How Direct Buy Works : The new ( and old) member orientaion

If I have heard it once I have heard it a hundred times,

" I never knew that, I was never told this, etc, etc".

Most of the time these response are because a member has never had a new member orientation.

This is a very important step and should have been provided to you on your first visit back to the center after joining.

If it was not I do apologize and know, that even if you have been a member for 10 years, 5 years or 5 weeks you can always request and book a new member orientation ( for those who have been with us awhile I will call it a refresher course, lol)

The new member orientation is so important, it  teaches members how to use the showroom, place orders and find information.

So why this post you ask..?

Well I thought I would create  a member orientation post with most of the information you would receive in the orientation .

Just a warning this may be longer than my window treatment post so you are warned! Bahahahahaha

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First the rules of the showroom

Our showroom and Catalogs are for members ONLY

• Non-members may not enter the Showroom or use the catalogs
• Your membership includes your spouse and dependent children to age 18  who live at home and dependents full-time students to age 23

Pricing Information is Confidential

• Confidential pricing information is for use inside the showroom ONLY
• Pricing and catalogs may not be copied or taken outside the showroom, or disclosed to non-members

Buy for Yourself and Your Family

• Purchasing items on behalf of others, or for resale is not permitted
• Purchasing gifts to present to family and friends is encouraged

Respect the Retail Community

• Never use confidential pricing or the Directions catalog to negotiate with stores
• Never shop a store knowing you are going to buy through DirectBuy
• Never use retail personnel, or their services, unless you intend to buy from them.

Call Us for Information, Not Suppliers

• Suppliers are not prepared to handle questions about orders direct from members. However, many suppliers do have websites with comprehensive product information.
• For order status and product inquiries, contact Member Services

Protect the Privilege of Your DiretBuy Membership

 

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Outside Suppliers, Contractors, & Installers

Your membership benefits don’t end after the merchandise has been delivered to your local showroom or home. DirectBuy’s Local Provider program provides members with an extensive list of professional services, including Design, Delivery and Installation.

· Installation Services include:

· Flooring –carpet, hardwood, laminate, cork, tile

· Fireplace, Furnace, Air Conditioning

· Plumbing

· Electrical

· Window Coverings– blinds, shutters, custom draperies

· Windows & Doors

· Painting

· Cabinetry Installation

· Etc.

We have included in your new member packet and orientation packet a list of our Local Provider and Installation services. If you ever need an update copy, please do not hesitate to contact the centre via phone or email

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Choosing a Manufacturer’s Catalog

When choosing a catalog, you can narrow down your searches by price range. Price Range Codes can be found on the spine and front of each catalog.

PRICE RANGE CODES

$ -      Economically priced merchandise

$$ -    Quality merchandise at a mid-range price

$$$ -   Merchandise exclusive to high-end suppliers

$$ - $$$ -    Range of prices from economical to high-end

Marginal Savings -       Competitively priced industries

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Always Look at the Supplier

Information Sheet

The Supplier Information Sheet tells you how long an item will typically take to be delivered to the club and whether or not the merchandise cost is As Shown in the catalog. If Cost As Shown is “No,” as in this example, simply consult the  Ordering Comments section for information on how to determine the merchandise cost. Calculating your base cost is really as simple

(unfortunately I am unable to attach a supplier information page

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Calculating Your Merchandise Cost:

It’s as Easy as 1 – 2 – 3

Just look at the Cost As Shown section at the top of the Supplier Information Sheet. If “NO”, your merchandise cost will typically be calculated by either applying a multiplier to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price or consulting a special price column as outlined in the Ordering Comments section of the Supplier Information Sheet.

1. Cost As Shown – “NO” – Price with Multiplier

These catalogs will contain a Retail Price List only. To calculate your merchandise cost, simply apply the multiplier found in the Ordering Comments Section.

• Example: Retail x .58

Multiply a Retail price of $1,000 by .58 to get your merchandise cost of $580.

• Example: Retail less 40

Subtract 40% from a Retail price of $1,000 to get your base cost of $600.

