Q Talk

[Pearlee]

So the Q home page states something to the effect of Black Friday being all month here, starting today.

I know QVC is a for-profit company and I am not a naive person. However, there comes a point of overcommercialization so that I'm totally put off and QVC has reached it.  It was bad enough making Christmas in July, which used to be a one or two-day event, into the entire month of July.  Now we have to "suffer" through Black Friday being rushed to Sunday, November 1st and "celebrated" throughout the month.  Greedy, greedy, greedy.  QVC has gone from standing for Quality Value Convenience to "we want your money - hurry up and give it to us - we'll stop at nothing to get it."  It's a total put-off to me.

QVC has gone from being novel and somewhat classy many years ago back in the '80s when I frst started watching to vulgar and obnoxious about wanting my income.  Two thumbs down for this latest money-grab.

[Vivian]

I agree completely. I have nothing against making money, but this ploy is so patently obnoxious that I refuse to watch. Before too long, Christmas shows will be on every day of the year. Is there some point where costomers get so supersaturated with this crass commercialism that QVC 's programming holds no interest at all? 

[docsgirl]

The positive aspect to this over-comercialization is that we are NOT compelled to purchase.  They can hawk their merchandise all they want, under any title they choose, BUT we are NOT compelled to buy.  I speak with my wallet.  docsgirl

[millieshops]

Sorry, but once again you're asking QVC to be different from the rest of the retail world.  I'm not a Black Friday shopper - never have been and don't expect to be, but I d0 read Bloomberg Financial News, the Wall Street Journal, etc. and it seems as if that whole retail world has figured out Black Friday isn't where they are any longer.  Not that Black Friday is going away, but that it needs to be extended.

I've already gotten "Black Friday" sales emails (not from QVC) from several of their competitors, so I'm not even surprised to have QVC on that bandwagon.

To go along with this spreading out of BF, I read somewhere that some stores are thinking of scaling back their Thanksgiving hours because more and more people are shopping online.  That for me would be a good trade-off even though I'm also not a Thanksgiving shopper either.  Just like the idea.

[ValuSkr]

Judging by the emails I received this morning, a lot of retailers are starting Black Friday sales and doorbusters today.

[Pearlee]

Just because other retailers are doing it doesn't make it right.  

I haven't seen that much nor gotten any emails about Black Friday myself.  But if other retailers are doing it, that's wrong too IMO.  And equally obnoxious.  Again, I haven't experienced that (yet) - only Q's push starting today.   Last year I though it was bad that Black Friday was extended to Thanksgiving Day itself (making Black Friday lose its meaning altogether).   So now it's skipped for QVC from Thanksgiving all the way up to November 1st.  I still think it's a disgusting money-grab.

People have lost sight of what the holidays mean any more other than shopping and sales, and QVC is a prime promoter of that.

[ValuSkr]

I think it's okay to start now, it's just another sale after all.  Better to spread it out than compress into the craziness of one or two days.

[millieshops]

@PearleeHardly.  Millions of people can see QVC if they want to, but the people driving the early Black Friday, the early Christmas, etc. are more likely the huge number of shoppers turning away from b&m onto the Internet to buy.

I don't think QVC is nearly as powerful in setting industry retail goals as this thread thinks or as QVC wishes it were.

If you're thinking spreading out Black Friday ruins the holiday, I think it actually saves Thanksgiving in a way.   People can shop slowly as the month goes instead of concentrating all their shopping money and energy into one weekend.

[Buck-i-Nana]

Black Friday has always been a commercial event, run by and controlled by the retail industry.  The uproar the past couple of years was because of them trying to dismiss Thanksgiving with their pushing and opening on Thanksgiving day, THAT irked me as well.  I've been seeing Black Fridays at retailers since June or July.

I understand, sort of, people getting their knickers in a twist over pushing Christmas earlier and earlier, but getting upset about this?  There is nothing sacred about Black Friday - it's RETAIL, not religion!

[Pearlee]

@millieshops and others: I think it is naive to think that starting Black Friday deals on November 1st is going to ease the push any come the actual Black Friday.  Then QVC (and others) will be promoting even better deals.  So no, I don't agree with that at all.  QVC is just using the Black Friday lingo and "fever" it connotes to push holiday sales even further and earlier.