DirectBuy Canada is a membership-based service that connects buyers directly with manufacturers – hence the “DirectBuy” name. It bills itself as a “savings club,” which essentially means that it’s a membership-based retail alternative for purchasing products and services.
The membership fee is what entitles you to shop in their showroom of products priced significantly below retail levels – potentially up to 60% less. DirectBuy deals primarily in home furnishings, such as decor, appliances, and flooring, but they offer services to their members too.
But because DirectBuy’s prices for these individual products and services are behind a membership wall, it’s difficult to say whether or not they actually will save you money. Is the high membership cost worth it? We dig into the fine print of DirectBuy Canada and give you the details on their business model, membership, products, and more.
Key Takeaways
- DirectBuy Canada is a type of savings club that connects buyers directly with manufacturers.
- A DirectBuy membership requires a one-time initiation fee of $499 plus $44.99 per month, or you can choose the annual option at $24.99 per month.
- The 4 available product categories are appliances, home improvement, flooring, decor, and kitchen & tabletop.
- Members can access design, concierge, delivery, travel, and other services.
- There are several fees to watch out for, such as those for shipping and handling.
How DirectBuy Canada works
There are 2 areas to look at when discussing how DirectBuy Canada works: their business model and membership tiers.
To put it simply, they’re a wholesale sales operation that focuses on products for the home. Much of their advertising is directed at homeowners looking to renovate, refurnish, or implement other home improvement ideas.
But to be more specific, what they actually do is put you in touch with manufacturers and dealers of the products you’re eyeing, allowing you to skip the retail step. And this means you don’t have to worry about any product markups.
There are 2 membership options:
- $44.99 per month for a regular monthly membership, or
- $24.99 per month for an annual membership.
Both options require a $499 one-time initiation fee and both can be cancelled at any time.
They also offer a 30-day guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied with the selection, quality of the products, services, prices, or just about anything else, they’ll refund your membership costs.
Here are the products and services available from DirectBuy Canada
DirectBuy does offer a wide selection of products, from home decor items to flooring adhesive and everything in between. There are also a few surprising services for members, like project coordination and travel booking.
DirectBuy products
If you look at the DirectBuy Canada site, you’ll find a menu listing their various product categories. These include:
- appliances,
- home improvement,
- flooring,
- decor, and
- kitchen & tabletop.
The Canadian list of products is much shorter compared to the selection of product categories from the United States. But even so, there are some popular and well-recognized brands available.
Here’s a look at some of the brands available through DirectBuy:
| Category | Available brands |
|---|---|
| Appliances | * Bosch * Maytag * Samsung * GE * Kitchenaid |
| Home improvement | * Warmly Yours * Casa Roma * Cyclone * Robern * Cabico |
| Flooring | * Goodfellow * Torlys * Richmond * Casa Roma * Daltile |
| Decor | * Warmly Yours |
| Kitchen & tabletop | * Bosch * GE |
These aren’t all of the product names available, but it’s a good representation of the quality items that DirectBuy provides.
DirectBuy offers services too
DirectBuy Canada offers design, concierge, and other services as well. It has partnerships and relationships with a host of professional designers, project coordinators, and delivery and installation technicians – all there to help with your home improvement projects.
Here’s an overview of the services provided:
| Service | Details and examples |
|---|---|
| Design | * Access to more than 150 professional designers and decorators * Interior design services * Cabinet design services * In-home design program |
| Concierge | * Assistance with shopping from your home * Project coordination assistance * Sample products and swatches provided * Research on your preferred styles and/or specific requirements * Prices and quotes provided * Recommendations for local contractors and/or installers |
| Product coordination | * Advice on specific home improvements * Connections with local contractors * Designs and samples provided * Delivery coordination |
| Delivery | * Orders brought to your door and/or inside * Options for store pickup * Partnerships with local delivery services * Basic assembly and installation provided * Removal of packaging material |
| Travel | * Uses Travel Savings Credits to lower the price of your trips * Credits can be used for cruises, hotels, golf packages, guided tours, and more * Earn extra Credits on flights, car rentals, and golf reservations * Credits can be used to book trips for friends and family * Best Value Guarantee will price match any better offers * $1,500 Credit provided for your initial membership term * Upon membership renewal, receive Credits to match your renewal fee * Exclusive Great Getaways deals for last-minute bookings * Travel concierge service provides personal travel planning |
It’s unclear whether all of these services are included with your membership for no extra cost, but the DirectBuy site says that concierge, design services, and project coordination do come with your membership.
Does DirectBuy Canada save you money?
Whether or not DirectBuy can save you money really depends on a few things, such as what you’re purchasing, which other retailers offer it, and whether you’d otherwise pay for shipping or delivery.
By looking at each of these and other factors in a bit more detail, you should be able to determine whether a DirectBuy membership is a valuable investment.
DirectBuy prices and Savings Guarantee
Unless you’re a member, you can’t see the actual prices of DirectBuy Canada’s products, which makes it pretty tricky to compare costs. You can see many of their listed items and their specifications, but no prices.
So while we can’t give specific information about how much money you could save with DirectBuy, we can discuss the Savings Guarantee a bit more.
