as you read, this scam, which is nothing more than and a variation of the "Advance Fee Fraud" scheme, is parting yet more of the "something for nothing" crowd from their money.
Here's how it works: a telephone "tickler" call is made to a potential victim and an informative letter is sent afterwards inviting them to an open house so they can see for themselves how much others like them have saved and how much they themselves would save, along with some form of an invitation to join. The letter and subsequent follow-up telephone calls promise rich rewards of savings by buying direct from the manufacturer, at cost, with no Mark Up, No Middleman if only they were "members" of this so called highly esteemed and long time in business organisation. Typically, the pitch at the open house includes mention the so called fact that tens of thousands of other smart and savvy consumers have saved along with a slick selection of what they have saved on -- and you, too, can begin saving as soon as you join this elustrous group by signing a "membership agreement" costing thousands of dollars payable in advance of receiving any benefits - you are told that amount is paltry compared to the savings you will obtain over a 10 year period - and you must sign the contract on a now or never basis. You are even made to feel stupid if you don't sign - only a fool would not take advantage of the savings - spend a little to save a lot sort of thing.
If you're not saying "scam" by now, you should be. Should you agree to participate in this Advance Fee savings scam, something will go wrong. Savings evaporate ... or.. Wrong or defective merchandise will be ordered ... or ... Order delays ... or ... Order mishaps and screw-ups. You will not be allowed to cancel your "membership" and get out of the deal.
If you decide to order merchandise, money from you, in advance of receiving the merchandise -- an insignificant sum, really, in light of the windfall of savings about to land in your lap -- will be required to order merchandise without any written guarantees of actually saving money.. You pay, you wait for the merchandise . . . and all you'll get in return are more excuses about why the order is held up and assurances that everything can be straightened out if you'll just be patient and wait a little while longer or send a bit more to pay for this or that price increase. Once you start making threats, these scammers will threaten to sue you if you don't make good on your end of paying for the membership contract in full.
Beware that the Membership Agreement is in reality nothing more than a legally binding sales contract that may have been glossed over in light of all the savings you are excited about expecting. Carefully look at it - it contains NO GUARANTEES OF SAVINGS - instead there is a "NO ORAL PROMISES" clause: "No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the club." It's like a get out of jail free card - they can tell you anything pie in the sky in the open house tour or over the phone to get you to join, but once you sign the sales or Membership Agreement, you agree to the NO ORAL PROMISES clause! So what happens if it turns out not to be what you expected? Ouch. Too late. You're stuck. That NO ORAL PROMISES clause comes back and bites you. Want a refund? Beware that the Membership Agreement states: "Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and that no refund of membership fees will be made." So you only partially paid on your contract and think that you're just not going to pay the rest of the contracted amount? -- beware that the Membership Agreement states further: "Members do not have the right to terminate the Membership Agreement without paying the amount remaining for this Membership." And if you think you're going to get a refund because you never found anything cheaper and therefore didn't use the club, think again. There's a clause in the Membership Agreement about this too: "The Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership."
In a nutshell, the con works by blinding the victim with promises of an unimaginable fortune of what others like them have saved, what they could have saved if only they joined earlier, and what they can expect to save by joining now. Once the sucker is excited and sufficiently glittery-eyed over the prospect of what he or she would do with all the money he will save, he is then squeezed for however much membership fee in full at the time of "joining" or have the sales contract balance immediately financed by a separate finance company, actually a subsidiary of the parent scam company. The money the victim parts with willingly, thinking "What's $3,000 here when I'm going to end up saving over $30,000 when this is all done?" He fails to realize during the sting that he's never going to actually get the promised savings because all of savings are expressly disclaimed in the fine print of the contracts and merchandise ordering materials. The very sales contract, which the victim was at first eager to sign, now comes back to bite him with all those adverse terms and conditions. All of this messing around is designed to part him from his money.
