General Forum

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Jammy61 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:19:24 GMT

Over the years we have been invited to many launches and promotions. The favourite for me was the opening of the 75 years exhibition in Sydney. We caught up with most of the dealers we have passed through and had a look at some fascinating new ideas and the old. My husbands liked the Blended Scotch tasting at our Willoughby store. Freebies were 3 minatures of Chivas Regal Blends(a friend drove him home) we still have them on our bar. The launch of the Avant 32 was good too(I ate the chocolate Avant. Too good to waste). You may not receive many discounts but on the whole they look after their loyal customers. Our nearest store(Willoughby) is an hour and a half away. One of the staff lives local to us and will look in and pick up items to return for repair and also offer great advice.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Matthew — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:33:59 GMT

Yes, that's true Dave - I was charged the same. But I guess it depends on the size of the purchase and your personal financial circumstances as to whether it's worthwhile. For me it worked out to be a very cost effective approach. But you're right though, it's certainly not 'free'.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Corvin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:29:31 GMT

I've used their 5 year interest free offer a couple of times for my B&O purchases. The $2.95 monthly accounts fee is not really of concern to me in the whole picture.

I was not charged an establishment fee on either occasion!

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Dave — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:55:01 GMT

Matthew:

It's my understanding that, provided you already have a DJ's store card, you have the option to purchase B&O products through DJ's on terms of up to 2 years interest free at any time. Extended periods are sometimes available depending on the promotion - but as always, you'll need to check the fine print.

i advise against this though. I was charged an account establishment fee per transaction, and for 4 years (48 months) you pay $3 per month account keeping fee > interest free? no such thing.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Matthew — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:33:37 GMT

It's my understanding that, provided you already have a DJ's store card, you have the option to purchase B&O products through DJ's on terms of up to 2 years interest free at any time. Extended periods are sometimes available depending on the promotion - but as always, you'll need to check the fine print.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Jonathan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:12:26 GMT

I would have taken it back....

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

PentaIII — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:40:40 GMT

Dude1:

B&O is wholly owned by DK and the policy is no discounts.

The dealerships do however aim to satify consumers with some trade ins of exisitng products or used product placement within actual dealerships and leaving negotiations open to the seller and buyer - this is almost unheard of.

Discounts generally apply to demonstration items (that are on the floor for a designated time period) or items that need to be cleared - however sometimes.....exceptions are made.. :)

B&O aims to reward its loyal customers in Oz with nice evenings for all to enjoy and exclusive outings and some free gifts. For some LARGE orders...there is always room for movement in some areas.

Hope this helps.

Policy is also to remove some DJ stores, that are not operating profitably.

I wonder how loyal you have to be to actually get invited to anything...

My local store was fantastic enough to get me a Serene with a whopping $75 AUD discount. The problem with that was when I got home and opened the box and saw the phone it was scratched in many places. I called my dealer and they said that I got the discount because it was not new. Would have been nice if they had let me in on that detail.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Jonathan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:47:36 GMT

blue2th:

DJs is refurbishing the whole of level 2 and the mezanine floor. As a result, B&O have a disappointingly small corner on Level 3 (turn left as you get out of the elevator).

I asked the Cllins St store lady how the DJs arrangement works, if B&O have to pay rent. She said not entirely sure but she believes DJs gets a % of sale or something like that.

Anyone know if previous sales on electronics have included B&O?

PS: DJs sale on TVs is footnoted to excl B&O - so expect the same to apply when other electronics are on sale.

One of the benefits of buying from David Jones is the access to the promotional 'interest free' periods they have now and then

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Dude1 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:21:59 GMT

B&O is wholly owned by DK and the policy is no discounts.

The dealerships do however aim to satify consumers with some trade ins of exisitng products or used product placement within actual dealerships and leaving negotiations open to the seller and buyer - this is almost unheard of.

Discounts generally apply to demonstration items (that are on the floor for a designated time period) or items that need to be cleared - however sometimes.....exceptions are made.. :)

B&O aims to reward its loyal customers in Oz with nice evenings for all to enjoy and exclusive outings and some free gifts. For some LARGE orders...there is always room for movement in some areas.

Hope this helps.

Policy is also to remove some DJ stores, that are not operating profitably.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Hooper — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:20:47 GMT

Adrian,

Having just purchased a B&O set-up (BC2+BL6k+BL2) less than a month ago from a B&O store in Australia, I can tell you that no discount was given (not even when I brought in the big guns (my father) who always seems to haggle himself into a discount). The sales consultant told us that B&O doesn't offer discounts, which is something I already knew but you know, it never hurts to ask.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

Matthew — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:24:11 GMT

As a relative new comer to B&O from a purchase perspective (but long time fan of the products) I would echo Elephant's commments on the Melbourne stores' relationship with us, the customer.

