Everybody loves a bargain, particularly fans of TV shopping networks like QVC. Those high-energy sales pitches are compelling, and I confess that I’ve been tempted to break out the plastic for an item or two hawked there.

But shoppers who bought a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook from QVC during the past week didn’t get a bargain at all. They got a raw deal.

Dell began selling its Mini 10, which features a relatively large 10-inch screen, exclusively on QVC about a week ago. The price: $559 for a Mini 10 with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor Z530, and your choice of six colors. QVC says the “retail value” of the Mini 10 is $688.

At the Dell site, however, the Mini 10 starts at $399, and a model with the QVC configuration goes for $479. Add $8 for shipping and you’re looking at $487 total. (Shipping is included in the QVC price.) Bottom line: You’ll save $72 by buying direct from Dell.

Yes, early adopters often pay a premium. But we’re talking about a week’s difference here. Could it be that QVC and/or Dell are preying on the naïve shopper?

I also suspect that the $133 Joan Rivers Reversible Animal Print Wrap may be overpriced, two easy payments notwithstanding.