When you place any order with Shop or anyone else, it states very clearly what the shipping charges are before you hit the order button. Their policy of not refunding original s&h fees has been their policy forever. I shopped a lot with them when they were Value Vision and the same policies were in effect back then. I also find their shipping fees often to be quite reasonable compared to QVC as many orders are $4.99 or $5.99, not $7.22 or higher (on beauty items) which I see here a lot.
One thing Shop does do that QVC never ever does is offer free shipping days or free shipping events. I have bought a lot of beauty products over the years (Isomers and some Skinn more recently) and there were so many times that I paid no shipping fees at all. I actually got so used to them doing that that I had almost come to expect it and recently they have not been offering it as often. I think we'll see it again this year when they want to pump up sales.
Every company has their policies and the onus is on us to know what they are before ordering. I got nailed on a return with HSN over a Christmas gift this year and really had no way to know this would occur but I know it now and will be sure to inquire about the possibility next time.
I ordered a NutriBullet for my DD for Christmas and she got 2 of them so I offered to return the one I bought and get her something else. When I went to complete the return invoice, I noticed there was no return label. I called HSN and was informed that this item was "drop shipped" directly from the vendor and had to be returned the same way and no return label was available. So it cost me just under $20 to return the darn thing. I was annoyed because there was no way I could have known that when ordering. The CS rep agreed that there was no way to know because they don't mention it on air or anywhere in the ordering process online. I told her I thought they should be more responsible in letting customers know about it before they ordered so they wouldn't be shocked by hefty return fees. It generally occurs with heavier weight items so the return shipping fees aren't cheap. I assume they do it to avoid all the costs incurred to get these heavier items to HSN warehouses which could then increase the price of the item.
So beware of any items that are "drop shipped" with HSN as you will be responsible for the return fees, whatever they are, when it requires being shipped back to the original shipper, not HSN. I'd advise (on heavier items at least) to call HSN first and ask if it is a "dropped ship" order if you think there is any chance you might return. Obviously on defective or damaged items any fees will be refunded.
I know it now and won't forget it and will be darn sure to inquire, before ordering next time, if a heavier weight item is being "dropped shipped" and if a return label is supplied. I did have another item last year that also was "dropped shipped" but mine came with a return label to HSN and I used it. Got appropriate credit just fine but read online in reviews that some customers must have called HSN about returning and were then advised not to ship to them but to original sender. I never ever thought twice about it since a label was enclosed but guess I lucked out that time. Not this time though which still annoys me 