On occasion, you may find a wholesale price list with a multiplier. That means that your merchandise cost is actually less than the Wholesale Price.

2. Cost As Shown – “NO” – Multiple Columns

The price lists in these catalogs show multiple pricing columns. Consult the Ordering Comments section to determine which column contains your merchandise cost.

• Examples: “DirectBuy Column” or “Dealer Column”

3. Cost As Shown – “YES”

The price lists contained in these catalogs are already expressed in terms of Merchandise Cost because they are the manufacturer’s wholesale prices. Simply look up a model number in the wholesale price list to find the base cost of the item.

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Supplier Information Sheet

Explained!

The Supplier Information Sheet shows you everything at a glance that may apply to your order. The example on the opposite page contains every possible added cost. To make it easy for you to understand, here’s an explanation of what the key line items mean.

uVendor Number – This is also known as the Vendor ID. Orders are placed per manufacturer so this number is critical when placing orders.

vHandling Fee – The handling fee, which will never exceed 8%, for most appliances and electronics, it will show 0% or 4%. The handling fee is to offset all costs associated with processing orders

wCost As Shown – If “Yes”, it means the catalog contains a wholesale price list. If “No”, look at the Ordering Comments section for information on how to determine your cost.

xLead Time – This is the estimated time it will ship from the manufacturer’s warehouse. Actual time may be earlier or later.

yStandard Packs – This means that the product comes in packages containing multiple pieces of the same item in which the packaging cannot be opened and the quantity cannot be split. The standard pack requirements are generally noted in the price list for Retail purposes, and are only applied to DirectBuy by very few suppliers.

zFreight Comments – This section explains how to calculate freight charges if they apply.

{Ordering Comments – This section will indicate how to determine your member cost for the merchandise in the catalog. Other information in this section is generally intended to help our Product Specialists input your orders correctly in our ordering system.

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How to Borrow Samples

One of the BENEFITS of your DirectBuy membership is the opportunity to take samples home to make sure they work with your decor. Simply bring any samples you wish to borrow to the front reception desk and the Receptionist will help you sign them out.

Please help us ensure that samples are readily available to all members by returning them to the Receptionist within the following time frames.

Within 5 Business Days or Next Business Day.

·         For out of town members we can extend the time frame

Within 4 Business Days                                                 Within 2 Business Days Upholstery                                                                         Window Coverings Leather Wood Metal Tiles Flooring Carpeting Cabinetry Counter tops

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Pricing Promise

DirectBuy conducts proactive retail price comparison studies to ensure that our members experience maximum savings. While DirectBuy doesn’t guarantee to always have the lowest price, if you should ever find a lower price from a legitimate, local retailer on an identical item that is currently available from DirectBuy Club supplier, even if it’s an “advertised special,” we will work with the supplier to obtain the best possible price as quickly as possible.

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Receiving Information

Pick Up and Delivery Time Frames

To ensure that we have enough space for the large volume of merchandise received at our club on a weekly basis, we require that you pick up your merchandise or arrange for delivery within 3 business days of being notified that it has been received. Accordingly, for multiple orders placed at the same time, items must be picked up as they are received, and cannot be stored awaiting the arrival of remaining orders.

Please note that DirectBuy of Winnipeg reserves the right to charge storage fees at the end of 5 business days.

INSPECTION GUIDELINES

When you arrive to pick up your merchandise, we ask you to inspect the merchandise:

·         Double check that the merchandise is exactly what you ordered.

·         Visually inspect the merchandise to make sure there is no damage or commercially unacceptable defects. Please keep in mind that certain materials including leather, wood and metals may contain variations that are considered to be part of the natural beauty of the product, and therefore are not classified as defects.

·         Sign the Receiving Report acknowledging that the order has been received by you in good condition.

·         DirectBuy of Winnipeg does not accept responsibility for merchandise once it has been removed from the warehouse (except for electronics). Electronics orders must be fully tested within 48 hours of pick-up from the warehouse, and any defects reported within that period.

