Dealer Websites

I just wanted to find out some information about a local B&O dealer and ended up looking at several dealer websites around the world and must admit I personally dislike the style and format, then with a bit more delving found that a local London dealer facebook page had not been updated since October 2012.

Why can't the dealer pages be more personal and inviting and allowing them to reach out to their customer base. Could they not mix the local geographical flair with a warm, caring human interaction whilst upholding brand values and standards? 

 

I don't which dealers/which websites you have been looking at.

But comparing the sites of some of my favorit dealers in Denmark, I clearly see personal/individual approaches/appeals even if they are built on the same 'scheme'.

So my conclusion is: they can!

But it will be up to the dealers to do this.

IMO a 'good dealer' already has done this...

...and he certainly has updated his facebook-page - if he has one!

MM

MM, he means the dealer pages at www.bang-olufsen.com/en/store-locator

The ones here in Australia are woeful at best. The Camberwell store in Melbourne shows that they will be moving soon, they have been in their new store for some time. Another has demo items for sale that I'm sure have been on the page for at least two years!

Another case of poor use of Marketing by B&O

Sorry to be negative, I hate seeing B&O self destruct.....

Looking at the overall dealer network map for the UK the dealerships north of Watford seem to be thinning out dramatically.

I am on the Wirral. Dealership in Chester has closed. Liverpool dealership is now an outlet store, the downside of which is the fact that they are now forbidden from displaying or taking orders for any new/current models. So my nearest dealers are now King Street Manchester, Wilmslow, Shrewsbury, Tarleton nr  Southport and Preston, all around 40-50 miles or more. In some respects it might be easier to take a ferry to the Isle of Man dealership.

Liverpool website looks up to date with a big 'Outlet' headline, although I suspect they are understating the stocks of some models.

Apologies to any US Beoworlders who have to take a 500 mile trip to a dealership!

Graham

Some stores have their own web-sites and use these rather than the corporate ones.

For example - www.bostpauls.co.uk

 

 

Yes, I used the "bostpauls" website before Christmas and found it very good. I even made a couple of online purchases.

yes "bostpauls" has two websites, their store website is located here http://beostores.bang-olufsen.co.uk/london-stpauls/welcome

maybe it's me but the corporate store framework looks very much like the bloggers website like "typepad" and only taking up half the page due to the format; this space is technically free so can it not be used to the full ?

could we not see pictures of the staff and a brief biog about them and what they are into, what excites them ? and pictures of the shop/boutique including pictures of customer installations.

i have no issue in their beautiful stock photographs used on their main website, brochures, magazines etc as it is about the lifestyle but I also want to see it in real life scenarios so I can taste it more.

sorry i don't want to come across negative, what i want to see is a higher footfall coming through their doors.

 

B&O place serious restrictions on any dealer wanting to have an independent 'approved website' and that is totally understandable. Struer clamp down really hard on this and official dealers accept that this is fair and right.

THE BEST ONLINE experience for Bang & Olufsen should be at Bang-Olufsen.com or BeoPlay.com.

What I do find hard to take is re - sellers using B&O copyrighted photos and logos to ply their trade with seemingly no comeback. That seems parasitic behaviour and B&O should take appropriate action.

AFAIK Lifestyle AV, for example, always appear to use their own original images and therefore are ethically and morally OK.

BeoPlay can sell online all day as far as I am concerned and I would encourage anybody wanting a new BeoPlay product online to buy directly from B&O at BeoPlay.com. This is by far, IMHO, the safest route as B&O will make sure that the consumer is supported in the best way.

This is by contrast to the situation where most successful B&O shops currently sell by providing bespoke solutions and on recommendation. That level of service could NEVER adequately be represented online.

I would strongly suggest to fellow BeoWorlders before parting with their hard earned cash in an online transaction, maybe apart from dealing with B&O direct, is to ask the retailer involved such as the already mentioned www.boststpauls.co.uk, for example, are they trading solvently and are not behind with their creditors.

