topic Re: Sub par products in Q Talk

Sub par products

newname0 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:19:42 GMT

What is the thinking behind QVC's offering of products that don't come up to standards. I read comments on these forums of customers receiving really what could be called sub par products after viewing them on t.v. Yet QVC offers them. Do they see the flaws in these products? Do they hope enough people will accept them with grace? Even if they don't and return them does QVC still make a profit in shipping costs? To me its like some game they play where they try to fool some of the people some of the time.

Re: Sub par products

Mominohio — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:28:41 GMT

I will say that poor quality is the rule of the day for most all things, not just what Q is selling. Old standards are gone, and almost anything made today isn't half as good as it's counterpart from a decade ago, which wasn't as good as it's counterpart two decades ago. One has to wonder just how much poorer quality the buying public will accept.

For Q in particular, it is frustrating because we found a number of high quality products a decade or so ago, and those are either still selling here, or brought back, and not nearly the quality of the past offerings (Supercloth, the Don Aslett door mats, Northern Nights sheets and blankets, are some things that come to mind). The quality control on some lines like Temp-tations has been just about non existent, and Q seems to keep on plugging away as though noting is amiss. The Q used to stand for Quality, but not so much these days.

Re: Sub par products

dex — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:31:19 GMT

I think it is like any other business...some products are great and others not so much.I also think a lot of the problem with quality control stems from the country of origin.We need to prepare to pay more for our things that can be manufactured at home with better standards.

Re: Sub par products

Kachina624 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:41:20 GMT

True, quality in manufactured goods everywhere is not what it used to be. I find, however, that QVC customers gripe more than most, probably because they have a forum to do so. Things some complain about, I find perfectly acceptable.

Re: Sub par products

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:08:10 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
True, quality in manufactured goods everywhere is not what it used to be. I find, however, that QVC customers gripe more than most, probably because they have a forum to do so. Things some complain about, I find perfectly acceptable.

This is a very good point. We're here complaining and reading other complaints mostly limited to QVC because that's what we talk about on a QVC-centric forum. It's an echo chamber.

Hopping over to the Macy's Facebook page, the first things I see are complaints about service, delivery issues, prices, misleading sales, quality, and the website. Sound familiar?

I don't notice any difference in the quality of the products I buy from QVC versus those I buy anywhere else. Most of the time things are great, sometimes I get a dud.

Re: Sub par products

circles — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:10:31 GMT

Like Kachina said...how many times have you read reviews...some will say its terrible..worst product i ever bought...and the next person will say how much they love it and so glad they made the purchase....

So quality and peoples perception varies from product to product...thats why the Q. continues to sell it...

The only time i question it....is when every review is a one or two...nothing higher...it seems that should be pulled from the selling floor...

Re: Sub par products

software — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:27:36 GMT

QVC spoiled me with vendors like the late Joan Rivers who demanded quality. Her costume jewelry is better quality & shipped in better packaging than QVC's fine jewelry.

Now you get fine jewelry thrown in a zip top baggie. Joan would have NEVER allowed that.

Vote with your shopping dollars.

@newlook456 wrote:
What is the thinking behind QVC's offering of products that don't come up to standards. I read comments on these forums of customers receiving really what could be called sub par products after viewing them on t.v. Yet QVC offers them. Do they see the flaws in these products? Do they hope enough people will accept them with grace? Even if they don't and return them does QVC still make a profit in shipping costs? To me its like some game they play where they try to fool some of the people some of the time.

Re: Sub par products

SunValley — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:16:17 GMT

In my mother's prime years the standard was to make a product that lasted years, if not a lifetime. I think this emphasis on quality has diminished as consumerism has surged. Now manufacturers rely on the profit in making disposable products. And it costs more to repair than to replace in many cases. Add in our consumer demand for constant innovation and ease of use (why push 2 buttons when you can push 1) and the mindset that we wait breathlessly for version 6.1, people seem to have less interest in keeping that gadget for 20 months, let alone for 20 years. All of this affects quality or its importance.

I can still find quality, but not often at a value price. Case in point, my CIJ purchases with the low price tags were junk for the most part. I am always learning lessons, lol. lt's too expensive due to the return policy for me to shop the low-price items and cherry pick the good from the shoddy. I won't repeat that mistake.

Re: Sub par products

susan kay — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:51:05 GMT

Fiine jewelry thrown inside a baggy????? I recently purchased 2 steel by design earrings as lunchtime specials. The cost for each was about $9 or $10. Each pair was put inside a small plastic "zipped" bag. Each bag was then put inside a small velvet-type drawstring pouch, and that pouch was placed inside an individal box.

Re: Sub par products

IMW — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:53:27 GMT

Profits

Re: Sub par products

nyc1 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:02:19 GMT

The unfortunate thing is that for many years, if QVC sold it, and QC approved it, you knew it was a great product. Flush that down the toilet!!!! That has not been the case for AT LEAST 10 years. Sad.

Re: Sub par products

software — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:08:58 GMT

Not sure what you are saying but yes, I recently received a pair of Affinity diamond earrings, set in sterling silver-- fine jewelry-- thrown loose in a zip top baggie and yes, inserted into a "velvet" pouch and boxed but you have obviously not purchased fine or high end costume/fashion jewelry from a reputable store. Even TJ Maxx packages their jewelry better than to throw it in a plastic baggie.