Once the scam is explained, it seems so obvious a con that you'd wonder who would fall for it. Yet fall for it people do because they're mesmerized by the wealth that will soon be theirs in the form of all the savings by not paying any markup or middleman costs - and how smart they are by taking advantage of the join now or never opportunity. They also fail to realize there's a hook hanging just out of sight; at first all they see is that others are getting savings and they want to join this cadre, thus they're ill-prepared to mentally shift gears when the con artists turns the tables. Because the premise of "saving tons of money" is wholeheartedly swallowed early on, it's not at a later point questioned when things begin to go wrong with the transaction and the dupes who have been targeted find out the hard way that there is a no refund policy on all the money they have paid in advance of receiving these now questionable "savings."
Beware paying in advance for something for nothing - no written guarantees of promises made should send you running - especially in light of the tactics of "Be like me, I've saved money."
http://www.geocites.com/ucctotalhomeinfo/index.html
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 17 Jul 2003 at 11:12.32 PM Type:Products Company Country:US_United StatesObviously, people do save money otherwise Direct Buy would not be around anymore.
Not o - it just means that Direct Buy can snare enough victims to pay for an expensive front loaded non-refundable sales contract to keep themselves in business.
Contract has the following provisions:
Members understand this program is not sold on a trial basis and no refund of membership fees will be made. The Club is only obligated to arrange benefits as described in this Membership Agreement. No oral promises or statements not contained in this Membership Agreement shall bind or obligate the Club. This Membership Agreement is not conditioned on the use of this Membership."
Since the membership agreement is not conditioned on the use of the membership, i.e. actually purchasing merchandise, and since the contract provides for no refunds if not statisfied, your conclusion is illogical since there could be many dissatisfied customers who just can't get their money back.
http://www.geocities.com/ucctotalhomeinfo/index.html
It is market driven and the bottom line is that if something works the free market will support the concept.
If Direct Buy does not work the free market would cause it to drop from view.
Likewise, if it doesn't work, expect the avalanche of complaints like here on TCS, to the Attorney Generals, Provincial Officials,the media,the courts..........
quote:
great public relations. bravo
User Message Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 22 Jul 2003 at 07:51.48 PM Company Country:US_United States"If Direct Buy does not work the free market would cause it to drop from view. Simple supply and demand."
The number of UCC franchises had dropped in the past few years. If not for the Canadian franchises, UCC would be down about 25% from it's peak number of franchises, at least according to Franchise Magazine. Even with the Canadian franchises, UCC is down and the franchise growth in Canada has halted.
It does appear that the free market is causing UCC to slowly drop from view. IMO, one of the biggest factors is the Internet. UCC's franchise decline started in the mid-90's right when the Internet first started taking off.
Sites like TCS and technologies like web databases are probably going to slowly grind down UCC. Complaints stick around on TCS and database web sites like the BBB and state government web sites where judgements against UCC are listed forever and easily available make it impossible for UCC to hide.
In fact, that is probably the main reason why UCC has changed its name to DirectBuy. Like the TCS administrator has already pointed out, a simple search for UCC no longer suffices, you have to know about DirectBuy. A search of the BBB or legal database for DirectBuy would show a clean history, which is far from the truth.
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 22 Jul 2003 at 07:51.48 PM Company Country:US_United States"If Direct Buy does not work the free market would cause it to drop from view. Simple supply and demand."
The number of UCC franchises had dropped in the past few years. If not for the Canadian franchises, UCC would be down about 25% from it's peak number of franchises, at least according to Franchise Magazine. Even with the Canadian franchises, UCC is down and the franchise growth in Canada has halted.
It does appear that the free market is causing UCC to slowly drop from view. IMO, one of the biggest factors is the Internet. UCC's franchise decline started in the mid-90's right when the Internet first started taking off.
Sites like TCS and technologies like web databases are probably going to slowly grind down UCC. Complaints stick around on TCS and database web sites like the BBB and state government web sites where judgements against UCC are listed forever and easily available make it impossible for UCC to hide.
