QVC "guests" and their products (unavailable anywhere else)

[ChristineJ]

I only buy a bit from QVC. My mom buys a lot, but I am perplexed at all the "guests" on QVC. Who are they? Why aren't their products available elswhere? What are their qualifications and how did they get these positions? Is QVC pulling the wool over our eyes with these overpriced products endorsed by the sugarcoated guests?

Let me give a few examples--
Valerie Parr Hill--who is she? What company does she run? Why isn't her stuff available elsewhere?

Lori Grenier--same thing? What is her company?

Thomas Pacconi (which reminds me...my mother bought a small table from his company.....it was so rickety and poorly made....but my mother was too embarrassed to send it back)

Susan Graver (she creates the tackiest fashions)....Why doesn't she sell her stuff in other stores? What is her training?

Also--what is up with these fake clothing companies--Indigo Moon, Breezies (why can't you buy breezies in any store or order from their website...because it is not a real company!!!), citiknits, dialogue, etc.

I just find it annoying that QVC has these and other people on who are not really entrepreneurs, but sort of like false CEO's or something. I just find it to be so false that they have these clothing "companies" on......it just seems so dishonest to me and I just wonder...
How many of their customers are gullible people like my mom (would Quaker Factory really sell at Dillards or JC Penney's?)

[LJC]

Thomas Pacconi and Lori Grenier ~ you can find their things in stores. (For example, the clothes hangers she sold as a TSV awhile back are available at Target.)
Jeanne Bice used to sell her clothing in upscale boutiques, not dept. stores.
As for the rest of them, they are legitimite business people, I'm sure, who enter into exclusive contracts with QVC. They would be considered "small business" owners.

[UnAmused]

you can find valerie parr hill stuff at www.candlemart.com

[Iniseire]

Oh my gosh, UnAmused!! I just went to candlemart.com and searched for Hanna's candles. I can't believe how inexpensive they are at this web site. They're a fraction of what QVC is charging. Thanks for the tip!!

[ladybug]

Indigo Moon -- is sold in boutiques. The hosts say that the designer, Julia Kay, sells by another name at a much higher price. Last spring I was in a small boutique-style store and saw jackets very similar to Indigo Moon. The label was "Julia Kay." It was much more expensive than Indigo Moon!

[ChristineJ]

Two questions--
What are Hanna's candles and how do I find them on QVC?

Second--I don't know how QVC operates, but I still think that QVC invents these lines or props them up as something they are not. For instance, my mother has a huge collection of Fenton Art Glass that she bought at QVC. When she had to sell the house and move to a smaller apartment, we tried to sell the stuff--we sold a few things on E Bay at a huge loss.....the stuff is nice but is not so collectible that it will appreciate in value....I guess that is what ticks me off....the prices at QVC are rather high for what they are giving and they go after the most vulnerable......

My mother thought that the Fenton Art Glass would be worth a fortune....she thought of it as an investment (not wise on her part), but QVC does push the stuff.....

Fenton is a legitimate company with a long history, but I think a lot of the other stuff on QVC -- as I said before-- is overpriced and overrated. Susan Graver clothing is awful (my mother has bought me several pieces) and it is so overpriced. I get better stuff at Walmart (and I don't like their clothes) and when Dillards or Parisians run a sale, I get much nicer stuff at a much more attractive price......

And--just one last thing--if Susan Graver is a real designer, where did she train? Why are her fashions so ugly (most of the time)? Same with so many others on QVC.....

[UnAmused]

for hanna's candles on qvc, just type in valerie parr hill on the search feature and her line will pop up. Hannah's candle company is the maker of the candles that she sells on qvc. She has about 200 or so different items. Valerie also has a website (but it's not very good) that tells you about her. It is www.askvalerie.com

[beekeeper]

I can see why christinej has her views about QVC ... I totally agree about one thing, who are some of these people?!? I doubt they are actual companies ... rather in-house designers. THAT is why I would LOVE to see a "meet the vendor" page on the web-site.

HOWEVER, most of us DO know the likes of: Joan Rivers, Nolan Miller, Judith Ripka, Smashbox, Bare Escenutals, Philosephy, Laura Gellar, Pro-active, Dennis Basso, Bob Mackie, Donna Dewbury, Hummel and Thomas Kinkade.

I'm sure there are better prices on a lot of this stuff out there, but I've never seen the selection of gold and silver jewelry anywhere else. Granted, there is a lot of crap, but there is a lot of quality pieces as well! One of my girlfriends works for one of the "mall jewelers", and can't come close to some of QVC prices for gold pieces.

