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
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I truly appreciate them and I'll take the very same ethos into whatever I do next.
I've had a great time, and Matt has been a true friend as well as an employee since 2005. Steve and Dominic too. All great people who will go on to do good things.
I'm genuinely unsure where my future lays, but I fully intend for BeoWorld to remain as it is. B&O may not be my living at the moment, but my love of the brand will always be there.
All good things come to an end. We move on, wiser from the negatives and stronger from the positives.
Lee
Lee, maybe this is clear to everyone on these forums except me. Are you currently totally out of the A/V Electronics business altogether (i.e. even Loewe)?
Hi Sal,
To clarify, I am no longer dealing in used B&O for a living, and I am not going to be dealing in new Loewe.
All I want to do at the moment is rest, spend time with my family, and decide where my future lays. It's been real emotional wrench walking away from a business which has been amazing for 10 years, very hard for 1, then awful for the last 1 - but I do feel a sense of relief that the immense pressure placed on me every single day has lifted.
Once I've distanced myself, regrouped, and spent time looking at where I want to go, and what I want from life - who knows, I may be back in some capacity. I'm going to spend time catching up with friends, talking to people, and researching.
You can guarantee though, whichever business I start next - there'll be B&O in it somewhere... even if it's speakers in the restaurant or a TV in the reception area. :)
Thanks for replying, Lee. My original sentiments apply: Good Luck and I wish you all the best as you regroup and relax, and beyond!
9 LEE: All I want to do at the moment is rest, spend time with my family, and decide where my future lays. It's been real emotional wrench walking away from a business which has been amazing for 10 years, very hard for 1, then awful for the last 1 - but I do feel a sense of relief that the immense pressure placed on me every single day has lifted. Once I've distanced myself, regrouped, and spent time looking at where I want to go, and what I want from life - who knows, I may be back in some capacity. I'm going to spend time catching up with friends, talking to people, and researching. You can guarantee though, whichever business I start next - there'll be B&O in it somewhere... even if it's speakers in the restaurant or a TV in the reception area. :) Lee
Hello Leewhen I read this it look almost you are dealing with your health......As I write before al the best for now and in the future...John
It's one of those occasions that's very sad (like a good friend's divorce), but with time, the future is invariably better. My mother always said I was an optimist!
Many thanks Lee for everything you've done for us all - It's immense what you've achieved in terms of running a thriving business for ten years and transforming an enthusiast's website that was on the verge of extinction to what we have today. Only a fortnight ago you replied to a post of mine that got my Century working properly again. Its great that you're in a position that you can take some time out to consider your options.
With regards to this site, I think you should assertively lobby the likes of myself to start contributing towards the running costs. I used to be a founder member, but had to downgrade my membership when I was chronically short of cash... a decision that I now regret, even though I had no option at the time. I'm very fortunate that my financial situation is completely unrecognisable compared to those of dark days & I shall upgrade back up to gold today.
The very best of wishes to you, your family and you ex employees.
Cheers
Nigel
Very surprised and pleased that I've been given back my founder member status!
Come on you Bronze members - get your hands in your pockets!
h1npw: Very surprised and pleased that I've been given back my founder member status! Come on you Bronze members - get your hands in your pockets! Cheers Nigel
... and then out with your credit card etc. to upgrade your membership, if your budget allows it.
9 LEE: You can guarantee though, whichever business I start next - there'll be B&O in it somewhere... even if it's speakers in the restaurant or a TV in the reception area. :) Lee
Is that a hint that a hotel is next on the agenda?!
Vrooooom vrooom.
His other passion
If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
The Secret Alpaca: 9 LEE: You can guarantee though, whichever business I start next - there'll be B&O in it somewhere... even if it's speakers in the restaurant or a TV in the reception area. :) Lee Is that a hint that a hotel is next on the agenda?!
I think he would make a superb hotelier or restaurant owner but the hours are awful and competition high. Also Eastbourne does attract a certain type of clientele. I think PR is the best - spend someone else's money for them!! If I were B&O, I would snap him up in a trice.
