Simonbeo wrote:

The higher price will obviously keep the Bang and Olufsen more prestigious and precious , which is not the intention with Beoplay

Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8 , MX 5500 . Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.

Ive always found it interesting that the beoplay A9 and Beosound 35 cost the same (give or take a few quid). Both are very capable speakers with similar functionality. There is a cross over point between the two brands which I see as a deliberate move to provide a bridge from play to B&O.

Opman wrote:

The success of our dealership can only be sustained if we make a profit. A few people who frequent this forum and know me personally will testify how much I love the brand and how far I will go to try and help clients. BUT the increasing number of calls and visits from people who have bought elsewhere at a price we can't even buy from B&O makes it very frustrating. Is it right that they should expect top dollar service for rock bottom prices?

My first Bang and Olufsen product was the BeoSound 8 which I purchased from Amazon. Amazon provides no service except for returns, as far as I know.  If Amazon provides a customer service phone number for product help they keep it well hidden. But, Bang & Olufsen decided to sell through Amazon knowing that this dealership cannot provide additional service.  Where do they want their customers to go.  The problem seems to be there are a lot of marketplace sellers which are not authorized that sell for deep discounts, and of course will not provide any customer help.

Is wasn't long after I got my BeoSound 8 that it was distorting when streaming music via an Airport Express.  Having no where to go, I contacted Bang & Olufsen US support and they suggested taking it to my nearest dealer to get it swapped out.  They didn't like the idea, but after talking to the support people they finally did.  I can certainly understand those feelings, but Bang & Olufsen is going to have to find a way provide their customers support, even if it is just basic setup and installation usage, that doesn't negatively impact the dealers who didn't sell the item.

 

Oh, and most of us in the U.S. will not have a dealer anywhere nearby!

Hi all, 

As some of you might know, I'm quit new to B&O. My introduction was a B&O Play A8, after which I quickly bought an A9 and H8 headphones. Besides the struggle I had with the headphones (which is really solved now) I love the products. A few weeks ago I bought my first B&O television, a BeoVision 8-40 MK2. 

Yes it is second hand, but new BV's are on a price point a student just can't afford. But, once I'm graduated and working, I think a new BV is coming in soon, maybe even including new speakers. 

I think I am a real example of what B&O wants to do with B&O Play products. Attract new customers that would never be able to buy B&O (yet), make them loyal to the brand, until they are able to buy B&O products and pass them over to 'the big brand'. From a marketing perspective, I think this is a brilliant move. On social media (not everybody is on social media, I know), I see 90% Play products and 10% B&O. Maybe it's biased because of difference in people that buy B&O rather than Play products. 

However, this just doesn't justify everyone selling it half price compared to dealers. And all the whining about the products not made in Denmark, well let's just say I don't care. Apple makes all their products in China, nobody whines about that, because they are quality products. 

Roy.

Opman wrote:

B&O dealers are faced with two issues over the current Play distribution and pricing structure.

As already mentioned, we see prospects coming to the store to try out products but not purchasing knowing full well they can get it cheaper at Costco or online.

We also get the disgruntled customers who bought via Amazon and then bring the products in store asking us to resolve service issues. In many cases, the reported "faults" are actually user error.

It's a fine line between providing excellent customer service for loyal patrons and those who only buy from QVC. There have been many threads discussing customer service and how good, bad, indifferent it is today compared to times gone by. The bottom line is that I'm paid by my boss to sell. 15 minutes on the phone explaining how a product works or how to connect to a network doesn't contribute to our bottom line.

The success of our dealership can only be sustained if we make a profit. A few people who frequent this forum and know me personally will testify how much I love the brand and how far I will go to try and help clients. BUT the increasing number of calls and visits from people who have bought elsewhere at a price we can't even buy from B&O makes it very frustrating. Is it right that they should expect top dollar service for rock bottom prices?

Thank you, I'll get of my soapbox now.

Opman

Hi Nick,

Well I still haven't made it over to the Wilmslow store since you effectively became the only dealer for this region following the demise of Liverpool and Chester. The reason being that I am not in the market for any current/ new products, and I really can't face an 90 mile round trip including battling the Manchester airport traffic unless I am going to visit something/someone else in that area at the same time.

