OMG! Is there actually a consensus forming on Beoworld that new products are becoming too expensive?

*runs and hides before Apple buying B&O is mentioned*

EDIT...

Let me rephrase and ask a question instead...

What is the goal of the increase?

burantek wrote:

What is the goal of the increase?

Easy: make more money from the small number of people still buying their products.

I still think it's crazy that we consider a BV10-46 for £8000, with no DVD player, when you can buy the same Samsung screen in a TV for under £1500. Sure the BV10-46 audio is better than the equivalent Samsung....but it's not £6500 better.

 

Is going to be interesting to see where they go with this. If they keep focussing on complete home cinemas and high end installations I don't think the price increases matter. Also, many may not even notice. If your not following the brand avidly as we do here you don't know how these increases add up.


For me, I am all set with what I have. Only piece that I have open right now is digital music and I skip the BS5, not so much over price but over half baked Mac support.


P.s. I just dropped 3000$ on a book shelf even though I could have bought an Ikea Billy for 99. Why is that? Design.

moxxey wrote:

burantek wrote:

What is the goal of the increase?

Easy: make more money from the small number of people still buying their products.

Even easier, sample a load of products at the increased price to your dealer network that should bring in a few million!!

Recently all the dealers in the UK have been sampled the MLGW. Its seems a great number still have it in the box and don't have a clue what to do with it:(

StUrrock wrote:

Recently all the dealers in the UK have been sampled the MLGW. Its seems a great number still have it in the box and don't have a clue what to do with it

Not surprised..

3 Big Mistakes by B&O:

- increasing prices in a global Recession
- moving their "high end production" to "low end" Czech
- Releasing lower quality products with hard-, software and quality issues.




They don't seem to understand that there is BIG competition in Hifi- and Design- markets and that the light at the end of the tunnel could easily be a big train! 🙂

Many High End brand manufacture their products in their home countries, due to the quality and reputation. And that's what many people want! "Made in China, Made in Czech" is easy and short way thinking!

The Beolab 3500 was the last thing I bought from them new this year. "Made in Czech" on a 1700,- Euro speaker? After I opened the package it smelled like china plastic! No way!

Dear Bang & Olufsen, you can fool other people!!!

 

TWG wrote:

3 Big Mistakes by B&O:

- increasing prices in a global Recession => what an unclever business strategy, may be they are aiming the Upper social class only...
- moving their "high end production" to "low end" Czech
- Releasing lower quality products with hard-, software and quality issues. => I hope the new BV10 46 will do the trick, as I really like this product....


They don't seem to understand that there is BIG competition in Hifi- and Design- markets and that the light at the end of the tunnel could easily be a big train! 🙂 => Let's say... Loewe and ...Sony with their new beautiful flatcreens TV.

........

 

that's my opinion too! I love the B&O products, but not at any price... 😭

 

TWG wrote:

3 Big Mistakes by B&O:

- increasing prices in a global Recession
- moving their "high end production" to "low end" Czech
- Releasing lower quality products with hard-, software and quality issues.




They don't seem to understand that there is BIG competition in Hifi- and Design- markets and that the light at the end of the tunnel could easily be a big train! 🙂

Many High End brand manufacture their products in their home countries, due to the quality and reputation. And that's what many people want! "Made in China, Made in Czech" is easy and short way thinking!

The Beolab 3500 was the last thing I bought from them new this year. "Made in Czech" on a 1700,- Euro speaker? After I opened the package it smelled like china plastic! No way!

Dear Bang & Olufsen, you can fool other people!!!

 

 

I am not sure I agree  with this!

B&O are in a very difficult place for pricing at the moment. Put bluntly making things largely by hand in relatively low volumes in Denmark, and selling them through a bespoke dealer network  is expensive. If they are going  to cover their costs then they need to charge sky-high prices.

I really can't see how B&O could reduce prices, continue to make everything in Denmark, sell only through exclusive dealers  and still make money. Something has to give!

It is possible to manufacture in lower-cost countries and still maintain quality. Apple have been doing this for many years now and I think B&O will need to follow suit if they are going to survive but it is essential that any products made in China or Slovakia are made to the same or better standards,but  it is far from clear that this is the case at the moment.

Transferring to a lower cost location could free up resources for more efforts to be devoted to testing and Quality Control prior to a new models first release as most  of B&Os recent product launches has experienced some sort of Quality Issue.

As long as B&O can maintain and increase the focus on design, quality control and reliability they could make a successful transition from Designer and Manufactuer to designer which may be the only way to survive.

 

Simon