In fact, that is probably the main reason why UCC has changed its name to DirectBuy. Like the TCS administrator has already pointed out, a simple search for UCC no longer suffices, you have to know about DirectBuy. A search of the BBB or legal database for DirecBuy? would show a clean history, which is far from the truth.
User Message Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 26 Jul 2003 at 07:34.00 PM Company Country:US_United States"Comparing the UCC list of centers and the DirectBuy list of centers gives an interesting result. UCC lists 90 centers, DirectBuy lists 66. When you compare the two, 27 centers disappeared from the UCC list, three new ones appeared in the DirectBuy list, a net loss of 24 franchises. So about 1/4 of the UCC centers didn't make it to the DirectBuy list, including the Vancouver UCC franchise.
Could that be the thing that Bruce wanted to hide? That UCC, contrary to Bruce's assertions that UCC is growing and healthy, has shrunk by about 25%?"
User Message Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 29 Jul 2003 at 09:05.04 PM Company Country:US_United StatesI know that the local Austin, TX franchise went bankrupt. It was in the news and the attorney general was investigating them. They were also misrepresenting themselves as BBB members.
We were solicited to buy a "DirectBuy" franchise to replace the disgraced UCC TotalHome? operation.
We laughed our heads off when we found out it was the same company with a different name. They seem to expect that changing their name while keeping the practices is somehow "better" for them!
User Message Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 29 Jul 2003 at 09:57.07 PM Type:Products Company Country:US_United States> "If Direct Buy does not work the free market would cause it to drop from view. Simple supply and demand."
Q. Where have all the ucc/directbuy locations gone?
What is really interesting is comparing the UCC list of centers and the DirectBuy list of centers.
UCC Totalhome web site lists 90 centers (www.ucctotalhome.com)
Direct Buy web site lists 66 centers (www.directbuy.net)
When you compare the two, 27 centers disappeared from the UCC list, three new ones appeared in the DirectBuy list, a net loss of 24 franchises.
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 29 Jul 2003 at 11:31.51 PM Type:Products Company Country:US_United StatesUCC TOTALHOME OF AUSTIN / DIRECTBUY OF AUSTIN
quote:
"We laughed our heads off when we found out it was the same company with a different name. They seem to expect that changing their name while keeping the practices is somehow "better" for them! "
Looks like they got a new unsuspecting sucker to run the Austin location.
Guess DIREDCTBUY OF AUSTIN replaces the UCC TOTALHOME OF AUSTIN, notice that the new DIRECTBUY has clean slate with the BBB - where did all the complaints against UCC TOTALHOME OF AUSTIN go? The BBB processed no customer complaints on this company in its three year reporting period because it hasn't been in business for three years - it only been in business since 1/13/03 , and a member of the BBB since 7/16/03.
Ever wonder why UCC changes it name so frequently? Ever wonder why they market themselves through the independent franchised business model instead of company owned locations?
quote:
DIRECTBUY OF AUSTIN 1905 A KRAMER LN #500 AUSTIN, TX 78758-4026 (Yahoo Map) (512) 835-7800 Local Business Start Date: January 13, 2003 Type of Entity: PARTNERSHIP Principal Contact: MARTIN CODY Customer Service Contact: MARTIN CODY Phone Number: (512) 835-7800 Fax Number: (512) 835-7804 Membership Status: BBB Member Type-of-Business Classification(s): BUYING CLUBS/GROUP PURCHASING ORGANIZATIONSThe information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.BBB Membership
This company has been a member of this Better Business Bureau since 07/16/2003.
Program Participation
This company participates in a Customer Assistance Program in which the company has agreed to use special BBB procedures including mediation and arbitration, if necessary, to resolve complaints.
Customer Experience
The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company in its three year reporting period.
