QVC Addicts

By Jennifer Chait

Have trouble resisting flipping to QVC every few minutes? It may be an addiction.

Shopping addiction is never a healthy issue, but QVC addicts are at a huge and distinctive disadvantage. QVC is a visible and easy to access shopping network, which makes it a snap for people to feed their shopping addiction.

Define Shopping or QVC Addicts

There is a difference between enjoying shopping and being addicted to shopping. There is also a difference between a shopping spree vs. real shopping addiction. One key characteristic of any addiction is that it affects other parts of your life in a negative way. For example, you may be thinking, "But, I just like to shop" but, if your over-shopping affects your ability to pay basic bills like rent or electricity, or your shopping takes you away from work or family obligations, that's negative, and these are signs of an addiction.

QVC addicts may also be called compulsive shopping addicts or a spending addict. Another term you may hear is shopaholism. A QVC addict, or shopping addict buys too much stuff, more so than they need or will use and or, spend more money then they have to spend. Credit cards are bad news for shopping addicts. Anyone can be addicted to shopping. Young people, older individuals, women, men, rich or poor, any ethnicity - shopping addictions don't seem to discriminate.

QVC urges people to buy, buy, buy, making an addiction with them in particular, easy to cultivate. QVC has ads on the television and of course their shopping network. Now they even have an online shopping system. Each hour of QVC is filled with specials urging individuals that their life won't be complete without this pillow, or that shirt. Lastly, QVC runs on a timed shopping system. For example you may only have 30 minutes to score that new set of pots. The entire 30 minutes QVC tells you that you're almost out of luck - the product will be gone soon, which creates a sense of urgency in addictive personalities, and gives people little time to consider their purchase. In other words, QVC is largely impulse-buy friendly.

QVC is a great marketer - especially towards people who already like to shop.

Why Do Some People Become Addicted to QVC?

No one is sure what cause some people to become addicted. Whether the addiction is gambling, alcohol, smoking, or shopping, there is inconclusive evidence about why one person becomes addicted while another does not. When it comes to addiction, studies and speculation surrounding upbringing, heredity, mental health, physical health, brain waves, and all sort of other issues come up. Maybe one day we'll be able to see one clear human gene, habit, or character trait that can explain addiction, but for now there are simply a lot of ideas. What is clear is that shopping addictions are prevalent and that any addiction can be harmful for the person experiencing it. QVC addicts can be just as harmed by their addiction, as say, an alcoholic. Only the symptoms are different.

Is It A Shopping Addiction?

WebMD has some handy facts that can help you sort out QVC addicts from a typical shopper, or a shopper on a shopping spree.

If a person has a shopping addiction, some signs may be:

Overspending: The individual spending over their budget, or what they can actually afford. Maxing out credit cards is typical among shopping addicts.
Impulse buys: QVC addicts are likely affected by impulse buys often. An impulse buy simply put, means that little thought goes into the decision to purchase.
Shopping a lot: A lot of shopping sprees is defined by someone who shops often; such as a shopping spree monthly, bi-monthly, or more.
Shopping for entertainment purposes.
Hiding the problem: Truly addicted shoppers tend to hide their habits. They may have talked about it in the beginning, such as bragging about their purchase scores, but once shopping gets out of hand they stay quiet. Along with hiding their habits they may also hide money; or carry secret credit card accounts that no one, not even their significant other, knows about.
Impaired daily functioning: If relationships and life responsibilities are affected negatively by shopping habits, then it could be a sign of a shopping addiction.
Large return habits: Sometimes shopping addicts return almost everything they buy. Once they return the items, they feel the need to shop more. They won't go into debt, but they will continue to impulse shop, and then return items. It can become a vicious cycle.

In addition, look for how someone feels, if possible. If someone shops only when they're depressed or angry, or they claim shopping is the only thing that makes them happy, well, it's a problem. If a person can't help buying an item that they don't need or even really want, it's also a sign of addiction. Lastly, it's not uncommon to see a shopping addiction along side other addictions, such as a gambling addiction or alcohol addiction.