Sal wrote:

I just received an email informing me that B&O Pasadena recently closed, and that I should visit B&O Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills for 10% off the total purchase. Wow. Does this mean that there are only two B&O dealers in Los Angeles? (Mir Audio and B&O Rodeo Drive?)

It seems there are now only 15 stores in the United States.  I am starting to have a bad feeling about this.

That is very sad to hear. I'm surprised that there such a small number of dealers in the USA - whilst it is a relatively new brand in the States, I would have thought there would be enough interest in the brand to sustain a number of stores...

Considering there are only about 15 stores left in the entire US, I think you'll be OK roughing it with only 2 stores in your home town..lol.

I understand B&O is moving away from stores and into using pro partners, and frankly I believe working with pro partners is a great thing for B&O, but if people don’t have a place to physically see B&O’s products, I fear B&O will become a distant memory in people’s minds.  I’m not sure what B&O should do.  Clearly having numerous costly stores in the US didn’t work, but I don’t think having no physical presence in the US is going to work either.  Maybe they should either add kiosks to high end malls, add mini showrooms within larger Audi dealerships, partner with certain furniture stores to display products, have mobile stores setup in a trailer that cycles between 4 cities every month, give current customers incentives to allow future customers a chance to see products, or even have a store within a store at certain Best Buys.  Regardless of what they do, I know I need to see the products I’m thinking of buying.  

Beophile wrote:

......but if people don’t have a place to physically see B&O’s products, I fear B&O will become a distant memory in people’s minds.

Absolutely 100% correct.

Who in their right mind makes a high-end premium purchase without seeing the product - unless the product is extremely well known and in huge demand.

B&O are neither at the moment.

I got that same e-mail, now that my local Palo Alto store has officially closed. 

It was interesting that, even at store-closing, the best offer they (Palo Alto) were giving was the same 10% off (new BeoPlay products, that is) that Beverly Hills is offering - but BV's 10% extends beyond the BeoPlay range. 

Not having a place to experience products is one thing... but what about service for existing owners? 

It's a real shame.

Beophile wrote:

Considering there are only about 15 stores left in the entire US, I think you'll be OK roughing it with only 2 stores in your home town..lol.

There used to be 7 in the NY Metropolitan area.  Down to 1..

Beophile wrote:

Considering there are only about 15 stores left in the entire US, I think you'll be OK roughing it with only 2 stores in your home town..lol.

Love your sense of Humor! And agree that actually seeing something before buying it is key. I wonder what B&O have up their sleeves?

While it is sad to learn about one store closing after the other I was very possitively surprised to see B&O having a demo room at the Axpona Hifi Show in Chicago earlier this year. I stopped by the room more than once to listen to the Beolab 90s. The room was quite large and most of the speaker range was present but mainly the 90s were demoed. The speakers seemed to attract quite some interest. The room was full of people when I was there. For some time i wondered myself why B&O did not attend events like. While waiting for the elevator outside the room another guest asked me what I found most interesting on this floor. I did not hesitate to say "The Beolab 90s". The guy replied, "oh yes they where amazing and can you believe, the source was a TV!"