Peter
Peter the Biker: h1npw: Very surprised and pleased that I've been given back my founder member status! Come on you Bronze members - get your hands in your pockets! Cheers Nigel ... and then out with your credit card etc. to upgrade your membership, if your budget allows it.
Check!
Ralf
Living Room: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-2 (Center), Beolab 9 (Fronts), Beolab 8000 (Rears), no Subwoofer. Screen: Sony KD-85XH9096Dining Room: Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 4000 on stands, fed by Amazon Echo Show 8Home Cinema: Beosystem 4, Beolab 7-4 (Center), Beolab 1 (Fronts), Beolab 4000 (Rears). Projector: Sony VPL-HW55Home Office: Beosystem 3, Beolab 7-4, Beolab 5000, Screen: Sony KD-55XH9005 on Beovision 7-40 stand, ML to Beosound 9000 MK3 and Beosound 5/Beomaster 5 (1 TB SSD version)Bedroom: Sony KD-65XH9077, Beosound Essence MK II with Beolab 6002 and Beolab 11 (all white, wall-mounted)
In storage: Beolab 5000/Beomaster 5000 (1960s).
All the best for you, LEE!
It's better to make a painful break than draw out the agony.
It is not easy to give up something you enjoyed in the past.But I am sure you will find a business that brings back joy.
So In a few months time you will look back at today and be thankful for the new opportunity given!
Just visiting younger relatives. Their view of things.,........ Expensive mobile phone is first priority with .big over ear headphones..... Domestic Hi Fi is dead...... But they've just heard about something called Hi Res,.......
Graham
vikinger: Just visiting younger relatives. Their view of things.,........ Expensive mobile phone is first priority with .big over ear headphones..... Domestic Hi Fi is dead...... But they've just heard about something called Hi Res,....... Graham
And those expensive phones are , in effect leased, as TVs used to be!
Headphones are bought outright.
Beo Century ,Beoplay V1, Beocenter 6, Ex-Beolit 12, Beotime , A8. Beolit 15 , Form 2i , Beolab 2000, Beoplay A3.Beosound 1
I'm sorry to hear this news, Lee, but given the stories youve been telling us recently about B&O it would seem that it was a sad inevitability.
I still rate our purchase of a (proper CRT!) Beovision Avant from you quite a few years ago as one of the highest points in customer service of any purchase I have ever made, so I have no doubt that whatever you turn your hand to next, it will be a success.
Very best wishes to you for the future!
Only just found this out. What a sad thing to hear. I just want to express my sincere thanks for their great service. Still enjoying my B&O speaker & tv from this brilliant shop!
Sorry to hear this, but in today's market it seems like a wise thing to do. All the best to you, your family and the former staff at Lifestyle AV.
Vähintään yhdeksänkymmentä prosenttia suomalainen!
I wonder if the loss of one the competition is helping the remaining shops?
Simonbeo: I wonder if the loss of one the competition is helping the remaining shops?
Very much doubt it Simon. I would happily buy a product new from an official AD if there was anything of interest, but there's nothing. At least nothing that appeals to me. I was hoping (desperately hoping to be honest) that the Eclipse would be the modern day BS9000 if you like; the product that would save the brand and excel them back to the top of the AV market with something that stood out in design and functionality that raised the bar for competitors to follow.
Alas, yet another disappointment in a long line of disappointments since 2007 or so. I knew then, for me, that was the end of my relationship with B&O. Sadly and regrettably, I am now looking at Loewe or even straight to an LG W7 with speaker bar, which in all honestly is beautiful looking, has up to date technology (panel and sound) and apart from the lack of Dolby Atmos (which I am not concerned about) has everything B&O 'used' to have, including moving parts in the speaker bar.
When LG are making a better product than B&O you know that something's seriously wrong. Just what are you paying a premium with B&O for anymore? I know some people on the forum like the Eclipse and have bought it, and fair play to them but to me, it represents nothing other than poor value for money if any value at all, and that's not what I used to buy B&O for.
Simon.
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.
I feel exactly the same. I’ve already sold my 7-55 and if and when I can shift my Beolab 5s, after 40 years of ownership I’m done. I’ve alre pencilled in a Loewe Bild 5-65 and some Klang 9 speakers.
