General Forum

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

bikerscotty — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:16:00 GMT

I think the core of your mail is right...............................

We all know Bang & Olufsen has a certain 'soul'

We all know that Bang & Olufsen shop is a comunity rather than a high pressure environment,

We know you can go in for a chat and a coffee with our local dealer with no selling pressure as the products sell themselves. Infact customers used to be able to sit instore and discuss any topic whilst being drip fed the Bang & Olufsen beauty around them.

Or do we? Has anyone else noticed a change in Bang & Olufsen store policies, now this is not a dig at sales staff or owners at all, However I am noticing increasingly that the above is not applying to people, sure in some cases with old school staff it will, but more and more people are feeling a clinical pressurisation in stores, I know there is a lot of people who get annoyed by the constant phoning the constant nagging the constant reminder you were in the store (as if I did not know) have you thought any more about it! this high pressure mentality in my view is not Bang & Olufsen. Maybe its the current climate that has caused it, however the framework for constant communication for people to buy has been on the Retail system and policed by BAng & Olufsen since around about 2004 / 2005.

It would be nice to go back to the old friendly way in this world of cut and thrust, Maybe I am just a dinosaur!

Anyway rant over am away for a coffee with my local dealer and a general couple of hours muse on music and the world!

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

BeoTunes — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:59:39 GMT

Have to disagree with you there! I have been a customer for many years, and even one of the Directors has made a post on the site to say this is NOT true! Roundhay was excellent! and certainly a very busy store when I shopped there! however the 2 main staff members leaving was not good. The Manager went in his own direction and the salesman to the Leeds Central store prior to the store announcing its closure. The fact that there has been some transition as per my letter from B&OUK is good! As always, I love to visit a B&O store when I am near one and when the Leeds store opened last year I was one of the first to go in.I made 3 or 4 visits, saw different staff everytime, was badgered to death, and made to feel that I HAD to buy and the staff were under pressure to deliver! That said they have a pretty nice set up! overall, its a shame that Roundhay is not the "new kid on the block!" I have delt with the same salesman since Pratts days! I know he is in Leeds now, but something tells me that things wont be the same! Looks like the Leeds, Harrogate & York stores have a yorkshire monopoly! is that fair under EU law? not good for the consumer thats for sure!

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

bikerscotty — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:43:29 GMT

9 LEE:

bikerscotty:
B&o have let it get to where we curently are, with sampling products, immense start up costs, and high shop fit costs.
Scott
I have to agree that a shop-fit seems astronomically expensive, but B&O do actually sub-contract it out. Perhaps a good old fashioned 'shop around' would yield results in the cost stakes. Using the same supplier blindly does not inspire loyalty these days unfortunately, so a jolt like 'i'm looking at other companies prices' usually inpires a price drop.
I think B&O UK have found themselves in the situation they are by actually being too kind to some dealers. I will not comment further, but i wouldn't heap too much blame on them. I also think that for the amount of support they really need to be giving their dealers they are woefully understaffed.
If i had to blame anyone, it would be Struer - the 'heart' of the operation where things are designed and made. After being in awe of the design and software team for so many years, i am now starting to question if some of them deserve their places within the company. That's another issue though, and perhaps i don't know the full story.
I do think that the credit boom fuelled by house prices contributed a great deal to the success of the company in the UK over the last 5 or so years, and now this is nearing its end we will see the businesses created (unknowingly) to meet that demand in certain areas fall by the wayside as demand dries up.
I don't agree with having two dealers in one town either. B&O is a low volume product, and customers should make a trip to wherever they are. It's a special occasion buying B&O, and i would happily travel and park out of town to make a purchase. In fact, not having slack-jawed hoodies wandering in the store to try and steal your BeoCom display would i'm sure be a blessing!
Clever advertising and integration into the community can make for a much better marketing tool than a high street location when it comes to such a luxury product. Louis Vuitton wouldn't park up next to Superdrug i'm sure.
In all, things will be fine for B&O. We will see changes, but the company that doesn't change to meet the times is the one that will be part of history.
Lee

What that man said! Agree with what you say Lee, Bitter and Twisted history means I have experienced this as a owner in the past, And yes if you arrange with one shop fitter to do the whole of the UK then you get favourable prices to pass on to the dealers,................. However after our shop fit we got three local companies to come in and quote exactly Like for Like as we "were thinking of doing the same thing in another store" (mainly so quotes would be true) and the dearest of the three was a third less than what we paid, hence my ivory tower quote, I feel if we were givien a choice to use our own people installing to B&O standard or B&O people then dealers would be less bitter about costings, As I always say its just my opinion, and I gladly am well out of the AV market and retail now............. Now wheres that waiter with the Scotch!

