Shopping Channel - Ideal World

I'm not sure how I got started watching the home television shopping channels but I have been buying things from them for about 4 years now.

I have bought from the bid up and price drop channels, QVC and just recently from Ideal World.

Ideal World sells everything from craft goods, beauty products, garden tools, jewellery, clothes, shoes and many other great products for use around the home. They broadcast on free-view and paid for cable/satellite subscriptions. Each hour has a specific theme such as create and craft, pick of the day, gardening in style etc.

Some of the presenters can be a little over the top and irritating at times, but 1 presenter is never on for more than an hour and they are usually joined by an expert in the field of whatever they are selling so you can ignore what they are saying and just focus on the products being shown.

Whilst flicking through the channels trying to find something worth watching I came across Ideal World, they had a crafting special on, and being a card maker/scrapbooker myself I thought I would watch for some much needed inspiration.

I ended up spending a small fortune! Usually the postage and packaging fees are enough to put you off with at least £5 being added to what you think is a bargain price for some cards, but when added you think I might as well get a bus into town and go to a craft shop! However, part of the craft special was free p+p (postage and packaging), this meant that the price you saw on screen was the price you paid.

Another drawback is the 0871 number they want you to call to order, well they have to make their money some way don't they?! But you could also order online (www.idealworld.tv), again it would be free! I just had to have a go.

I went online and found the items that I wanted, put them in my basket and proceeded to checkout. Once there I was informed I need to either log-in or join up (which is free of charge), so I entered a few details such as name and address etc and a log-in number was sent to my email address so I was able to log-in and pay for my goods. It took about 1 week for my first order to arrive by royal mail, my second order (I just couldn't resist some great priced holographic card) came by local courier in just a few days!

So far I have had no spam emails from them or any unwanted contact. I have been informed by post of another craft special they are running for the bank holiday weekend, with free p+p again, but I can't watch it in case I spend even more money!

They do have a special craft club that costs £20 for 1 years membership, as a member you get 10% off all craft items and some other special deals and freebies (although I bet not many freebies!), so if you make a lot of cards then this could be a real money saver.

I have been really impressed with the speed of delivery and the quality of goods is great, just as shown on the television. The good are quite well packaged without going over the top (looking at it from an environmental point of view). I have spent quite a lot of time looking at craft items in some high end specialist shops and I can say that some of the products sold are not the highest quality but they are good, and the prices are definitely a match for craft shops and often a little bit cheaper if you don't want the highest class finish.