About

National Consumer Mart (NCM) has operated a membership-based wholesale buying club continuously since 1992. NCM's business model is very similar to a farmer's cooperative, electrical cooperative or credit union. According to the company, NCM's common goal is to buy direct from leading manufacturers at wholesale prices and avoiding retailer's markups.

In October 2004, the BBB conducted a detailed on-site inspection of NCM operations and was able to verify these claims:

** NCM owns its own 8,900 square foot facility including showrooms, warehousing, administrative offices and parking.

** NCM supports over 800 purchasing catalogues containing over a million products ranging from autos, major appliances, electronics, furniture, etc.

** NCM requires a membership, either cash up-front or credit in appropriate circumstances, for the privilege of obtaining access to NCM's connections to buy directly from manufacturers. When members purchase they are able to achieve NCM's claimed savings after paying for freight and NCM handling fees.

** NCM has a written savings guarantee providing that after $6,000 in merchandise is purchased a member will have recovered their membership fee from buying club savings. If not, NCM will refund the difference.

** NCM uses prices posted on the internet by local, regional or national retailers in computing member savings. They do not use inflated manufacturer suggested list prices or other pricing not commonly found in transacting retail purchases.

** NCM fully discloses all terms of membership to prospective members with a complete 12 point check list. Also, NCM finances and carries retail installment contracts for its members and customers with poor credit scores are extended credit.

** The State of Colorado law on canceling a buying club membership is 24 hours, not 3 days as in door-to-door sales.

NCM has 22,500 active members for purposes of evaluating the number of complaints closed and resolved in the last 36 months as reported below.