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
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
Looks like it according to a Google search:
http://stores.bang-olufsen.com/great-britain/bang-olufsen-of-bath/
Dave
Chris Townsend:Is it true they've just shut their doors, emptied their shelves and shut up for good?
Indeed. Walked past at lunch, store is empty. Cleared out yesterday. Scary thing is, B&O Bath is in one of the most affluent areas of the country. I'm sure I was told a few years ago it was within the top five most profitable UK B&O stores.
Astonished B&O doesn't appear to have any contingency for customers who hare pre-ordered and pre-paid for goods through one of their retailers. Only course of action is to go to your credit card company!
The above is easily enough for any long-standing customer to be put off the brand.
Yes closed today when I walked past. End of an era. Proud to say B&O were the first company I worked for...
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
I agree Mark but it's happened in highly affluent Hampstead (great staff), beautiful part of Chester (again really nice staff), Leeds (great staff too). Really sad. Something is seriously wrong if they are not enough in these huge income areas. Has the market changed too much??? Is everybody buying SONOS type multi room systems or just iPhone/Bluetooth docks and maybe LG TVs??? Maybe. Maybe B&O needs to get a £450 4K LG TV, work their sound magic with it and sell it for £1400?
Now you see the stress that Tue has no doubt had! Retail is such a competitive but highly changing environment!
Paul W: Has the market changed too much???
Has the market changed too much???
I think it's a combination of traditional customers not changing their old TVs, with the younger generation not interest in paying £5K for a B&O TV. Of course, some do, just no where near as many as in the past. Harder sell, high rents, little support from B&O HQ = less motivation for dealer.
This isn't going to get any better, folks. Remember most people here view B&O with positive rose-tinted glasses. We're not good examples of an average customer.
I had £3400 of pre-paid un-delivered orders tied up in the Bath store. I had zero idea it was going to close!
Wasn't this a new store last year or at least a major refurbishment?
Ben
I'm gutted for you Moxxie as I know you really liked that store. I remember seeing it when I visited Future publishing last year. I loved Bath :)
It's really sad. One near to me closed last year and it had been in the guys family for 30 years. He worked so hard! But I agree Moxxey, very few people have 5K to spend on a TV. And I think that todays generation want to spend their money on totally different things compared to other generations.
I'm shocked for you though Moxxie. I really thought that you'd of known about it closing :(
Totally, totally agree with you Chris! I remember when you could buy a basic MX that was stripped of the surround sound, sat decoder BUT still offered excellent sound quality at a realistic price. A nice designed PLAY TV with a 4K panel and great sound, electronic curtains and nice bright colour options - the hallmarks of B&O is all that is required as an entry level at £1400 for a 40".
When I started working for B&O, the MX4200 was retailing for £1100, maybe £1195 I seem to remember, when a good, similarly-sized set from Sony would cost £350, and the MX4200 was a really great TV - all the normal features you'd expect plus a few extra unusual additions (the STB controller, motorised wall bracket).
Things are different nowadays and they can't keep running the same old model unfortunately.
It's also increasingly difficult for B&O to really provide something magical on the music side of things as the way music is consumed nowadays doesn't really leave any opportunity for event or magic, which the Beosound 3000, 9000 etc... used to provide.
Very true Killy. Especially as the majority now use (myself included) an iPhone for everything and no, I wouldn't want it any other way :) Maybe they could bring back the magic with bluetooth docks with motorised ALT tweeters like on the Audi A6/A8? Certainly, things do change a lot and when a teenager who has been brought up with an iPhone sees the sheer huge size of say a 9000 that only plays 6 discs compared to the 100,000 of their 128gb iPhone then you realise :)
We can all analyse until the cows come home, but at the end of the day it's another store closed in a location where one should thrive...
I don't know the details so can't comment - but I'm genuinely saddened when a store is closed down, for whatever reason.
I wish Mike and his staff well in the future and always enjoyed doing business with the Bath store. I'll miss visiting the town too!
Lee
9 LEE: I wish Mike and his staff well in the future and always enjoyed doing business with the Bath store. I'll miss visiting the town too!
I had a personal phone call from Mike yesterday, which was great of him. He didn't need to do that.
9Lee, you can always come and visit me :)
Paul W - I used to work for Future (circa 2003). Now, that's truly an odd company. Either on an incredible high or in a terrible low!
Yes Moxxie, I had a feeling that you may of worked there :) I visited the guys at the mountain bike magazine section. Awesome crowd of people. An office full of mountain bikes and MacBook Pro's - BLISS!
