I AM still here - just not writing as much now for various reasons. But I'm still reading the odd o...
I AM still here - just not writing as much now for various reasons. But I'm still reading the odd opinion y'know!! :)
Member since:04.10.2000
Reviews:55
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Are you a bit of a shopping addict? Is your idea of heaven hunting for the latest products and looking for a bargain? Do you crave a shopping fix when you are sitting at home?
Well, if you have answered YES to one or more of the above questions then it may be too late and you may have already discovered the joys of shopping on QVC.
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For those of you unfamiliar with QVC, it is a TVshopping channel which broadcasts on satellite and cable. It’s initials stand for Quality, Value and Convenience which is what it promises to offer each and every customer whether they buy online from www.qvcuk.com or from the TV channel itself.
However, QVC is much more than just a shopping channel as, over the years, the presenters have developed their characters, become cult celebrities and have established QVC as the premium soap opera of the shopping world. Who could forget when Cara had her baby, Jilly got married and Steve disappeared without a word only to turn up on This Morning as "Gadget Man". Then Paul left to start up a rival shopping channel (Ideal World),
Debbie jumped ship to join him and they both found the long lost Gadget Man Steve who had escaped Richard and Judy’s clutches.
A bit far fetched, yes, but every word is true and many people watch this channel, buy the products and regard the presenters as their friends. This can be seen night after night as callers phone in to praise the service, find out how to use a product and ask after the presenter’s family. One lady even phoned in to give beauty guru Alison Young advice about how to treat her sick horse.
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For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity of seeing this home shopping phenomenon, QVC sells a wide range of products 24 hours a day, 364 days a year. For the missing one day (Christmas day), the channel broadcasts repeats as the presenters sit at home with their families eating turkey and Christmas pudding.
A typical QVC day starts at 12 midnight when Today’s Special Value (TSV) is aired for the first time. This is a product which is the main item for the day and is sold at a discount for the next 24 hours. The TSV programme usually runs live for two hours and at 2am, QVC night-time takes over which shows pre-recorded shows from the previous few days. From 7-9am, the TSV hours are shown again for those that were unable to stay up late.
As of 9am that day until 2am the next morning QVC broadcasts live with obviously a new TSV at midnight. Throughout the day, each hour has a theme eg. Diamonique, In The Salon, and Pokemon Fever to name a few with the TSV product featuring heavily in certain hours. Presenters alternate every few hours or so just to make sure that they don’t collapse from exhaustion and the general public do not get too bored with the same person.
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QVC generally sell products from reputable firms and the majority are therefore of decent quality. However as with all shopping channels, not everything is as good as it looks on the TV and you may end up with something that you wished you hadn’t bought. All is not lost, though, as QVC offer a 30 day money back guarantee so if you don’t like it, you can send it back.
I have sent a few products back that just weren’t what I was looking for. The first was relatively small and when I phoned them to let them know, they sent me out a pre-paid postage label, I sent it back in it’s original packaging and my credit card was refunded a few days later. The other product that I had to send back was some exercise equipment that did not work properly. It was obviously too large to send through the post, so it was arranged with White Arrow Couriers to come and collect it. They arrived the day before they were due but luckily I was at home so they were able to take it away and I again got my refund.
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Writing about QVC may make me sound like a sad person (it’s okay, I already know that I am!) but I have had quite a few bargains from them - usually the Today’s Special Value. Regular readers of my beauty reviews here on Ciao will already know that I am a big fan of Aveda, Molton Brown and Liz Earle and QVC is where I purchase the majority of them as they are very hard to find in the shops and QVC sell them at a great discount. However, as with all shopping channels (and some online shops and catalogues) there are some products which work out cheaper to buy in the high street after you add on the postage and packaging charges so it may be worth comparing prices before you buy.
It is easy to order products from QVC and first time shoppers have to register by phoning up the freephone number and giving the operator the item number of the product that you want. You then give them your name, address and payment details (credit or debit card, cheque or postal order) and choose a four digit PIN number. Alternatively, you can register online on their internet website detailed above. When your goods arrive, you receive an invoice which also has the details of your membership number which you will need to make future purchases.
Once you have placed your first order, you can then use their freephone automated ordering line called Q-Cut. This speeds up ordering as all of your details are stored on their computer, you don’t have to speak to an operator and the only requirement is a touch-tone phone and your own personal membership number and secret PIN number (which is all sorted out when you first order).
For the majority of the time, Q-Cut is the best way to order, however, on occasions it decides not to work and transfers you to an operator who has to confirm your details. If you wish your goods to be delivered to an alternative address, you will not be able to use Q-Cut as the operator will have to manually add your new information to the computer.
As I have mentioned before, the postage and packaging charges can be quite high as each item is despatched separately and you are charged for each one. You cannot combine two or more items to make one order or one charge of P&P. In saying this though QVC have introduced a "multibuy offer" - where if you buy two of the same item (has to be exactly the same) - the second P&P is half price. It doesn’t save much (usually around £1.50-£2) but at least they are trying to do something about the charges.
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I personally have had very few problems with their service and, apart from the odd item that I didn’t like, have found their products to be of very good value. My only gripe is with their high postage and packaging charges but on many occasions, even when you add P&P, you can still make a big saving on the high street price.
So if you’re flicking though the channels and see something at an unbelievable price - it might just be a real bargain, but if it isn’t you can always send it back!!
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Comments about this review »
thingywhatsit 13.09.2003 17:06
Very good opinion but I don;t like QVC
kirstymack80 05.07.2003 20:09
I must admit I've had a look on their website (no satellite tv for this gal) and the stuff does look rather inviting! If I saw it on tv, I'd probably purchase alot of stuff I didn't need so probably best I don't look! Good op. KirstyM
emmorticia 18.05.2003 16:36
Hey, it's not sad to buy stuff from here - if it's discounted and saves having to go out in the rain, then it's definitely a good thing! Em x
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)
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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)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of QVC - QVC
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)
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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)
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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)
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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 ·
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