topic Re: QVC Try Before You Buy in Suggestion Box

QVC Try Before You Buy

CHRISSIE — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 01:55:56 GMT

I am spending a fortune on return postage charges. Buying certain lines of clothing from QVC is a crapshoot. Sizing of clothing items, even the same item of clothing purchased in different colors, is much too often inconsistent. This makes following the sizing specification chart useless.

When this happens, the customer is penalized for the lack of quality control by paying a high return charge for a product which actually is defective. QVC does not recognize the different sizing issue as a reason for not deducting the postage charge from the credit given for the item returned. This is expensive and not fair! I am sure QVC has lost many customers over this issue.

If QVC would initiate a "Try before you buy." program i.e. Amazon for the lines of clothing especially Denim & Co, where these inconsistencies most often occur, it would be a God send. If you agree with me, please pass on my suggestion and let QVC know that you would like to try before you buy. Thanks.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Wsmom — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 01:57:44 GMT

@CHRISSIE , explain how that would work. They send it for you for free and if you choose to keep it you pay for the item plus shipping but if you don't, you pay nothing, no shipping either way?

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Alsace Gal — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:03:25 GMT

@CHRISSIE wrote:
I am spending a fortune on return postage charges. Buying certain lines of clothing and/or shoes from QVC is a crapshoot. Sizing of clothing items, even the same item of clothing purchased in different colors, is much too often inconsistent. This makes following the sizing specification chart useless.

When this happens, the customer is penalized for the lack of quality control by paying a high return charge for a product which actually is defective. QVC does not recognize the different sizing issue as a reason for not deducting the postage charge from the credit given for the item returned. This is expensive and not fair! I am sure QVC has lost many customers over this issue.

If QVC would initiate a "Try before you buy." program li.e. Amazon for the lines of clothing especially Denim & Co, where these inconsistencies most often occur, it would be a God send. If you agree with me, please consider my suggestion and let QVC know that you would like to try before you buy. Thanks.

Perhaps I'm missing something reading your post or you're not clear on your posting.

What the heck is try before you buy?

You mentioned Amazon (also not clear).

When I order from Amazon, QVC or any other online company, I pay before I try it.

I pay at brick and mortar stores, grocery stores...

I get to try before I buy at Costco (samples).

There are changing rooms in some stores, is that what you mean?

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

ellaphant — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:00:42 GMT

Sizing at QVC ( and quality but that's a different subject) is way off.

I can wear XS or XXS. I recently bought an XS top from D&C. It was too big and totally shapeless. Total waste of money.

Because of both issues my clothing purchases are nothing compared to years before.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:08:37 GMT

@ellaphant wrote:
Sizing at QVC ( and quality but that's a different subject) is way off.
I can wear XS or XXS. I recently bought an XS top from D&C. It was too big and totally shapeless. Total waste of money.
Because of both issues my clothing purchases are nothing compared to years before.

@ellaphant @CHRISSIE

A few years ago I went back over my entire purchse history and was shocked how many things I'd returned, and how much I spent in return shipping!

That's when my spending on QVC dropped dramatically. For all the money I spent on return shipping for things that didn't work out, I could have bought an expensive watch! Well, almost. You get the idea.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

CHRISSIE — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:08:55 GMT

With Amazon you get to choose up to 6 items and are given 7 days to decide what you want to keep. You send back the rest. Shipping and returns are free. With QVC you could pay shipping only for items you want to keep.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Parischic — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:12:41 GMT

@Wsmom, it's not that difficult if you are a prime member at Amazon. You purchase the clothing items you want in the size you think will fit. If it doesn't fit you return it within 7 days and you are not charged.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

cjm61 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:22:37 GMT

@CHRISSIE I really don't see this ever happening with QVC. I am pretty sure I wouldn't want them to either. So many already complain about clothing prices. The Try It First thing would make the prices go substantially higher. QVC would have to make up that shipping somewhere. Then there are those people that would TRY the items going to an event then return it.

I know my size, I read the garment measurements, and I thoroughly read reviews. I recommend doing this to avoid so much frustration. If it doesn't work maybe just stick with shopping at Amazon. There are so many other online stores.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

50Mickey — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:04:39 GMT

@CHRISSIE Just wondering do you not live near any brick & mortar stores? It sounds like you may want to rethink buying clothes and shoes from QVC if you are spendng a fortune on return postage.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

KathyM23 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:47:17 GMT

I buy alot from QVC in my 4 favorite brands, Denim & Co, Isaac Mizrahi, Belle and Susan Graver. I havent had any issue with sizing in the same garment. I would not want the try before you buy.