DELIVERY OPTIONS

Our Receiving Team can provide you with contact information for our Local Delivery Services, or you can choose to use your own delivery service

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Policy for Purchasing Gifts

One of the PRIVILEGES of your DirectBuy membership is the opportunity to purchase bona fide gifts for special occasions, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and holidays. Another special benefit is the ability to have gifts shipped to the showroom closest to the intended recipients’ home (certain conditions apply).

We will accept orders for gifts that are no more than 500.00 in value. If your potential gift is more than this amount, it will be at the discretion of the franchise owners whether we can place the order. Please see the front desk staff with any other questions

Please understand that the furnishing of someone else’s home, or the purchase of home improvement items such as kitchen cabinetry or window coverings for a non-member’s home would not be within the spirit of our Gift Policy.

It is a serious breach of your membership agreement to purchase merchandise with the intention of being reimbursed by the recipient.

 

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Guidelines…Non-Member Access to Showroom

In order to maintain our Club as an exclusive Members-Only showroom, we cannot allow guests or other non-members to enter the showroom or use the catalogs.

You may, however, make arrangements with us in advance if you would like to visit the Club with your decorator/designer and/or contractor as long as you agree to follow a few simple guidelines as outlined below.

1. Please call reception at least 24 hours in advance to let us know that you’d like to bring your designer with you during your visit.

2. Your decorator/designer or contractor must be accompanied by you at all times during your visit to the showroom.

3. Upon arrival at the showroom, our Receptionist will ask for your home design professional’s business card to establish his or her credentials.

4. Pricing MUST be kept confidential at all times. Interior decorators/designers and contractors may be allowed into the showroom to view pictures and samples only.

Privileged access to confidential materials, such as price lists, is restricted to members only.

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6 Reasons

…To Refer Your Friends and Family

Savings

They will be able to buy almost everything they need for in and around their home directly from the manufacturers at the same price they would charge the stores. That means they will be able to save themselves a lifetime of retail markups.

Selection

The selection found in the stores is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what they’ll be able to shop for at DirectBuy, because in most cases, they’ll have access to the entire product line of more than [700] brand name manufacturers, not just the few items from each that buyers decide to stock and sell retail.

One-Stop Shopping Convenience

As a DirectBuy member, they’ll be able to do all of their shopping from one comfortable place rather than driving around to visit dozens of stores.

Personalized Shopping Service

Our Product Specialists are knowledgeable on the latest products and services available, and are trained to help members use the catalogs and samples in our Design Center to find what they’re looking for.

Outside Suppliers and Installer Services

They’ll have access to our discounted local services for kitchen or interior design, merchandise delivery, and installation.

Trust and Peace of Mind

Because DirectBuy makes no money from the sale of any merchandise, and our staff makes no commissions and have no sales quotas to meet, they can rest assured that any advice they receive from our Member Service Team is honest, unbiased, and always in their best interest.

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REFERRAL REWARDS PROGRAM

Referrals from members are really our lifeblood because DirectBuy does NOT make any money from the sale of merchandise. It’s the resulting growth in membership that allows us to continue to attract the reputable brand name manufacturers that you see in the showroom and to continuously improve our member service levels.

In appreciation for referrals from wonderful members like yourselves, we have a great Referral Rewards Program to thank you for introducing your family, friends and co-workers to DirectBuy.

You Refer. You Win. Simply visit refer.directbuy.com

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And last but certainly not least

Remeber the order desk closes an hour before the showroom does so the service staff has time to do nights end


If it is a small order like a toaster and we have 10 minutes we most definatley can key the order. If however it is 2 pages of plumbing we may ask if we can key the order the next day and email the final copy to you or have you drop back into the showroom

DIRECTBUY OF WINNIPEG

Club Shopping  Hours

Tuesday – Friday              1:00 pm – 9:00 pm (order desk closes at 8:00pm)

Saturday              10:00 am – 5:00 pm (order desk closes at 4:00pm)

Closed Sunday and Monday

Warehouse Pick Up Hours

Monday               10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tuesday – Friday              10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Saturday              10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Closed Sunday