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
I placed an order today with my dealer, and my dealer told me that B&O has instituted a new shipping policy whereby they charge $100 USD for any shipments BELOW 20 lbs. He said that a way to avoid that charge is to have the item shipped to the dealer and then the dealer ships the item to the customer. Thusly, all shipping fees are then waived. However, the policy now is that if an item under 20 lbs. is shipped DIRECTLY to the customer, then there is a $100 fee.
Has anyone else heard of this new policy? Any dealers on here? This seems quite insane to me.
Only being facetious here, because I don't know about this policy, but it seems like B&O is now charging a premium on shipping as well. Hope there is a more rational explanation.
I worry about the horrible effects that dealers could be feeling from this. With Amazon, you can buy, e.g, a BeoPlay A1, M5, or A6 and have it delivered for free within 2 days. However, if your dealer is out of stock, you pay $100 for shipping or have the delay of it being shipped to your dealer first and then forwarded to you. I see this as a drive toward Amazon and away from dealers.
I just saw on Amazon that they offer free 2-day Prime delivery also for BeoSound 1, BeoSound 2, and BeoSound 35 -- all with the convenience of one-click purchasing. How can dealers compete with this with delivery times of possibly a week and delivery fees of $100?
beojeff: I just saw on Amazon that they offer free 2-day Prime delivery also for BeoSound 1, BeoSound 2, and BeoSound 35 -- all with the convenience of one-click purchasing. How can dealers compete with this with delivery times of possibly a week and delivery fees of $100?
Surely a dealer can still order items to the store and they can be picked up from the local store? Or via BeoPlay website? Or another retailer?
moxxey: beojeff: I just saw on Amazon that they offer free 2-day Prime delivery also for BeoSound 1, BeoSound 2, and BeoSound 35 -- all with the convenience of one-click purchasing. How can dealers compete with this with delivery times of possibly a week and delivery fees of $100? Surely a dealer can still order items to the store and they can be picked up from the local store? Or via BeoPlay website? Or another retailer?
The order has to be shipped to the dealer first. No more direct shipments from stock to the end customer without incurring a $100 fee. I'm sure this does not include purchases from the BeoPlay site; however, this is leaving the dealer out of the picture.
beojeff: The order has to be shipped to the dealer first. No more direct shipments from stock to the end customer without incurring a $100 fee. I'm sure this does not include purchases from the BeoPlay site; however, this is leaving the dealer out of the picture.
Correct - but it's not a shock for me as I never knew it was possible to ship direct to the end customer. I don't think that was ever possible in the UK. The dealer ordered to the store and you either picked it up or he couriered it to you at an agreed fee.
moxxey: beojeff: The order has to be shipped to the dealer first. No more direct shipments from stock to the end customer without incurring a $100 fee. I'm sure this does not include purchases from the BeoPlay site; however, this is leaving the dealer out of the picture. Correct - but it's not a shock for me as I never knew it was possible to ship direct to the end customer. I don't think that was ever possible in the UK. The dealer ordered to the store and you either picked it up or he couriered it to you at an agreed fee.
Yes, we can specify 'home' delivery on any order from Denmark - there is a fee for this with the exception on Avant 75 & 85 where home delivery is free. The idea is that the installation team meet the delivery at the customer's home for large TVs . I shipped a pair of Lab 50 to the USA but had to go via my store then out again via FedEx...
So with this new shipping policy, I've seen a delay of at least 2 weeks. Still no product. Whereas, I could have had a guaranteed shipping of 2 days from Amazon. This has me very worried about the dealers' viability. I want to be loyal to dealers, but the fast shipping and convenience of Amazon becomes a compelling factor. I have the feeling that B&O is trying to save on shipping and handling by waiting and bulk shipping to dealers rather than to address orders as they are made while dealers have no stock.