Random musings and general banter.

Dr Quincy MkII said:

Late night Paul Becque is much quieter and with 90s sax music as well

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Duke of Cheese said:

I think he (Alex) is in a very difficult position. Unless he demonstrates bedding as a philanthropic love, he needs the money. Many of us have worked in places we have been uncomfortable with both the culture and the protocols. When I was 18 and fresh out of Police training school, I was TOLD in no uncertain terms by two experienced officers to say I’d seen two skinheads throw a bicycle frame at a Pakistani youth during the Brixton Riots period. I hadn’t seen anything of the sort, by the way…You could well say I was unhappy with that culture of work, but I wanted and needed the money, so I stayed another six and a half years.

People like Knowles are no different. He has to put food on the table. And his work often involves appearing on shopping channels like Ideal World. In his great favour, he comes on here in his own name and positively engages with us. Not one other does this nowadays. If the Channel is being run along questionable selling techniques lines, then I cannot see how he can easily refuse to go along with any unsourced priced comparisons they want him to participate with. That said - HE SHOULD DO…I have only seen one presenter (Rob Lamaar) actively and disparagingly refuse to engage with several. And where is he these days? To be grudgingly fair, being positive/negative depending on the type of product (corded/cordless vacuums, for example) is very difficult to avoid. That so-called bastion of shopping television moral selling, QVC, does exactly same thing. They ALL do it. They probably would do it in the likes of John Lewis, too - depending on what you were looking at.

We all know they make-up text senders names and with that accepted- their content also. Can we prove it? Depends on how they log them in if called to account. Is the ASA ever going to leave the comfort of the tea trolley queue and ‘DAWN RAID BUST THEM’?? Don’t hold your breath. I don’t see what he can do about that other than refuse to appear any further.

As said earlier, what I would definitely like to see him NOT involve himself with, is just sitting there as the presenter/Gallery show some ludicrously high, unsourced price comparison massively weighted in the seller’s favour to buy from them. ALL price comparisons should be A) DIRECT (you don’t compare a Skoda with a Roller because they both have four wheels), B) Sourced - WHERE did they find them?? And C) In number - i.e. show at least three or four sourced examples at varying prices to give us an INFORMED CHOICE. Not just the most expensive they can allegedly find from God knows where. Those three KEY things were EXACTLY what previous versions of Ideal World did when using the price comparisons technique. If he has any influence whatsoever there - however difficult…do try and get them to do the price comparisons thing both morally and properly- LIKE WITH LIKE, SOURCED, and MORE THAN ONE…

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RichyR66 said:

I actually dont think Paul Becque is as bad as some of the others in the lying department. Yes, all his stupid noises and sirens are very annoying, but I don't think he's as bad s salesman as some of them.

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Duke of Cheese said:

People like Knowles are no different. He has to put food on the table. And his work often involves appearing on shopping channels like Ideal World. In his great favour, he comes on here in his own name and positively engages with us. Not one other does this nowadays. If the Channel is being run along questionable selling techniques lines, then I cannot see how he can easily refuse to go along with any unsourced priced comparisons they want him to participate with. That said - HE SHOULD DO…I have only seen one presenter (Rob Lamaar) actively and disparagingly refuse to engage with several. And where is he these days? To be grudgingly fair, being positive/negative depending on the type of product (corded/cordless vacuums, for example) is very difficult to avoid. That so-called bastion of shopping television moral selling, QVC, does exactly same thing. They ALL do it. They probably would do it in the likes of John Lewis, too - depending on what you were looking at.

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Herring said:

Nah, they're not similar at all.

Do QVC and IW presenters mention (repeatedly) the benefits of A versus B? Yes. That's expected.

What QVC does that IW doesn't, is mention everything passively.

QVC: "If you're the kind of person who struggles using a corded vac, then this cordless one could be a better solution. It's available on the first of.2 split pays, so you can get it home and try it out and if it's not for you send it back. I'm joined by our forgettable, vacuous guest, Lady McBland. Lady, would this be a better solution for people who want a vac they can take around the whole house without a cord?" "WHY YES DEBBIE, IT COULD. DYSON HAVE MADE THIS MODEL LIGHTER THAN…"

What IW does that QVC doesn't, is dramatics, theatrics, hysterics, pleas to emotion, doom-mongering, and over-hyping…

IW: "Aren't corded vacs awful? They're so clunky you put your back out lugging them from room to room, you takes ages to recuperate, the husband gets bored and has an affair. Why? And the cord never stretches far enough, they're about 50cm long, and you trip over and damage your leg — Peter's up later with a miraculous and I mean miraculous red light tunnel that can help with broken legs — and the cost of electricity is set to increase substantially in the next few weeks. Why do you put up with it? Because you don't know any better. Well, dear viewer, whose only interest I have at heart. I fought the bosses to bring you a wonderful, and I mean wonderful, 2V 100W cordless vac from the big brand of HUSGFP. It will revolutionise your life. Everyone will be biting my hand off they see the price. You'd expect to pay, what? £500, £600 for a quality cordless vac… Well, get the phone in your hand and get in quick, cos these are gonna fly - and I mean fly - 3..2..1... get in, who's your mama, just £79.99 on the first of 5 flexis. Now over to Alex, our lovely guest, to continue hammering your over the head with mis-facts until you buy one. Alex…" "YES MIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT PRICE, IT MUST BE AN ERROR…"

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Craftalot said:

IW definitely treats their viewers with much less respect, and clearly thinks that they are dribbling imbeciles with half a brain cell. QVC tends to fawn over its viewers more, and treats people as if they have unlimited amounts of money to spend on 'self-care' products. It is also 100% focussed on women.

IW is much shoutier and pushier - more market stall than anything.

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Herring said:

I wonder if that's because they do?

Not wanting to make it a class thing, nor wishing to generalise, but generally in any kind of retail if you sell branded or (mostly) quality products, and you don't treat buyers as gullible morons born yesterday, you end up with a loyal customer base who trust you, like you, believe you, and will end up spending a bit more for things than they might elsewhere (although QVC can be very competitive on price, especially for electronics where they have competition, less so for branded beauty suff or QVC exclusives as there's little competition).

IW has to sell all of its AliExpress goods on false promises, hype, and exaggerations, bookended by dubious price comparisons and "stock level warnings" to stir punters along. That kind of approach works a few times only.

I mean, look at the QVC forum on here, and the IW one. One is full of talk about deals, goodwill, and yes some snark about what presenters are wearing or their personality, one is… Well…

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Jazzydrury said:

Polti and Richard Mires Handy Solution Ideas still appear on Create and Craft from time to time, could that be a contract issue they had with Shop Extra

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Craftalot said:

Yes, could well be. Talking of 'Handy', do you remember 'The Handy' range of garden equipment - presented by a proper old boy who I think founded the company, and then by Adam Woolcott. Seems a milliions years ago, and certainly in terms of style from now.

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Muttley said:

The trouble is I never get beyond the stupid noises to watch him, I never know if he's a bit lacking in brain cells or thinks his audience is. It's just the way he comes over to me.

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Jazzydrury said:

Was it Handy, the Device, where you could clean paint brushes, by putting them on a drill type thing, which they put in a box and span it.

Plus a device, where you could lay bricks

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