Place your bids now. (bid tv)

Member Name: lellagrace

Product:	bid tv
Date:	17/09/07 (2242 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helpful for housebound

Disadvantages: Can be addictive

I came across Bid TV on my Freeview box by chance whilst browsing through what was available on the different channels. It is on Ch23 on Freeview.

In short, Bid TV is yet another shopping channel where you can bid in two ways for items on offer.

BIDS

The most usual kind of offers are where a product is shown at a high price, which is then lowered - sometimes drastically - to encourage more buyers. For example, an item might start at 80 GBP and be lowered to as little as a fiver. If you bid on it at the original price and the price is then lowered, every bidder pays the lowest price, regardless of what it was when they placed their bid.

Another kind of offer is where they ask for the highest bids and buyers put in their highest offer for an item and it is then sold to the highest bidder.

PRODUCTS

Bid TV offers a large variety of items, from household goods to childrens' toys, CDs, DVDs, Electrical goods, clothing, beauty products, watches and jewellery. In fact it is almost a department store on your tv.

The items on offer are shown and demonstrated on the tv, but you can also see them online at www.bid.tv

You can place bids online before they appear on the television, so this is useful if you are looking for something and will not be able to watch the tv show. Or you can browse through the online offers.

I have bought several items from Bid TV but only before I have checked they were actually cheaper than elsewhere, or not available in the shops.

A few months ago I bought a duvet set and I was delighted with it. The quality was very good and it was in a design that I had not seen elsewhere. But the best part was that it cost me a lot less than a similar set would have cost if I had found it in a shop.

PRICE

Before you bid on anything do make sure that you take into account the additional costs that will be added to your purchase.

Postage and packing can be quite high if the item you are bidding for is heavy, for example with pots and pans. Usually the p and p is around 7.99 for most items, which can seem a bit high when it is for goods that have supposedly cost a fiver or less at the lowest bid price. But do remember this is for post AND packing and I have to say that this company do use sturdy packaging for the goods they send out.

In addition to the post and packing you need to add on the cost of your phone call if placing your bid by phone. These vary according to your phone company, but are not less than a couple of pounds.

Therefore, if you bid on something that seems a bargain price, do check that after you have added on these extras that you are still getting a bargain.

HOW TO BID

Before you can bid you have to register with the company. This is straightforward and you have to supply your personal details plus bank or credit card details and create a password.

Once the registration process is completed you can ring up and make a bid on anything you want to buy. The automated service is quick and easy to use, so you are not spending hours on the phone waiting to speak to someone.

Alternatively, you can register online by following the simple process shown on the website and then place your bids.

DELIVERY

I have to say that whenever I have bought from Bid TV the items have been delivered within a couple of days, which is excellent. They are sent by private courier usually, but do be aware that sometimes these couriers leave items on the doorstep if you are not at home. This is not the fault of Bid TV of course, but it has happened to me on a couple of occasions and I have complained to the courier company.

GUARANTEE

Anything you buy has a no quibble money back guarantee, should the product not be to your liking or be faulty.

SUMMARY

Bid Tv is ideal for anyone who wants the convenience of shopping from home. You can see what you want to buy and have it delivered.

There may be times when you receive items and they are not what you thought they would be like. In this case you then have the hassle of returning them.

The presenters can become irritating after a few minutes as they try to extol the virtues of the product they are offering. I mean, there is only so much you can say about things and their efforts at making mundane goods seem exciting is very annoying. Not only that, but some of the presenters have voices that are really irritating and it appears that they are on the shopping channel because they have failed to get a job as a presenter elsewhere. I have to say however, that they do a good job, it can't be easy trying to talk for several minutes about some of the things they have on offer.

In conclusion, I think tv and internet shopping channels such as Bid Tv are a great idea, as long as you don't become addicted to them and buy for the sake of it! Be sensible and only bid for things you really want, and you might just get a bargain.

Summary: Bargains are available but do check hidden costs