topic Devious pricing reductions in Q Talk

Devious pricing reductions

Cathyshopper — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 02:36:52 GMT

OK I watch my wish list for price reductions often. I bought a couple sets of A461039 and wear them to sleep at night. It's a little 3 pack of cuddl duds socks that weigh nothing and the shipping was $3.50. Lo and behold the price was just reduced on this item by a couple dollars and I pulled it up and Q INCREASED the shipping to $5.50 to offset any reduction! 😠

I know you can do what you want and I'm sure this is not a first, but cmon QVC. Buyers aren't stupid.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

chessylady — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 03:13:37 GMT

QVC is counting on the fact that most of us are not following their prices/shipping costs. I don't ship many things, has it gotten so costly that the Q is justified in an increase?

Re: Devious pricing reductions

loriqvc — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 04:09:58 GMT

Every one of the nation's major couriers is increasing prices starting this month, so it wouldn't surprise me if we see the shipping rates rise around here on just about everything. Obviously, none of us wants to pay shipping fees at all, but in virtually all areas, QVC's rates are very reasonable—or they're offset by extremely low shipping fees on other items. For example, it may seem frustrating to pay $5.50 to get a package of socks (although it is likely you'd pay that price if you were shipping them yourself), but think how amazing it is that someone else is only paying that same amount for delivery of a heavy stoneware baking set, a bulky comforter, or an oversized piece of home decor, all of which would cost much more if QVC didn't apply standardized flat rates. In my experience, the fees end up balancing out over the long term if you purchase a variety of items.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

MrSour — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 07:55:24 GMT

This is a common practice of QVC and other shopping channels where they would raise either the price or shipping charges or vice versa to make you think your getting A deal on a product. I have personally experienced this practice. I know others have spewed this doesn't happen but it has not affected them yet but eventually it will.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

millieshops — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 12:56:58 GMT

I don't think the pricing is devious. Every company tries to protect its bottom line, so somewhere among all their products and services, they have to balance prices to reflect that.

When something prices down, someone is paying for that "sale" elsewhere. It's like they say about "the house" in a casino-- it always wins!

Re: Devious pricing reductions

RespectLife — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:33:03 GMT

@Cathyshopper

Did you see that the shipping was now $5.50?

Then there is nothing devious about it. It was there in plain sight for comsumers to see. Nothing was hidden.

If you go to UPS or USPS to send something, you will see that $3.50 to $5.50 is VERY reasonable compared to what you would pay yourself !! I have had Q items come across the enitre country from CA to NY for $3.50.

I just spent $32 to send my DD a SMALL box to CA.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

Cathyshopper — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:06:46 GMT

So I struggled with what word to put in place of devious - sneaky, deceptive etc ... - and couldn't find the right one last night. There is probably a better word.

And I know this is a marketing "trick" to make us think we are saving $$, but I guess I was trying to point out that many of us see right through that.

And yes, I do realize what it costs to ship boxes etc out of state, but I personally am not a large corporation that receives huge shipping discounts from UPS, USPS etc. so I have to pay their typical rates.

We all know most big companies offer either free shipping after $x spent, or free shipping altogether. I wish QVC had a flat rate or something that seemed less random than having to check every time a price on an item changes.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

manny2 — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:42:52 GMT

@Cathyshopper You are correct there is something underhanded about lowering the price of a product, only to increase the shipping. QVC's shipping charges are outrageous. Do some of you actually believe the price they charge is reasonable?

Re: Devious pricing reductions

DooneyGal2 — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 05:58:25 GMT

@manny2 wrote:
@Cathyshopper You are correct there is something underhanded about lowering the price of a product, only to increase the shipping. QVC's shipping charges are outrageous. Do some of you actually believe the price they charge is reasonable?

@manny2 and it doesn't help at all sadly if you're ordering multiples of something, that's when the reasonable (well some of it is) shipping is of little help.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

layla2450 — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 14:57:48 GMT

@RespectLife wrote:
@Cathyshopper

Did you see that the shipping was now $5.50?

Then there is nothing devious about it. It was there in plain sight for comsumers to see. Nothing was hidden.

If you go to UPS or USPS to send something, you will see that $3.50 to $5.50 is VERY reasonable compared to what you would pay yourself !! I have had Q items come across the enitre country from CA to NY for $3.50.

I just spent $32 to send my DD a SMALL box to CA.

According to the OP, the PRICE of the socks was DECREASED by a coupke of dollars. To make up for the DECREASE, the shipping was INCREASED by 2 dollars. It may not be deceptive, but it's game playing and SNEAKY.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

Spurt — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:01:16 GMT

What I find amusing is QVC's version of a "sale" price that the host even brags about which is frequently a WHOMPING $3 off the regular QVC price!!! ---and this reduction is only good for this show before the price is increased---WOW 😄

Even way before the pandemic and increase in online ordering I always wondered how QVC justified charging $11 to $12 to ship a small handbag in the plain old QVC cardboard box that didnt even include protection

of packing material....Some of QVC's shipping charges leave you wondering....but I do find the $3.50 or $5.50 reasonable compared to other retailers.....

Re: Devious pricing reductions

50Mickey — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 23:53:23 GMT

Last year I purchased a blouse from a brick and mortar store. It was not available in the local stores so I had it shipped. One blouse was $5.95. You are not paying just for the postage but for shipping and handling. QVC has to pay for employees to get the merchandise packed and out. And there are people who order multiple items in different sizes and then return the ones that they don't like. This increases the cost of S&H for all of us. I'll admit that I do not shop much with QVC but I do not think that cost of S&H is out of line. If I did I would stop shopping with QVC. Especially for something like Cuddl Duds socks. Other retailers sell them.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

CalminHeart — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 13:15:07 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:

I ran an incoming and outgoing mail business unit for a huge international corporation for several years. UPS, USPS, FedEx give huge discounts to businesses.

Depending on size and weight....

UPS ran $2.50 - $4.

USPS ran $.08 - $2.50.

FedEx ran $2 - $5.

If most retailers can offer free shipping and returns, Q should too. But if you check their financial reports, you'll see Q makes a lot of money from shipping and return fees paid by customers.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

Jinlei — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 19:44:01 GMT

Just like when you order food and the S/H is free. Ha! I am sure they get their shipping fee in by raising the base price. Nothing is truly free.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

Q4u — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 21:53:56 GMT

I have sold on eBay off and on since 2003 and THE reason I've decided not to sell any longer is shipping. Ebay wants me to pay for all shipping costs but I've found it extremely difficult to keep prices low, pay for shipping and have people excited to purchase. I don't expect a large profit. So for years I have picked up HALF the shipping costs. This is now no longer good enough because people are just not keeping up with the price of shipping and don't realize that most eBay resellers do not get special discounts (like QVC). So very reluctantly I am stopping. I'll probably sell what I can at a couple of garage sales for pennies on the dollar.... and donate the rest..... "Hey, nothing's forever...,." "It was a lot of fun while it lasted".....

Now I'm going to look around for the next thing for me to do.....

Re: Devious pricing reductions

LilMadi — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:11:45 GMT

manny2 said:

Manny I agree with you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also with you SPURT and layla2450.

Re: Devious pricing reductions

ScrapHappy — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 20:27:11 GMT

I've noticed when watching a price on something, say a top, and the top goes on sale but the shipping goes up. I have also seen if free shipping is offered, the price of the top goes up.