There would be so many items that would be ordered just to try on then returned after having been worn by who knows who as they changed their mind about buying.

I'm also thinking of sell outs as people would order just to try on in different sizes and colors. Lets out those of us who want that item and it would not be available to purchase as someone decided they wanted to try it on.

Then the return nightmare at QVC inspecting try on returns, re-packaging, returning to inventory. All that extra labor means is increased prices.

If you want it, buy it. If it doesn't fit, return it. QVC has one of the lowest return shipping fees but read the measurements before buying and save the returns. If it is defective there is no shipping fee. I am definitely not in favor of try it before you buy it.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Alsace Gal — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:48:49 GMT

@CHRISSIE

@Parischic

Thanks, I didn't know this, I never buy clothes and seldom return anything from Amazon.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Kachina624 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:59:26 GMT

@CHRISSIE. Strangely, I find QVC's clothing to be very consistent and especially with Denim & Co. I have closets of pieces, dozens. They are so consistently sized that I don't even try them on until I wear them the first time. I almost never return a piece due to sizing. I do always check the actual garment measurements before buying since there are certain styles like big shirts that typically run large.

I don't know of any department store where I'd buy without trying on because their sizing is very inconsistent, especially across the different lines. I wear the same size in every line QVC sells.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Kachina624 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 03:06:04 GMT

@CHRISSIE wrote:
With Amazon you get to choose up to 6 items and are given 7 days to decide what you want to keep. You send back the rest. Shipping and returns are free. With QVC you could pay shipping only for items you want to keep.

For me this is a huge nuisance. They immediately start reminding you daily the number of days left until you need to pay. If something doesn't fit, you still have to drive somewhere, wait in line to send it back. Due to the crazy sizing used by different vendors, it highly unlikely things will fit.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

homedecor1 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 03:15:23 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

I had my wake up call for the excessive $$$ I spent on returns and vowed no more shopping online where there wasn't a b&m store to return. It was shocking how quickly those fees for s/h and returning added up!

I rarely shop Q better deals on what I need elsewhere and no fees🙂

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Spacrazy — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 03:25:03 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@CHRISSIE. Strangely, I find QVC's clothing to be very consistent and especially with Denim & Co. I have closets of pieces, dozens. They are so consistently sized that I don't even try them on until I wear them the first time. I almost never return a piece due to sizing. I do always check the actual garment measurements before buying since there are certain styles like big shirts that typically run large.

I don't know of any department store where I'd buy without trying on because their sizing is very inconsistent, especially across the different lines. I wear the same size in every line QVC sells.

@Kachina624 Ditto everything you just said!

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Etoile308 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 04:23:14 GMT

@KathyM23, I think you hit on one of the main reasons this wouldn't work. It seems more and more QVC has been decreasing their inventory and mentioning when something is the only order of the year, and "We won't be getting anymore in".

This has seems to cause items and sizes to frequently sell out. Imagine the cluster if people wanted to willy-nilly order.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Etoile308 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 04:27:27 GMT

Also, QVC is not Amazon. What works for them doesn't mean it can translate to other retailers.

Amazon's Try Before You Buy is not available on all clothing, but when it is, it is for Prime Members. That membership cost far more than any QVC return shipping.

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

rms1954 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:25:00 GMT

@CHRISSIE wrote:
With Amazon you get to choose up to 6 items and are given 7 days to decide what you want to keep. You send back the rest. Shipping and returns are free. With QVC you could pay shipping only for items you want to keep.

Shop at Amazon then,

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Desertdi — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:45:17 GMT

It's IMPOSSIBLE to compare the Q with Amazon...

Re: QVC Try Before You Buy

Caaareful Shopper — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:16:04 GMT

@Etoile308 wrote:
@KathyM23, I think you hit on one of the main reasons this wouldn't work. It seems more and more QVC has been decreasing their inventory and mentioning when something is the only order of the year, and "We won't be getting anymore in".

This has seems to cause items and sizes to frequently sell out. Imagine the cluster if people wanted to willy-nilly order.

@Etoile308 My thoughts exactly. We already see frequent complaints from posters frustrated that QVC didn't order enough of a popular size or color or inseams, and they sell out too quickly.

Can you imagine the mess created by allowing the number of QVC customers who would definitely take ridiculous advantage of Try Before You Buy and order tons of stuff just to return it and then order tons more -- with very little actual purchasing? Even if QVC only had a limited genre or specific items under that strategy, it seems like a nightmare.

Amazon states it will not accept used/worn clothes as a return, under TBYB. So how many people actually don't try on or wear the clothes in that program? My guess is an overwhelming majority are worn returns. It's the individual sellers on Amazon having to deal with that accounting and inventory mess.