General Forum

Re: B/O's problems

MGBGTV8 — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:19:36 GMT

concerning the bv8 i thought it had a commercial grade panel from sharpe that would add cost and its supposed to be assembled in europe the speakers are also bl4 standard that would add cost regards the bv7 that has a commercial grade panel

when i compared the bv7 in a dealer in 32 inch and 40 inch (non bs3) it was amazing on bbc hd way better than the lcd sony 200hz and pioneeer lcd

although i try to compare with other makes i dont feel there is any comparison - rolls royce of tvs

does any body now the uk best sellers iam told its bv7 followed by bv8 not many plasmas sold

also what hifi and speakers are big sellers

Re: B/O's problems

bayerische — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:16:39 GMT

Let's hope the 100.000e Beovision is a leftover.

Re: B/O's problems

soundproof — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:46:50 GMT

Strong luxury lobby in mgt, I'm afraid. Be interesting to see what the new boss aims for, though the €100.000 BeoVision seems to be an answer, or?

Re: B/O's problems

bayerische — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:44:23 GMT

spthomas:
I'd like to see them get away from being a luxury brand to being a Danish brand again.

I must say, this is one of the better statements. I agree.

Re: B/O's problems

spthomas — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:22:40 GMT

kimhav:
Going back to basic is a need for B&O and it might be worth mentioning Danish LEGO here that had some really bad years lately and with a new CEO they've gone back to basic and classic lego and actually listened to they customers and fans. They've actually gone that far to hire people from they fan sites as ambassadors and product testers. Something for B&O to consider as well.

This is a fantastic idea. Do we know if the new guy in charge may think this way? I would like to think he's really working on all these problems. I'd like to see them get away from being a luxury brand to being a Danish brand again.

Re: B/O's problems

kimhav — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:41:08 GMT

Agree with what has been already said and can only from my own perspective say that I've looked into getting a new TV-set but the price range that B&O has on the larger screen kind of puts me off. And so does the some of the new design of the products; while I have to admit that one often has to learn and like the new product design. For example I really like BeoCenter 6 and would love to see a larger version of it while the current models are to small for a living room. Also I find that BeoCenter 6 for me is a continuity of MX sets. Currently have a MX6000 and MX4200 that I just love and they will be used for several years due to all the flaws and hassle with digital tuners. While BeoVision 8 isn't really my cup of tea and it's hard to accept the design of it.

When speaking of audio system really liked the looks of BeoCenter 2; but it will never replace BeoSound 3200 or BeoSound 9000 (also already pointed out in this thread - what about learning something about what customers actually are buying?) and where I think from a design point BeoSound 4 is a disaster since it's way too anonymous and boring. There is nothing at all with that product that one way or another gets my mind puzzled with how it works or the mechanics behind it. BeoSound 3 I kind of like while it's a bit neutral, but still a great piece of equitment that easy to fit in and has an impressing output even if it's mono. BeoSound 2 I just love; it's to raw and without lots of crappy feature and best of all - I can make use of SD-cards.

As already said I hope that B&O goes backs to the roots what they stand for great design and high quality using great material. While I actually like the new BeoSound 5. But, as said already, put a Samsung or any other asian label on it and most people would notice; while doing the same on a BeoSound 9000. I'm quite sure that stunt wouldn't work. And that might also be the issue here, also mentioned by David Lewis in an interview at B&O home page; design today is all about small and minimalistics and it then starts to get a bit hard to make design that points out; while I still think that BeoSound 2 is a proof of small design item actually works. For example how much design will David Lewis be able to do on a 3-5 mm thick OLED screen...

Going back to basic is a need for B&O and it might be worth mentioning Danish LEGO here that had some really bad years lately and with a new CEO they've gone back to basic and classic lego and actually listened to they customers and fans. They've actually gone that far to hire people from they fan sites as ambassadors and product testers. Something for B&O to consider as well.

Re: B/O's problems

AT — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:16:07 GMT

"Where`s the love??"

Lost in space.

"Sorry to say this, but it seems to me that almost everything B&O does get you all
hyped up with negativity."

You know, if there are so much people says negativity about them from the fan club - what do You expect from the others? I think it worth
at least a minute to think about it at B&O headquarters.

"B&O has been as long as I can remember a luxury brand, it`s the Louis Vuitton of hifi."

I can't even agree on it. First of all, the expensive prices not mean luxury, and secondly -
a hifi is usually not only a trendy thing.

"I love the integration, the quality, the design, the wow factor when I have guests."

Real strange arguments for me, because the integration is on of the biggest miss against to the former products range. The quality - IMHO - still
not the same, the design is more trandy then timeless. The Wow factor? I've always
receive it when somebody see the old fashioned B&O products. I really do not think,
a wow factor (like: "You really can afford it?") is the same as a WOW factor ("which
is coming from the surprise, when somebody firstly can see and touch a Beolink 7000
remote, the floor stand, the wall charger, the sliding doors of the former product range,
and also the motorised TV stands...").

"So to all of you who complain, don`t buy B&O, buy boose or nad or whatever...
this is a site for fans!"

You are totally lost the point IMHO. I don't know how many B&O products You have,
but I already have a dozen pieces. Is it enough to be a fan, or do I really need to purchase
something I don't like to be as trandy, as the winter fashion in LV?

