Q Talk

[SunValley]

I get far more QVC packages delivered by USPS than UPS. I still buy but I never buy a non-QVC brand until I check other sources to see if the price is really a deal. If it's electronics or kitchen items, I compare features, versions, etc. As others have noted, be sure you are aware of exactly what you are preparing to buy. I always add in the tax and shipping to the initial QVC price because that is what I will pay. Often the price comparison is pretty close until I factor in shipping, tax, and potential return cost. If the QVC price is best, then I have to decide if the slow shipping will work in that situation. I know QVC offers more colors that are sometimes exclusive. That alone would never make me pay a higher price. But to some it's important, as is easy pay. 

If it's clothing, I won't take a chance on a new brand for two reasons: the sizing is too inconsistent and the return cost starts at $10 (and it's much higher for shoes and handbags). If I want an item sooner than 7 days, I don't order, ever. I recently ordered an in-stock D&C pair of pants, and they took 15 days to arrive. I could have driven cross country, picked them up from the studio store, and driven home in less time.

[AuntG]

I was a huge shopper for years.  Lately I've tried to limit my purchases to "as is", one time only and TSV's.  My last purchase was a Tracfone.  Unfortunately, due to the way QVC has treated people of faith on these boards, I read the boards but no longer give them my business.

[stevieb]

All of the above but the big one for me is that QVC just no longer offers much that I want to buy... When you focus on the same tired things relentlessly that was bound to happen... In the day, my wish list was long. These days, I barely have one.

[TY]

I don't buy much from The Shopping Channel in Canada either. They have vendors from the big 3 U.S. shopping channels too so I always look at the U.S. shopping channels for their prices and what they sell. As bricks and mortar retailers are also in trouble they are putting on some good sales and I've scored some bargains at both Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada department stores. I bought a couple of Nygard clothing items at Hudson's Bay in the last couple of weeks, I bought Levi's skinny jeans at Sears Canada for less than half price. I've gotten some shoe bargains at a Hudson's Bay brick and mortar store and I just got a nice Warner's bra at a Sears Canada bricks and mortar store for less than half price.

I've done my Christmas shopping for my husband as I bought him some nice button down casual long sleeve shirts and a Polo shirt at Hudson's Bay a couple of weeks ago when they were having a sale and you could stack a promotion on top of the sale price.  No internet only retailer in Canada could have possibly matched the bargains I found at bricks and mortar stores either.

[Winkk]

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@libbyannE wrote:

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@handygal2 wrote:

I agree with everything that's been said here. I think part of the Q's thinking is that there are still impulse purchasers out there (hence the hard-sell), who will buy something off of the TV without researching their other options. Then there are people who can't get to B&M stores. And finally, there remains a shrinking segment of the population who don't use the Internet, so their options are more limited...

QVC's business model is becoming outdated IMO, and they need to better compete in the retail marketplace in order to retain their customers-- and acquire new ones...

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I have learned if I see something I am interested in on QVC to check around online, and usually I can find it cheaper and with free shipping. The last example was a pair of dansko clogs. I saw a pic on the q, liked them and, sadly for QVC, got them cheaper and with no sales tax or shipping at a place that also has free returns in case something doesn't fit. I would like to buy from QVC and I did get a denim and company sweater that I love last week. But if a brand name item is sold elsewhere, I usually find it cheaper on other sites these days. 

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@libbyannE - Would you mind sharing the company that you purchased these items from?  I would be interested to see what they have.  Thanks.

[1MrsT]

@TY See...this is a huge thing for me - the prices in B&M stores. I started buying from QVC in 88-89 and I began with a couple of gold bracelets. But eventually I began buying pretty much everything from them. It was convenient, things were really good quality and sizes ran true, and the value to what they charged was great. So much was bought there that I pretty much stopped going to B&M stores.

Once shipping costs/times became an issue, and quality and sizing became a guessing game...and the crazy prices for Q brands(!!!)...I started going back to local stores and discovered that for clothing, as much as I hate shopping at stores, the ability to touch and try on clothes (no return fees!), was important...but it was the sale prices that almost shocked me. QVC "sales", and even their clearance, is mostly a joke. As Is pricing is pretty good, and lately some of their clearance pricing actually looks like sales/clearance pricing. But I've seen things I bought at one price, RAISED to the clearance price! 

I think a lot of B&M stores have trained their customers to only purchase with coupons or sales. Penney's tried to do away with coupons and sales, and simply lowered all their prices storewide. I personally loved it because I don't get the paper and often don't know when sales are occurring. It was nice to go in whenever I needed something and know i was getting a good deal without a sale or coupon. But most people screamed loud and long...and Penny's had no choice but to bring back coupons and sales.

I buy a lot of Lands End online. I know their sizes and quality and love it. They send me coupons every day. I'll get 20% off and 25% off...but I never buy until I get the 30% off notice...and that's typically twice a month. (I just had a birthday and they sent me a $50 off of $100 email.) I recently ordered something that I didn't like...I took it back to Lands End in a local Sears store and they explained that if I bought something in the store then, that on top of the 30% off sale they were having, I'd get an additional 10% off because of my return. So of course I bought two tunic sweaters because once I tried them on, I fell in love. If it wasn't for the sales and the ability to try these on...I wouldn't have bought them...I'd have simply got my refund and left.