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

9 LEE — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:14:31 GMT

bikerscotty:
B&o have let it get to where we curently are, with sampling products, immense start up costs, and high shop fit costs.
Scott

I have to agree that a shop-fit seems astronomically expensive, but B&O do actually sub-contract it out. Perhaps a good old fashioned 'shop around' would yield results in the cost stakes. Using the same supplier blindly does not inspire loyalty these days unfortunately, so a jolt like 'i'm looking at other companies prices' usually inpires a price drop.

I think B&O UK have found themselves in the situation they are by actually being too kind to some dealers. I will not comment further, but i wouldn't heap too much blame on them. I also think that for the amount of support they really need to be giving their dealers they are woefully understaffed.

If i had to blame anyone, it would be Struer - the 'heart' of the operation where things are designed and made. After being in awe of the design and software team for so many years, i am now starting to question if some of them deserve their places within the company. That's another issue though, and perhaps i don't know the full story.

I do think that the credit boom fuelled by house prices contributed a great deal to the success of the company in the UK over the last 5 or so years, and now this is nearing its end we will see the businesses created (unknowingly) to meet that demand in certain areas fall by the wayside as demand dries up.

I don't agree with having two dealers in one town either. B&O is a low volume product, and customers should make a trip to wherever they are. It's a special occasion buying B&O, and i would happily travel and park out of town to make a purchase. In fact, not having slack-jawed hoodies wandering in the store to try and steal your BeoCom display would i'm sure be a blessing!

Clever advertising and integration into the community can make for a much better marketing tool than a high street location when it comes to such a luxury product. Louis Vuitton wouldn't park up next to Superdrug i'm sure.

In all, things will be fine for B&O. We will see changes, but the company that doesn't change to meet the times is the one that will be part of history.

Lee

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

bikerscotty — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:09:42 GMT

moxxey:

bikerscotty:
B&O will ignore the plight of the dealers as always, Ivory tower mentality!
If you go in to the Bath store these days, there's regularly someone from B&O UK (and often Director level) in the store, making plans..

Plans are one thing, however how much of these 'Plans' will involve actual aid for the dealer and how much of these plans will involve asking the dealer to jump through more hoops or plough more money in? Basic crux is in my opinion, B&o have let it get to where we curently are, with sampling products, immense start up costs, and high shop fit costs.

Scott

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

Peter — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:35:37 GMT

Please can we keep this civilised. I have a sneeking suspicion that both of you are aware of some of the situation but possibly not all of it. I have no problems with speculation but try not to rubbish others' point of view.

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

symmes — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:38:58 GMT

You never know who you're talking to on this board.

Nor often who you are listening to..... bring back the sheep.

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

moxxey — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:25:09 GMT

355f:
You should apply for a job as the PR man for B&O

You never know who you're talking to on this board.

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

355f — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:58:51 GMT

moxxey:
355f:

There are not many dealers making money out of the B&O franchise . The notion that B&O as a company is 'buying up' the successful stores in the UK is of course a complete nonsense.
A franchise doesn't need to 'buy' a franchisee out if they break the rules of their franchise. They simply give them notice. Once notice is served, the business is back with the franchise owner. Yes, the franchisee can take their stock and other belongings that they purchased, but the store, name, brand and so on are simply taken back. There's no payment, pay-off or purchase involved.
Think what you like 355f, but the Bath and Liverpool stores are going to reopen as flagship 'BeoLiving' stores by Autumn, with the taken-over Swindon and Worcester stores allocated to another francishee. I know the Swindon store has already switched to another franchised owner, since being taken over at Christmas.
This new owner - who reads Beoworld posts, btw - is already the successful owner of the Salisbury store and has been a B&O retailer for years. I'm sure that they know they can make the Swindon store profitable, or they wouldn't have bothered.
355f, until you become a business manager and owner, and can make serious judgment from a business perspective, stick to teaching us the technicalities of panels, as you did in the past.

