topic Re: QVC heading down the Sears path? in Q Talk

QVC heading down the Sears path?

ShopperL — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 20:43:02 GMT

I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

kivah — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 20:47:51 GMT

I also feel the show needs to be more light-hearted and FUN --- not pushing to sell everything. Amazing, the Price is only good today, We just sold out the Red Color, etc.

When I started watching the Q in 1995, I enjoyed Kathy Levine - she was FUN - and she was also successful at selling. Also - they need to stop showing one item for 1/2 hour!!!! I also shop on-line and only buy when it's FREE shipping both ways. QVC's prices are a bit HIGH!!!! Most things start at $45 + tax + shipping.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

KingstonsMom — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 20:55:56 GMT

@ShopperL wrote:
I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.

@ShopperL

Is this how you feel about your own older generation in your family?

Just waiting for them "to die off"?

I can't believe I even read that. Glad I'm not one of the elders in your family....SMH.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:03:13 GMT

@KingstonsMom wrote:
@ShopperL wrote:
I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.

@ShopperL

Is this how you feel about your own older generation in your family?

Just waiting for them "to die off"?

I can't believe I even read that. Glad I'm not one of the elders in your family....SMH.

You do know we are all going to die , right? I think she was just pointing out that younger buyers have different expectations when they purchase online,

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

grandma2pkmh — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:09:32 GMT

Case in Point: I'm old, I'm going to die, neither of my daughters or granddaughters shop at QVC. Amazon wins.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

GiantsLover — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:19:07 GMT

I am sure every older person knows they will die, but must others keep reminding them????

"That is an insult to all of the "older elderly. population".

Yes everyone will eventually die, but the elderly most certainly do not need to be reminded of impending death before it occurs.

That is not only insulting but causes depression and sadness when QVC members read these type of unkind callous cold hearted remarks posted on the QVC bb's, and it most certainly saddened and depressed me, and I am God Willing many many decades away from being considered elderly and dying!.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

Q4u — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:22:11 GMT

You may have a point....

Sears started carrying cheaply made goods, no leather purses or shoes. Clothing was very disappointing and going intto the store gave me an excellent idea as to what the quality would be like if I ordered on line and I didn't like what I saw and never went in or ordered and I used to love Sears.

Craftsman tools have also gone down hill... they used to hold up and it was rare they broke. My Motorcycle repair son won't even own one anymore. He's had more than his share break in his hand whie cranking down.

No wonder the stores are closing and on-line purchases aren't competitive.

I was watching QVC the other night and knew almost word for word what they were going to say about the (old and tired) products they show us over and over again and wondered why they can't seem to do better than this....

Maybe QVC (or any shopping channel) has just run out of steam. I mean, people just don't seem to care as much anymore.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

Kachina624 — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:24:05 GMT

I don't see any resemblance between Sears and QVC. Their problem is not adapting to change but rather having to skimp on everything from a workable computer system to incentives for customers to cheapo shipping due to their high cost of operating. I imagine if we were to view all the electronic equipment it takes to broadcast, it would boggle our minds. Look at the salaries they must pay their salespeople as compared to what the average department store salesperson is paid. Look at the layers of high salaried management people. The overhead for an operation like QVC is huge. They have to accept infomercial types of vendors in order to pay for it all. Then we complain about boring, repetitive programming.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

Silver Fox1 — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:31:16 GMT

@KingstonsMom wrote:
@ShopperL wrote:
I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.

@ShopperL

Is this how you feel about your own older generation in your family?

Just waiting for them "to die off"?

I can't believe I even read that. Glad I'm not one of the elders in your family....SMH.

LOL, no worries @KingstonsMom what @ShopperL dosn't seem to realize is by that time the millienials are "the older" generation they will most likely be right there in front of their computers or TV's shopping away just like this generation. I know when I was younger I never shopped on line or TV and now I think it's the easiest most relaxing way to shop and I have no doubts they will too.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

fortune — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:26:57 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
You may have a point....