QVC can't give us the ability to try stuff on...but if and until they can stop penalizing us for sending things back because they don't fit (regardless of their sizing charts) or don't look good on us, or we simply don't like them in person...then they will continue to bleed business. If they have someone who abuses the returns, then decline them from future purchases - stop penalizing the rest of us. They also need to realize we won't overpay just because they're trying to achieve a certain stock value or sales quota. They are not the only game in town. Competition is stiff.

The internet changed the game online where you can check prices of multiple stores and get free shipping both ways - all from your home. B&M stores have genuine sales and easy returns. QVC needs to understand the playing field has changed...and they either need to adapt to the needs of the majority...or to become a niche market for the few.

I really would like to see them pull through this. I hate when companies fail and people lose their jobs. Bad CEOs and upper management people always land on their feet...but it's harder for the regular workers to find work...especially if it's hundreds and thousands at a time.

[Annabellethecat66]

I find it physically difficult to get out and shop.  I used to buy a lot more things for myself, family members and friends from QVC.

However, I am sooooo tired of having to return much of what I buy.  The reason I shop at QVC and HSN (and other places) because I can't get out soooo when I do have to get out (haul out the packages that were delivered) back to the post office it defeats the purpose of TRYING to avoid going out....GET IT?

Adding to the frustration of having to get it to my car, carrying it into the post office we also need to add the cost of mailing it back.  It 'supposedly' cost them $3 sometimes (which they even charge me).  Then it always costs me at least $6.95 to mail it back.  

I could use my own labeling.  However, I've found that when I've tried to do that it is usually close to that much for ME to mail it back.  I wouldn't mind the cost of mailing it back so much if it were only every now and it and it was my fault that I'd ordered the wrong color or size.  However, I have gained....GAINED weight and yet I went from (last years a size 1X) to sometimes now a size LARGE!  you tell me?  

I have tons of clothes in my closet (all QVC) from years past that are a size 1X and they fit, yet the one's I keep buying this year now say LARGE and even then they just don't fit right.  No matter what size I order (I'm the person who calls Customer Service and says, "Could you please have them put the inches of the garment up on the screen".  Then it magically appears for everyone!

I've said all of this here before.  I just don't order like I used to for the reasons I mentioned above.  There are some of us who have no choice (if we want to buy things) but to order on line.

I said this the other day but I'll say it again...this is the truth.  I ordered from Amazon some Halo cat treats (in jars, so it was a good size box) on Saturday morning around 10:00AM (forget exact time).  Later that evening (around 6:00PM) I think it was I heard a truck outside of the door....the doorbell rang and I got there in time to see the FED EX truck going down the driveway!  Are you ready for this?  It was my jars of cat treats.  Amazon Prime is free for me....they said it would be 1 day delivery and it wasn't even 1 day!  AND FREE!

Now you tell me, wouldn't you try to find as much as you can in a place where it's that fast and FREE delivery.  I don't expect everything to be one or even 2 days and free but come on.....some comparison isn't it?

[corita]

I agree with so many comments from posters on this thread. Throughout the years, I have purchased many items from QVC, but mall shopped too!!  Now a days, I don't shop the malls anymore - just too tiring!   And I have cut back Q shopping and really only purchase QVC special "brand" items...like some holiday items. some food products, some Denim and Co etc. For other products, I often check the Internet for comparison shopping and have found the exact same product, for the exact same price or less, no shipping/handling and free returns!  Guess where I spend my money??

[NYC Susan]

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@blackhole99 wrote:

The net can give better deals and free S&H and returns because they don't have the big show on TV 24/7. Who do you thinks pays the hugh saleries for the hosts that annoy us, running that studio has got to be expensive.

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Well, of course.  But the bottom line for most people is how much they pay.  I go wherever I can get the best deal.  QVC having to pay employees, overhead, etc, is their problem.  There are ways that they can still be competitive, but I'm not waiting around for that to happen.  

Some people may feel so loyal to QVC that they choose to throw all their business QVC's way.  But I'm not one of those people.  I want the most for my money.  Period.

[libbyannE]

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@Winkk wrote:

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@libbyannE wrote:

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@handygal2 wrote:

I agree with everything that's been said here. I think part of the Q's thinking is that there are still impulse purchasers out there (hence the hard-sell), who will buy something off of the TV without researching their other options. Then there are people who can't get to B&M stores. And finally, there remains a shrinking segment of the population who don't use the Internet, so their options are more limited...

QVC's business model is becoming outdated IMO, and they need to better compete in the retail marketplace in order to retain their customers-- and acquire new ones...

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I have learned if I see something I am interested in on QVC to check around online, and usually I can find it cheaper and with free shipping. The last example was a pair of dansko clogs. I saw a pic on the q, liked them and, sadly for QVC, got them cheaper and with no sales tax or shipping at a place that also has free returns in case something doesn't fit. I would like to buy from QVC and I did get a denim and company sweater that I love last week. But if a brand name item is sold elsewhere, I usually find it cheaper on other sites these days. 

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@libbyannE - Would you mind sharing the company that you purchased these items from?  I would be interested to see what they have.  Thanks.

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@Winkk

In this context, am I allowed to say? I saved with no tax, no shipping and no return shipping on zappos. Bonanza has them cheaper than that with free shipping, but they don't give a full refund, and dansko clogs can vary in fit, so I did not want to risk that. The style is Melanie nubuck clogs with buckle detail.