There's nothing the Sunday broadsheets like better, than to mock the afflicted: those "sad" individuals who spend all their time in front of the growing multiplicity of shopping channels on digital television.
So what channels are these, then? Well, QVC is the most famous, having been established for seven years in the UK, and in the States before that. QVC has established itself as the leading TV shopping channel, partly because of its arrival first on the scene, but also through superb customer service, attracting celebrities onto its shows,prompt delivery, honest pricing, its "Today's Special
Value" and its selection of presenters. (On this last point, QVC has suffered badly since losing Paul Lavers and Debbie Flint to Ideal World TV).
I would agree with comments made elsewhere that sometimes the presenters are obviously desperate for something else to say about a product. I have seen programmes where the products scheduled for an hour have been sold out after 40 minutes, and the poor presenter has nothing else to sell.
Of course, what this means is that QVC is not short of viewers in the UK, and plenty of people are buying their products.
At present, it is the most professionally presented of the shopping channels.
I have already mentioned Ideal World, a station which came on air last April with the promise of being different. So they auctioned a car in the first show. There is a fine line-up of presenters, headed up by Steve Whatley (who some readers will know from Richard & Judy shows, amongst others), Paul Lavers and Debbie Flint. Promising new presenters include Chloe Marshall and, to some degree, "Bill The Drill".
Ideal World is following in QVC's footsteps, but to give it its due, it is trying to be different: a little rougher at the edges (deliberately so), more informal, less scripted. In general, it's much more fun. I must say, though, that there are some presenters who really haven't made the grade and who give me (and my wife) the creeps.
There are three TV holiday channels - that is, selling holidays. They are much of a muchness, and seem to concentrate on the most popular destinations: Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Florida, etc. I've been waiting for them to do some detailed work on Oz and NZ, but it seems I wait in vain.
There's an auction channel which started just a couple of months ago: bid-up.tv - with the same web address. After a shaky start it seems to have settled down into a more professional and satisfying presentation. What this station sometimes forgets, I feel, is that the star of the show is the product, not the two presenters who overdo everything. Apparently, the station is approaching break-even; I hope so. At present, programming is too same-y and repetitive, a criticism I would level at some other channels, too.
If you look at daytime programming, it's pretty dire, real sleep-inducing stuff. It is better at the weekends,though, with a wider range of programmes.
In this respect, the shopping channels are no different from anyone else,
I cannot finish this short review without mentioning the absolutely dire Shop - a channel available on ONdigital as well as SkyDigital. I was digging manure out of a huge stack of accumulated horse poo yesterday afternoon, and for some reason started to contemplate the shopping scene on SkyDigi! I quickly realised the connection. And it was Shop.
Here is an unquestionably downmarket channel. A lot of those things you have had for many years as Christmas gifts, without knowing what they do or what they are for, or why Auntie Enid ever gave them to you, are now featured regularly on Shop.
Undoubtedly the most bizarre channel is ShopAmerica. Run by monied fingers, the channel shows repeat after repeat of old shows (hour-long ads included) from both sides of the Atlantic. If you haven't watched the Atkins Diet program, you must!
I do believe that I'm beginning to lose my concentration, as it is past 03:30 in the morning. So, unless ShopAmerica has a quick cure to sell to me, I'm going to get some shut-eye.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comments about this review »
droopsnout 18.02.2001 14:52
Thanks, "From". I actually set out to write this with a clear goal in mind, but kept falling asleep whilst I was writing it, and lost my thread completely. I logged on just now to see if I should try to delete the op. But if you like it, I'll leave it!
From_The_Continent 18.02.2001 04:59
Excelent opinion, very accurate and well written. Seems like there are only three of us around this time of the night.
Advantages: Convenient,good value,variety of goods ,freephone,prompt delivery Disadvantages: May be a bit too convenient , you have to pay for returns,postage charges
grafter123 15.12.2006 (22.04.2008)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC - QVC
Advantages: Easy to watch, and convenient from the comfort of your own home. Disadvantages: P & P with no discount and sometimes over pushy presenters!
Bouncebackability 26.06.2005 (26.06.2005)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC - QVC
Advantages: Shop from home, return no questions asked, Huge amount of products Disadvantages: Same as catalogues; can't smell perfume, try clothes etc. Sometimes sell out of products
Guccilady 02.09.2001 (02.09.2001)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC - QVC
Advantages: No queues or crowds, products demonstrated,entertaining to watch, prompt delivery Disadvantages: high p&p charges, some shows long winded and boring
scribbelle 31.08.2002 (01.09.2002)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC - QVC
Advantages: Shop from home. Large choice of products. special offers. Disadvantages: Postage costs for every item, even when ordering several products.
Lethal-Injection 08.03.2004 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC
Feb 18th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