Additional protection is to pay via credit and not debit card in order to make sure that their money is safe.

StUrrock:

apologies for double post

I enjoyed reading your post twice!

Can you explain how a dealer is able to sell online when they do not meet the minimum requirements set out out by the manufacturer?

StUrrock:

AFAIK Lifestyle AV, for example, always appear to use their own original images and therefore are ethically and morally OK.

Kind of...  

Yes, we paid a photographer about £800 to spend a couple of days setting up his kit in our old showroom and doing some shots of B&O kit we owned then retouching and editing them to look as good as they could. I was and still are very happy with the results.

I didn't do it for moral or ethical reasons though, so I can't take credit for that - I did it out of respect for B&O as a company, the fear of upsetting them and being sued which would sour a very cordial relationship I have with them, and also for the fact that ripping off B&O's stock images is just plain lazy..

As for dealer websites being a mess, yes - they can be pretty poor.  I've offered several times to work with B&O on getting the whole pre-owned side of it running properly and professionally (I think I've proved I know what I'm doing by now..) but I always get big smiles and positive comments backed up with absolutely nothing. I've given up now and will leave them to it.

Lee

The reason a re seller uses stock photos, is because they don't actually have the item in stock. They might hear I want to sell the item, and then advertise it on their website. They get an inquiry about it, and then contact me directly saying they have a buyer.

I know of one re seller that does this.

w5bno123:

I enjoyed reading your post twice!

Can you explain how a dealer is able to sell online when they do not meet the minimum requirements set out out by the manufacturer?

Can't answer that one!

a website should be a "reason to come" and hats off Lee as I do like AV's site, clear, informative, real pictures and the most important in my eyes easy to navigate around.

Dealers are self responsible for their web presence, aren't they? Check out the website for B&O store in Herning -> http://www.beoherning.dk/

(The store has a grand re-opening in a new location today btw)

Actually it is tomorrow!

Today only VIP's are allowed

Looking forward to seeing it.

MM

PapaJustify:

Dealers are self responsible for their web presence, aren't they? Check out the website for B&O store in Herning -> http://www.beoherning.dk/

(The store has a grand re-opening in a new location today btw)

A very nice site. Although I did notice they were mentioning the green H6 headphones but I could see a picture of them!

Pictures are so important, especially for a brand that specialises in enhancing the cosmetics of ordinary products, like B&O. Look how Motorola are promoting what is essentially like most smart phones. In the top right corner is a "tools" section where you can personalise your phone, and see it as a finished product. Great retailing with what isn't exactly new or ground breaking software.

https://www.motorola.com/us/motomaker?pid=FLEXR1#exterior/backplate

This could be very handy if you are trying to see the colour combinations of the Beovision 11 etc.

PapaJustify:

Dealers are self responsible for their web presence, aren't they? Check out the website for B&O store in Herning -> http://www.beoherning.dk/

(The store has a grand re-opening in a new location today btw)

http://www.recordere.dk/indhold/templates/design.aspx?articleid=10465&zoneid=5

MM

Millemissen:

PapaJustify:

Dealers are self responsible for their web presence, aren't they? Check out the website for B&O store in Herning -> http://www.beoherning.dk/

(The store has a grand re-opening in a new location today btw)

http://www.recordere.dk/indhold/templates/design.aspx?articleid=10465&zoneid=5

MM

So what does the 'Second Life- Second Love' sign mean? Is this another factory outlet store????

Edit. Or maybe a sign for the second hand/ trade-in department?

Graham

a very, very beautiful looking store MM, I've not see a designed store like that in the UK.

vikinger:

So what does the 'Second Life- Second Love' sign mean? Is this another factory outlet store????

Edit. Or maybe a sign for the second hand/ trade-in department?

Graham

With 450 m2 there should be room for a 'second hand department' (like they had in the former shop).

MM