ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Some of my thoughts on the direction of Bang & Olufsen:
What do our customers value/what sets apart Bang and Olufsen from other brands?
- One system that simply works (I have tried other video+audio ecosystems and was astonished how bad they were)
- One remote (very important!)
- Timeless design
- Great audio (nothing that sets them apart really, except for the high end, sorry Geoff)
- Longevity of the product
- Premium feel to the products (just hold the remote for a few seconds and you understand)
- The special something (might be the magic movement, or the alignment of the CD's in the Beosound 9000
What is not as important to our customers:
- Price (sorry, but this is the case)
- Always the latest and greatest (but not more than 2 year old technology)
- Easy setup
My thoughts for the future:
- I think the partnership with LG is great! Having a partner that is able to produce great panels and take some of the hardware development only makes sense
- Focus on developing the ecosystem: WISA is great, don't change the UI/operating system for every new product!!!, create great software for the televisions, including apps, and don't focus on developing totally overpriced hardware (just overpriced is fine, paying for the design, quality, and development)
- Build a cheap Beosystem: Combines everything we want from B&O (an ecosystem), with the ability to easily upgrade the display panel attached (maybe ability to attach other panels to motorized stands) and build a great centre speaker
Feel free to add your thoughts!
Made in Denmark will be good start!
Totally agree; one remote, design/piece of art etc, PLUSS: Possibility to add on to existing B&O equipment! It is OK that old customers have to buy new boxes (Beolink converter NL/ML etc) as long as they can integrate the old B&O systems (e.g. BS9000...) with the new, using One remote!
BV Eclipse 65, BV5, BS Core, BL5, BL8000, BS9000, Beolit 12, A1, A2, P2, H8, H9i, H7, E8
If I were the B&O CEO....
I would outsource everything and allow the product to be sold everywhere.
Longevity, WHO needs it, all those spares to keep in stock. New products every few months, obsolescence = new sales.
Make specialist independent stores redundant. They are such a pain in the ***.
Forget the past just live on the name.
.... no need to apply, looks like my dream is already happening.
StUrrock: If I were the B&O CEO.... I would outsource everything and allow the product to be sold everywhere. Longevity, WHO needs it, all those spares to keep in stock. New products every few months, obsolescence = new sales. Make specialist independent stores redundant. They are such a pain in the ***. Forget the past just live on the name. .... no need to apply, looks like my dream is already happening.
I was just going to say, you sure you're not the CEO now?
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
New: Beovision Harmony, Beolab 50's, Beolab 28's, Beolab 18's, Beolab 17's, Beosound Stage & LG, Beosound 2, Beoplay M3, Beoplay A1, Beoplay Portal, Beoplay H4 gen 2, Beoplay E8 3.0
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Old: Beosound 9000 mk3, Beolab 3's, Beovision Eclipse, Beolab 1's, Beolab 2, Beovision 10-46, Overture 2300, beolab 8000's, Beolab 4000's, Beovision avant 32" etc. etc.
ed7:Made in Denmark will be good start!
BeoNut since '75
Beosince98:Some of my thoughts on the direction of Bang & Olufsen: What do our customers value/what sets apart Bang and Olufsen from other brands? - One system that simply works (I have tried other video+audio ecosystems and was astonished how bad they were) - One remote (very important!) - Timeless design - Great audio (nothing that sets them apart really, except for the high end, sorry Geoff) - Longevity of the product - Premium feel to the products (just hold the remote for a few seconds and you understand) - The special something (might be the magic movement, or the alignment of the CD's in the Beosound 9000 What is not as important to our customers: - Price (sorry, but this is the case) - Always the latest and greatest (but not more than 2 year old technology) - Easy setup My thoughts for the future: - I think the partnership with LG is great! Having a partner that is able to produce great panels and take some of the hardware development only makes sense - Focus on developing the ecosystem: WISA is great, don't change the UI/operating system for every new product!!!, create great software for the televisions, including apps, and don't focus on developing totally overpriced hardware (just overpriced is fine, paying for the design, quality, and development) - Build a cheap Beosystem: Combines everything we want from B&O (an ecosystem), with the ability to easily upgrade the display panel attached (maybe ability to attach other panels to motorized stands) and build a great centre speaker Feel free to add your thoughts!
If i was the B&O CEO I'd ......... sell all my shares now!
Ban boring signatures!
Beosince98: What is not as important to our customers: - Price (sorry, but this is the case) My thoughts for the future: - Build a cheap Beosystem: Combines everything we want from B&O (an ecosystem), with the ability to easily upgrade the display panel attached (maybe ability to attach other panels to motorized stands) and build a great centre speaker
A bit of a contradiction isn't it?