Sears started carrying cheaply made goods, no leather purses or shoes. Clothing was very disappointing and going intto the store gave me an excellent idea as to what the quality would be like if I ordered on line and I didn't like what I saw and never went in or ordered and I used to love Sears.

Craftsman tools have also gone down hill... they used to hold up and it was rare they broke. My Motorcycle repair son won't even own one anymore. He's had more than his share break in his hand whie cranking down.

No wonder the stores are closing and on-line purchases aren't competitive.

I was watching QVC the other night and knew almost word for word what they were going to say about the (old and tired) products they show us over and over again and wondered why they can't seem to do better than this....

Maybe QVC (or any shopping channel) has just run out of steam. I mean, people just don't seem to care as much anymore.

@Q4u

And, very little 14k jewelry now!

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

Silver Fox1 — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 08:11:49 GMT

One of the big reasons Sears, as well as JC Penny and a few other, are having trouble and/or going under is mainly because of Amazon and I guess in a smaller way you can throw in there the TV Shopping networks. It's just so much more convenient to shop on line.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

TY — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 21:52:52 GMT

I've read quite a bit about Sears in the last year as Sears Canada which was also owned by Eddie Lampert basically went bankrupt and stiffed the Canadian pensioners and workers. I suspect that he will do the same to the American workers and pensioners. I've also read that he basically was a crappy CEO who dictated from afar and only visited the Sears headquarters once a year. Sears was on a long path to demise, it didn't just happen overnight.

I feel sorry for the workers but I can't say I'll feel sorry when Sears and Kmarts all close. I haven't been inside a Sears in the U.S. in a few years, the last time was to get a keychain garage door remote. The local guy who fixes my garage door springs can get me a replacement remote so I don't need Sears. I haven't been inside a Kmart store in the U.S. in more than 10 years. I won't miss them.

As to QVC/HSN, Evine in the U.S. and The Shopping Channel in Canada, those tv channels are going to become the horse and buggy of digital sales. Nobody wants to spend hours watching live tv to shop. The prices and shipping are more than other retailers. Everyone wants a bargain.

I cannot imagine that any TV retailer shopping network will be able to lure in millennials whatsoever to shop with them regularly. I suspect that TV shopping will go away eventually.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

GenXmuse — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:03:00 GMT

Maybe it wasn’t the most eloquent wording but I don’t disagree with her.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

qbetzforreal — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 01:31:59 GMT

@ShopperL wrote:
I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.

No, QVC is not headed down the path of Sears. What happened to Sears was a long time coming and has nothing to do with not adapting with the times and shipping but rather the individual who hired to helm the company and tanked it.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

hsawaknow — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 02:08:52 GMT

Today I did an experiment. I ordered 1 item from QVC and 1 Item from HSN. I used the same method of payment. I am now tracking how long it will take to receive the items. They are both a pair of earrings. May the best company win!

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

kaydee50 — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 13:23:42 GMT

30+ years ago when QVC and HSN started, shopping from TV was a novelty and fun. Now we have Amazon and every retailer has its own website. No longer the need for shopping from TV. There are very few items sold on TV that cannot be found at other retailers usually at a cheaer price. Unless it comes up to other retailers standards, e.g., fast shipping, free shipping, etc. I doubt any of the TV shopping stations will be around for another 30 years.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 13:51:58 GMT

@qbetzforreal wrote:
@ShopperL wrote:
I've been thinking this lately especially when reading the posts about the slow shipping. Sears was once the leading retailer in the country. They were the first one with catalogues and mail order commerce. They were national and everyone bought from Sears. People even purchased houses from Sears. Now they are going bankrupt because they can't adapt to the times. I think this is the path that QVC is on. They have the TV shopping/on-line shopping thing down but haven't been able to change to adapt to the times. My daughter who is 24 has packages delvered here at least 4 times a week. She orders on line and the delivery is in days, not over a week later (like the Q). She vary rarely pays for shipping and very rarely pays for return shipping.

