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
Dear All,
It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that I have taken the decision to close the doors at LifeStyle AV.
Despite my best efforts the business has become unviable. Buying stock has become almost impossible as dealers are selling the little they do get themselves to pay their own bills, and the number of products out there has shrunk in line with the amount of dealers left. I have huge overheads, and 'doing it properly' leaves no profit any more as the prices are so low and margins so tight.
This in turn has left us with no stock as we’ve just been running through what we did have, paying bills, and simply limping forwards into oblivion. We’re now ‘running on empty’ with no stock apart from old rubbish, so it’s time to get off the ride, close the doors and walk away.
It’s been a truly wonderful 12 years, but B&O has changed – and used B&O has changed also. I’ll still be around, and will always love B&O, but I may be a little quiet of late as I’ve got lots of paperwork to get on with..
I just thought I would be better coming from me as opposed to half-stories and guesses doing the ‘rumour mills'..
Thank You all, and speak soon.
Lee
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
9 LEE: It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that I have taken the decision to close the doors at LifeStyle AV.
That's awful Lee and a huge shock. Sorry to hear about the decision.
Will you still continue in some capacity? ie. are you still continuing with Loewe?
Sad as it sounds, I guess this could affect BeoWorld?
that is sad news.
all my very best wishes to you for the future lee , i have loved my little visits to you
the whole team especially matt were an absolute pleasure to deal with
david
Very sad news - I`m sorry to hear this.
Stefan
BeoNut since '75
moxxey:Sad as it sounds, I guess this could affect BeoWorld?
Beoworld is a separate limited company, but clearly has provided financial support
Regards Keith....
Sorry to hear this Lee.
I noticed that your eBay store was empty over the weekend and did wonder why, after our recent conversations.
I hope that things work out for you. Are you continuing with the Loewe link-up?
BS3 DVB-HD, BV7-40 MKIII, BC6-26, BC6-23, BV4-50/BS2, BS5, BS9000, BL3500, MLGW, BLGW, PlayMaker, - BS6500, BS4500, LX6000, VX7000, MX5500, VX5000 - Beo6, Beo5, BeoTimex2, Linctonic
Sorry to read Lee.Hopefully Loewe brings what you expect........
Good luck.
Sad to hear your store is closing.
We are also struggling here in UAE to continue the business since we are not getting direct supply from the factory. So we are just getting from other dealers like Kuwait, India and etc just to continue the business even if there is no profit at all.
Such a shame. Good luck with future endeavours.
bought a few items over the years, mainly spares and odd items.
Whats happening with the stuff left? I had a few items in my watch it on eBay!
That's sad news.
My Struer Design cabinet will be a very nice reminiscence to LifeStyleAV and your father too. I hope to see you again not only in this forum but in Struer too (as 2012).
All the best for the future.
Peter
Really sorry to hear that news Lee. If your enthusiastic business cannot survive then it demonstrates just how wrong the B&O strategy has been in recent years.
I hope you can take a viable business forward with Loewe.
Graham
vikinger:Really sorry to hear that news Lee. If your enthusiastic business cannot survive then it demonstrates just how wrong the B&O strategy has been in recent years. I hope you can take a viable business forward with Loewe. Graham
I am sorry to hear that Lee. Lets hope your new venture into Loewe is successful for you and your team.
Lifestyle AV will be missed.
Will Botty be put out to pasture at the old robots home?
Indeed very sad news....
I can remember when you open a thread in an former incarnation of Beoworld an looked for a name for you (then new) business. Seeing it closing down is said, but things like this happen. I am sure the descision wasn't easy and great respect to you to have taken it. I hope that closing LifeStyle-AV doesn't leave you with a great financial loss.In german there is a saying "lieber ein Ende mit Schrecken, als ein Schrecken ohne Ende" that could be translated as "a frightening end is better than an endless fright" and I can imagine that this is about the situation you were confronted with.
I wish you and your team all the best for your new plans and I hope the we will see you around here.
Foxtrott
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4
Excuse my French : '*** et bonne chance'
Sorry to hear that Lee, and thanks for excellent service over the years.
I purchased this from you almost exactly 10 years ago - it's still going strong
Sad news indeed. Good luck, Lee!