Ask around for the QVC customers who received their fine jewelry necklaces, tossed in a baggie. What a hot mess that was. BTW, the earrings went back.

Not sure the point of your post.

@susan kay wrote:
Fiine jewelry thrown inside a baggy????? I recently purchased 2 steel by design earrings as lunchtime specials. The cost for each was about $9 or $10. Each pair was put inside a small plastic "zipped" bag. Each bag was then put inside a small velvet-type drawstring pouch, and that pouch was placed inside an individal box.

Re: Sub par products

WORKING GAL — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:02:36 GMT

Hi newlook456 - I agree about the quality of some products that have gone downhill. Example: I was a long time user of Tova Signature perfume but her perfumes, lotions, etc. are nothing like what they use to be. Fragrance is totally different (and not for the best) and does not last. I don't care what Tova says when she's on air, the essential oils are not the same or gone altogether. The same thing with Philosophy fragrances, lotions and shower products. Once Coty took over, everything changed. The fragrance of their products is so faint and does not last at all. I cancelled all my auto-deliveries long ago and will not buy again unless these companies return to their original formulas. It seems to me that the only good reviews are from those newer customers who don't know how good the original products were. These vendors keep telling us how great the current product is and we purchase again hoping they are telling us the truth, only to be disappointed over and over. I feel it is an insult to us - do they think we are stupid? Thanks for letting me vent - it felt good to get this off my chest!!!

Re: Sub par products

sueeich — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:33:30 GMT

Unfortunately, I think it's just a fact of life these days that so many products are "sub par." LOL! I sound like my mother! Quality is almost non-existant everywhere, not just on the Q. One thing that I do without reservation is returning products that are sub-par. If something doesn't work or look the way it's supposed to, I return it. If we keep accepting sub-par products and don't return them when they are poor quality, companies will continue to offer these products.

Re: Sub par products

sueeich — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:46:22 GMT

@sueeich wrote:
Unfortunately, I think it's just a fact of life these days that so many products are "sub par." LOL! I sound like my mother! Quality is almost non-existant everywhere, not just on the Q. One thing that I do without reservation is returning products that are sub-par. If something doesn't work or look the way it's supposed to, I return it. If we keep accepting sub-par products and don't return them when they are poor quality, companies will continue to offer these products.

Also, I meant to add that I feel like we live in the Land of Misfit Toys nowadays. There was a Christmas special I used to watch as a kid (I think it's "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.") that had an elf named Hermie (I think). He decided to automate Santa's toy factory and ended up producing all these awful toys that broke as soon as a kid started playing with them. All the subpar toys ended up on an island called the "Land of Misfit Toys." I feel like we're living in that land on a daily basis!

Re: Sub par products

Moonchilde — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 20:50:42 GMT

Not understanding why QVC should be held to a higher standard than any other retailer, online or b&m.

One person's 'substandard' isn't another's.

No one person is going to be totally happy with everything they ever buy anywhere - including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, QVC or K-Mart.

You take it/send it back and get a refund. You may get a "full" refund from the other places if you choose to drive there, but you are spending gas money and time to do it.

If you buy a second item that you also have issues with - you stop buying there. Why would you go for #3 at that point?

Re: Sub par products

MacDUFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 21:53:21 GMT

@sueeich

Re: Sub par products

KathyPet — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 22:03:17 GMT

@software wrote:
QVC spoiled me with vendors like the late Joan Rivers who demanded quality. Her costume jewelry is better quality & shipped in better packaging than QVC's fine jewelry.

Now you get fine jewelry thrown in a zip top baggie. Joan would have NEVER allowed that.

Vote with your shopping dollars.

Sorry but even Joan's jewelry had issues. I have several of her pieces that had problems. Two bracelets had issues. One snapped right in two where the links were joined, another one had the clasp snap,completely off. One expensive pin was returned because the enameling was so sloppily done. Another very expensive pin had the bar break right in two. The bracelets were passed the return period, the pin with the sloppy enameling was returned immediately and I even brought the pin with the broken bar to a jeweler to see if it could be fixed by putting a new bar in. It could not be fixed and the jeweler commented that in his opinion the heavy weight of the pin should have had a heavier quality bar used.

@newlook456 wrote:
What is the thinking behind QVC's offering of products that don't come up to standards. I read comments on these forums of customers receiving really what could be called sub par products after viewing them on t.v. Yet QVC offers them. Do they see the flaws in these products? Do they hope enough people will accept them with grace? Even if they don't and return them does QVC still make a profit in shipping costs? To me its like some game they play where they try to fool some of the people some of the time.

Re: Sub par products

kaydee50 — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 23:09:40 GMT

I would be very surprised if QVC did NOT make a profit on shipping costs. The return postage is $6.95?? I've returned items for $2 or $3 and I don't ship that much and would assume the Q gets a big discount on their shipping. Either they make a huge profit on s&h or their employees are very well paid.

Re: Sub par products

sueeich — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 23:52:35 GMT

@MacDUFF wrote:
@sueeich

MacDuff,

Love it!