QVC keeps the competitors at bay (QVC)

Member Name: faithlessone

Product:	QVC
Date:	05/11/08 (334 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality products and choice

Disadvantages: The price and heavy p+p costs

QVC is the longest running shopping channel available on freeview and satelite television. After broadcasting in America successfully for several years it came to air on British television in 1993 some ten years after it first aired on American television.

It has seen off many competitors over the years and yet it's products are not cheap in price comparison. The presenters appear proffessional and believe in the products they are selling, all claim the prices are very competitive and that you are getting a really good deal, but in truth the majority of brands that are sold on QVC are not cheap brands so you are getting what you paid for.

QVC have a regular number of viewers and products repeatedly sell out on a daily basis. I first caught this channel whilst channel hopping one day when my twin girls were little and having their afternoon nap. I was suprised at how much some of the items were selling for and that they appeared to be selling out. After watching the channel for a while I became a regular weekly viewer to their craft shows.

Their craft shows are extremely popular and even though the presenters may change the resident craft expert Dawn Bibby appears with many demonstrations of craft products enticing you to part with your money. I thoroughly enjoy the craft shows but tend to wait for when QVC host a craft day and have a craft tsv (todays special value) to buy any items. Prices are expensive but the quality is extremely good.

Delivery with QVC is quite expensive and differs dependent on the item you are buying. Returns have to be funded by yourself which can become costly and of course the item you are returning may be refunded but not the postage. QVC hold postage free days/weekends but these are infrequent and to be honest by the time you have bought your item or items and then added on the p+p you are out of pocket by a few quid. That said QVC do offer a variety of payment terms, by cheque which obviously they have to wait for it to clear before sending out your order, debit card or credit card. All purchases with the channel require you to have an account which only takes a few minutes to set up. Once you have given your personal details they will ask you to make a pin number so that they can ascertain it is indeed you that they are talking to, this pin number can also be used with their automated phone ordering system and of course on line.

QVC stands for quality, value and choice and whilst I agree it has choice and in general good quality items the value is seriously lacking. QVC does sell quite a good variety of items, womans clothing, jewelery, cosmetics, hair care, craft items and a variety of homewares and electronics but it's mainly the craft items and the cosmetics that I like to watch the channel for.

Overall QVC is a polished shopping channel that represents the higher spectrum of the market by selling higher priced branded goods. Good deals can be found on the channel though in their clearance shows and in their today's special value items. The presenters knowledge of the products that they are selling is very good and helps you to decide whether the product is for you.

The customer service department has in my experience been very polite and helpful although on occassions there has been long queues but as the call is free you can't really complain at that.

I have over the years been introduced to many excellent hair care, cosmetic and skin care brands to which initially I thought were only available from the channel but have since found out that they are prestigious brands sold worldwide. Such brands as Gatineau, Mop, Model prefer cosmetics and many more. While QVC offer such brands I will continue to tune in now and again, just as long as I keep my purse in the drawer!

Summary: A quality home shopping channel