Shopping from Your Television Set

Shopping from your television, preceded shopping online. The basic concept is that you watch demonstrations of the products on your television and then you call in to order the item. Now, this concept has expanded to the web and you can also purchase items online. Watch mini video demonstrations online, see what was recently shown on television and visit items that are on clearance that aren't shown on television.

There are three players in the television retailer business. QVC, HSN and ShopNBC.

Each of these broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Show hosts take you through the products and special guest, bring their specialized product lines to the shows. Each hour is either theme based like "In the Kitchen" or product based for example a hour of clothing. Each day, there is a special buy item that is discounted. Each company has a different name for this item but the concept is the same.

QVC one of my favorite television shopping sites has been in business since 1986. QVC offers quality affordable products for every day use to collector's specials. QVC is headquartered in Studio Park, which is in West Chester, PA. You can tour the facility, the tour is truly entertaining and educational if you are interested in a behind the scenes kind of a tour. There is a shop on site, called the studio store. QVC also offers outlet stores at five locations: Estero, FL, Frazer, PA, Lancaster, PA, Rehobeth Beach, DE and Prices Corner, DE as well as a storefront at the Mall of America.

Tours are available every hour on the hour, 7 days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and admission is only $7.50 per adult, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 years. Reservations are not necessary for parties up to 9 people. An adult must accompany children under the age of 18. All adult tour guests are asked to bring identification.

HSN calls itself the original shopping network. Originating in 1977 on a local radio program, it transitioned to local cable and then national cable in 1986. Beginning as Home Shopping Club transitioned into Home Shopping Network - HSN. Similar to QVC, HSN also has a web presence offering similar functionality. HSN is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. While the quality of product is good at HSN, I personally feel QVC's products are a bit better in quality.

Over time, I have seen show hosts jump from QVC to HSN and vice versa. It makes sense; there aren't many options for the specially trained hosts. Interestingly, the show hosts have a style of speaking to us directly that makes the viewer feel befriended. Buyers call in to share testimonies with the products and to talk with their favorite hosts. You will often hear a caller say, "You are my favorite host". Dedicated viewers often know personal details about their favorite host.

ShopNBC the baby of broadcast shopping got its start in 1990. They are headquartered in Minnesota and have one outlet store located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. My personal opinion of this company is that the items are over priced. They may be higher end quality items but they don't seem to be impulse buys, at least for my budget. This is the only television-shopping network I have not purchased an item from.

Each of these: QVC, HSN and ShopNBC can be found on many local cable channels. The stations vary from market to market so check your local channel guide for their station. If you don't have access to the cable version you can find each one online at their respective websites listed below:

http://www.QVC.com

http://www.HSN.com

http://www.shopNBC.com