I offer You a bet in blind:

Find a girl, who never seen a B&O product. Put a Samsung sticker on any new line B&O
product, and simply hide the B&O logo on the Serenata/Serene. Tell him how much they
costs. Ask her what she thinks about these products, and about You. I think,
she will call You a little bit crazy to spend so much money to a Korean product. For such
a huge money, why don't You purchase some branded product jut like a Nokia?

And let's forget the iPod... iPhone and so on...

Now, put the Samsung sticker onto an old fashioned B&O product. For example onto
a Beocenter 9500 with a Beolab 5000, or even onto a Beosystem 2300/2500/3000/3200.
Ask her to open it. She will fell in love immediately. And she will be surprised about the
system, because she never ever thought that Samsung created these kind of products.

In another, last way:

Which system looks more luxuryar? A full AV9000, or, or... where is the full, up to date
system now? If You put them together, will it look like at least as luxury? IMHO, no.

For the record, I'am really happy, that You like the current product range. If I were the
only one, who doesn't like them, then usually it used to be my problem. But when the
company losses so much on the shares, and lost a lots of customers, have no new
technical solutions... then, I think, it's not just a bad thing for the "old fashioned" fan
club, but it's a real bad news for the new line lovers also.

And, for last, I have a real bad feeling about these kind of ideas: "I will say, who is the real
fan, and if he doesn't agree with me, then he can go away".

A real fan club is not about hyping, but talking.

To say, you myst love it, or You can leave it is not an argument, but fate. But for me,
it's clearly shows the REAL problem. About some years ago, there were real arguments
why to purchase a B&O. About 10-20 years ago, there was nothing to compare to B&O.
In this way, with this fast erosion, the former market and technology leading company went
down to the "ugly" high-end way to became a religion, which needs a blind fate in the brand?

No questions, no comparisation, but believe or leave?

I think this is the totally wrong way, with a dead end.

Of course, IMHO.

Re: B/O's problems

Christer Glatz — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:15:53 GMT

Where`s the love??

Sorry to say this, but it seems to me that almost everything B&O does get you all hyped up with negativity. I remember when the first pictures of BL 3 & BL 9 was showed on this site, a lot of you hated the design, but now they are praised by you for both design and sonic quality. B&O has been as long as I can remember a luxury brand, it`s the Louis Vuitton of hifi. I love my B&O gear, I know can get better for less money, but that is not what I want. I love the integration, the quality, the design, the wow factor when I have guests. So to all of you who complain, don`t buy B&O, buy boose or nad or whatever... this is a site for fans!

B/O's problems

beomerv — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:31:59 GMT

The advent of flat screen TV has been a big problem for them. There are only so many things - design wise - that can be done with a flat screen, unlike the old CRTs. Another problem is that the LCD technology they use is really, really poor, compared with CRT and even plasma. Their pictures are very ordinary and the prices are way too high now for what is not particularly good technology. They need to get a niche again.

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

wirralsimon — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:40:41 GMT

moxxey:

They won't be going back to B&O and can't understand why I've just invested in a £8.8K BV7-40, when that would be a deposit on a 1-bed flat.

I agree with your landlords on that one! Is the difference between a mid-range flat panel (or recent Avant-DVD) and your BV7-40 so great that you would pass up the opportunity to get on the property ladder just to own the better TV?

Simon

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

wirralsimon — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:36:53 GMT

I think B&O needs to go one of two ways.

It can retreat into the pure high-end selling even more expensive products with high margins. That doesn't mean charging more for the current tange of products, but making sure that the next generation of products are good enough appeal more strongly to people willing to spend 20-30k or more on a Home Entertainment system.

The other way is to make more accessible products. This is a complicated decision as lower-priced items would have insufficent margins to allow the same levels of customer service that you expect with the high-end stuff.

Currently prices are too high for what you get, and that does not bode well in the long term.

Simon

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

moxxey — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:42:52 GMT

Bingo:
And when people are gone and changed their home configuration to some other brand, it is hard to get them back.

Exactly like my landlords who, worryingly, are archetypal B&O customers. Late 40s, property porfolio of 8 flats in Bath, do not really understand modern technology and from the generation who keep their electrical appliances for as long as possible and will always fix/repair, rather than replace.

They have a BeoVision 1 and a 2004-model BeoVision 6. They wanted a TV for their new workout room. As previous B&O customers, their first port-of-call was B&O. They quickly realised that a basic 32" LCD TV would cost them a minimum of £2800, compared to something like £700 for a top-end Sony, which also included installation. They went back to B&O and were told that no negotiation or discounts were available (apart from putting the purchase on the Virtuoso 12-month interest free credit).

They went with the Sony and, to be fair, the picture quality is good through DVB-T.

They won't be going back to B&O and can't understand why I've just invested in a £8.8K BV7-40, when that would be a deposit on a 1-bed flat.

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

Bingo — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:35:04 GMT

I think that due to the extreme overpricing they did with television-sets it is their own fault that things are going so bad now.

They have lost a lot of television-set buyers like me.

And when people are gone and changed their home configuration to some other brand, it is hard to get them back.

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:39:53 GMT

Once again I agree with Flappo. He says it like it is. Thank god the emperors new clothes are being seen for what they are.

Re: B&O shares drop 29 per cent - oh dear!

ed7 — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:51:43 GMT

i had good experience with b&o previously and my heart ruled my head but sold it after a month lol