9 LEE wrote:

I think customers should be given a print-out voucher for 20% off to take to their local dealer providing they have one within a set radius. I then think B&O should partner up and subsidise 10%.

That way the dealer gets a new customer for taking a small hit on profit, B&O make a sale, and someone to actually gets to see the products they make in real life... hopefully to buy more kit on the spot, or in the future.

Many an electrical chain has gone bust thanks to people seeing it in store then buying it cheaper online. This model only favours the customer and the manufacturer - not the retailer.

Maybe it's me, but also I'd never buy an audio or video product on the strength of an online review!!

Lee

Aussie Michael wrote:

Exactly. I'd rather go in to a store too as if something goes wrong you also know where you can get it fixed and have contact with people. Appreciate that others prefer online only.

This only works if you never move to another place or your dealer is never giving up. Quite seldom in our days.

9 LEE wrote:

I think customers should be given a print-out voucher for 20% off to take to their local dealer providing they have one within a set radius.  I then think B&O should partner up and subsidise 10%.

That way the dealer gets a new customer for taking a small hit on profit, B&O make a sale, and someone to actually gets to see the products they make in real life... hopefully to buy more kit on the spot, or in the future.

Many an electrical chain has gone bust thanks to people seeing it in store then buying it cheaper online.  This model only favours the customer and the manufacturer - not the retailer.

Maybe it's me, but also I'd never buy an audio or video product on the strength of an online review!!

Lee

 

That's the big issue, the retailer. This kind of thing works for Apple, look at the store, if you decide to buy do it online, because all Apple stores are company owned and operated. Apple books the sale regardless. B&O books the sale regardless of if they buy online or from a store, and for a B&O owned store this is in line with Apple's model. However, since a large percentage of B&O stores are owned by individual franchisees, things like this and encouraging people to go look and then buy online thru outlets with a discount completely screws over the independent dealer.

I tend to buy online if I believe there is no added value a B&O shop can provide, and price difference from online or electronic retailers is substantial.

So for sure Avant or Moment would not qualify for online shopping. Beoplay A2 very much yes.

I think in this fully interconnected world of transparent global pricing, B&O stores might also want to reconsider when keeping a list price on highly transactional products is sustainable and when it is not. 

And no, I will not shop around for 30 EUR price difference, but 100 EUR difference on H8 (499 EUR list price product) is - sorry to say that - tempting.

Speaking from a dealers perspective, it is all about relationships. The one with the customer who walks in for the store for first time and is bowled over by the performance of the A2, to the long standing customer that has everything apart from the Lab5s. They all deserve and receive the same courteous and enthusiastic reception from myself and my staff.

I'm sure that there aren't any B&O dealers in the UK that are so busy that they can't manage customer expectation to the level deserved?

I personally like to support real shops, and will pay for good customer service - I will never buy a book from Amazon whilst Waterstones exists...

I guess being a store owner I have a different perspective to that of the purchaser looking for the best deal?

Better climb down from the pulpit before I get shot down!

I hope nobody shoots you down.  You are correct in that 'real shops' are vitally important for the people who work in them, own them, rely on them etc and the high street would vanish without them.  That doesn't mean there isn't a place for online stores.

My memories of B&O stores albeit from 25 years ago was one of too many sales people and too few customers (who thought B&O too unreachable for them) so the sales people were kicking their heels yet still had no real interest in potential clients.  To be fair, I last went into the Manchester shop with my kids last year and was made most welcome there.  It was the same in the old Horsham store where again their service was exceptional.  They both knew of my interest in B&O because of my collection and past buying so maybe the attitude towards me was different to someone else coming in off the street.

A salesperson should never judge a person by their looks and should anticipate the unexpected.  My father was a car salesman and when a scruffy and dirty Irish 'worker' appeared in the showroom carrying a shovel, a pick and two plastic bags everyone except my father ran for cover.  My father sold him a car on the spot for cash (in the two bags) and he then ordered several more cars for the guys that worked for him in a big roadworking company of which he was the owner.  Similar happened to me when I wanted to buy a BMW estate car in Manchester  I had the money in the bank but when I went into the dealership to order one (having just parked my Ford Sierra estate on the forecourt) I was completely ignored even when I tried to approach the salespeople.  Talk about snobbery.  I walked straight out and have never looked at a BMW again.

Nice to know that Sheffield have the right attitude.  I must pay them a visit some day when I'm back in the UK.

Dave.

My nearest, albeit not very near, dealer is located in a very high end shopping mall, the rent must be eye bleeding. Often I'm the only person in there though, and I am not a snappy dresser, too many years of being an engineering lab rat and diver means I'm definitely on the sloppy casual side of things. Have always been treated very well, and in the last 3 times I've been there I've bought something two of the times, H8 once, Beolit 15 the last time.

They are very service oriented, and it's a shame when dealers aren't. I think when I lived back in Florida many businesses didn't really dare to judge people too much by their dress, as it was a very casual part of the country. The dude wandering in wearing shorts and flip flops might be a beach bum, might be a well off business owner or such, or might be a laid back, very wealthy drug dealer. 😎

David Andel wrote:

Aussie Michael wrote:

Exactly. I'd rather go in to a store too as if something goes wrong you also know where you can get it fixed and have contact with people. Appreciate that others prefer online only.

This only works if you never move to another place or your dealer is never giving up. Quite seldom in our days.

Well yes, this is also true. 

Jeff wrote:

That's the big issue, the retailer. This kind of thing works for Apple, look at the store, if you decide to buy do it online, because all Apple stores are company owned and operated. Apple books the sale regardless. B&O books the sale regardless of if they buy online or from a store, and for a B&O owned store this is in line with Apple's model. However, since a large percentage of B&O stores are owned by individual franchisees, things like this and encouraging people to go look and then buy online thru outlets with a discount completely screws over the independent dealer.

It's interesting as Apple is now trying to get people to purchase online and pick it up in store - we saw this with the Apple watch. 

I also never rely on peoples reviews - especially online ones.  I always go on what I feel is better for me.  

Interestingly I have just come back from Japan and in Haneda airport they had just 1 BL15 in pink left and the other colours with stickers over the top of the price list "sold out".  There were a few A2s and the Black Copper one was a lot cheaper than the others... but they didn't have any stock, otherwise I would have bought one.

I consider a retailer, not only a B&O shop, but a shop that stocks B&O. 

I agree about online reviews, even reviews in magazines. If you read enough online reviews you come to inescapable conclusion that a lot of people out there are either barking at the moon insane or dumber than a bag full of hammers, or both! 😉

Especially true for AV equipment, what one person finds acceptable will usually be what I consider atrocious. I want eyes and ears on it, at least for displays and speakers. Other electronics aren't that critical other than functionality in my experience. I bought my Oppo sight unseen due to it's reputation and specs, and have not been disappointed at all!