Beolab 50, Beolab 8000 x 2, Beolab 4000 x 2, BeoSound Core, BeoSound 9000, BeoSound Century, BeoLit 15, BeoPlay A1, BeoPlay P2, BeoPlay H9 3rd Gen, BeoPlay H6, EarSet 3i, BeoVision Eclipse Gen 2 55", BeoPlay V1-40, BeoCom 6000 and so much else :)
Very sorry to hear this Lee. I too remember throwing in some name suggestions when you decided to launch into the pre owned Bang & Olufsen market. You did it so well others copied but without quite the success your enthusiasm managed. Good luck with your future projects.
Does this mean we can start calling you Swiss Toni again?
If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
I wish you well Lee and all the very best for the future. Regrettably, I am not shocked to hear this news as I was expecting it to trickle down to all involved in selling anything B&O related and I am sure it won't be long before Morethan, Iconic and others follow suit. It's not a sustainable business to be in and I fear even worse for official ADs. B&O have definitely lost a much of their former 'magic' with some crazy outdated ideas and products in recent years.
There is no doubt you will succeed in your next venture and you can hold your head up high with Lifestyle AV being a great success for 12 years so well done and positive thinking as you take on your next challenge. All the best, S.
B&O products are V1-32, BS2, H95, E8 and an Essence remote.11-46 now replaced with Sony A90J 65”, Sony HT-A9, Sony UBP-X800M2 and Sony SRS-NS7.
Bummer Lee, I am sorry too hear this. I hope you have a plan B.
Very, very sad to hear about this Lee. Your dedication was obvious, as was your love for the brand, and your help has always been appreciated (as I look at my BL8000s sitting on the rubber feet you so kindly provided me!). Also sadly, your previous posts make this not a complete surprise, you are in a very difficult position, or were, and I'm wondering if you're going to continue with Loewe or just abandon retail completely. At any rate, I wish you success and happiness in whatever endeavor follows this, and feel confident your attitude and professionalism will ultimately lead to success. You're one of the good guys Lee, hang in there. B&O is sadly not what it was. The old saying "the fish rots from the head" is apt, as their problems at HQ flow down to the dealers which flows down to you unfortunately.
I join everyone else in wishing you luck and success and will be interested in where you go from here.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Really sorry, Lee :-(
I wish you the very best for the future...
Good luck!
That's not good news!
However, I guess you are very realistic and that your decition is well considered.
I too wish you good luck with your future business life.
As I have understood it, you are able to divide between your love for B&O/the brand and the necessities of your professional life.
Maybe we will even see more from you on the forum - you sure have a lot experience to share.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Very sorry to read your post, Lee.
Anyway, all the best for the future!
Kind regards,
Yann.
Living Room BV Eclipse - BS Core - BL5 - BL8000 - LC2 x2 - Beo6
Lounge Beolink Passive - Cabasse Clipper - Beo4 Kitchen BL3500 - Beolink 1000
Bedroom BV9 - BL6000 (Thks Botty) - Beotime - LC2 - Beo5
Garden Lounge BC9000 - BG 6006 - BL4500 (Thks Botty) - Playmaker - Beolink 1000
Study BS1 - ML/NL Converter - BL2500 - Beo4 - Form 2 (Tks Botty) - Beoplay P2
Sad news indeed, the original and one of the best re-sellers.
The very best of luck with future endeavours Lee.
Best wishes
Ray
Very sad news ,Lee all the best to you and your team,end of another sad bang & olufsen story. You have done the brand proud👍
Good luck lee in all you do....
we tend to forget there is more to design than designing.
Lee,
very sad about this - wishing you and your team all the best from Vienna! I have here my lovely Beovision 9, my Beolabs 5, Beosound 9000 and quite a bit more B&O stuff, all thanks to you (and all of this still working great after many years). There are only a very few shops that had the same level of customer support, and every sale was a reminder of your great style and the bond of trust that you built. A big thanks to Matt as well.
Will be looking into Loewe, since B&O indeed lost its sparkle even for me - I am quite happy with my new Sonos system on top of the B&OP stuff. Only wish it would have worked out to get those Beolab 90s from you... ;) I will never be able to buy them firsthand.
Too bad B&O is just too expensive and at the same time definitely not future-proof anymore... It's the software, stupid...
Hope to stay in touch!
Jan
Sad news, Lee! I remember as well the naming competition and also our trip to Struer where we saw the Beo5 and took a scotch or two in the hotel bar talking B&O! Those where the days! Wish you all the best in the future for you and your family!
Good luck with your next adventure
Hi Lee
Very sorry to hear that you are closing the B&O store. You were the only reseller that I would recommend as I know you are a good guy.
Good luck in your new venture.
Opman