PLUS, I bought my kitchen aid mixer at QVC for almost $100 less than out at the stores. I see QVC (and HSN for that matter) as just another source for shopping ... I don't depend on it for anything, except maybe entertainment. I can see where it would be a godsend for those who are home bound!

[lancaster]

They seem pretty honest about vendors. I think every
time Julia Kay is on they mention her higher priced line.
How did the jacket you saw at the boutique compare with
Indigo Moon. Susan Graver supposedly designed (with her
mother-in-law) for department stores. Whether or not
the merchandise is good, I do think they are honest
re the vendors. I had a friend who was a vendor years
ago--she had a small costume jewelry business. I think
they are pretty careful with big names and maybe that's
why they say "exclusive to QVC."

[ChristineJ]

THanks for the feedback on Valerie Parr Hill, but when I went to her page, I had to gag....it is such fiction....

First, I really doubt she drives a 1994 Green Volvo. I am only a school secretary and my car is a 1999..... I am sure she makes more money than me.

Also, it says "Dinner Valerie Serves A Lot". PLEASE! If she is on QVC all the time and runs a company, doesn't she have someone helping her at home???? A nanny or at least a housekeeper?

And if she is running a company, why is she serving dinner instead of her husband Will (so his name is Will Hill????)

And her husband really wrote that hooey up? I don't believe it for a minute.

It is just an image they are trying to project. I am sure she is a nice lady and everything but just like so much on QVC, I think this is all image and all fiction.

I am a 40 year old school secretary with three kids (ages 16, 13 and 5) and between my husband and me, there is so little time to do anything. My kids are lucky when dinner isn't McDonald's or Pizza Hut or Waffle House. I just can't see her serving dinner on a daily basis.....I wish QVC would level with people.

[ladybug]

Lancaster, the Julia Kay jackets I saw were very similar to the QVC Indigo Moons. In fact, one caught my eye because it was almost exactly the same color/pattern as one I have! They also have the unique buttons that are on Indigo Moon and the workmanship looked the same. I was most caught up in the fact that the prices were about $30 higher than Indigo Moon!

[SIRGAL]

Some of the vendors came on board after the nationwide tour QVC did some years back where they went to every state and showed items from local entrepreneurs. I think the Chesapeake crab cake people and Quaker Factory came on board that way. I am sure there were others discovered then also. Most of the items you never saw again, but others became regulars. I loved those shows--wish they would do them again.

No doubt, many of the items they sell are just for QVC even from the established names and they usually say that. Is the quality the same? That's debatable.

As far as Fenton is concerned, it is a long established name. I don't ever recall their saying how it would increase in value and though I do see it in antique shops, I would not know how asking prices compare with original. I have been to their plant, outlet store, and museum in Ohio. The stuff in the store generally seemed very expensive to me.

What I find annoying is when they sell the "made for collectors market" items such as coins, sports items, etc. They suggest that that stuff is valuable when it deed the real value lies is things really used in the sport or the market place. OVC is certainly the only place that sells that junk.

[lebonte]

Indigo Moon on Qvc is a good deal. Lady Bug is right I own and Julia Kay from the dept store(on sale). Have had it for years and I own a couple of Indigo Moon Jackets they are identical quality. In fact my dept store jacket is almost identical to one offered on QVC now. I got a good deal on my Dept Store jacket but they are much higher overall for the same thing.

[pekachryn]

Susan Graver claims her clothes used to be sold in Bloomingdale's catalog. I doubt that, though I do admit to having many of her clothes. I like the lustra knits (travel well) and used to wear a lot of peachskin. Have a couple of really cute, plain jean jackets of hers, too. But, some of her print stuff is hideous. I bought one or two pieces (guess it's because I was half asleep at 6am when she comes on), but I never wore them. Looked 'cute' on the models, but out in the real world it would look like KMart rejects.

[beekeeper]

I just don't like buying clothes off the internet or from a shopping channel. I want to touch, feel and try it on NOW! There is always a sale somewhere ... so QVC's low prices aren't that special. Especially the basics, which is what most of the QVC lines offer ... you can get the same thing (style/quality) from any Mervyns, Kohls or JC Penney. I can understand if you can't get out of the house, but when I consider the lack of variety and shipping charges ... the mall looks pretty darned good ... PLUS I can get a pretzel or cinnabon!

[Precsissy]

Sad to say, I HAV E seen Susan Gabby clothes in Bloomies catalogues - but that was a long long time ago - before she began designing 'exclusively' for QVC. And yes, the quality of her clothing is somewhere below Walmart and KMart. Way below.

