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
Very nice of you to say Opman
. o O ( I was quietly wondering how long it would take an AD to arrive ) Say's a lot about how you run you're own business too - noted ;)
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.
Lee,
I feel your pain.
As a re-seller of sort, albeit a separate industry, I understand the problems of a declining market.
I do hope you have got out early enough without to much financial pain. I am sure you will throw yourself into the next opportunity with renewed gusto, be that Loewe or something else.
Saying - "It is What it is"
Chin up, Beoaus.
I'm gobsmacked....
x:________________________
Sad to hear that another very good B&O store closed...I wish you a great start and a growing new business, Lee!
I am having a martini in celebration of your good work to date - sorry to hear this news.
Many happy returns for your new path. B&O has changed, I agree.
.
Present: BL90, Core, BL6000, CD7000, Beogram 7000, Essence Remote.
Past: BL1, BL2, BL8000, BS9000, BL5, BC2, BS5, BV5, BV4-50, Beosystem 3, BL3, DVD1, Beoremote 4, Moment.
I am truly sorry to hear this and B&O have lost one of their best ambassadors. Lee has been a true friend and has kept this site working for years when it could easily have withered and died. His generosity is legendary and I wish him every luck in his new venture. Please keep us posted on what you are doing as I am sure you will have many supporters.
Peter
Duels:From a Beoworld perspective I wonder how this affects the funding of the site. I suspect lifestyle av have provided significant financial support.
Lee and I don't expect Beoworld to be affected from our members viewpoint and usage, in fact we have implemented several enhancements recently such as the "Members Account Portal" at http://portal.beoworld.org
Beoworld is a seperate limited company and it is true that Lifestyle did support it financially. Provided members continue to renew their yearly membership and current advertisers continue, then Beoworld will continue for the forseeable future.
I can confirm that the quarterly prize draw will continue as normal.
Regards Keith....
Duels:All good things come to an end and I join everyone else in wishing you and you team every success with your next venture with Loewe. From a Beoworld perspective I wonder how this affects the funding of the site. I suspect lifestyle av have provided significant financial support.
From a Beoworld perspective I wonder how this affects the funding of the site. I suspect lifestyle av have provided significant financial support.
And the prizes etc.
Hope Lee can give everyone an update on the future, especially his plans for Loewe.
I also want to add my thanks to Lee for his help and support during the past nine years since I first worked with him (at Lifestyle AV's original premises in Willingdon). Over the years, it has been a pleasure to work with Lee and I have been inspired by his dedication and work ethic (and I happily remember the two of us being ejected from "Den Glade Pingvin" bar in Struer in the early hours following a visit to the B&O factory)
It is sad to see such a well renowned business as Lifestyle AV cease trading and I know that this will have been a very difficult decision for Lee to make. I wish Lee every success for his future and I hope that we will continue to benefit from Lee's experience and insight on this forum.
As Keith has mentioned earlier in the thread, Beoworld is a separate entity to Lifestyle AV, so it is my understanding that there is no threat to Beoworld's future. With around 16,000 members (including approx. 1,000 silver and gold members who support the site financially), Beoworld is stronger than ever going forwards.
Please rest assured that Sounds Heavenly will also continue to provide sponsorship to Beoworld to ensure that this superb resource continues to go from strength to strength.
Wishing Lee and his family the best for the future, Steve.
Steve.
www.soundsheavenly.com
Founder of Sounds Heavenly Cables and Brand Ambassador for Bang & Olufsen
Sounds Heavenly are proud to sponsor BeoWorld!
Please check out my YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/soundsheavenlycables
Keith Saunders:Lee and I don't expect Beoworld to be affected from our members viewpoint and usage, in fact we have implemented several enhancements recently such as the "Members Account Portal" at http://portal.beoworld.org Beoworld is a seperate limited company and it is true that Lifestyle did support it financially. Provided members continue to renew their yearly membership and current advertisers continue, then Beoworld will continue for the forseeable future. I can confirm that the quarterly prize draw will continue as normal. Regards Keith....
Wow - didn't see this coming!
I hope whatever to do next goes very, very well - I'm certain it will if it in any way relies on enthusiasm, professionalism, dedication and good old fashioned hard work.
Ban boring signatures!
Very upsetting to hear the sad news Lee.
I know that you have been a huge help and friend to many B&O aficionados around the world.
I trust that whatever new direction you take, it will lead to prosperity and happiness
All the best to you and yours and wishing you all the best
John :-)
Wishing you all the best in whatever you decide to do. I think it was always a difficult business to be in and considering your success for so long shows the hard work you put into your business
Lee and team,Having you as a unique PROFESSIONAL team was a great pleasure.Stay creative in business Lee and let us know what your new drive will be.Regards, Robert(I had a tour in Eastbourne by Lee in his store. Great energy, super clean store and stunning product checks process)
Very sad to read Lee's posting.
I join with all other postings in wishing Lee all the best for the future and to thank him for all he's done for Beoworlder's - not least the prize draws and finding those prizes- and all he's done for B&O the brand.
Cheers
perhaps we can all raise a glass to Lee and the team at a set time in the future, where ever in the world we are?