You dedicated dealers have a real problem, but it is a problem created by B&O HQ and not by the customer. Closing company owned stores. Causing franchise stores to give up. Making the products available on the web and at discounts from other outlets. Why doesn't B&O give its dealers preferential treatment for the supply and pricing of Play products? Sell on line by all means, but offer a discount to personal callers at stores.

Graham

 

Duels wrote:

Simonbeo wrote:

 

The higher price will obviously keep the Bang and Olufsen more prestigious and precious , which is not the intention with Beoplay

 

Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8 , MX 5500 . Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.

 

 

Ive always found it interesting that the beoplay A9 and Beosound 35 cost the same (give or take a few quid). Both are very capable speakers with similar functionality. There is a cross over point between the two brands which I see as a deliberate move to provide a bridge from play to B&O.

Couldnt agree more

My dealer has also mentioned to me how people come in, play (pun intended!) with the B&O Play products then go and buy online. I think the dealers should get some ability to offer more to people that buy Play products from them, after service, repairs, discounts or SOMETHING that online retailers can't compete with. This would have to be funded by Struer I'd imagine as the dealers couldn't take that hit.

Chris Hassell wrote:

I think the dealers should get some ability to offer more to people that buy Play products from them, after service, repairs, discounts or SOMETHING that online retailers can't compete with. This would have to be funded by Struer I'd imagine as the dealers couldn't take that hit.

My dealer gave a discount on my A1 (about 8%). BTW: I am a guy searching the internet and mostly buying in a brick and mortar store.

Duels wrote:

Ive always found it interesting that the beoplay A9 and Beosound 35 cost the same (give or take a few quid). Both are very capable speakers with similar functionality. There is a cross over point between the two brands which I see as a deliberate move to provide a bridge from play to B&O

Sooner than later they need to come out with a technical bridge.

Something that enables A1 and A2 etc products to be meshed together. Some sort of multichannel blue tooth hub or hub and repeaters that enables entry level clients to go from a student bed sit to a couple's apartment and then to a blended BeoPlay / B&O home.

On the other hand maybe they will simple keep churning out A1Xs and H1Xs followed by A2X and H3X ... And the entry level clients won't mind throwing away or bequeathing their BeoPlay as they move upscale.

Peter the Biker wrote:

My dealer gave a discount on my A1 (about 8%). BTW: I am a guy searching the internet and mostly buying in a brick and mortar store.

Peter the biker

yeah - I bought the first A1 online, then felt guilty so bought the 2nd from my dealer and he gave me a discount. They should be able to publicise that ideally.

rvdv wrote:

I think I am a real example of what B&O wants to do with B&O Play products. Attract new customers that would never be able to buy B&O (yet), make them loyal to the brand, until they are able to buy B&O products and pass them over to 'the big brand'. From a marketing perspective, I think this is a brilliant move. On social media (not everybody is on social media, I know), I see 90% Play products and 10% B&O. Maybe it's biased because of difference in people that buy B&O rather than Play products.

I agree with Roy. I was familiar with B&O from a very young age since my parents and grandparents were all fortunate enough (and I with them) to own B&O products (BVs mostly). So I was curious and always looking into the brand and what the new products were etc.

Realistically speaking though, I could not afford their products with my allowance (I could maybe afford a pair of BL 3s, but then I also needed a BS to drive them, or vice versa, and that was my contact frustration) so I was looking forward to the day where I could afford to equip my home with B&O products.

As a student I finally got an A8 and was very excited! I then won a pair of BL6000 (thank you Beoworld! 😁) and got a PlayMaker to drive them. Finally I got an A9 and I couldn't be happier. Now that I've started working I'm waiting the see the new BV and I'm already eyeing a Horizon and possibly a pair of 18s.

The BeoPlay range is great both as an initiation to the brand, and as a means to cover needs that the full Bang & Olufsen range does not cater (mostly portable sound either at home or outside). It just caters to a different crowd and/or needs, but generally speaking all customers have the same "values" and the same attention to detail which means that they are also the target audience (potentially and possibly down the line) to be Bang & Olufsen customers as well.

All in all I am very pro BeoPlay and think it's a great move for B&O! Still, the details should be ironed out, especially in regards to the dealers who are getting the short end of the bargain in all this.