Peculiar Pricing

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

Has anyone noticed that VPH's products are priced higher than usual this year, and that there is a bit of inconsistency with pricing in terms of comparing what you get with certain products to others?

For example, her new finials, H211892 are acrylic, not glass, and they are priced just under $50. I've paid under $40 for finials in GLASS that light up, and they have a longer glow time. They are also charging just under $35 for sets of real glass cone trees that light up as well. Since when should we be paying more for acrylic than glass. And since when is acrylic more desirable, too? Also, you can buy a 36" tall burlap pine tree that lights up for $29, but you have to pay around $45 for a 29" acrylic finial that has no lights.

I realize they can charge whatever they want, but when they charge more for acrylic products that have less details and less features than better quality glass ones, something seems off.

Nataliesgramma · ‎03-28-2015

That does seem odd...but I am sure they price things by what they are charged from the manufacturer....

matty liz · ‎03-14-2011

I thought the same thing but wasn't sure if I was understanding it correctly. That stoped me from ordering to some extent

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
That does seem odd...but I am sure they price things by what they are charged from the manufacturer....

@Nataliesgramma I would hope that part of the job of the buyer would be to negotiate the cost from the manufacturer. A good buyer would be able to provide similar examples to the manufacturer in order to get a good deal. If a manufacturer wanted to charge $10 per set of 3 acrylic finials with a 4 hour timer, and the buyer could prove they paid $7 per set of the same size finials in glass with a 6 hour timer, they could get the manufacturer to bring down the cost of the acrylic ones. I negotiate deals for a living, and and I would threaten to walk away if I felt I wasn't getting a fair deal. I would think QVC has a great deal of weight in that kind of process considering how much inventory they purchase.

Susan Louise · ‎03-14-2010

I would be willing to pay more for shatterproof finials...it's brilliant! I don't have to baby them and they will last. I have several sets of VPH acrylic finials and love them

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

:sigh: Everything seems awfully expensive this year. Most items are $50 or more when you include shipping and tax. QVC really missed the boat by not making the TSV a buy more, save more or with reduced shipping for multiple sets.

Carol08 · ‎10-31-2012

I went back to my order status from last Christmas in July, and the prices for comparable items are much higher. If you include the shipping and tax, some totals are almost $10 more than the stated price. It puts a damper on buying Christmas items.

makena · ‎10-29-2016

I've noticed. And not many items are ez-pay.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@TenderMercies wrote:
@Nataliesgramma wrote:
That does seem odd...but I am sure they price things by what they are charged from the manufacturer....
@Nataliesgramma I would hope that part of the job of the buyer would be to negotiate the cost from the manufacturer. A good buyer would be able to provide similar examples to the manufacturer in order to get a good deal. If a manufacturer wanted to charge $10 per set of 3 acrylic finials with a 4 hour timer, and the buyer could prove they paid $7 per set of the same size finials in glass with a 6 hour timer, they could get the manufacturer to bring down the cost of the acrylic ones. I negotiate deals for a living, and and I would threaten to walk away if I felt I wasn't getting a fair deal. I would think QVC has a great deal of weight in that kind of process considering how much inventory they purchase.

@TenderMercies Isn't acrylic more expensive to manufacture than glass?

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

@mousiegirl wrote:
@TenderMercies wrote:
@Nataliesgramma wrote:
That does seem odd...but I am sure they price things by what they are charged from the manufacturer....
@Nataliesgramma I would hope that part of the job of the buyer would be to negotiate the cost from the manufacturer. A good buyer would be able to provide similar examples to the manufacturer in order to get a good deal. If a manufacturer wanted to charge $10 per set of 3 acrylic finials with a 4 hour timer, and the buyer could prove they paid $7 per set of the same size finials in glass with a 6 hour timer, they could get the manufacturer to bring down the cost of the acrylic ones. I negotiate deals for a living, and and I would threaten to walk away if I felt I wasn't getting a fair deal. I would think QVC has a great deal of weight in that kind of process considering how much inventory they purchase.

@TenderMercies Isn't acrylic more expensive to manufacture than glass?

It depends on the products and how they are produced. Blown glass is more expensive than acrylic.