DirectBuy guarantees that you’ll get a lower price than those offered by authorized resellers. Its “Our Guarantees” page implies that all of its products are listed by the percentage amount that buyers will save, and therefore, if a buyer finds a price elsewhere that saves them more than what its category listing implies, DirectBuy will adjust the price so you save 20% off of the competitor’s price.
Take a look at this example of how this situation would look:
| DirectBuy price | Alternate retailer | Price after Savings Guarantee (pre-tax) |
|---|---|---|
| $131.25 | $105 | $84 |
| $156.25 | $125 | $100 |
These are small numbers, but you can still see that you’d save a significant amount by taking advantage of DirectBuy’s Savings Guarantee. However, it would require doing some significant homework to find that lower price, provide the proof to DirectBuy, wait for confirmation, etc.
DirectBuy fine print and fees
In the DirectBuy membership guide for Canada, we found a few fees to note:
- Handling fees: DirectBuy adds an 8% handling fee for processing and handling your order.
- Shipping fee: There may be an additional delivery fee on top of your product price.
- Vendor fees: While they say that the vendor fee doesn’t apply to most products, it could be another cost to watch out for.
They also mention that some suppliers require a minimum balance when ordering from them. Make sure you read through the guide before committing to a membership.
What the reviewers say about DirectBuy Canada
Despite the fact that they seem to have excellent prices, DirectBuy Canada online reviewers seem to have mixed emotions.
Consumer Affairs – which DirectBuy Canada proudly mentions on their site – shows a 3.9/5 rating, and Glassdoor gives them 3/5 stars. Trustpilot shows only 7 reviews – not enough to make a true assessment.
Overall, it seems like the reviews are mixed. By just looking at what these users have to say, it’s tough to say whether DirectBuy Canada is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to Canadian shoppers or the biggest pain in the neck we’ve ever encountered.
That being said, if you’re building a home, doing a huge home renovation, or looking to make a substantially large purchase, it might be worth your while to pay for a month of membership in order to see their exact prices. (Just keep in mind that huge activation fee…)
You could then also talk to their customer service representatives and look into the services they provide, like design, delivery, etc.
Alternatives to DirectBuy Canada
For the determined consumer who wants to find the best prices, the best alternatives for DirectBuy are Costco, Overstock.ca, and simply using price comparison websites. Which one is best for your situation will depend on the precise products, services, and experience you’re looking for.
Price comparison websites
First, try some price comparison sites. There are plenty for you to choose from, and they’re easy to use. And the best part? They’re free!
While each one is different, some features are the same and you’re usually able to search by:
- price,
- category,
- manufacturer,
- store, etc.
Either way, if you have a product and price from DirectBuy Canada, you can use these comparison sites to see how their offer truly measures up.
Try looking at Costco
Canadians love shopping at Costco, so you’re likely not surprised that we’re suggesting this as an alternative.
You’ll find everything from toasters to track lighting at Costco, including products similar to those we looked at in the above table. And, of course, everything is listed at wholesale prices.
As a trusted Canadian staple since 1985, Costco is definitely a spot you’ll want to check before purchasing anything from DirectBuy Canada.
Overstock.ca is also worth a look
Overstock.ca is the Canadian branch of the US-based site, offering furniture and other home essentials for impressively low prices. They began in 1999 by selling products at below-wholesale prices – products that included surplus and returned items as well as those acquired from failing companies and businesses.
Today, they still sell these same products in the same way, but they also have brand new merchandise from traditional sources.
What do you think? Is DirectBuy Canada worth the hype?
Do you currently have a DirectBuy Canada membership? Or have you had one in the past? What do you think of their prices and business model?
Honestly, we think it’s rather sketchy that they don’t allow you to see the prices before you commit to their hugely expensive membership. If they were confident in the savings, you’d think they’d let the public in on their secrets. At least the 30-day guarantee is there, though.
Overall, it seems like a way for people with a lot of money to save some extra cash on a huge project. So if you’ve been saving up for a huge home reno and have the funds lined up, trying out DirectBuy Canada and seeing if you can save at least $500 on the products you need could be an interesting ride.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this, so feel free to leave us a comment in the section below.
FAQ
Is DirectBuy Canada online?
Yes, DirectBuy Canada has a website where you can see their membership options, products, and more. However, without a membership, you can’t see any prices or other specific purchase information on their products.
Can I see the DirectBuy Canada catalogue?
As mentioned, the general public is able to see their product listings and certain details, but you won’t see any prices there. You’re only given access to DirectBuy Canada’s catalogue prices if you login with your membership information.
Where are the DirectBuy Canada locations?
There is limited information on Canadian DirectBuy locations and the Locations tab on their website didn’t seem to work when we checked. A quick search in the Yellowpages shows DirectBuy locations in Coquitlam, BC; Saskatoon, SK; Mississauga, ON; Halifax, NS; and several other locations in Ontario.
How much does DirectBuy Canada cost?
A DirectBuy membership costs either $24.99 or $44.99 per month, depending on whether you choose a monthly or annual membership. Only members can see product prices, so we can’t give you examples of those, unfortunately.
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