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative about everything B&O produces and produced in the last 10 years, all the time predicting the end of B&O.Fortunately B&O is still alive and is surviving the very difficult times...
Vintage Bang & Olufsen
the_o_master: If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative about everything B&O produces and produced in the last 10 years, all the time predicting the end of B&O.Fortunately B&O is still alive and is surviving the very difficult times...
However we are customers! Is that the new banner! Customers always wrong!!😱
I think it's been a slow and painful demise from the heights of past times. But, if you look at B&O 15 years ago and see where they were, how the dealers were doing, brand perception and so on, it's markedly different from today. Nobody can deny that.
All companies have peaks and troughs, and as fans of the brand we're all wanting the company to do well - hence the negative comments. If you care, you say. Imagine if we all blindly followed B&O with zero criticism and cheered at every decision made.. what would we all be? (apart from stupid..)
I think the brand name has been ridden so hard now the donkey is about to collapse. So many people have had enough of the brand and walked away from it, it's only just hanging on to a hard core of blind-faith followers and a fickle generation of throwaway consumers who have zero loyalty to the brand and will drop it like a stone when the next fashionable set of headphones or docking station comes along.
If I were CEO, I really wouldn't have a clue where to start. It'd be like having 5 minutes to do a three point turn in an oil tanker, in rough seas, with a outboard motor on the back.
I don't lay the blame 100% at the feet of the B&O management though. They're a small company in the tech world, and tech has changed so fast they didn't have the resources to throw at every new development as it happened - and when they did, they were late to the party by the time they'd finished. It must have been very frustrating.
Clearly I wish B&O every success, and more so the dealers whose livelihoods depend on what comes out of Struer, China, CZ or wherever. They're on the front line, and they always get hit first.
Lee
the_o_master:If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum! 90% of treads are extremely negative about everything B&O produces and produced in the last 10 years, all the time predicting the end of B&O. Fortunately B&O is still alive and is surviving the very difficult times... Vintage Bang & Olufsen
the_o_master: If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative...
If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative...
Or any of the Facebook (and some Instagram) comments, either? Which are largely negative. And, most important of all, from customers. Mostly new BeoPlay customers. Not old-school B&O users such as ourselves.
So, effectively, you're saying the CEO should bury his head and ignore all feedback? Good plan!
I agree
beocool:
moxxey: the_o_master: If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative... Or any of the Facebook (and some Instagram) comments, either? Which are largely negative. And, most important of all, from customers. Mostly new BeoPlay customers. Not old-school B&O users such as ourselves. So, effectively, you're saying the CEO should bury his head and ignore all feedback? Good plan!
It amazes me that people here think this site is overly negative - compared to the facebook page full of real complaints from real, current customers with tales of product that failed, never worked, service requests ignored or refused! I can only imagine that a lot of sales are impulse buys because anyone reading the facebook page surely then couldn't carry on and spend money!
Well, I started this thread in hopes to have one of those 10% threads with CONSTRUCTIVE!!! feedback, not only bashing the management. And I totally agree that my views may simply not be possible from an economic standpoint.
Well, my contribution was obviously intentionally provocative. What I wrote may be exaggerated but please let me get a little more concrete ...First in general:I believe that most of the problems, agitations and complaints that are reported here again and again are not at all B & O specific. We live in the times when the customers are extremely spoiled and that leads directly to the situation, in which we all are unhappy (I think, here we can all agree). Why? There is not a single manufacturer in the tech industry today who can think about a product fully in the design ans orientation phase, think about all aspects of the implementation, and above all, to reach a sufficient test coverage (let's say at least 90%) to get the "stable product". It's just not enough time for that. Why? The customer wants the latest technology every 3-6 months, no matter what that is and what that means. Who buys a TV today for the next 10-15 or at least for the next 5 years? Who has the time nowdays to go to a turntable or CD player, put and start the medium? Everyone wants to access millions of files, songs, videos in the second from their couches. And who still hears a song to the end? That's the time we live in, these are the customers of today. Fast, dynamic, chaotic, superficial. And so are today's products. The result: the thing once called "development life cycle"shrunk from years to months, if there is it still ...
So B&O just has to go along with all other unfortunately, they simply have no choice if they want to call themselves a high-tech company. And as a small fish in this sea, it is even more difficult for them than for the big ones ...
And then in particular:Yes, B & O has many problems at the moment. Regarding the described difficult times in which we live, it is certainly not easy to develop a medium-term and even less long-term corporate strategy and to have a clear vision. I would see it as a survival strategy. In German we say for it: "auf Sparflamme laufen" (something like "running on the stand-by"). They try to consolidate all activities and products and to prepare themselves, as far as possible, to be fit for the the "easier times". If the "easier times" come at all ... That's the reason for the cooperation with LG, that's the reason for the reduction of dealers and that's the reason for the very thin current product portfolio. That's the way I see the today situation.
