Q Talk

[z-da!]

Qvc talk show setting with real audience. Variety. Cooking, make-up, books, magazines, music, clothes, what's new ( food, electronics, ticket's for movies, travel) baby bombers love travel offers. I love QVC but a change is needed.

[vera11]

most times i keep hsn or qvc on if i'm doing a crossword puzzle..just to escape from the boring commercials on other stations..

[Amber J]

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[judyakm]

On 11/22/2013 stevieb said:

My watching habits have changed markedly over the past few years as their programming has deteriorated and become so redundant. There's always been an element of repetition involved with watching QVC, both in terms of the same products showing up regularly and as far as some products (TSV's) being presented multiple times in any given day. But it's become glaring. They appear to have cut back so far on the brands and products they carry and clearly on the brands and products they deem worthy of presentation that for the most part it's simply no longer interesting the vast majority of the time. Added to that, far too many of the presentations are too long and seem endless.

I used to have it on regularly as background noise, but I don't even do that too much anymore, because the whole thing has simply become somewhat boring and annoying. Certainly, some of this is at my end, because nothing stays fresh or new forever and yet I feel I'd probably watch more of QVC or at least have it playing in the background if there was more variety, as there used to be, and if the presentation style of the hosts, likely foisted out there by management, hadn't become so obnoxious.

These days, I can go for days on end and never turn it on. There are still a few 'regular' shows I tune in to watch and certain products and product lines that I will check for and then usually watch if time permits or if there's nothing significant competing for my time.

Holiday programming though, is glaringly bad. Not only are the same items repeated endlessly but they have been for at least the last several holiday seasons. Moreover, the hours after hours of generic gift shows are not something I choose to watch. Again, not only are they repetitive and not only do they tend to feature the same handful of largely unappealing items, but I have no interest in watching when I don't really know specifically what might be offered, on the off chance that in a multi-hour show there might possibly be an item or two of interest. It's simply not a good use of my time.

QVC simply isn't the viewing resource for me it once was, and for many years.

Hi stevieb....you said it all for me....I used to do a huge part of my holiday shopping at the Q. When my daughter was born 18 years ago I began watching (what else is on during middle of the night feedings?) and became a fan of some host and lines/shows....this holiday season I bought 3 things from the Q...3!!!! Some is the boring, repetitive programming, but mostly the arrogance....there are no real "deals"....no real "specials"....the Q thinks that "easy pay" is a sale....no, it is just borrowing on time...they think "free shipping and handling" is a "early bird special" or "black friday" equivalent...no, it is not.

But one of the bigger issues is their greedy approach to "shipping and handling"....Amazon gets it and the Q does not....I will no longer be ripped off on shipping and returning. Look at my account for years past, QVC, and this year.....there is NO comparison!!!

If it weren't for Judith Ripka, I would not even know what TV channel the Q was occupying, but now I tape and fast forward thru her shows....barely read her forum and would not spend the $$$$ they are asking for products that are no longer exquisite value for the $$$. I think Judith is a wonderful woman, I love to listen to her talk about designing and her family, but I have a wonderful collection of her "stuff" and it is older, classic, 2007 - 2011 Judith Ripka....the good old days!!!

[NYC Susan]

I very rarely watch. And I haven't bought anything from QVC in several years.

I remember years ago watching a lot. I was home with young kids, and it also was more interesting then. The hosts weren't as frantic and crazed, and although I always knew it was a shopping channel, the hard sales tactics weren't so apparent. I used to enjoy the "company", and I remember wanting to see which product would come up next. I felt that I was getting deals, and if not everything was an actual deal, at least some of them were things I couldn't get elsewhere.

Now there's nothing I deliberately tune in for, other than ITKWD occasionally on Sundays as background. If I come across QVC as I'm channel-surfing, I might stop if the product interests me or if it's one of the hosts I like (such as Sandra). But 99% of the time I surf on by. I'm not interested in shrieking, gasping, screaming, talking over vendors, and fake claims of everyone being best friends with everyone else. I have no interest in paying ridiculous S&H charges on top of overly high prices for products I've seen a million times before.

No impulsive-buying for me. I haven't been tempted by anything in a long time, but when I was, just adding in the shipping charges instantly made it unappealing. So no problems there!

As for other shopping networks, no, I don't watch them, other than HSN in the wee hours, but only for a few minutes at a time. The other shopping channels all seem cheesy to me.

I used to love QVC. I was a good customer and a loyal watcher. Now, honestly, it could disappear and I wouldn't even notice. I do love the forums here, though, and that's probably how I would find out!

[mistriTsquirrel]

I don't watch much, because it's usually just more of the same.

If I'm thinking about purchasing something from QVC, I just come to the site...rarely do I watch on TV.

[sciencegeek_1]

On 11/22/2013 sjmplus1 said:

Doing some research and wondering why/how do you watch? Sounds like many of you, especially those who post here, are loyal and regular QVC shoppers. TV shopping networks count on impulse buying. You often don't know what you will be seeing so its more of a passive experience than going on a website and searching for a particular item or going to a store to buy something specific.