Unregistered Unregistered Posted on 01 Aug 2003 at 09:46.50 PM Type:Products Company Country:US_United StatesDirect BUY / UCC / UCC Totalhome / United Consumers Club / whatever they want to call themselves today is not on the list of shopper's best friends - instead, the following article is critical of having to pay $3000 just to get wholesale savings --
Shoppers' best friends: Five stores we love
John Ewoldt, Star Tribune
Published April 3, 2003
Consumers are a wary lot nowadays. Maybe it's because the phrase "The customer is always right" is hardly posted anymore. Or because "Your call is very important to us" loses its meaning when followed by "Due to unexpectedly high call volumes, please call back at another time." Most of us understand that there is a need to cut back in tough economic times, but when customer service is sacrificed and disguised as something else, consumers rebel. So Dollars & Sense decided to seek out the good guys -- those with great customer service and value. Here are our five choices. Feel free to send in your own favorites at the addresses below.
Jenson's department store (112 E. Main St., Anoka, 763-421-5343).
If you're looking for a local department store success story, it's Jenson's. It not only competes with, but thrives amid heavy hitters such as Marshall Field's, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Herberger's, Nordstrom and Von Maur. Since 1938, it's been in the same location in downtown Anoka, a genuine downtown that Woodbury or Burnsville would envy. The mission for this clothing store hasn't changed in more than six decades: Compete on quality, service and price. "Don't get porky," owner Morris Jenson tells his managers about setting prices. Jenson's ignores suggested retail prices on labels from Polo, Mavi, Guess, Susan Bristol, Hollywood, Tommy Bahama, Billabong, Cynthia Max, Liz Claiborne and Triple Five. All sell for 5 to 15 percent below suggested retail. How? "We don't need the [profit] margins that a Marshall Field's does," said manager and men's buyer Jeff Lynch. Jenson's understands a key point about shoppers -- we love a good sale. Twice a year, for Easter and for Halloween, Jenson's does its mystery discount sale. Everything in the store, including clearance merchandise, is discounted 15, 20 or 25 percent, depending on the amount drawn. The Easter sale is April 6-13. Jenson's also tries to be a fashion leader rather than follow its competition. The edgy selection includes streetwear by Jade Howe, whose T-shirts bear his disdain for rampant commercialism with not-so-subtle digs at Wal-Mart and McDonald?'s. But the more sedate Tommy Bahama customer finds suitable designs, too, such as a washable silk shirt for $79, sold at other department stores for $95. Most stores require returns to be made within 90 or fewer days of purchase. But at Jenson's, a customer can buy something in June, ask the salesperson to write "Christmas gift" on the receipt and get a refund two weeks after Christmas, said Lynch.
Jack Rubenstein wholesalers (952-922-4781)
Jack Rubenstein's wholesale business has been giving consumers good deals on carpet and flooring, cars, jewelry, electronic items, furniture and plumbing supplies for nearly 48 years. Jack retired in 1982 when his cousin Joel Grossman took over. Wholesaler stores like Rubenstein's are not commonly found outside New York City, Grossman said.
The newest version of wholesaling may be Direct Buy United Consumer's Club, which has showrooms in Bloomington and Vadnais Heights, but Direct Buy UCC charges $3,000 for a membership. Grossman doesn't charge consumers anything extra. He gets good deals by making arrangements with local retailers or wholesalers. If he sends them high-volume business, they will sell items at a lower profit margin than they do to other customers. Here's how it works: A customer calls Rubenstein about, say, a big-screen TV. Grossman gives her the name of his contact at the retail store. The customer goes to the store and, if the price is right, buys the item from the person at the retailer that Grossman recommends, at a lower price but with the same terms as any other customer. One of Grossman's recent customers saw a 32-inch Sony HDTV in a local electronics store for $2,400, but Grossman got the price down to $1,925. His take on the deal was $75. Most of Grossman's commissions range from $25 to $50, modest sums that explain why no one is clamoring to buy out his business. If you haven't called Grossman for deals, you're missing one of the low-price shopper's best friends. And to help you remember him, he'll send you a free refrigerator magnet upon request.