As far as Fenton goes, yes, it is pricey. But like with many things, it doesn't become a 'collectlble' [i.e., rises in price] for many many years. If you look at some of there really old pieces on ebay and other places you will find that they have greatly increased in value. But when you purchase anything with an eye to a value increase, you need to wait it out.

I have a huge collection of David Winter houses [some from QVC] which I paid a enormous amount for and most are practically valueless at this point. But I purchased them because I like them, not because I hoped to make a killing or even for eventual resale. That's always a gamble.

It a particular vendor annoys you, don't watch. That's what I do - Susan Gabby in my opinion is the worst vendor ever and I won't watch her until they tape her mouth and legs so she stops prancing around. To me it's like putting someone on 'ignore' and I find it very peaceful.

[beekeeper]

Tape over Susan Gabby's mouth and legs ... LOL ... lol ... good one precsissy! lol ...

I don't watch a show with vendors I don't like. LUCKILY, I tend to like all the jewelry vendors ... :-)

Believe me ... if I see Jeanne Bice or Susan Graver, it get's flipped immediately! AHHHHHH!! ... running out of the room screaming ...

[greentea]

I have seen many of the things VPH sales on the Q at a local store called the Amish Store. They are also a bit cheaper at the Amish Store.

[paperdolli]

I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL Q FAN FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS BUT HAVE TO SAY THAT
I am very upset that QVC no longer carries Michael diCesare hair products. These were packaged by and for QVC and I can no longer get my favorite hair item in the whole world, liquifix. I feel betrayed (and flat-haired to boot) and will never again allow myself to develope a product loyalty to anything that Q sells exclusively.

I love the Bare Ecentials line and am happy that I can buy it several other places.

I have seen the Indigo Moon, under a different label, for sale elsewhere and QVC prices are more than fair. I am disappointed that they don't carry more petite sizes as well as size 5 shoes.

I love Nolan Miller and J.K. Lane costume jewelry but Joan Rivers refuses to stand behind her jewelry products so I never buy hers anymore though most of it does seem to retain its value on eBay.

The Fenton is wonderful but most of their items will have to age a decade or three to go up in value except for some of their limited edition pieces.

There, I feel much better!

[QVC Queen]

I love Michael DiCesare too. You can get it on Ebay. I hear he is going to HSN. Have to want it awful bad to go there/ Try Ebay. Let me know if you find it. I just bought three bottles of oat hairwash

[paperdolli]

Yes, I have been watching eBay for several days now and am wondering how these people got a "heads up" that this was going to happen and to lay in a supply. I have two bottles squirreled away at my AZ home but am very low here in Wisconsin where I need it the most. I like the oat wash, too, but can get by with another brand; I won't compete with you. Thanks for the reply.

[FrannyD]

I have to say I whole-heartedly agree with all of you about Susan Gabby. I definitely have to mute the t.v. when she's on, as well as try not to look at her. But I have a burning question that I hope someone can answer -- what's up with Jean Bice and that headband??? I must know why she wears it all the time!

[QVC Queen]

She has severe hot flashes and sweats profusely./ Really/

[RainbowGirl]

I absolutely LOVE Indigo Moon Jackets (the really BRIGHT and BOLD ones.) What TICKS me off is that the UK QVC price for the same things on the US QVC price is so much HIGHER. e.g a jacket that sells for $56 is £52. A jacket and tee shirt supposedly on special offer was the same££36 but $37 with TWO tee shirts. Also AVAILABILITY in UK is abominable. I have to buy most of what I like from E BAY as it is never in stock, or available (at all)on the UK site
USA customers get all the funky designs!
I e mailed Julia Kay 3 times while she was on air at QVC recently but NO REPLY to questions - such as why is the zig zag and swirl jacket listed in 3 colourways (but oinly available in 2) on QVCUK listed in EIGHT colourways in the USA!!
HOW MUCH were the "Julia Kay" Jackets in the boutique? (still less than QVCUK I am guessing!)
Hilary

[Curvigirl]

Hi Hilary! Nice to have a poster from the UK. Please tell us more about QVC on the other side of the "pond"!

[Newbie]

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QVC Queen:
I love Michael DiCesare too. You can get it on Ebay. I hear he is going to HSN. Have to want it awful bad to go there/ Try Ebay. Let me know if you find it. I just bought three bottles of oat hairwash
www.tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1117006
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There were quite a few Christopher Radko ornaments that he designed "Exclusively for QVC". They are now selling on Ebay for $1.00.

[Rebel_Mom]

Let's face it, most of these "collectible" items only have value to someone who actually collects them.