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
Recently I have been following the prices of some 'Play' products, such as the A2 and particularly H8 Headphones on the usual UK auction sites, and I've seen 'Buy It Now' prices of up to 30% less on products claiming to be new and in sealed packaging...
Personally I'm extremely wary of buying these without knowing where they came from, and what their guarantee status is, and in fact I intend to support my dealer when I finally decide to buy some headphones anyway. Nonetheless I'm curious as to the origin of these discounted products. Are they grey imports? refurbished products? stock from ex-dealers? Chinese-made fakes?!
I'd really like to know how these can be sold at such large discounts, as I imagine this trade must undermine the UK dealers' ability to compete on these products.
Didn't we have a thread on this some time ago? Potentially Chinese manufacturers doing extra production runs on their own accounts and putting products into plain boxes, presumably because the official B&O packaging and packing was being done elsewhere?
Did B&O ever investigate and get to the bottom of things?
Graham
Some end of run Play products do get sold off to discounters. The A3 plus H6 football world cup products are good examples.
Graham.
It's the H8s which are intriguing me at the moment, as they're regularly being offered in either colour in new sealed boxes at prices better even than the '20% off via a B&O Play survey' could offer. I really want a pair, but I was determined to support my dealer in some way since he's been a fount of support recently and I haven't bought anything meaningful from him - but still, a 25-30% discount can't be completely ignored without investigation!
The old adage "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is" is circling in my head when I see these offers, but I just wondered if I was missing something obvious about these products.
Hi Beocat the H8's have had a lot of problems with Bluetooth reception which may have got sorted now. With something like this, the superior aftersales service of a true B&O dealer or Beoplay on line is a safer bet. That three year warranty will be more 'valid' at your dealer too. My only concern with PLAY is what happens to the product after 3 years as these products are repairable which I find highly disturbing. When I buy something nice, i'll keep it for at least five years + before i'd even consider changing it.
Hi Paul,
I've been following the H8 issues here on the forum, and buying from a dealer does make most sense with a potentially temperamental product such as this. I just couldn't understand how the H8s - and A2s and even A9s etc. could be being sold for such discounts at the auction sites; secretly I was hoping that someone would tell me they were all 'second quality' products or something, hence making me feel happier about playing full price at my dealer!
Re. 3 years warranty, that's probably as good as you're going to get in this day and age - you only get 3 years warranty on a brand new Mercedes after all... I don't know if I've just been lucky, but thinking back, most of my electronics have been pretty reliable and easily outlived their warranties (touch wood). I think nowadays you either get a 'dud' which reveals itself pretty quickly, or you get a product which just lasts if you don't abuse it.
I think I might see my dealer later this week and buy and enquire about those H8s...
vikinger:Some end of run Play products do get sold off to discounters. The A3 plus H6 football world cup products are good examples. Graham.
StUrrock:Are A2s end of line? A pal of mine said he saw a pallet load of them in Costco recently.
Beocat47: Hi Paul, I've been following the H8 issues here on the forum, and buying from a dealer does make most sense with a potentially temperamental product such as this. I just couldn't understand how the H8s - and A2s and even A9s etc. could be being sold for such discounts at the auction sites; secretly I was hoping that someone would tell me they were all 'second quality' products or something, hence making me feel happier about playing full price at my dealer! Re. 3 years warranty, that's probably as good as you're going to get in this day and age - you only get 3 years warranty on a brand new Mercedes after all... I don't know if I've just been lucky, but thinking back, most of my electronics have been pretty reliable and easily outlived their warranties (touch wood). I think nowadays you either get a 'dud' which reveals itself pretty quickly, or you get a product which just lasts if you don't abuse it. I think I might see my dealer later this week and buy and enquire about those H8s...
In the US the MB new vehicle warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles.
Duels:Do you mean the H2 headphone? The A2 has only been around for less than 12 months and is B&O's best selling product ever so I don't think it is end of line.
I'm really hoping the H8s aren't end-of line - I just bought a pair full price from my dealer on Wednesday!
Honestly though, I am glad I bought them there - a three year warranty, support if there are any issues, and a dealer who knows I'm prepared to support him and with whom I'm not going to quibble over every last penny; when I do buy something significant though, I'll expect a good deal! I could have saved a few pounds buying these at an auction site, but I wouldn't have the same peace of mind...
By the way, I think the H8s are quite spectacular - mine are in Argilla Bright, they fit a treat, sound great, and no signs of any drop-outs so far.
Now, as for the A2 - where IS my Costco card...?
Hi Beocat WOW Congrats. Awesome colour too. I believe the H8 are much alive and exciting sounding than the H6 which are flat - good for classical but not much use for dance/RnB. I'm with you on the dealer purchase - I'd still feel happy buying with the 20% off on beoplay.com too.
