Pricing games?

Catch71 · ‎03-09-2010

I've noticed recently while checking my wish list items that prices are being reduced for a few days and then jumping up. I had an item in my wish list that was on clearance for $48.99 with $7.50 shipping. I didn't purchase at first as I was hoping for a free ship day. I finally caved and bought it and 2 days later the price went up by $20.00! It now says clearance but a higher price clearance? What is going on. Really makes me hesitant to purchase. Also, they pretty much eliminated price adjustments too. I believe this is all in an effort to save money to pay for this 50+ campaign. That campaign costs them money sending hosts to Las Vegas, then these tour trips sending hosts and models. I'm a longtime customer still waiting for a perk for being such a good customer. I am well over 50 and I don't need qvc telling me how to handle the changes that come with aging. They are a shopping channel and there are other places to go for advice.

Tori3569 · ‎06-27-2010

Dynamic pricing in retail is nothing new. Have you purchased things on Amazon? They change prices up and down sometimes within the same day.

Things that impact pricing are mostly supply and demand, but also reorders and returns.

I'm not sure why anyone correlates the pricing with the 50 campaign, but that's not how corporations work. The convention in Las Vegas was probably paid mostly by vendors plus portions were tax write offs. I have worked for a few large corporations and am working for one now. We have conventions in Las Vegas every other year and that's how they work.

lynnie61 · ‎04-28-2010

It's like that at many stores, Amazon, etc. Prices go up and down.

But, brick and mortar stores usually don't raise clearance prices after they reduce it, because they want it gone - bottom line, clear it out. I used to buy more lunchtime specials. With final sale, not willing to try it at those higher fluctuating prices. Which now QVC wants to take off $5 or $10 on a $70 $80 top then I can't return? No thanks. I can get clearance tops at kohls and Macys for under $20. I've seen some lower prices on products, that were MORE in as is, than it was non as is items. What the heck? 20 in as is and 16 in regular.

Puppy Lips · ‎05-09-2010

I agree that the QVC pricing is ridiculous. That plus all the different names for all the price points. And I laugh when they say, "This is a XXX value that you are getting for XX." The item is worth what I pay for it, and nothing more.

I know these are all sales tactics, and I suppose they work. But I am getting tired of QVC overall. Not just all the price jumping, but the hosts, the same products over and over, and the never ending return issues. Plus the fact that they took away price adjusments.

I have recently dipped my toe into ordering some tops from Amazon. So far, I have been happy with what I have received, for far less than QVC prices.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. Margaret Mead

Othereeeen · ‎03-13-2010

@Puppy Lips

A LOT of QVC vendor's stuff shows up on Ebay too....brand new....A poster on thei forum buys from them...

THey probably have some kind of algorithm that detects interest in items placed on "sale".....how many are in people's carts waiting to purchase may indicate renewed interest and hence the price adjusts UP because they figure people will buy it at the new slightly higher price that is still below the sale price!!!

Anyway.....it's not some person in some department deciding the prices from hour to hour....it's computerized inventory control would be my guess.

There's an algorithm for everything today....

I agree with one thing...there are a LOT of other places to shop that don't have Q's onerous policies and issues.

And they don't have ridiculous sales people trying to entertain you when all you want to do is buy a shirt.

NYCLatinaMe · ‎01-14-2017

@Catch71 I have been seeing this for some time. There have been previous threads about it.

I agree with @Tori3569 that QVC must be using a pricing algorithm like Amazon, though Amazon seems responsive to my individual shopping practices and I don't think QVC is that refined. In Amazon, if I look at something twice, Amazon sometimes gives me a discount; the third time, the price has gone up. Happened yesterday. Thankfully I still had the discount price window open, and bought the item at the discounted price from the old still open window. Would never happen in qvc with a price change, so it does not appear individualized.

With QVC, there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the pricing. There does seem to be a correlation with inventory, and whether they intend to continue selling the item in the future. But can't assume prices on inventory on items QVC is not bringing back only goes down, sometimes they go up. I am guessing a lot of the sales didn't go through or there were tons of returns, so they have more inventory after they put it on clearance. Maybe the pricing is based on we will sell X number at this price, and then can go lower. Unless QVC thinks it can continue to sell at the higher price. Something like that.

The pricing practices they discussed in the past no longer apply. Some hosts still repeat them ("lowest price ever"), but maybe this is out of rote. Or maybe they just mean prices on TV and not on the internet. The website has a disclaimer about pricing on the videos.

Catch71 · ‎03-09-2010

@Tori3569 wrote:
Dynamic pricing in retail is nothing new. Have you purchased things on Amazon? They change prices up and down sometimes within the same day.
Things that impact pricing are mostly supply and demand, but also reorders and returns.

I'm not sure why anyone correlates the pricing with the 50 campaign, but that's not how corporations work. The convention in Las Vegas was probably paid mostly by vendors plus portions were tax write offs. I have worked for a few large corporations and am working for one now. We have conventions in Las Vegas every other year and that's how they work.

Yes, I realize Amazon does this too. I bought something and it dropped $40. a day later. I called and they do not do price adjustments.

Catch71 · ‎03-09-2010

@Tori3569

Okay; I have not worked for a large corporation so I was not aware.

Effie54 · ‎09-08-2010

@Catch71 I agree with you. I have several items on my Wishlist that have prices that go up and down like a yo-yo. I have not seen any other stores or websites that do that. It makes no sense to me either. Like you, I was hoping for free shipping. Nope....and the prices went up. So off my list they go. And yes, I know there are other places to shop.

AZfem · ‎04-13-2016

I'm used to how regular stores do pricing. Items have a price on a ticket. Sale signs are put on the rack - 25% off or whatever during usually weekend sales. After a rime, items are marked down & go to a 25% clearance rack. Then a 50% clearance rack, then 75%. Sometimes the clearance racks will have an extra off clearance like take an extra 25% off clearance.

QVC does not seem to do this. They even change the regular price of an item, which in a store would be marked on a ticket. So we have no idea even of what the regular price is since there's no ticket we can see.

It's very misleading.