And another important thing: please do not forget that having this great brand on the shoulders brings not only the benefits. It is also a burden, especially because of the famous history and the accustomed quality from the past.Of course, I am not blind and I do not want to say that everything runs optimal. But I expect a little more tolerance and patience before you guys criticize every single B&O future step (often not even be official) here in our beloved forum. The best example of this is the thread about the Eclipse. In the beginning, almost all users were very negative about the TV and now many of them are happy owners of the same. So little bit patience please... That should be my thoughts on your contributions to my original post. But original question was actually: "If I were the B&O CEO "So back to the topic Sorry for my poor English but I hope, my thoughts got over clearly.
Barry Santini:If people like us only knew(know?) how close B&O is to going out. Personally I dont know. But the evidence says otherwise. B
Personally I dont know.
But the evidence says otherwise.
B
I have a history of buying products from soon to be deceased companies (looking at the Saab in my driveway and blackberry on my desk). I just bought an Eclipse so it doesn't look good. . I hope it will be different this time...
Stan
Puncher: moxxey: the_o_master: If I were the B&O CEO I would never read the Beoworld Forum!90% of treads are extremely negative... Or any of the Facebook (and some Instagram) comments, either? Which are largely negative. And, most important of all, from customers. Mostly new BeoPlay customers. Not old-school B&O users such as ourselves. So, effectively, you're saying the CEO should bury his head and ignore all feedback? Good plan! It amazes me that people here think this site is overly negative - compared to the facebook page full of real complaints from real, current customers with tales of product that failed, never worked, service requests ignored or refused! I can only imagine that a lot of sales are impulse buys because anyone reading the facebook page surely then couldn't carry on and spend money!
I agree. But then, why pay attention to your customers, they're all fools who will buy whatever the B&O logo is slapped on. That appears to be the modern attitude at corporate, there are serious problems, and the way they're being handled is arrogant and will lead to continued decline. And it's not like B&O is a huge company that can handle a decline and mistakes because of financial inertia (large and deep pockets) or the presence of a healthy subsidiary (say perhaps car audio or ICE Power amps). I don't think it's too late, yet, to reverse the decline, but it will take a while, years probably, along with focusing on a limited number of core products that must be perfect at launch, none of this hey, guess what, you're an alpha tester whether you wanted to be or not!
I don't know whether B&Os issues are due mainly to incompetence or arrogance or both. But, regardless of how badly you may feel you've been treated as a customer, it pales in comparison with how they have treated their dealers.
But hey, they don't need to listen to their customers, their fans, or their dealers, they know it all.
Seems to me, for example, that the one way to keep up with changing video tech is to abandon selling the screen and work on a stand alone speaker/sound processor. Admit you can't make TVs and that the market changes too fast for you to keep up, and minimize your risk and maximize what you offer to the customer. But hey, best to slap the Beo moniker on an unchanged LG set, the suckers will buy them and we'll make more money off it than a sound bar. It speaks to a certain inward focused mindset that is ignoring what's actually happening, so I'd say they need to spend more time reading both Beoworld and their social media comments. As it is, they're losing their old time customers and not doing well with social media connected young types who will read their FB page and such and make decisions based on the feedback.
But, as it's said, all is for the best, in this, the best of all possible worlds.
Not all CEOs are delegated with the same goal from the Board. Some are here to milk the last drop of brand value before they sell it, some to fundamentally turn the ship around and bring the company back to its glory days. So not knowing what B&O’s Board ultimately wants to achieve, it is difficult to say what would I do.
But if I assume for a moment the second (turnaround) scenario, I would first send home the McKinsey doomsday troops, appoint the Chief of Design (likely a relevant furniture designer, but of a more daring caliber than Cecilie Manz) and decide on some bets in product portfolio to be executed with coherent design language that would have to be unmistakeably B&O. Finally, I would rethink the pricing strategy and bring products more into the “strongly aspirational” pricing range rather than today’s brutal overcharge.
AnalogPlanet: Finally, I would rethink the pricing strategy and bring products more into the “strongly aspirational” pricing range rather than today’s brutal overcharge.
BV Harmony 65 / Eclipse 55 / BL 50 / 19 / 18 / BS 2 all brass
BV Horizon 48 / V1 40 / BL 17 / Beoplay S3 all black
V1 / BL 3 / BS Essence MKII / Beoplay A3 all white
BS Moment / BS 3000 / BS 3200 / BL 400 all silver
Headphones / bluetooth speakers / BLC NL-ML / BLGateway
I know…B&O virus has grown on me !