Dome Souvenirs (910 S. 3rd St., Minneapolis, 612-375-9707 or 1-888-375-9707 or http://www.domeplus.com)
Before the Twins' home opener on Friday, you'll want to be properly outfitted. You can usually get the lowest prices on hats and jerseys at Target or Kohl's, but if you want a better selection or the same premier jacket that the players wear, you don't have to pay top dollar near the Metrodome. Thanks to Dome Souvenirs, you can pay about a third less for the same items sold inside the Dome. A Twins cotton adjustable hat is $10 -- $13 at the Dome. A player's jacket is $50 less ($100) at Dome Souvenirs. Even the hot dogs, peanuts and pop sold on game days are cheaper. Best of all, the humble shop right next to the Dome has a great pedigree. It's owned by Ray Crump, who was the team's equipment manager from 1961, when they were the Washington Senators, until 1984. The store also contains a free baseball museum. It's open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, with extended hours during Metrodome events.
Electric Fetus (2000 4th Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-870-9300 or http://www.electricfetus.com. Other locations in St. Cloud and Duluth.)
Whenever I go into the Fetus music store, I expect someone to tell me I'm not cool enough to shop there. If I ask where to find Celine Dion, I expect another customer to say, "Try Vegas, loser." But you won't hear condescending words from this staff. Some may have nose rings and dreadlocks, but all are happy to discuss Rosemary Clooney's oeuvre. The Fetus isn't the source for the cheapest discs in town, but the deep and wide selection can please almost any taste. Any disc can be heard before buying. But if you buy a disc that you hate, it can be returned within 14 days, opened, for a refund. The policy is ripe for abuse by CD burners, so it's at the store's discretion, but I've never encountered a problem. Even if you'd rather buy your CDs elsewhere, check out the large gift section, which includes clothes, candles and incense. It's also a good source of irreverent and/or goofy toys for adults, such as the Rosie the Riveter Action Figure ($8.50) and Sit & Solve crossword tablets in the shape of a toilet lid ($5). Electric Fetus also has several good sales each year. Everything in the store is discounted 20 percent near Valentine's Day, Halloween and the anniversary sale (June 11-15). There's also a 10 percent discount with a purchase of three or more discs during non-sale times.
Bombay Company outlet (Outlets at Albertville, 15 minutes northwest of Maple Grove on Interstate Hwy. 94, exit 202, 763-497-1037).
For many shoppers, Albertville may seem a bit of a hike. What if you need to return something? The Bombay Company outlet makes that easy. It's one of the few retailers that let customers return outlet store merchandise at any Bombay Company store, including those at Southdale and Ridgedale malls. The Bombay Company outlet also labels whether an item is from the full-price store or made specifically for the outlet. That's helpful for shoppers who feel that regular store items may be a better value. At Bombay outlet, the "special purchase" items have brown tags. Items with a red tag come from the catalog and the full-priced stores. Bombay Company also saves catalog customers shipping costs if they order catalog items from the store. Customers can call to see if an item in the catalog or in the main store is discounted at the outlet. Catalog shoppers can eliminate shipping costs by having the item sent to one of the stores. The outlet will ship phone orders for a flat $7.50, except for large items. One good "special purchase" item is a four-poster mahagony-look bed -- $360 for queen size and $420 for a king. The best deals are slightly damaged items found in an alcove near the back. Through Sunday, get $20 off any purchase of $100 or more.
John Ewoldt may be contacted at jewoldt@startribune.com,at 612-673-7633 or by sending a fax to 612-673-4359. <./I>
Links to other news articles about Direct BUY / UCC / UCC Totalhome / United Consumers Club --
Also, be sure to visit -
and see the article from the Wall Street Journal about united consumers club and the non-refundable Membership Contract for yourself BEFORE you sign and it becomes a big mistake.
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