How often do you watch?

I have the various shopping channels on as background noise most of the day.

Is it times of day or do you tune into specific shows because you see listings or check in for certain hosts?

I watch shows that have items/lines I want to see. I change to other shopping channels when something I'm not interested in comes on.

Or are you a channel flipper during commercials?

Nope. I purposely turn on the shopping channels.

Do you watch only QVC or do you watch the other channels like HSN and ShopHQ or the smaller channels that seem to pop up on cable and look like they're broadcasting from someone's basement?

I watch, and buy from, QVC, HSN, ShopHQ, and JTV on a regular basis. I've seen some of the other "channels" on-line and don't feel comfortable with them.

What do you usually buy?

I love jewelry, and I also buy practical household things like cooking gadgets and sheets.

Why do you buy?

I like to buy bedding at ShopHQ or HSN because they charge the same price for all sizes of beds. I have a queen size bed but pay the same as if I were buying for a full size. People with king sizes would pay the same price, too--their savings are even better.

For jewelry, I like rather large pieces in white metal. With the current cost of gold, that means sterling silver. The channels have a WIDE variety in silver. I can pick items on the less expensive side and still get pretty treats, once every month or 2. I rarely buy jewelry from the Q anymore--they don't have great variety anymore. JTV and ShopHQ get my jewelry business, and a little from HSN.

Impulse?

It's usually not impulse. Sometimes with jewelry it is, but only if it's in my budget. When they have specials of SOMETHING I NEED ANYWAY is when I usually buy, but I take time to do some online research on prices first.

Like getting gifts in the mail?

Nope, not gifts since I pay for them.

Like feeling like you're part of a club?

Nope. In fact, the WEN girls and Ripkanistas on this forum drive me slightly batty. Who loves a salesperson that much?

Do you buy more from certain hosts?

Not consciously, but some hosts do the shows I like best and therefore I buy more from them. Like David Venable does weekly shows for kitchen stuff, and Jane Treacy does lots of shows for jewelry.

Is there something they can say to make you pick up that phone?

Not anything specific, but I like gadgets to be explained, and I like to hear about the backgrounds and especially sizes of the gemstones. I'm less likely to buy if that info hasn't been included in the presentation.

Do you have it on in the background for company?

Yes, I keep it on for background noise. It works well for that because it is always pleasant with no sudden violence or other sharp noises. Monotony is an advantage for this.

Are these your friends when you're lonely or bored?

Nope. They're salespeople, not friends. It can be nice to learn someone's style, like having a favorite newscaster, but they aren't friends.

Do you buy because you can't find these items elsewhere?

For jewelry items, yes. But remember, that's at other channels, QVC has lost most of my jewelry business as they cut variety and inventory.

Or you feel the prices are better?

I think the prices on some items are better. Sheets of larger sizes, product bundles, and so on. An example of a product bundle I bought (from HSN) was a SodaStream. In the stores here, you could get the unit, one bottle and one charger for $79. In the bundle I got, it included 5 bottles, 2 variety packs and 3 full size bottles of syrup for that same $79. Also a $20 mail in rebate, and HSN included free shipping on that bundle.

How do you feel about shipping and the fact that S/H charges seem very high compared to other online retailers?

Shipping at the Q is ridiculous, even in comparison with other channels. It should be charged per order, not per item. There are many times I've chosen not to buy an item, especially a smaller item, because of the shipping. The other channels are much more liberal with their free shipping specials, and their overall shipping is less, but they still charge per item.

Do you buy a bunch of smaller priced beauty items and then pay $5-7 EACH for shipping when you could go to another retailer and get free shipping for your entire purchase?

Nope, if I want to buy a lot of smaller things, I'll go elsewhere.

Thank you for being up front with us that you are doing research. Not everyone is, so I appreciate it.

I added spacing to your questions and put my answers right into a copy of your actual post. Hope it helps!

[CalminHeart]

I just don't watch like I used to. I don't even turn on Q for noise while I'm doing other things anymore. Their main 20 products repeat and repeat and repeat week after week and bore me beyond words. I check the schedule every week but just don't watch unless there is a specific show on that I want to see. I can go a week or two, often more, without turning in at all.

Holiday programming was horrendous. I didn't watch any of it. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Jewelry programming stinks beyond words. They sell overpriced silver, costume that you can find anywhere, flimsy light gold, or arte d'oro. They are missing the boat by not having more gold shows with mid-range priced jewelry. David M. said he aims for $100/gram and that's a laugh by itself. Gold has come down 30% and is going for $50-$75/gram at a lot of other retailers. Given Q's buying power, you can't tell me they couldn't get some great deals on quality gold jewelry and dump the 1-2-3 gram pieces that will never last.

[gazelle77]

Why do you want to know?

[katiescarlett]

I don't watch any more. Their programming is repetitive and boring, and the quality and value are not what they used to be. And the hosts are getting more and more ridiculous.