Q Talk

[stevieb]

Discontent abounds, but it seems to me it did last year as well, though perhaps not to this degree... I'm not sure I'll be watching to find out, but if something doesn't change and markedly so by next year, I guess we'll know that this is IT and that they truly don't care what their customers want... Still, the extent to which customers are being so vocal about how bad it's gotten is rather shocking. Even more shocking is their refusal to acknowledge it... I get it that this season's array was probably planned months (or longer) in advance, but come on, after last year, (and the several years before that) they had to know...

[Graciesmom]

AND let me put the nail in the coffin for Thanksgiving Weekend at QVC ... No PM Style with Lisa Robertson, which I would tune in to, not because of the products but to have a few laughs watching Lisa and her PMS crew ... and now ... PLEASE tell me it isn't so, another show with Jane Treacy with HER CAT !! Please someone !! Shoot me now !!! END THIS MISERY ... can't believe she is ON AGAIN TONIGHT with the cat no less !!!!! You've got to be kidding me!!

[txskies]

I agree. The programming is very bad on the Q, and has been for some time. Even when they are showing a fashion show, they talk about cameras, lap tops, etc. You know, it is Holiday time, and I am looking for some cute things to wear, to no avail on QVC. Maybe all the clothing stylists/designers are taking long vacations at this time a year?

[qvc15049]

I think that QVC has transitioned from being a retail network to a broadcast network selling information infomercial airtime. infomercials typically here between 12 a.m. And 7 a.m. On a limited number of channels. QVC is offering a limited number of vendors the opportunity to purchase airtime presenting essentially an infomercial 24 hours a day on a national network. Therefore their primary customer is the vendors in the business community and not the individual buyer. the women information infomercial that appears during the midnight to 7:00 a.m. Hours is essentially the same as what appears on QVC except now he can present an hour long infomercial drink any of the 24 hours of the day broadcast cycle.if QVC were retailing network they would not be presenting only a single type of coffee brewer.Keurig has been a today's special value several times this past year. As such, it is presented for an hour at midnight and then our repeatedly / repetitively during the day. yes yes this is QVC strategy it makes all the business sense in the world to limit the number of vendors, to limit the number of items offered, and to repeat an item repetitively repetitively repetitively. I left followin QVC on a regular basis 3 or 4 years ago based upon all the above items. But have always been curious as to how such smart businessmen could have changed into such poor retailers. It did not make sense to me. But if they are changing into a network of infomercial selling infomercial time the business is it all makes sense. QVC will not change to meet our needs they have changed to meet the new business model needs. We can accept or reject that but I think we need to understand what QVC has become.

[stevieb]

On 12/1/2014 qvc15049 said: I think that QVC has transitioned from being a retail network to a broadcast network selling information infomercial airtime. infomercials typically here between 12 a.m. And 7 a.m. On a limited number of channels. QVC is offering a limited number of vendors the opportunity to purchase airtime presenting essentially an infomercial 24 hours a day on a national network. Therefore their primary customer is the vendors in the business community and not the individual buyer. the women information infomercial that appears during the midnight to 7:00 a.m. Hours is essentially the same as what appears on QVC except now he can present an hour long infomercial drink any of the 24 hours of the day broadcast cycle.if QVC were retailing network they would not be presenting only a single type of coffee brewer.Keurig has been a today's special value several times this past year. As such, it is presented for an hour at midnight and then our repeatedly / repetitively during the day. yes yes this is QVC strategy it makes all the business sense in the world to limit the number of vendors, to limit the number of items offered, and to repeat an item repetitively repetitively repetitively. I left followin QVC on a regular basis 3 or 4 years ago based upon all the above items. But have always been curious as to how such smart businessmen could have changed into such poor retailers. It did not make sense to me. But if they are changing into a network of infomercial selling infomercial time the business is it all makes sense. QVC will not change to meet our needs they have changed to meet the new business model needs. We can accept or reject that but I think we need to understand what QVC has become.

What they've become is misery on a plate...

No seriously, I think you make a valid point. I suspect they are trying to be both kinds of entity and it simply isn't working for viewers... Sooner or later they might face a crossroads where they either have to be essentially nothing more than a production company, specializing in the business of producing and televising infomercials or a retail entity. Trying to be some sort of hybrid has become the ultimate in boring, and I think we are seeing a significant wave of discontent from a portion, and probably a significant portion, of their customer base. Time will tell, but in the meantime, while they might be generating revenue based on time slots sold, and certainly are continuing to garner revenue based on retail sales, they're also losing customers to other entities offering incentives, better variety and pricing.

[Kachina624]

I think we can assume QVC has surrendered in the shipping wars and knows it can't compete with Amazon by speed or price and prefers to sock it to the customer without guilt or other consideration.

They also adopted a marketing plan of just featuring a few high-cost items and they show them over and over. It's obvious they are not interested in satisfying or entertaining the customer. In the few days before Christmas, they'll undoubtedly whip out a few over-priced jewelry pieces on which they'll "guarantee" Christmas delivery. Their mode of operation is completely different from the other shopping channels. The ironic thing is that on every quarterly report they do poorly with electronics and jewelry but do well on clothing. So what do they do for the holidays but drop clothing (mostly) and punch up electronics. Wonder if it occurred to the marketing geniuses to feature holiday and gift clothing?

They have a couple of new execs named to replace the woman who was fired. Maybe the future will hold some promise if they can turn things around. It was too late for this year, but we can only hope next year will be an improvement. Too bad nobody ever asks us what's wrong. We could surely tell them!

[ItsMe13]

I have to agree with most people here. I used to enjoy watching the Q and made many purchases, but I haven't seen anything interesting lately - same old stuff. Most of the clothing is just not for me, sorry to say, because in the past I loved getting clothes that were different from the basic dept. stores. The majority of the jewelry is grossly overpriced (even the lunchtime specials), and when you add in taxes and exhorbitant shipping prices - forget it. Hopefully the management reads customer comments and does something about it. But as we all know the $$$ is the bottom line, so I guess there are still people out their spending their money so Q feels there is not need to change anything.

[kathleen o]

Couldn't agree more with you folks...did my shopping on Amazon(free shipping with Prime), 6 pm. Plus I've discovered some wonderful new channels on cable like Smithsonian and thank Heaven for Netflix!! Lisa finished me off carrying on over the same old Dooney hobo for the thousandth time. Thanksgiving weekend has cured me of my QVC addiction.

[Buffalogal47]

I don't know how much attention TPTB give to the forums, but they do pay attention to letters written by us. I sent a letter directly to Mike George about the abysmal programming and got a telephone call from the front office in reply. They said they were working on improving the lineup. That was 2 months ago and it seems like the programming has gotten worse. Maybe if more people complained to the head office, it might have an impact, just like the Measurement Brigade and the Linea Ladies did. Just a thought.

[Sylanne]

I don't care what QVC does in re to their programming; they are not the only place to shop.

I ordered 4 items on Saturday, received 2 of them yesterday, the other the other 2 are out for delivery today. The s/h costs were either free or under 5.00. QVC can't or won't compete w/other retailers. Their loss---not mine.