Accept that music, and increasingly video, comes from phones and tablets, and get on board with the trend toward minimalism and sustainability
This implies that a B&O TV will be a simple panel in a case that allows the users to neatly hide away the internet/TV provider's box plus a chromecast dongle. It will not become obsolete because the software is being updated by Google, newer and different dongles can be plugged in. The larger volume of the case can help it to produce superior sound. Outsource (most of the) internals.
Similarly, music systems can rely on chromecast audio or equivalent. The current way of using one remote is fine. Sustainability points are earned because of the integration of old equipment.
Try to do an experimental project with IKEA to leverage the Scandinavian design aspect.
Continue to pursue integration with home automation.
Focus on Audio / Sound as the company's main competency, and simplify what they do / make as a whole
Stop producing televisions (screens)
Start producing processors (Beosystem Boxes)
Focus on Loudspeakers (incl. sound bars)
Stop making products that rely on B&O specific apps / software - i.e. give up on the SW game (yes, that does mean giving up on BeoLink Gateway, and similar integration initiatives / products that require resources to maintain and develop that B&O at this stage can't reasonably keep up with).
Reduce prices in order to attract more than just a passing glance from potential new customers
Just my $0.02
If i were the CEO of B&O the first thing i would do is be VISIBLE.
You don't see him or her, or who ever it is.
BeoWorld isn't that negative - it's the combination of what happens when you get passionate people together. BeoWorld is unique in that regard. Go and read the facebook page. The comments back from B&O are "we are sorry but we are just the social media team" are beyond base, or deflecting to the dealers and not fix the issue. "your dealer should do this"
Guess what CEO - these comments are VISIBLE which means you need to be VISIBLE to respond.
Your social media outlet is the gatekeeper to the company and how people trust / distrust you as a brand.
I'm sure they are lovely competent people but clearly hamstrung by internal politics and your dealer contracts, which are being represented publically.
So if i were the CEO i'd be VISIBLE with how my customers connected with me. You can't have the good of social media without the "bad" and showed that I meant business. If you're happy enough to take money from your customers, I would show i was happy enough to stand by the products.
If someone had an issue, i would make an obligation to ensure it was fixed to the satisfaction and even if that was a new product.
Car companies had to smarten up their act too - how do you think the customers felt when some car companies said that their warranties were updated from 3 - 5- 7 years? People feel they can trust the company.
At the moment, the feeling is that you will not stand by your products and that's why if i was CEO, i'd be VISIBLE.
it also sets some pride about the company.
As I wrote in the Beware Firmware thread:
I'm beginning to get this Alfa Romeo moment with these products: they used to be great, they still look good - but on the inside everything is propelled by a Fiat engine (frankly, this was Alfa in the 80's and 90's). Alfa tries to turn the company around, perhaps B&O should try harder, too?
Roger
Roger: As I wrote in the Beware Firmware thread: I'm beginning to get this Alfa Romeo moment with these products: they used to be great, they still look good - but on the inside everything is propelled by a Fiat engine (frankly, this was Alfa in the 80's and 90's). Alfa tries to turn the company around, perhaps B&O should try harder, too? Roger
But Alfa "doubled-down" after the biggest investment from Ferrari . Wasn't this the biggest investment in a single model ever made? :-) But i get what you are genuinely saying.
- I would listen to and care about my customers, employees and dealers.
- Marketing, Marketing, Marketing
- make products reliable again
- hire better designers and force the current designers to think about ergonomics PLUS scandinavian design... and not one or another. (Try to find and use the buttons on an A1 for example) ;-)
- hire capable people like Geoff Martin and let them teach others as much as possible
- make innovative (software, user interface, mechanics, materials) products again
- manufacture in Denmark
- cooperate with technology companies for sourcing and integrating new technology standards next to my core business
I have seen this issue in another engineering field altogether different from electronics.
If the design and engineering (inc software) is right, you can justify a high price and the income will flood in.
If you overcharge for a poor product you are doomed. B&O has somehow achieved both simultaneously with the Play range and the BL90 etc.
In the long run it's the design and engineering that is remembered rather than price. The CEO needs to remove all poor quality from the range........ selling some of it cheap (in relative terms) just ruins the brand.
Graham
Thinking a bit further on this, B&O CEO has fallen into the trap offered by a 'Value Engineering' approach. VE can quickly take you to a conclusion that if obsolescence looms because of rapidly changing technologies, you should use materials and software with a limited life. Thus poor quality is justified because something new will replace it next year. Of course this approach needs an endless stream of mugs enthusiasts always willing to upgrade.
BeoGreg:... I would make pronto a Christmas offer on the Eclipse (minus 1.500 € / 2.000 €) so that a customer will enter is local store...
Duels:And then there would be a new thread here on beoworld called “I bought an eclipse last month and now B&O have dropped the price”