I order from Macy's and Kohls and get my items within days, all with free shipping. I may have to spend $49 or $75 for free shipping but I make sure I can qualify with my order. I order from Clarks and get free shipping and returns. The shoes arrive in 2 - 3 days. The millienials have grown up ordering on-line and expecting quick shipment. Once the "older" generation dies off, there is no one to backfill those customers. I just don't see a roadmap for the longevity of QVC/HSN in it's current state.
No, QVC is not headed down the path of Sears. What happened to Sears was a long time coming and has nothing to do with not adapting with the times and shipping but rather the individual who hired to helm the company and tanked it.

And why did he tank it? Because he refused to get with the times. The stores and merchandise were horribly outdated. The stores were downright depressing to be in. The clothing was cheap and dated looking as were the home items. Anytime you needed something old-fashioned, Sears was the place to go.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

aroc3435 — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 14:38:58 GMT

Warning: This is long . . . I won't be offended if any of you skip or just skim . . .

@ShopperL I don't think TV shopping is over with yet. Depends on how they adapt to changing practices of their customers. Seems as if they are trying.

I read a book from the library last December called Bargain Fever by Mark Ellwood. It has a lot of information about the history of stores, discounting and shopping from the late 1800's to this century.

It's on my list of books to take out again. I recommend it.

As to Sears I used to go in their stores as an adult--our very first credit card as a newlywed was from them circa 1975 to purchase a color TV, our first ever. Loved their "revolving" credit.

I think part of Sears' problem was that steadily the non tools/hardware/appliance side of their business was tired. I was still going into their store and purchasing from them until moving to the mid-Atlantic area last fall.

I used to fill out surveys online for them and told them the women's clothing, especially, seemed either shoddy or too passe.

Service in store I visited was always good, staff was almost always helpful, etc. I feel so sad for the employees. Hope they will get severance pay, and their pension. Sears used to have profit sharing for their employees too, but that was probably eliminated long ago, probably in the 80's or 90's is my guess.

A lot of my purchases were from their kitchen department, children's department (great discounts there all the time on their label and well-known brands such as Carter's) Christmas/ yard items, costume jewelry, some fragrance--men's and women's were good and a decent selection of low to mid range brands, like 4711 for men, and usually discounted. Selection kept dwindling, less brands, and variety.

Their physical appearance--displays and so forth needed refreshing and that was very much neglected.

The women's clothing did improve for a time, but then again declined. I could stroll from there to Macy's and get much nicer career and casual clothes. Sears men's and children's clothes and selection did stay good.

The online experience for purchasing was always horrible. Very "jumpy" not easily navigated, problems accepting "Shop My Way" member number, even sometimes rejecting their own credit card info and not letting the customer know until days after the original confirmation e-mail. You then had to phone in to confirm info. If you didn't call in time you got an e-mail that the order had been cancelled.

When Amazon started and then expanded a lot of competitors were caught flat footed. If Sears had done the online presence earlier and well they might have had a chance to stay in decent shape.

They certainly had the potential--regional warehouses, etc.--but didn't seize the opportunities. When the hedge fund types took over I think that was the beginning of the slow, agonizing end and merging with Kmart wasn't helpful, either.

Their auto repair and supply store--a separate building was always good--excellent mechanics, good variety of tires, decent prices, and guaranteeing their work and competetive pricing.

My Significant Other is really downcast--he used to go into a physical store each month to pay his card. Usually came out with a tool, a clothing item, or some little surprise for me. Now we pay his bill by phone.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

seaBreeze — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 14:52:10 GMT

Simply put:

C H I N A

Cheaply made with little concern of longevity.

Re: QVC heading down the Sears path?

mimomof4 — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:07:36 GMT

The Easy Pay is helping QVC. Most shoppers only see the small monthly payment and don't pay attention to how much the product will really cost in the end. If you don't pay attention you may be paying out hundreds of dollars to QVC and not realize it.

There are many times now when I will watch a presenation but may purchase the product elsewhere because I can get free shipping and the price may be less than the Q.

Q really needs to work on getting their shipping costs inline with other retailers. They are the only retailer I have seen which has a S&H charge attached to each item. Everyone else basis it on the total purchase cost or weight if the item is oversize. I rarely pay for shipping on any product I order.