Just received my creditor's form from the solicitors handling the liquidation. There's a meeting in Cheltenham about store assets.
It's a very odd way to handle business. B&O is a worldwide brand, but they 'allow' one of their retailers to go bust with customer's having active pre-paid orders on the system, which they won't and can't fulfil. Then the customer's of the brand have to go to a creditor's meeting and/or chase their credit card company to retrieve a refund.
However we debate the future of the brand, this cannot be a good way to treat loyal and long-standing customers of your brand?
moxxey:Just received my creditor's form from the solicitors handling the liquidation. There's a meeting in Cheltenham about store assets.It's a very odd way to handle business. B&O is a worldwide brand, but they 'allow' one of their retailers to go bust with customer's having active pre-paid orders on the system, which they won't and can't fulfil. Then the customer's of the brand have to go to a creditor's meeting and/or chase their credit card company to retrieve a refund.
I used to live in Bath, and I loved that store, I bought my BV3 32" from them after the very helpful replies to my query of which TV to buy from the wonderful Beoworld forum members, who rightly suggested that TV for my movies!
Now 10 years later, i am looking for a replacement, and I would dearly love an Anvant, but it is too big at 55" and also too expensive, but I also have an 42" LG in teh bdroom, and it is a remarkable set, but the sound bar I got is a bit chunky, but it is wireless and it does a great job! I am now thinking the easiest would be to simply relapce the B&O TV (keeping the beautiful motorised 3 drawer stand, I know it wont motor, but it has all my boxes in!) with another LG TV, if only B&O allowed theiir £999 speakers to atach opitcally or worelessly, it would work for me, but I may simply have to save the £5k over a few years and buy an Avant as it is stunning, but wish it was smaller.
Sorry for Bath sotre team they were a great bunch and nothing was too much trouble all the times I simply popped in over my lunch hours to admire the stuff they had, they were never pushy or annoyed that I didn't buy anything simply happy to chat, oh how things have chaged, recently emailing the Hanover Square store, they didn't bother to reply!
moxxey:Just received my creditor's form from the solicitors handling the liquidation....... this cannot be a good way to treat loyal and long-standing customers...
Is this the normal way of treating loyal long lasting customers in this Bath shop? I have for myself, never payed anything in advance with my dealer. Its a matter of mutual trust.
"Believe nothing you read and only half of what you see, let your ears tell you the truth."
moxxey: It's a very odd way to handle business. B&O is a worldwide brand, but they 'allow' one of their retailers to go bust with customer's having active pre-paid orders on the system, which they won't and can't fulfil.
Ah, you know... A little B&O here, a little there
StUrrock: B&O are not unusual in this. The franchisee (shop) is the one who has the legal contract with the end user not the franchisor.
B&O are not unusual in this. The franchisee (shop) is the one who has the legal contract with the end user not the franchisor.
I'm aware how a franchising model works.
My point is and was that this kind of model seriously affects long-term customers when things go seriously wrong. In this example, I've been pro-actively buying B&O products via the Bath store (and other sources), every year, since 2003.
If the brand owner allows their retail franchise (remember most customers won't know it's a 'franchise') go bust, then these long-term customers are affected by the process. It affects the brand.
And, yes, you can argue your case with your credit card company, but it's not straightforward. You can't just call, explain and get your cash back. You have to fill out a form, the form be sent to their disputes team, disputes team evaluate and then consider the refund - this can take 4 to 8 weeks.
It just doesn't make for a good system, franchise or not. Being sent a creditor's letter and form for a worldwide brand, just doesn't sit well with me.
moxxey:I'm aware how a franchising model works. If the brand owner allows their retail franchise (remember most customers won't know it's a 'franchise') go bust, then these long-term customers are affected by the process. It affects the brand.
StUrrock: Anyone who is aware how the franchise model works, knows ultimately the franchise owner cannot be held responsible if a single franchisee goes bust. This could be due to any number of reasons.
Anyone who is aware how the franchise model works, knows ultimately the franchise owner cannot be held responsible if a single franchisee goes bust. This could be due to any number of reasons.
Yes, but that's the key point. The average consumer doesn't know. In the same way many McDonald's are a franchise. But they still bear the McDonald's brand, marketing and other brand points. I've been in the Bath store many a time when a customer from another store has walked in for advice on their setup - they see "B&O", expect it to be B&O and expect support. Most stores will, of course, willingly offer support.
