The BD picture is a little less rosy on the general forum:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...95-BikesDirect

These questions come up about once a week around here: "whats the best fixie under $500"

It's a loaded question. The answer is always Kilo TT, that thing is golden around here.

People considering BD have to consider these things:
-Are you gonna put it together yourself? Gonna have it looked over by a mechanic at all? $
-Are you ready to pay for some wheel truings if needed? $
-Are you aware the pedals and saddle are junk? $
-Is the gear ratio to your liking? They run a little high if you ever meet hills. New cog, lockring while you're at it. Wheel that new BD bike right into the LBS for them to change it out. $
-Are you cool with not supporting a LBS for the purchase? Those LBS need to stay in business or you'll have no place to take your bike when it breaks. Have you been to them all and really seen nothing you'd throw your paper at?
-Are you cool with not having much of a warranty past any initial issues?
-Are you cool with not being to actually speak to anyone from BD, it's email only?
-Are you cool with sizing yourself to a bike pre-purchase? I'm sure you know that bike fitting is more about reach than standover?
-Are you cool with fitting the bike to yourself post-purchase?
-Are you cool with not being able to test ride to see if you even like it? Bikes are like women they're all a little different
-Are you cool with the fake vintage brand name cheese factor (half the time people are asking how to remove its decals or lamenting their presence)

If you're cool with all this and need to save a little paper, go for the BD bike. I went the LBS route, Surly Steamroller baby. All the above said, I might try a BD bike down the road just for kicks or a workhorse/beater, who knows, I do like a few of their offerings. But for a first bike recommendation, meh. the little costs above add up and you don't save as much as you think you do.