Q Talk

[Foxxee]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@Foxxee wrote:

Expect prices to go higher.  Polyester, the favorite fabric of retailers, is made from petroleum, crude oil,  and with oil prices going up, we won't see clothing prices stabilizing for some time.

I just read oil sources in this country have been cut around 22% just when more oil will be needed for transportation and other things for the country coming out of Covid-19.  

Also higher taxes placed on companies will be reflected in higher prices to consumers.  

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@Foxxee    What do you mean "oil sources have been cut"?  We have large oil resources in the US that have never even been tapped.  They made a huge oil discovery in the Permian Basin of Texas less than 5 years ago.  There has been little drilling due to low oil prices.  It will resume now that they're increasing. 

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@Kachina624 

What you say is true.  Yes we have plenty of oil, but some of those sources can no longer be used. Wish I could explain here, but I can't...rules.  You can find the reason on the internet, though.  

[Spurt]

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@mamalinda wrote:

Is it my imagination or has the clothing prices jumped up a LOT in the past year? Especially Belle and Graver? I had backed off from ordering since money was tighter but was really surprised in the price jumps.

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@mamalinda 

It's not your imagination....QVC's clothing prices have been creeping up and up and this was long before any tariffs or pandemic or the price of cotton went up (go back and check QVC's old financial reports)..Apparel sales have been declining for several years .

Many remember the threads wondering what brands Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, Qurate's parent company was referring to when he said some clothing line sales werent performing up to expectations???  ...This is from 2016... "Our kitchen, cook and beauty businesses slowed and our fashion categories, which had been our strongest performer, experienced the biggest drop off relative to previous trends....."----And this from Mike George CEO of Qurate--August 2016--

QVC CEO, Michael George, said in his quarterly conference call, that the company saw a deceleration in demand late in the previous quarter. However, he pointed out that according to its surveys, customers are not going to Amazon instead of QVC.  

“The biggest drop was clearly in fashion, which had been the thing that was propelling our business,” he said, comparing the drop to the last recession. “The sales shortfall is with our best customers,” he continued, saying that those are heavy users who can make dozens of QVC purchases monthly.

And from 2019--- "QxH reported sales declines in apparel and jewelry, which were partially offset by gains primarily in accessories and electronics, according to Qurate’s press release....and recent results are posted in Q talk threads for 2020 and 2021....do a search in the forum search box...

First QVC clothes were in $39 to $49 range now they are in the $59 to $70 and UP range!!! ..JMHO but some QVC brands are just way overpriced--its ridiculous. QVC isnt really very competitive and they are pricing themselves out of the clothing market for the majority of their customer base.  I can go to other stores, in-person or on-line and take Dillards for example, and I still find clothes in the $34 to $39 dollar range which is equivalent in quality and fabrication to the Q brands...

QVC keeps comparing themselves to Boutiques....and how many QVC customers actually regularly shop at Boutiques.?????....🙄  They need to get more realistic on who their competition is....and where the majority of their customers actually shop and get more in line with those retailers....

[giova]

I've also noticed the higher prices at the Q and with the slow shipping, high cost of returns I have stopped buying here.  I have noticed higher prices but not better quality for what you are paying for. I also, don't think it has anything to do with the pandemic or China or any other excuse.

[mnmom]

My cynical suspicion is that Q raised prices due to "convenience."  Harder to go to brick and mortar stores due to Covid.

Too many clothing items priced at around $50 apiece.   That's too much, IMO.  Graver, Gravel (who I do like).   Some DCo might be lower, but not by much.

I buy, sometimes due to the "convenience," so I don't have to go to stores to browse (and subject to possible Covid transmission.)     But it adds up.  I am careful.  And I see you, QVC. 

[GinaV24]

@Kachina624 I agree with you on the shipping costs, etc. I was looking for a new bicycle and when I went to the shop to try it out before I bought, there were a couple of things they mentioned. 1) what they have is what they have and most bikes can't be ordered without a long lead time - close to the end of this year and 2) shipping costs have also increased.

for a change, the "only order of the year" line that QVC has spouted for so long is actually true!

[GinaV24]

@Gabidog I had stocked up the freezer when the pandemic began because of all the shortages. I hadn't used all of it when we lost power for 6 days and everything spoiled. I had to file a claim with my homeowner's insurance. I hated losing all that food. Since then I am keeping a few perishable items in the freezer.

[GinaV24]

I so agree @Spurt  I think he's dreaming when he says people aren't going to Amazon. I check prices from QVC before I buy and if I can get it for less then I buy there.

Also some brands that I used to buy at other stores like C9, well gee I found them on Amazon because the brick & mortar stores stopped selling them. I never understood why Champion doesn't sell C9 online. I don't want to wear my workout clothes emblazoned with logos in big letters!

Plus like you, I've been buying online at other retailers for clothes and I only buy on sale.

Beyond the price of the item, my biggest beef with QVC (and I know I am not alone) is the shipping prices.  Yes I know shipping is expensive but if they can ship me multiple items in one box and charge me a shipping $$ on EACH item, Q could throw us a bone and do reduced shipping or free shipping over a certain value. I have no interest in buy more save more promotions because they don't make sense - the $3.00 you save on one item is offset by the shipping charges.  I guess they don't think people can do math!

[GinaV24]

@mnmom I wouldn't be a bit surprised. the thing is that I shopped online from other retailers for years. 

[bonnielu]

Found this.  I used to buy great fashion at fair price points from the Q.  Now everything is soooo much higher. And the sales pitch.. 'the price will go up after this program and you will never ever get it again."  I was a clearance buyer and AS IS buyer. Prices up there too.  

Honestly I am wondering who is buying.  I get my fashion from Walmart, Costco and Blair on sale(flyers galore). 

[So Great and So Fun]

It might be, but I’m pretty sure easy pay is around the same so I’m not sure how that works.