So, you've read my long post 'Part 1' (it took about an hour to write and edit enough to make sense) and here's the Second.... (for those who've landed on this page and would like to read Part 1 first, please click HERE )

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Here we go then. Part 2...

Pre-Owned B&O, to the level we do it, just isn't sustainable as a core business any more.

I tried to get involved in the 'Approved Used' side with B&O on an official level and take it forward, properly, but once again UK HQ simply tried to use my knowledge and enthusiasm to their own ends... then slammed the door in my face. Big business, these things happen, we move on, etc.  I'm not sure how well it's doing...

What about B&O Play? Is there a market in that for us, we asked ourselves.  Well, after trying to repair a few Play products we quickly concluded it was a waste of time. They may look pretty, they may sound good, but they're designed to be thrown away the second they go wrong outside the warranty period from a customers perspective.

I 'test purchased' a BeoLit 15 from the UK's 'official' refurbisher and re-marketer of Play products on eBay - called 'beoplay' and featuring the official B&O Play logo. What I received was laughable - full of food residue and dirt, torn packaging, and it smelt of damp and fried food. Nice.  I did post a thread on here, but nobody really paid any attention. Eventually, after a truly comedic return process and many emails, I got a refund.

I wrote to B&O, offering to do refurbished B&O properly. I wanted the Play brand to be a slick and professional in-road to the 'main brand'.  Let's impress people, and make them think 'wow.. if the service buying a piece from their reconditioned budget range is this good - how amazing must it be to be a 'real' B&O customer?!'

They then go to their local dealer, buy new Play, or new main brand - and the virtuous circle starts all over again. New sells, used hits the market, the brand gets known again.. you know the rest.

A very kind and decent senior B&O employee put my offer in front of the head of Play.  The answer was "No, they were happy with what they already had".  

What they already had was a seller with a 98.4% feedback rating on eBay after 500 transactions.  Mine by comparison, I stated, was 100% after almost 6,000 transactions. Flawless, and all dealing with B&O products.

So, I gave up on that idea.  B&O, once again, happy with mediocrity.

What to do?  I'm a B&O fan, I love the brand, we all do here - but you get to a point where the positivity is drained from you, slowly but surely.

Are there other brands out there who offer a premium product, with premium looking styling, premium materials, the latest technology, a good reputation, with a good history, at what could be considered sensible prices?

Yes. Loewe. 

The brand was mentioned several times in my 'Credible Alternatives' thread, and is a brand I've had in my own home for about the last 7-8 years - albeit just the one TV. It's performed faultlessly, looks good, great picture, sounds good - and has largely been ignored thanks to my unswerving loyalty and love of B&O.

More and more, I've seen Loewe in B&O owners homes lately. I've always asked if they were happy with it, if it's gone wrong, and was it good value for money.

Yes. No. Yes.  Always the answers to those questions. Always, without fail.

I asked the B&O Dealers who sold Loewe as an addition to the B&O brand the same questions.

Yes. No. Yes. Same answers.  No problems to report, and they were always happy to sell it - and the customers were always happy with it.

So, I contacted Loewe.

Very relaxed, very welcoming, easy to deal with, polite, prompt with replies, helpful, modest - pretty much everything B&O UK aren't (with the exception of Steve Devonshire, bless that fellow) - and filled me with great confidence.

I've signed on the dotted line, my demo stock arrives next week, and I'm going to give it my all.  If I stay solely with B&O, I'm finished, unless I rapidly and dramatically lower my standards - which isn't even an option for myself, my staff, or LifeStyle AV as a brand.

The products are indeed excellent, the company has a long history (not without its blips, just like B&O) and the new products, by comparison to B&O are well-priced. Warranties are long, and as we're going to be an Authorised Service Centre, we'll also be able to carry out any warranty work - if needed.

I'll still be dealing in pre-owned B&O, I'll still be here on BeoWorld, and I'll always love the brand - but as I've said, there's only so much you can take. I truly feel sorry for the dealers who have recently spent fortunes revamping their B&O showrooms and hope they can make them work.

I truly want the brand to survive, but I keep thinking back to the 'tailspin' thread and seeing it coming more and more real as the months and years go on.  I hope it can be turned round, and I'll be so happy if it does - but it's too late for my business now. I need to diversify.

I'm looking to add other brands too. The aim is to become a multi-brand dealer offering just a handful of tried and trusted 'hand-picked' names we're proud to sell and offer our friendly, personal, professional service with. We've a worldwide customer base of people who have become friends over the last 12 years, and we want to carry on dealing with.

So, Loewe it is.

I'm excited, and I'm a little bit nervous - like a kid on the first day of school, but I'm confident there's a place for well-priced premium TV's with the latest technology.  I think a lot of the customers who grew tired of B&O and walked away in the direction of Samsung and LG will welcome a hand built product for not much more than the price of a mass-market offering. Their pricing is about where B&O should be, in my opinion - and the opinion of many people I speak to.

I'd welcome your thoughts, and your comments - and hope to gain your support in what has been a really tough decision to make.

Lee