How Can I Get My Mom Off QVC?

[ammo]

She is absolutely hooked. Her house is loaded with stuff she doesn't need and will never use. Boxes show up unexpectedly at our door with gizmos that we don't want.

It is not really threatening her financially at this point, but she is a widow on a fixed income. If the economic downturn gets much worse, or if gas prices continue rising, or if something unexpected happens, she doesn't have much cushion.

Is there anything I can do besides pray?

 

[bumbershoot]

Hubby and BIL can't get their mom off of it. She's on a fixed income too, and cannot afford the things. Then she will want to return something, and requires one of her kids to come over and fill out the return forms, b/c she was never allowed to learn to read or write much English, and doesn't trust what she does know. We just want her to stop buying the stuff!

 

[Pop Daddy]

one time my mom called me at 4 a/m, and she said "Jay, what did you answer the phone for, isnt this the Home shopping Network"

 

[shopnfun2me2]

I have heard of someone placing a block on 800 numbers with the phone commpany. Don't know how it works!

 

[MAKmom]

I get a turn of QVC phone call at least once a week. My mother is also hooked. My father is on a first name basis with the UPS driver.

I keep saying mom they are not your friends they want your money. She says they are so nice. Yes because if they were mean you would not give them your money.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

Geez, I wonder if my kids are saying things like this about me on an Internet board somewhere? All I did was buy a little jewelry and I watch the channel to put me to sleep at night.

To the OP, it's wonderful that you care so much about your mom but maybe this is just her one little weakness that lets her be happy in life. My mom grew up in the Depression and she stockpiles things like crazy. It used to make me shake my head until one day it really dawned on me that the way she purchased things represented security for her. While it seems insane to me it makes her feel as though she has everything covered "just in case." So now when I see her closets with 20 pairs of tennis shoes and 15 tubes of toothpaste I just take it in stride. At least I know where to get my shoes and toothpaste if the economy ever crashes!

 

[ammo]

I get a turn of QVC phone call at least once a week. My mother is also hooked. My father is on a first name basis with the UPS driver.

I keep saying mom they are not your friends they want your money. She says they are so nice. Yes because if they were mean you would not give them your money.

That is funny, but sadly true. My mom talks about the people on QVC by their first names. She has also stayed on the line to talk to them on the air (no big deal, unless buying is a daily event). There must be subliminal messages beamed over the tube!

 

[CrazedDisFan]

My mother in law is a QVC addict. She babysits my sil's sons. They are 3 and 2. They ask their mom to watch "QBC" all the time. They like QVC like most kids like the Disney channel.

I have decided since she won't stop shopping on there, I am going to call her when the scrapbooking day is on and remind her of my birthday, which she 'forgets' each year.

 

[ammo]

Geez, I wonder if my kids are saying things like this about me on an Internet board somewhere? All I did was buy a little jewelry and I watch the channel to put me to sleep at night.

To the OP, it's wonderful that you care so much about your mom but maybe this is just her one little weakness that lets her be happy in life. My mom grew up in the Depression and she stockpiles things like crazy. It used to make me shake my head until one day it really dawned on me that the way she purchased things represented security for her. While it seems insane to me it makes her feel as though she has everything covered "just in case." So now when I see her closets with 20 pairs of tennis shoes and 15 tubes of toothpaste I just take it in stride. At least I know where to get my shoes and toothpaste if the economy ever crashes!

Good point. But her funds are getting tighter by the day. Hopefully she will stop or scale back when the monthly bills exceed the income.

 

[ilovepcot]

She says they are so nice. Yes because if they were mean you would not give them your money.

"So nice". Oh Gawd! Many older people can't get out as much as they once did and visit with friends and as you get older you don't require as much sleep. So wow...there's QVC and HSN just waiting to be "friendly" all night long.

 

[nana2tots]

LOL, tell her to send them my way, I have no idea, i use to be one of them, then i ran out of money, Thank God!!!!!
Good Luck

 

[MAKmom]

That is funny, but sadly true. My mom talks about the people on QVC by their first names. She has also stayed on the line to talk to them on the air (no big deal, unless buying is a daily event). There must be subliminal messages beamed over the tube!

My mom has been on air 7 times...thats all I have to say

 

[MAKmom]

"So nice". Oh Gawd! Many older people can't get out as much as they once did and visit with friends and as you get older you don't require as much sleep. So wow...there's QVC and HSN just waiting to be "friendly" all night long.

She has them on speed dial & is working 32 hours a week to support this habit. My dad is so mad about this. My mom is 69...dad has been retired since 55

 

[tink_n_pooh]

If you figure out how to stop the addiction let me know, I need to detox my MIL

 

[JimB.]

We must be long-lost siblings.

You described my mother EXACTLY. She even has boxes from QVC she has not even opened!!!

 

[ammo]

We must be long-lost siblings.

You described my mother EXACTLY. She even has boxes from QVC she has not even opened!!!

Now I'm just scared. I need to check for unopened boxes the next time I am home...

 

[ammo]

My mom has been on air 7 times...thats all I have to say

Maybe she deserves her own show!

 

[mickeysgal]

My MIL bought so much junk from HSN that it did become a true illness/addiction. She had stuff that was never even opened. I think it gave her something to do as she lived alone and didn't work outside the home. She spent thousands.

 

[ilisao]

I get a turn of QVC phone call at least once a week. My mother is also hooked. My father is on a first name basis with the UPS driver.

I keep saying mom they are not your friends they want your money. She says they are so nice. Yes because if they were mean you would not give them your money.

My dad contacted QVC after my mom died about canceling her account and returning some things. He was so impressed at how sympathetic the woman on the phone was and how she seemed to really care that mom died. I told him that it was because they lost one of their best customers.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I have a friend who is also "hooked" on QVC. She is 67 and can't retire because of her spending habit. I didn't realize that the QVC addiction is as widespread as I've now learned.

I would love to hear a psychologist's view on why these people spend so much money (that they don't have) on things they don't need.