Q Talk

[escapist]

QVC has increased shipping and handling charges without notice to customers. The minimum charge has gone up from $3.00 to $3.50. In my opinion, this shows a lack of transparency and disrespect to customers. This is not a very customer-friendly thing to do at holiday time, and not a savvy corporate decision given that other online retailers are offering free shipping this time of year. At the very least, QVC should reinstate reduced shipping on combined orders or when ordering 2 or more of the same item when shipped to the same address.

[Remar]

I hadn't noticed because I haven't bought anything in a couple of weeks. I agree with you that they should have free shipping this time of year considering how much they're selling.

JTV, if you've ever seen that online shopping channel, charges $6.99. They do this even if you buy a $10 item. Even they're doing a lot of free shipping right now. I hardly buy from them because of their very high shipping and return costs. Maybe they do this so people won't return things.

Hopefully QVC will go back to $3. They're a huge company that probably makes millions a day. So why increase their charges?

[Goodie2shoes]

I just placed a order before coming to this forum and I noticed the 3.50 shipping charge. QVC had a free shipping day so I guess this is a way to get that money back. Evine's regular shipping is 4.99 so I don't shop there

[Kachina624]

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@Remar wrote:

I hadn't noticed because I haven't bought anything in a couple of weeks. I agree with you that they should have free shipping this time of year considering how much they're selling.

JTV, if you've ever seen that online shopping channel, charges $6.99. They do this even if you buy a $10 item. Even they're doing a lot of free shipping right now. I hardly buy from them because of their very high shipping and return costs. Maybe they do this so people won't return things.

Hopefully QVC will go back to $3. They're a huge company that probably makes millions a day. So why increase their charges?

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@Remar.  Why?  Because both UPS and the USPS are increasing their rates.

Many people don't understand that QVC depends heavily on profits from s&h to stay solvent.  There have been times when the company would have been operating in the red without these profits.  That's why they can't afford to be generous with free s&h offers and must increase prices when their shippers do increases.  The question should be why are UPS and the USPS increasing their rates with fuel prices being so low?

[deb1113]

I don't know why QVC can't have a Prime Membership like Amazon. Pay a certain fee once a year and shipping and returns are free.

[deeva]

UPS and USPS raise their rates because of labor and healthcare costs. Labor is always the largest cost of doing business.

[Remar]

Kachina624. Thank you for explaing the increase in shipping rates. Like all of you I sure didn't mind paying $3 for shipping. I just hope QVC and HSN don't become like JTV and Evine who charge $6.99 most of the time. I think if that happens they're going to lose customers. I mentioned that I almost never buy anything from the other shopping channels because of their high shipping costs. They do have specail rates sometimes where it's free or $2.99.

[bootsanne]

I recognize the fact that all companies need to make a profit, but I have not purchased several clearance items--mainly household, kitchen, cleaning--because the S&H has been 35% of the item.  Just today the cleaning cloths were reduced to a little over $14 but the s/h was $5.50..No sale

[Grouchomarx]

Compared to many other online retailers, this is a fair charge.  I can name a dozen other companies that I am so hesitant to shop online with beause that $8-$10 shipping fee kills me (unless I'm placing a very big order).  Then I find myself trying to meet the minimum for free shipping by buying stupid things I don't need like ugly socks or something.  I can handle $3.50.  HOWEVER why can't they put multiple items in the same box, when possible?  Maybe they're shipping from different warehouses, who knows.  HSN does it all the time though.  I'd prefer fewer boxes, and possibly combined shipping charges.  In a perfect world.