Bang & Olufsen can open as many 'beoliving' stores as they like, Good news that the Bath store will open the basement!! Im sure the franchisee is more than willing to 'give notice' as you put it and indeed many would dearly love to but for many reasons cannot. I am fully aware how the franchise system works for B&O( and doesnt for many dealers)

Perhaps some individuals are a little more informed about the true situation than the rubbish thats sometimes spouted and based on the posts you have made I will not be seeking any advise from you regarding business judgement!

When I did make posts regarding the technicalities of panels you seemed to know more than I on that matter to. There was even one post- I forget which imbecile made it- suggested that an opinion made by an individual who was not a fully paid member of this site was somehow less valid

I would stick to your knowledge of the 'excellence' of the BV7 if i were you.

According to your posts, there are no unsuccessful dealers- just ones wanted to retire early.

Dealers going into administration and B&O taking over these valuable concerns!.

|The franchise is only lost through ' variances with company policy'- never through the fact the dealers cant pay the bills!

Perhaps the fact that the profits have collapsed and B&O is making alternative arragements in many ways was all a mirage- You should apply for a job as the PR man for B&O

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

moxxey — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:01:28 GMT

bikerscotty:
B&O will ignore the plight of the dealers as always, Ivory tower mentality!

If you go in to the Bath store these days, there's regularly someone from B&O UK (and often Director level) in the store, making plans..

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

moxxey — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:54:32 GMT

355f:
There are not many dealers making money out of the B&O franchise . The notion that B&O as a company is 'buying up' the successful stores in the UK is of course a complete nonsense.

A franchise doesn't need to 'buy' a franchisee out if they break the rules of their franchise. They simply give them notice. Once notice is served, the business is back with the franchise owner. Yes, the franchisee can take their stock and other belongings that they purchased, but the store, name, brand and so on are simply taken back. There's no payment, pay-off or purchase involved.

Think what you like 355f, but the Bath and Liverpool stores are going to reopen as flagship 'BeoLiving' stores by Autumn, with the taken-over Swindon and Worcester stores allocated to another francishee. I know the Swindon store has already switched to another franchised owner, since being taken over at Christmas.

This new owner - who reads Beoworld posts, btw - is already the successful owner of the Salisbury store and has been a B&O retailer for years. I'm sure that they know they can make the Swindon store profitable, or they wouldn't have bothered.

355f, until you become a business manager and owner, and can make serious judgment from a business perspective, stick to teaching us the technicalities of panels, as you did in the past.

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

moxxey — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:49:31 GMT

beocraig:
The notion that the likes of Liverpool, Bath and Worcester were "profitable and successful stores" is laughable..

Well, you've now lost all credibility. Bath was the 7th most successful B&O UK store. It wasn't taken over for financial reasons, it was something completely different (and I'm now allowed to say). Indeed, as I've mentioned elsewhere, the Bath store will become a B&O flagship store (think 'BeoLiving'), on two floors, by Autumn. B&O wouldn't put that kind of money in to a store that was taken over because it wasn't successful or profitable.

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

bikerscotty — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:04:43 GMT

B&O will ignore the plight of the dealers as always, Ivory tower mentality!

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

9 LEE — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:43:23 GMT

Had a customer call me this morning saying that Roundhay had a pair of BeoLab 5, BeoLab 9, and a BV4 50" HD with BeoSystem 3 all with 25% off.. It has been confirmed this is indeed true.

Bad news for B&O, good news for the customers!

Lee

Re: B&O Roundhay to close

j0hnbarker — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:33:17 GMT

moxxey:
beocraig:
Hi all,
Director and shareholder of the store here. Some of you are thereabouts, most are utterly clueless, so here goes...
Good luck with whatever you're doing next, Herbie.
However, if the store was that profitable and successful, B&O would take it over (like they have with the Bath, Liverpool and Worcester stores, amongst others), then revamp them to be re-allocated to another franchisee. Whilst we might be 'clueless' in your opinion, it's not too difficult to figure that a single Leeds centre store if probably more than sufficient, in B&O UK's opinion, to cover the needs of the surrounding area.

Sorry you feel that some of us here are clueless Herbie - I hope that kind of high-handed attitude didn't percolate down to your sales staff, as if it did, no wonder you had to close the store. The fact remains that Roundhay is miles out of the town centre, and I'd be surprised if your sales figures didn't take a huge knock when the city centre store opened. Are you expecting us to believe that they didn't?