Return Policy - Page 3

geegerbee · ‎03-09-2010

The new return policy has affected my shoe buying. I used to buy a lot of shoes because they carry a lot of wide widths. But after buying the same size each time and not having them fit, it costs a bundle to return them. Usually $5 to buy and $7 to return. That is $12 and they SHOULD have fit since I bought the same size before. I will no longer pay $12 to try on shoes when almost all the other shoe sites like 6pm, zappos and amazon have free shipping both ways And they carry wides. Too bad, QVC, you lost lots of money on this one.

Azcowgirl · ‎04-10-2012

For example, the BL 9' woodland tree is $ 49 shipping cost.

bebe777 · ‎12-10-2012

@Bhvbum wrote:
Just looking at it as a business, there is a cost to shipping each way. You can say shipping is "free" but I guarantee that cost is somewhere, because the shipper has to cover that cost. (freight, handling, packing, etc.)

It seems the I as a customer will end up picking up the tab in higher prices when other customers want to try stuff out and not pay for their own shipping back and forth.

I was surprised to find out (via this forum) that QVC had instituted a new return policy this past February. Of course, until this summer, I hadn't been online much.

Since my main purchase are Wen products, and I know I won't be returning them, this policy doesn't really affect me. I just benefit from lower shipping prices which I really appreciate.

In all my years using QVC, I can only think of three items that I've returned: A damaged jacket, a clearance skirt (i was between two sizes and I was afraid it would sell out which it did), and an eau de toilette in which the fragrance didn't last for more than two minutes.

I examine the information about the products very carefully before I purchase them, mainly because I hate the hassle of returning something (e.g. packing it up, going to the post office).

I have no way of knowing what QVC's rationale was, but I think that maybe they wanted to encourage people to make purchases (by lowering the S&H charges). Possibly, they wanted to red flag folks whom they felt had returned too many items because that costs QVC money. A lot of the times these items can't be resold and, in any case, there's a labor cost associated with having to restock these items.

Since I've only returned a few items, I really appreciate the fact that the S&H charge for very small items (1-3oz) is now $3. There were a number of small items which I kept putting off purchasing because I just wasn't going to pay $7 S&H for a $10-20 item no matter how curious I was about trying it. Now I'm much more likely to purchase these items. I realize, in advance, that if I don't like the product that I'll just be keeping in.

Of course they're going to lose some sales and some customers due to this new returns policy. Honestly, if I'm not sure if I'm going to keep a particular item, and I can get a better deal using a different supplier, then that's where I'll take my business for that item. ChynnaBlue made an excellent point about how people may also want to see if they can purchase heavier items locally (to avoid having to pay the S&H charge if they need to return a heavy item).

I don't do a lot of shopping online but what I have always appreciated about QVC is that their customer service department has always been very helpful and reliable (unlike HSN whom I stopped doing business with). For me, knowing that I can trust a supplier to meet me halfway is worth more than saving a few dollars with an unknown supplier that hasn't been vetted. Of course, there are any number of vetted suppliers out there (i.e. ebay, Amazon, zappos, etc.).

If I think I might be returning a particular item, then I'll make sure to first check out the potential real total cost of a purchase -- factoring in the return costs -- before I decide whether to purchase it through QVC or one of their competitors.

I'm going to continue to do business with QVC whenever it's cost effective... lol, and it's always the most cost effective for Wen!!

-- bebe

bebe777 · ‎12-10-2012

@geegerbee wrote:
The new return policy has affected my shoe buying. I used to buy a lot of shoes because they carry a lot of wide widths. But after buying the same size each time and not having them fit, it costs a bundle to return them. Usually $5 to buy and $7 to return. That is $12 and they SHOULD have fit since I bought the same size before. I will no longer pay $12 to try on shoes when almost all the other shoe sites like 6pm, zappos and amazon have free shipping both ways And they carry wides. Too bad, QVC, you lost lots of money on this one.

I'm planning on making some QVC shoe purchases in the next few months after I get a better sense of their complete fall fashion line.

For reasons I am still trying to wrap my brain around, a few years ago most of my shoes just stopped fitting me. That winter I spent a solid month going from shoe store to shoe store (dozens of them) looking for anything that would fit and really nothing did. A friend finally thought to suggest EMS and REI since hikers have to be comfortable in their shoes. I now have five pairs of funky Keen hiking shoes to get me through the fall/winter months that are somewhat stylish (btw, evine has a Keen show on wednesday). And I have my $275 Arch Lillys for when I need to look more professional (but I pay less for them on sale in July in Paris when I buy them in bulk!).

I won't purchase unknown shoes from online companies becasue I really need to see how the shoes are stretching while the models are walking in them (usually over a number of QVC shows).

I've tried on so very many shoes that, at this point, I can eyeball a shoe and have a sense as to whether or not it's likely to fit. In the past week I've seen Isaac's pebbled leather moccasin as well as the Vionic moccasin TSV and they both look like they might fit. But since I'm in between a medium and a wide width, I'm going to have to try both widths (also, I'm in between a 10 and a 10.5, my right foot is longer and my left foot is wider).

Based on QVC's new return policy what I'm probably going to do is make one purchase in a few months when I decide on which shoes I will need to try. I will keep anything that fits and then return the rest together, This way I'll only have to pay one $6.97 return fee (and of course, the initail $5 S&H charge for any of the shoes I didn't keep).

-- bebe

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

QVC must have had alot of returns and this new policy is their way of attacking the problem.....making it more cost effective to keep the item...

nycgrl · ‎05-08-2012

I don't buy beauty products here anymore. Actually, since all the changes, I honestly don't buy much of anything here anymore. For many years, I always had easy pays and auto deliveries and now nothing. I have found the products I like elsewhere and as for clothing, the Q's quality, sizing, too much of the same, made in China, etc. have made me re-think any purchase I would have made in the past. Nearly $10 to try something on and if it isn't right - no I will not pay for their inconsistencies. Plenty of other places to shop with free shipping and perks. I don't consider easy pay a perk. But honestly, I don't think the Q cares that it may lose it's long term loyal customers ... shame on them for that. Lessons learned - fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice ... you know how that saying goes.

World Traveler · ‎02-02-2015

Is that Amazon Prime or just Amazon? I think you pay $99/yr to have Amazon Prime, which gets your stuff to you in two days at no extra cost.

PinkMomi · ‎03-20-2010

Hi Surfer Wife,

I totally agree with you that QVC's shipping costs and policies are pitiful! I so feel for you and am sorry you found out the hard way. I also live in Hawaii and rarely buy anything anymore. The price, with added shipping and tax, makes any product grossly overpriced. The new $3 or $5 shipping doesn't apply to us in Hawaii, so we pay anywhere from $9 to $25 shipping for one item. Once in a blue moon, I find an item that I actually want with "free shipping", very rare. "That's why hard!"

Do you live on Oahu? I tend to shop at Sephora on-line (really free shipping $50+ or always free with Rouge) and any returns are free or can be returned in-store at 3 locations. Nordstroms is similar too. I know they don't have all the bundled deals that the Q has, but I so refuse to have to pay so much extra just to get it here. I realized I truly can live without it!

Aloha Beauty Sista!

Puggirl · ‎10-26-2011

Do not use QVC'S return label. Take it to the post office yourself, you will pay less to ship it back. I've learned the hard way.

nomless · ‎03-10-2010

If an item is large or heavy, shipping with Q's label is usually less expensive. For small items, it's usually less expensive to pay the shipping yourself.