TV SHOPPING JUNKIES UNITE
 Jul 24th, 2001
Advantages:
some good bargains, easy to buy, occasionally entertaining
Disadvantages:
TOO Easy to buy for some people, bland presenters in the extreme
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Quality and consistency of programmes
Range of programming
Quantity of advertising
Value for money
  flashpointz
About me:
-- Well, just popped in for a coffee and hey guess what - I wrote a review! Its been a while, but I...
Member since:06.07.2000
Reviews:379
Members who trust:272
Review rated by 42 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
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I will hold my hands high in the air and confess to you all…..I’ve bought something from QVC! Yes I did and then I did it again. That’s two items, both worked and both seemed like very good buys at the time (and probably still are if only I ever used the darn things!)
QVC hit these shores probably around the same time that we all went Cable and Satellite barmy. This is cheap TV Programming taken to the blandest, farthest horizon. Some of the ‘presenters’ (or salespersons in effect) are fairly well known faces on TV. There was that bloke that used to pop up on Anglia TV sometimes, reading the news…Richard something or other maybe (Another confession here, I cant remember the guy’s name, but he did once switch on the Christmas lights in my town….woweee!). Then there was that woman who sometimes appears on morning terrestrial TV presenting
a goddawful and very cheap housewives game show. And lately a new presenter has turned up – none other that Debbie Greenwood. One time BBC Breakfast TV Presenter, until universally panned as being hopeless and has plumbed the depths of Daytime TV Since (last seen gushing over the prospects of a holiday in Benidorm, on TV Travel Shop channel) . OK, do I sound particularly disdainful about QVC, well I shouldn’t. It is a success, because if it wasn’t then it would have closed long ago. Pioneered in the US, it is an extention of those ‘infomercials’ that you see if you fall asleep watching Eurosport some nights, wake up and find a far too hyper host spouting about the wonders of a particular set of cookware – or worse! Each day is split into segments of an hour – usually. Each with a new host presenting… ‘Diamonique’ – even better than the real thing, you can’t tell the difference between this cheap glass and a one carat diamond (if not, please catch our show at 4pm entitled ‘New Specs for less’) …or “Joan Rivers Fantastic Costume Jewellry”….or “Jumpers and knitwear that you could buy off the market for a fiver – today ‘one time only’ - £12.98”.
All the shows hype the products. Some are one virtually every day. Those space saver bags for example. Who buys those? Probably very useful – once! The Tefal cookware range is always good, as are many of the brand name electrical products and the Computer/Digital offers that QVC have. But everybody waits, hushed, with baited breath as the countdown to Midnight begins…waiting for that day’s new ‘TSV’ – Today’s Special Value!!! Yes, if you’ve ever watched QVC you have seen a never-to-be-repeated TSV. Some sell out quickly while others are still being plugged at 11pm with 25% sold – get in quick (as if!)
I’ve heard stories of the QVC Addiction. Women (sorry, ladies – it is usually women), who get their credit card handy and buy whatever takes their fancy. Can’t wait till it gets delivered a few days later. Then possibly hide it away from the ‘old man’ in case he goes bananas! It is too easy to buy something from QVC. You have Money Back guarantees (but I wonder how often they get returns – we ARE British and tend to suffer in silence even if we’ve made a boo boo). Then there are the ‘Easy Pay’ purchases for certain items. Spread your payment over two or even three months. This panders to the long held Britrish tradition of the ‘club-book’, the Grattans, GUS, Littlewoods, Catalogie shopping. So many people get into financial trouble with them too. Anyway, bottom line – Shopping is now an entertainment and QVC are in the vanguard, leading the way adding some US Razzmatazz with such as Fitness guru Tony Little’s ‘in-yer-face’ sales techniques. Add to that, the British smarminess of one of two of the presenters and of course, who could forget the ‘In the salon with Alison’ shows? Is it just me or do they make you just cringe and curl up in your chair. (Although one of the models is pretty sexy – especially if you are a saddo watching at 1am in the morning!)
QVC – Quality, Value and .....
oh I forget to tell you what I bought. I bought a Rexel Laminator at a bargain price of £45. I’ve used it a couple of times too. It looked like a real good idea, till it arrived and I could hardly think of a thing to use it for. And a back up Printer for my PC – A Lexmark Z11 – not bad quality but sloooooooow. And sitting there still as a back up to my trusty Epson.....
.....and C is for Customers – you and me and the lady next door. We may slag QVC off, but without the millions of customers, they’d not be around. They must be doing something right.
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Related tags for QVC - QVC
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15.01.2007 12:26
very helpful review. Laura
14.08.2001 19:40
Although I have never bought anything from QVC I have to admit I have watched it on a few occasions. My fiance and I often pause on the channel and have a giggle midst channel hopping. We love the way they take so long to advertise one item only to find that you get endless free stuff to go with it, it's had us in stitches I can tell you!
27.07.2001 14:37
Erm, I confess! I too have bought stuff from QVC. But to be honest, have always found the quality to be superb and it's even better now that they have collectible bears hours! It's the presenters that put me off the most, so amateur it's unbelievable sometimes!