topic Re: Amazon vs QVC in Beauty

Amazon vs QVC

Calcgirl — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:59:12 GMT

Why would anyone purchase on the Q when Amazon, Sephora and Philosophy to name a few provide better pricing and free shipping???????

Am I missing something?

Re: Amazon vs QVC

beanie — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:02:14 GMT

I understand what you're saying. I shop Amazon mostly now but once in awhile I see something on QVC and the ""Easy Pays"" make it doable for me. beanie

Re: Amazon vs QVC

Nightowlz — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:03:14 GMT

I buy where I can get the best deal. I think a lot of people will buy from Q for the e-z pay. Not me. I would rather have free shipping then e-z pay. E-Z pay does not save me any money but better prices elsewhere does.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

violann — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:16:38 GMT

My Shark vaccuum was a rare better buy at the Q- otherwise, I buy where my dollar goes the farthest.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

millieshops — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:31:32 GMT

What you're missing I think is that those places are good for shoppers who already know what they want to buy and are willing and able to work their way through the hugeness of their websites.

And neither is automatically free. First, in 2015 on Amazon you'll spend $99 for Prime and then most things are shipped free. That works well for people who buy lots of separate purchases. If each of my QVC purchases this year had cost $9, I would have lost if QVC had an upfront charge for shipping and I'd chosen to do that. I paid Amazon $79 in 2014 and the only reason it was a deal at all was because I got caught up on Downtown Abbey. Otherwise, I would have paid way too much for shipping.

Amazon is also free shipping if you spend over $35. My last purchase from them was 11.95. It was a good deal because I couldn't find that product elsewhere. If I had spent another $23 then shipping would have been free - but I don't see how that's saving anything. It's just spending more and buying something that I wasn't going to buy anyway.

Same with Sephora - if you buy lots of cosmetics and buy it in groups, it pays to shop there..I tend to buy one item at a time - no free shipping on that.

I think we all spend and save differently. Just as I think OP could go through my spending and find me some savings, I'm fairly certain I could do the same with hers. We'd each be doing something with our money we didn't really want to do, though.

And, btw, be careful about your buying. I've had a Philosophy item on AD with QVC for several years. With tax and shipping, it's less than Sephora before tax - It is over $50 at Sephora so sometimes it would qualify for free shipping.

ETA EZPay is not a lure for me. I use it if it happens to be offered when I'm buying, but I've never once used one of those extra offers they send. Same with free shipping day tomorrow. I don't even know if QVC is a participant. There's nothing on my shopping list now any place except Publix, and I don't buy just to "save." There's no savings involved.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

stevieb — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:35:17 GMT

Familiarity, pure and simple... and Easy Pay helps move the goods too. Moreover, by hoarding EP more than do the others, they keep customers coming back and looking to see if an item they want has gone on EP... They're not dummies, for sure. Unfortunately, other factors that used to make QVC a fun place to shop have more or less disappeared.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

violann — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:05:58 GMT

I always by coffee, vitamins, and several other staples at Amazon, so I never buy unnecessary items and almost never pay shipping.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

brandiwine — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:12:33 GMT

I have found many shopping sites offer free shipping. Amazon is the best & fastest. As to the comment about paying for Prime we more than get our money's worth. I get loads of free books, streaming and much more. The prices are excellent and service is fantastic. None of which I can say about the Q. Before we were Prime members I usually waited until I had the min. purchase and got free shipping. Even HSN offers better shipping for the most part than the Q. If I am buying something, I don't care about easy pays. For me if I can't afford it now, I'll just wait until I can. It's a great perk, but not worth the additional shipping.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

millieshops — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:42:40 GMT

I agree lots of people get great value from using Prime. I don't shop enough to get that value and I don't stream. The thing I've been most disappointed with is the quality of the free books with Prime. I much prefer getting my freebies via the library, either in print or in their Kindle offerings. For what I want to read, that works really well.

My Prime is up in a couple of weeks, so I will take advantage of a few purchases between now and then, but I'm not renewing. They depend upon members like me to bulk up their revenue so they can keep shipping lower for those who buy a whole lot. I just don't need to help them do that.

But I also wouldn't do a pre-paid shipping with QVC. Once upon a time that might have saved me money. Now it wouldn't.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

HappyDaze — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 06:40:29 GMT

I don't pay for Amazon prime since I don't ever need pseudo "free" 2-day shipping (all my orders are always free shipping anyway) and don't stream movies but I LOVE Amazon. I buy so many of my items from Amazon, including hard to find items.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

feline groovy — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 06:46:58 GMT

"Amazon, Sephora, and Philosophy (to name a few) provide better pricing and free shipping..."

Ebay especially, plus Drugstore.com & Beauty.com, do as well.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

Old Lady — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:00:03 GMT

I use Amazon with Prime. Most things I want are free shipping. Quality is very good, delivery is faster than the Q. I can't afford the shipping charges on the Q anymore.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

gabstoomuch — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:11:52 GMT

I must be weird. I focus on return policies. How much of a hassle it is, does it require an RMA #, do they even TAKE returns (if not sold by Amazon, return policy's vary), etc.