But although that franchise owner cannot be held responsible, the franchisor should, actually, hold some responsibility over their brand, how it's represented and, ultimately, how their (the franchisor's customers via the store) customers are treated by the brand and the store. By liquidating one of their stores then, sadly some write-off costs should be allocated to a successful closure - the customer shouldn't have to be handled by a liquidating agent. The franchisor should really make some effort to contact customers, even if it's to advise on the next steps.
What happens to existing store orders? Who is now handling B&O finance through the store? What about post-sale warranties? Will post-sale installations occur via the third-party engineer etc etc etc? None of these questions can be answered as B&O can't answer them. You can only contact the liquidator - and frankly they have no clue.
Mark:Would B&O support a local retail outlet in the short term until they found a new partner ?
moxxey:Yes, but that's the key point. The average consumer doesn't know. In the same way many McDonald's are a franchise. But they still bear the McDonald's brand, marketing and other brand points. I've been in the Bath store many a time when a customer from another store has walked in for advice on their setup - they see "B&O", expect it to be B&O and expect support. Most stores will, of course, willingly offer support.But although that franchise owner cannot be held responsible, the franchisor should, actually, hold some responsibility over their brand, how it's represented and, ultimately, how their (the franchisor's customers via the store) customers are treated by the brand and the store. By liquidating one of their stores then, sadly some write-off costs should be allocated to a successful closure - the customer shouldn't have to be handled by a liquidating agent. The franchisor should really make some effort to contact customers, even if it's to advise on the next steps.What happens to existing store orders? Who is now handling B&O finance through the store? What about post-sale warranties? Will post-sale installations occur via the third-party engineer etc etc etc? None of these questions can be answered as B&O can't answer them. You can only contact the liquidator - and frankly they have no clue.
Scuttlebroom:Sorry for Bath sotre team they were a great bunch and nothing was too much trouble all the times I simply popped in over my lunch hours to admire the stuff they had, they were never pushy or annoyed that I didn't buy anything simply happy to chat, oh how things have chaged, recently emailing the Hanover Square store, they didn't bother to reply!
Hi, this the Hanover Square team here.
We are sorry, but we haven't received your email.
If you could kindly send me your details, I would be happy to contact you & respond to any queries.
Thank you.
I thought that the B&O UK franchise model worked along the lines of the franchisee having to provide a certain turnover or return to head office within a given period. After that period, failure to produce the required profits would involve the franchised business being transferred to B&O UK, who would either continue with the business under direct ownership or would close it.
Having said that, franchisees are often limited companies in their own right and can close or liquidate of their own accord. For some reason a lot of people think that it's a good thing to be dealing with a limited company, whereas the truth is that the limited liability is a warning that you could lose your money. Paying with a credit card brings a bank into the contract, so at least that way you will get your money back eventually.
Graham
Mark:The auto industry successfully run the franchised model (apart from a few unique geographically places), most customers do not realise this and feel they are talking/dealing straight with the manufacture when they enter a sales showroom or service centre. Yes the franchise model maybe wrong but it can work successfully if supported correctly by the manufacture, but it does take a lot of work and regular monitoring.
Many car manufacturers own what appear to be franchises but have been bought out ; Ford prefers to own Dagenham Motors and the companies within that group as it gives them more control of the customer experience . Having spent so much time and money developing products the person representing the company is obviously very important as is stock control.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
BOHanoverSq:Hi, this the Hanover Square team here. We are sorry, but we haven't received your email. If you could kindly send me your details, I would be happy to contact you & respond to any queries. Thank you.
BeoNut since '75
Mark:I was thinking Sytner, Inchape, Pendragon, HR Owen, Lookers, Arnold Clark, Jardine, Vertu etc but yes the likes of Ford, Mercedes, Renault and Porsche own a number of their own dealerships. So could B&O successfully do both direct and franchise ?
They do.
Both B&O and Sony have gone from Chester. If you go to the Sony website, they actually list Richer Sounds as a Sony retailer, and Richer Sounds is in the same road that B&O and Sony were once in.
On the franchise question I think B&O UK own several B&O stores. It would be a brave franchisee who put-up £300k + or whatever B&O currently require, knowing that he was going to be in competition with B&O directly owned stores. Not only that, but imagine the impact of the Play products coming out and being sold direct online. For many years Bose only sold by mail order or online, then they opened an outlet store, then many stores.
It seems that the whole AV sector is in a state of endless flux.
Eclipse 65V1-32Beosound M5Essence MK2BLI