Apart from the MSO recital at the Armadale store, I was fortunate enough to attend a Schubert evening at the recently opened recital hall in Southbank, courtesy of the DJ's B&O store, who are supporters of the recital hall - I understand they've provided the BV8's you'll see in the foyer areas.

So whilst there may be a degree of inflexibility when it comes to price, there are other benefits that make the ownership experience well worthwhile - quite apart from the products themselves. How many electronic or hi-fi stores send you a hand written thank-you note for buying their products or a personally signed Christmas card?

Cheers,

Matt

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

elephant — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:04:17 GMT

Hi & welcome,

I have been an Australian customer of B&O since the mid-Seventies; I am a cautious buyer and the people in the stores know I take a long time to make my decision. They have always ben courteous and informative and spent long hours in discussions with me - in other hi-fi or electronics stores you never get that kind of service.

I have received many offers of ex-shop-floor items, and also buying incentives: I think on the night of the launch of the Beolab 3s all buyers were given a phone. I have only ever taken up one of those shop floor discounts.

I have received a number of gifts along the way such as a pen, several bottle openers, B&O published CDs, an airline seat headphone jack, house magazines and now the magalogue.

I have been offered good service over my B&O Wireless purchase -- at one stage I think I had 5 or 7 units in my house as we tried various configurations over a period of two months while we tried to solve the "problem". And this was to support the purchase of one (1) additional receiver.

When I was in the UK I had dealings with their Newcastle store. same courtesy, same information and support. However I will say I think that store was better in their innovation of creating a brand with their demographic: I went to many after hours store functions: a salsa night, two champagne tasting nights, an Audi test drive night, and a Steinway recital night.

[ Unfortunately I missed the famous speaker shoot out night that was organised with Peter ... I had my nose pressed against the window whilst waving but obviously the volume was so loud that no one heard me :-) ]

I have been very pleased on my return to Melbourne to see that our stores are starting to do the same kind of event: we have had a Beophile night at the Camberwell store, and an MSO recital night and a wine tasting night at the Armadale store -- both accompanied with goody bags.

To me these activities and support are what helps justify the maintenance of a price umbrella by the stores.

The positive side of that umbrella, is that in Australia you can sell your equipment on eBay for more than you would get it for in the UK :-)

The flip side is it is more expensive for me to buy it :-(

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

marcus — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:28:56 GMT

One of the seven Corporate Identity Components (CICs) of Bang & Olufsen, first published in 1972, concerns Credibility.

"... Bang & Olufsen's aim is to develop credibility at its maximum by honest communication. No over-claiming. Full respect of human efforts and ideas invested into products. No discount. No obsolescence. New products' births and deaths must be carefully planned in a continuous process of development, not as an occasional happening. Products must be sold at their value, for what users feel they get from them."

The full Credibility component is somewhat longer, but I have extracted the section relevant to the current discussion.

I read this to mean that B&O does not discount, ever, because to do so would show disrespect to the designers and builders of their products.

Prices do move in time (usually upwards!) but remain remarkably consistent through each product's (unusually long) life. Few manufacturers offer the same product longevity or support, and this must surely come at a price. And we, dear customers, are the ones who ultimately pay.

I don't know if these CICs are still B&O's corporate mantra, or whether they have fallen by the wayside in these gloomy times of intense competition, downsizing, rightsizing, outsourcing and partnering. I hope they haven't.

Regards

Marcus

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

blue2th — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:28:43 GMT

DJs is refurbishing the whole of level 2 and the mezanine floor. As a result, B&O have a disappointingly small corner on Level 3 (turn left as you get out of the elevator).

I asked the Cllins St store lady how the DJs arrangement works, if B&O have to pay rent. She said not entirely sure but she believes DJs gets a % of sale or something like that.

Anyone know if previous sales on electronics have included B&O?

PS: DJs sale on TVs is footnoted to excl B&O - so expect the same to apply when other electronics are on sale.

Re: Discount negotiation on new B&O equipment in Australia

adrianb — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:08:42 GMT

Thank you all for your responses so far.

I was not aware the stores were B&O owned - that makes it rather less likely to negotiate.

It's an unusual thing to be spending $30k and have the "cheek" to not include a single sync cable or installation (another $300ish).

I've never dealt with B&O previously and for a "premium lifestyle / luxury" brand it's a very odd way of going about it.

Price is not entirely the issue but the experience...