I suggested both these ideas on a long-past thread, but was howled down by the harridans of puritanism - hence my having left the site.
Glad my judgement proved correct..
Sorry: we already knew that from other sources (thanks to tireless research by other forum members, i.e. not me). The point is, why couldn't QVC tell us the situation? It wouldn't take long to add to each beauty show (during one week, say) a quick statement to the effect that MB was no longer...
If they have hedged their fuel costs in recent months - and there's no reason to suppose they wouldn't - then precisely this effect would occur. The customer could easily be picking up the tab.
As one who works for a company rather like Miriam's, I feel duty-bound to point out that these managers have all the worthwhile jobs sewn up between them.. so you would have no chance..