I'm looking forward to trying these maybe the next time I pop into the Apple showroom in Covent Garden. I'd like some new headphones for my surf adventure trip next year for the long flights and these look really classy and still youthful too.
Best of luck with them. I hope you love them for many years :)
Thank you Paul,
I think I would have bought them with a 20% discount too, but despite registering I wasn't sent a voucher and I understand this promotion only ran until 31st August; that's what really bumped me into this purchase...
I haven't actually heard the H6s, but I've just been listening to some Aphex Twin & Future Islands on my H8s just to see how they handle some more synth-based stuff. And they sound very warm and precise than when playing some of the more musically complex indie stuff I might usually listen to, so I think you might enjoy them. The noise cancellation seems very good too-great for those long flights.
I like your description of the H8s, and I'd like to think that I too was like these headphones - very classy and still youthful too- although I think that might just be the delusions of an old man!
Best Regards, J
Hey thanks for the description and mini review Beocat :)
Haha loved your last sentence :) But very true of the H8's. They seem to of got the design totally right! I've seen quite a lot of young bloggers using them on Instagram and many other them are pictured next to the new MacBook Retina.
Certainly, for me, the noise cancelling will be brilliant on my 24 hour flight. Although I am the worlds worst flyer :(
Agents/distributors buy direct off bang & olufsen. They can sell whatever price they want. There is a store in Melb/Preston that have every Play product at a reduced rate, currently the A2 is around 18% off. The S8 is only $1350~ AUD too.
full warranty is provided, it's not a grey import or surplus stock.
hopefully my stone mason will not misread discontinued and write discounted on my gravestone.....
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
Paul W:Hi Beocat WOW Congrats. Awesome colour too. I believe the H8 are much alive and exciting sounding than the H6 which are flat - good for classical but not much use for dance/RnB. I'm with you on the dealer purchase - I'd still feel happy buying with the 20% off on beoplay.com too. I'm looking forward to trying these maybe the next time I pop into the Apple showroom in Covent Garden. I'd like some new headphones for my surf adventure trip next year for the long flights and these look really classy and still youthful too. Best of luck with them. I hope you love them for many years :)
x:________________________
Hey Michael, thanks for that buddy :) It's a 3-5month holiday so these should be ideal.
Hi Jonathan - starting off in NZ as a friend has busted moved there and then playing Bali, Fiji and Tahiti. Possible doing Aus for a few weeks too as a best friend moved to Sydney a few years ago and we haven't caught up for a while :) It's going to be a trip of a lifetime :) :) :)
Paul W:Hey Michael, thanks for that buddy :) It's a 3-5month holiday so these should be ideal. Hi Jonathan - starting off in NZ as a friend has busted moved there and then playing Bali, Fiji and Tahiti. Possible doing Aus for a few weeks too as a best friend moved to Sydney a few years ago and we haven't caught up for a while :) It's going to be a trip of a lifetime :) :) :)
Hi Duels,
Well, i've always loved surfing since I was a child so friends from university and gym friends have moved all over the world so it's kind of like a big get together surfing trip with a lot of beach parties that i'll DJ at :)
We'll probably cycle and motorbike around the places too which will be amazing :) But yes, the H8's will be fab for the flights :)
Paul W:Hi Jonathan - starting off in NZ as a friend has busted moved there and then playing Bali, Fiji and Tahiti. Possible doing Aus for a few weeks too as a best friend moved to Sydney a few years ago and we haven't caught up for a while :) It's going to be a trip of a lifetime :) :) :)
BeoNut since '75
Hi Elephant. Sadly that was before my time on BeoWorld. He sounds a very cool dude. Hawaii must be an incredible place to live :) Thanks for that Mr Elephant :)
OMG Jonathan, that's the life!!! Healthy Healthy Healthy :) Thank you very much - much appreciated :) Very excited for the whole trip :)
elephant: Paul W: Hi Jonathan - starting off in NZ as a friend has busted moved there and then playing Bali, Fiji and Tahiti. Possible doing Aus for a few weeks too as a best friend moved to Sydney a few years ago and we haven't caught up for a while :) It's going to be a trip of a lifetime :) :) :) Do you remember Fabian ? He was on Beoworld around 2002-2006 - based in Hawaii and an avid surfer
Paul W: Hi Jonathan - starting off in NZ as a friend has busted moved there and then playing Bali, Fiji and Tahiti. Possible doing Aus for a few weeks too as a best friend moved to Sydney a few years ago and we haven't caught up for a while :) It's going to be a trip of a lifetime :) :) :)
Do you remember Fabian ?
He was on Beoworld around 2002-2006 - based in Hawaii and an avid surfer
I do! He lived in NY before the move to Hawaii.
Daniel:Do you remember Fabian ? He was on Beoworld around 2002-2006 - based in Hawaii and an avid surferI do! He lived in NY before the move to Hawaii.