If an item at the Q is only off by a few bucks, I will buy at the Q because I just know the return policy so clear. I have never had a problem.

A return problem at Amazon (or ebay) can take weeks to undo.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

ANewHue — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:12:00 GMT

I've been doing quite a bit of shopping from Amazon lately and getting some great deals too. In the Summer a sandal I saw on the Q was at Amazon for half the price so I bought it in both colors for the price of one at the Q. I did do some holiday shopping on the Q but my shopping will really slow down now.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

ECBG — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:33:00 GMT

You can't use a beauty product and return it except on Q. I buy a lot on Amazon if Q doesn't have what I want.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

HappyDaze — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:36:16 GMT

On 12/17/2014 ECBG said:
You can't use a beauty product and return it except on Q. I buy a lot on Amazon if Q doesn't have what I want.

not true- beauty.com you can return beauty products AND they give you a free pre-paid label so no return shipping costs. And free shipping over $35.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

Mrsq2022 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:42:52 GMT

On 12/17/2014 HappyDaze said:
On 12/17/2014 ECBG said:
You can't use a beauty product and return it except on Q. I buy a lot on Amazon if Q doesn't have what I want.

not true- beauty.com you can return beauty products AND they give you a free pre-paid label so no return shipping costs. And free shipping over $35.

Yes - and true for Sephora as well. Free return shipping if you don't like the products. I love the value of the kits here on QVC but never purchase single cosmetic products (like one mascara) from QVC. I've never had any trouble returning items to Amazon, but I haven't returned much to Amazon I will admit.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

shoekitty — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:46:14 GMT

I have never had an issue returning anything! I do watch where I shop, and read the return policy carefully if I am a first timer . I shop amazon, neiman, nordies, and all over. I do almost 100 percent of my skin care , clothing and shoes online.

Before thanksgiving I bought a Neon Buddha Jacket from 3rd party on amazon. I received it quickly, and wore it right away, several buttons fell off first wearing. 2 were lost. These were special, handmade, unique buttons I could not replace. Amazon exchanged the jacket and didn't cost me a dime. Took 3 days turn around.

Another time I bought from planet shoes on amazon. I had to wait for planet shoes to email me return label. I did have to wait almost 8 days to get refund. It was free though. I use amex for all my online purchases. Usually, in the rare instance I have to return or exchange I get my refund before my bill is due, so it works out!

I think most people buy QVC when they know they can get it cheaper and faster elsewhere because they need easy pay, or they have only a Qcard to use. People have told me this. That is there prerogative.

On QVC perricone (my fav) charges 9.98 for shipping 1.7 ounce of cream! I can go to perricone get free shipping, returns, plus higher mrrebates. Most of the time when I buy I stock up at 25% off! Same for all beauty items.

Re: Amazon vs QVC

shoekitty — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 07:53:17 GMT

I would like to add after blathering on in my last post, I do love QVC. I have been with them 25 years almost, after I moved to a small, small town. No dept stores, no home depot, no costco. Just a kmart, and OSH, and a couple downtown stores. QVC filled a need I just can't be grateful enough for! At the time I also had a small business that required me being home for hours on end getting product ready for my shop.QVC broke the boredom, and enabled me to get my Christmas and other shopping done. I could count on them to make good always. That is a huge deal. QVC gave me the ability to buy nice gifts for all my kids and family. So I totally understand people who say they live far from shopping. When a person has a disability, doesn't drive. QVC can fill a need as well

So in all those respects I can see why thousands of people would need QVC!

Re: Amazon vs QVC

feline groovy — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 08:02:18 GMT

On 12/17/2014 shoekitty said:
I have never had an issue returning anything! I do watch where I shop, and read the return policy carefully if I am a first timer . I shop amazon, neiman, nordies, and all over. I do almost 100 percent of my skin care , clothing and shoes online.

Before thanksgiving I bought a Neon Buddha Jacket from 3rd party on amazon. I received it quickly, and wore it right away, several buttons fell off first wearing. 2 were lost. These were special, handmade, unique buttons I could not replace. Amazon exchanged the jacket and didn't cost me a dime. Took 3 days turn around.

Another time I bought from planet shoes on amazon. I had to wait for planet shoes to email me return label. I did have to wait almost 8 days to get refund. It was free though. I use amex for all my online purchases. Usually, in the rare instance I have to return or exchange I get my refund before my bill is due, so it works out!

I think most people buy QVC when they know they can get it cheaper and faster elsewhere because they need easy pay, or they have only a Qcard to use. People have told me this. That is there prerogative.

On QVC perricone (my fav) charges 9.98 for shipping 1.7 ounce of cream! I can go to perricone get free shipping, returns, plus higher mrrebates. Most of the time when I buy I stock up at 25% off! Same for all beauty items.

Just a note to mention that Planet Shoes has their own website as well; nice business. And that I also adore Amazon; 9 years now, last 4 Prime. 8)

People also like to belong to something; it's validating. So to shop only/mostly from the Q and be a part of their 'longtime loyals', can mean a lot to some.