Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 04/02) - Stunning. Striking. Otherworldly. Remarkable. Nothing ordinary about this. Glamorous. Stylish. Different. Traditional. Upscale. Spectacular. Brilliant. When I look at this, I think of ancient Rome.

These are just some of the adjectives that come tumbling from the mouth of the shopping channel lady in less than two minutes.

The object on the screen looks like a plain, cream-coloured bedspread from where I'm sitting.

Granted, it's a nice cream bedspread. Maybe it's my lack of imagination, but it doesn't bring ancient Rome to mind.

However, the shopping lady swears that television doesn't do it justice.

In Southern Canada there's a stigma attached to buying through The Shopping Channel. It's like reading People magazine.

But in the North, where shopping choices are few, the home Shopping Channel is a saving grace. It parades the mall in front of your couch, product by product.

But what's the quality like?

Evie Eegeesiak got her home shopping membership a couple years ago. She says the network offers good deals and delivers in less than a week. And she has yet to regret a single purchase.

"I was just watching it a couple minutes ago," she says.

Most recently, Eegeesiak purchased a gold ruby ring and the coveted George Foreman Grill, which she uses for baking.

"I recommend it to anybody," she says. "If you see something you like, go ahead."

Ross Sheppard saw something he liked but backed out at the last moment. "I was channel surfing one Friday or Saturday night a couple weeks a go," he says. "They had this exercise thingy."

Sheppard explains the machine, which folds up easily for storage, was on special for $200. "I could put it in my closet if I didn't use it," he says.

Another bonus: the machine's light weight also keeps shipping costs down.

"Even if I didn't use it, it would probably be worth it," he says laughing.

So Sheppard, credit card in hand, dialled the number.

But he neglected to jot down the item number. Sheppard decided to rethink the purchase when the operator offered to search for it.

Will he ever buy it?

His friend recently dropped off a TSC catalogue. But he's not sure.

"I'll see how my aerobics class goes first," he says.