TEL
kai:I wonder does this mean that we will see the same fate for the other second hand dealers of bang and olufsen. It looks to me as if the dealers are keeping the used items and selling them directly to the customer, I'm i right in thinking this? The only problem I can see bang and olufsen seem to be discounting the parts for older kit
Yes I think you are right Kai. While I always looked at second hand dealer sites, and enthusiastically at Lee's particularly, more often than not I ended up buying from ADs directly as they always gave me the best price with good trade ins depending on what I then bought from then going forward. I like to form a partnership with a dealer and enjoy the dealership experience. I feel I have more of a guarantee (or warranty if you will) from an AD and in fact I already have some credit with one currently where I was going to buy the Eclipse and various other products. This may now be tricky since I am not sure I want to part with so much money just for an LG OLED attached to a B&O speaker. I need to consider other options, one of which might be waiting in anticipation for a better designed TV from B&O next year! lol
Proof that the second hand B&O market has collapsed? Lifestyle had a couple of BL3500's on its website at what can only be described as bargain prices (half the price of the same speakers on the Lifestyle eBay site). I rang Lee to check that it wasn't a mistake and bought one of them. After a couple of weeks has gone by the second speaker was still there at the same price. I bought that for the kitchen.
Now, looking back, I think that the fact that these speakers had been there for weeks at bargain prices just proved that the demand had dramatically fallen away.
Graham
All the best, Lee!
Hello everyone, Matt (formerly of LifeStyle AV) here (or the 'not-so Secret Alpaca', from now on)....
Just a brief message to say thank you for the kind comments. Working alongside Lee since 2005 has been a blast; it's been hard at times, but I can genuinely say that I enjoyed every moment, meeting some wonderful people, travelling all over the place and visiting some very interesting places (carrying a BeoVision 9 down a muddy riverbank in the rain in Cornwall will live with me forever)!
Whereas Lee and I will both go onto other things (though I don't think either of us are sure of what those 'things' are just yet!) I'm sure that we'll both look back on this period of our lives with great affection.
Thanks again
Very unexpected news
All the best to Lee and the crew for anything you might pursue next!
--mika
Really very sad news
I got my Beovision 7-40 from LifeStyle AV few years ago which still works perfectly...
I wish you all the best Lee for your future!
Theomaster
Vintage Bang & Olufsen
The Secret Alpaca: Whereas Lee and I will both go onto other things (though I don't think either of us are sure of what those 'things' are just yet!) I'm sure that we'll both look back on this period of our lives with great affection.
This is sad. Does this mean the Loewe project is not happening either? I think we're all assuming Lee is moving to promoting Loewe after recent posts?
moxxey:This is sad. Does this mean the Loewe project is not happening either? I think we're all assuming Lee is moving to promoting Loewe after recent posts?
If Lee still wanted to sell Loewe, he could have kept the Lifestyle AV brand... Everything is closed now. Sad. Lifestyle was the only place on the whole Internet where I was assured to buy second hand B&O without any problem.
diisign.com
I am so sorry to hear this Lee, good luck for the future, your service was fantastic.
Kindest regards
Dave Edwards
mbee: If Lee still wanted to sell Loewe, he could have kept the Lifestyle AV brand... Everything is closed now. Sad. Lifestyle was the only place on the whole Internet where I was assured to buy second hand B&O without any problem.
I understand that - awful news. I think people above were assuming it was a move to Loewe, but looks like that isn't happening :( Sad times.
A very professional second hand seller and a nice guy according to someone I know who met him.
It was without no hesitation I told a friend to buy a pair of bl5 to him. You have to be very professional and with balls for sending bl5 from uk to thailand.
Good luck Lee qnd Matt for your next challenge
4 beolab 5, beolab 9, beolab 10, beolab 5000, beolab 8000 mk2, beolab 6002, beolab 3500, beovision 7 55 mk2, 2 beovision 11 46 mk4, beotime, beosound ouverture, beosound essence, beoplay A8, beomaster 900 RG de luxe and the collection continues...
moxxey: mbee: If Lee still wanted to sell Loewe, he could have kept the Lifestyle AV brand... Everything is closed now. Sad. Lifestyle was the only place on the whole Internet where I was assured to buy second hand B&O without any problem. I understand that - awful news. I think people above were assuming it was a move to Loewe, but looks like that isn't happening :( Sad times.
Sadly not
I have had very good service from Timeless AV, including sending TVs overseas. Highly recommended, perhaps they'll sponsor Beoworld!
moxxey:I understand that - awful news. I think people above were assuming it was a move to Loewe, but looks like that isn't happening :( Sad times.
KMA
B&O product history since 1991: Ridiculously long to list in a signature.
Duels:Lee was intending to sell NEW Loewe, not act as a used reseller I believe.
I don't think the Loewe route is truly viable. I do however wish Lee and Matt every success in their next venture whether it be together or individually. It must be remembered that Lee has rescued this site at a time when it was in a fairly parlous state and has transformed it into something that has become the go to information site for Bang and Olufsen. This site has always had a truly positive vibe about it with friendly advice asked for and given and very little in the way of flaming that is seen in almost every other internet site. The B&O Courtyard could be completely negative at times and simply farmed complaints. Much of the general bonhomie stems from Lee and his soft touch management of this site. Everyone is made to feel special who comes in contact with him and this sets the tone for the site.
B&O have lost a true star here and I believe will come to regret it immensely. Luckily I believe Lee will keep running this site - I cannot see anyone who could manage it as well and no-one that I would wish to stay on this site for.
Sorry to hear this Lee, your service was fantastic. I will you well in your future endeavours.
Sorry to hear about this Lee. Are you going to concentrate on Loewe?
Wish you all the best my friend.
Too long to list....