Remember When QVC Offered Many Brands And Styles?

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

I know this has been addressed many times and I also know I'm addressing something that isn't going to change.

I guess I should just call it 'way back when'.

During a show like today it really brings to the forefront the way QVC sells a very limited of items and brands on the air!

I remember when they sold so many other brands of shoes (I still miss Birkenstock).

I have some amazing sweaters and clothes that I used to be able to buy on QVC.

Now it's the same brands and pretty much the same styles over and over.

I get frustrated sometimes with HSN. However, at least they offer many different brands and styles and a variety of items.

No offense, I like the people on there. They seem sweet. But good grief, I've seen Amy from Clarks several times a week (maybe more than several). That's more than I see some of my relatives. You understand what I'm saying......(I guess).

You can say, "Change the channel', that's what I say and I do. However, I guess I'm just saying, "Come on QVC use some imagination".

akaburtonfan · ‎12-08-2013

Yep there were so many more types of shows and more options to choose from when QVC first came on air. Apparently they have found what makes $$ and don't see a need to be more diversified. It makes it easy for me because I know not to bother turning it on when I see what they're showing each hour. I rarely turn the Q on anymore -- of course I rarely order anything either. I find better prices with other online retailers and they all seem to have much faster shipping. (Sorry got a bit off topic)

circles · ‎03-10-2010

Hi, annabelle....yes, i do remember when there were many choices on the Q....i go back to when they first came on air...when it was CVN then went to being QVC....

It was way more fun to watch...as the Hosts were calm and cool...the products were interesting....choices were many...I never turned it off...and bought a lot..

Now i rarely tune in...its not even fun to have as background noise like I use to...

You never saw the same TSV ...they were always different...and you sure did't see the TSV being shown so many hours in the day...

I look at the program guide daily...to see if there is anything to tune in for...and mostly there is not...three hours of Dooney at midnight...then more Dooney at 3am...and so it goes till midnight....who wants to watch that many purses...

Okay off my soapbox...I just wanted you to know I feel the same about the poor programming and tiring choices we have today....

sandraskates · ‎06-26-2014

What gets me is that if you look on the websites of QVC, HSN and Evine and pick a category such as Fashion and do a "See all brands", probably a couple hundred brands are listed.

Sometime I'll pick a brand I've not heard of just to look and see what it's about and it's really cute or different!

It would be nice to devote 1/2 or 1 hour to one of these brands to mix it up!

Adamlambert · ‎05-28-2015

I think vionic is on more than clarks. UGGGHH

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

Interesting to me is that QVC and their customers hold QVC higher than HSN or Evine as being superior in every way, yet there is little difference in the "house brand" policy. These days, the way QVC promotes their in-house or preferred clothing brands is the same as the other channels. They bank on long-time customers thinking that their house brands are haute couture, largely because QVC tells them that's so and people believe it.

Clearly, the "big names" on QVC like Susan Graver and IM have sold their name and a certain amount of showing-up-to-be-on-air time, but they have no clue about "their" clothes, meaning they have had almost no input in the mfg. and they don't know any more about "their" clothes than those calling in.

In all likelihood, there is little difference in the actual quality of many of these in-house brands between the three channels.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

If QVC bores you, just don't watch it 24/7. If you limitthe hours you watch, you won't see the same things over and over again. Also, just watch the programs that interest you.

Trix · ‎03-16-2010

chrystaltree wrote:
If QVC bores you, just don't watch it 24/7. If you limitthe hours you watch, you won't see the same things over and over again. Also, just watch the programs that interest you.

It has nothing to do with frequency of time watching, but rather with frequency of same items presented. I have greatly reduced the number of hours I watch QVC, or any shopping channel per week (this includes just clicking in briefly to see what they are selling). Yet, I find that even doing that when I do tune in I see the same chosen brands -- and many of the same items within those brands-- repeatedly presented. It's not only in fashion, as the beauty, home, and garden theme hours operate the same. I know that it's a business decision that management has made to play it safe and overload the on air time with big sellers which have proven $$$ results regardles of how uninspired that makes the actual programming appear to be.

Sticking with fashion-- it would be wonderful if the shows such as AM and PM Style could return to the original format of being showcases for new, elite, and other brands in the inventory which did not have regular hourly shows on the schedule.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

The powers-that-be at QVC learned that by buying and/or owning your own brands, they bring in far more profit than the previous way of doing business with various vendors. So now we have repetitive programs, endless infomercial-type hours, and limited brands. I don't watch anymore but check online. Clearly, QVC is making big bucks with this way of doing business, so those of us who remember the good old days are out of luck.

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

When the tariffs for imported items change,the price advantage disappears and QVC has to move on, as a middle-range retailer.

I miss silk blouses from Louis Dell Olio, sleepwear from Josie Natori, the Precious Fibres Cashmere line (much better than what might be found today in most stores, which sell inferior cashmere).

I miss the Chinese jade the most of any line. Beautiful things, and I am so glad I purchased them when still available. Jade is under prohibitiion in the US now, and should be, because of the Chinese treatment of Tibet (the jade often comes from Tibet, though it is crafted by Chinese artists). But I miss those pure, undyed, beautifully crafted and inexpensive products.

Prices on Italian gold are still very high.

None of this is QVC's "fault." the 2007-8 recession was horrible for many imports and their pricing.

I agree that the inventory has never fully recovered, but I do see QVC making an effort to introduce a bit more diversity. But mostly the customers like inexpensive daily items (clothes, cosmetics, hair care), and the high end things don't have a profit margin the way they used to.