Its not just the latest gear not being m cup of tea, my last dealers behaviour has ensured that my wife simply won’t have B&O in the house ever again. And B&O have just lost my 3 boys lifetime loyalty too.
Im keeping the Beovision 5-42 though, for David Lewis memories.
Beosound Stage, Beovision 8-40, Beolit 20, Beosound Explore.
It's easy to get negative about B&O - especially when you really, in your heart of hearts, want them to do well. We're here as fans of the brand, on a forum about B&O, after all.
Back to the closure of LifeStyle AV giving a 'boost' to other resellers and Authorised Dealers though, I don't really know. I suppose it must have, but only by a small amount as we weren't turning over much at all towards the end. It fell off a cliff.
I'm still sad it ended up the way it did, and re-reading this thread made me a bit misty-eyed. I cannot tell you how hard it's been over the last couple of months, just coming to terms that 12 years of my life working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, has come to nothing. It annoys me that doing it well, and doing it properly, wasn't viable. I suppose it's the same in many businesses. Cut corners, save money, stay in business.
However, I console myself in the belief that it's about the journey.
I've had an absolutely brilliant time - and if you'd have said to me twelve years ago (when I had nothing) that I'd end up again with nothing, and shown me what I'd done, who I'd met, where I'd travelled, the cars, the holidays, the great parties, the trips to Struer, the wonderful times - I'd have taken it in a heartbeat. So, no regrets.
I'll always have some B&O in the house, but not as much as I used to. A BeoSound 2 is on my wish-list, and some Lab 5's at a decent price - but my next TV will most likely be a Loewe. It'll be strange not having a Beo4 in my hand though.
I'm still sad I never got chance to do Loewe, but the demise of the B&O side was so rapid, and so severe, the pressure on establishing it would have been too much. A great product, nice people (Jan-Nel at Harrods is a great guy if you're in there anyone) and sensibly priced.
As for my next move... I can say with some certainty that my future no longer lies in AV. The market is changing so rapidly I'd find it too hard to predict, and aligning myself with the fortunes of one brand now makes me recoil.... I've been 'burned'.
I must move forward though. I'm lucky I've had some great people around me, who are still there. Keith, Steve (Soundsheavenly), Peter, Jeff, Matt (ex-LifeStyle) are all people I talk to on a daily or weekly basis, who have remained close and supportive. Aside from two or three official dealers I've heard nothing from the dealer network, or head office, or Struer. No emails, no phone calls, nothing.
Some people I thought were good friends have deserted me (as I'm clearly no longer useful) with zero contact from the day I closed the doors, and some people I thought were just acquaintances have really stepped up and proved they're good people when you need them. It's funny how people show their true colours when the time comes...
You live and learn, and you never stop learning.
I'm very glad I've met who I have here on BeoWorld, and through LifeStyle AV. I've made some great friends out of people who are far too good for me!
Well Lee, it’s still a sad tale, but I can well understand not wanting to get back into AV. Between the ups and downs of the global economy, globalization, and the changing technology and ways to consume media roiling the whole AV market, it’s a very hard and tenuous business. And I have always loved AV and bounced between occasional bouts in sales, design and engineering. Not a lot but more than enough to realize the challenges, which seem to be ever mounting.
If I had to pick one area I think will be dominant in the future it’s 3D printing, though what to do with that I have no idea. But it’s got the potential to be the most disruptive technology since the transistor.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Chris Townsend:I feel exactly the same. I’ve already sold my 7-55 and if and when I can shift my Beolab 5s, after 40 years of ownership I’m done.X snipped X Im keeping the Beovision 5-42 though, for David Lewis memories.
BeoNut since '75
9 LEE:— snipped — I'm still sad it ended up the way it did, and re-reading this thread made me a bit misty-eyed. I cannot tell you how hard it's been over the last couple of months, just coming to terms that 12 years of my life working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, has come to nothing.
9 LEE:— snipped — I've had an absolutely brilliant time - and if you'd have said to me twelve years ago (when I had nothing) that I'd end up again with nothing, and shown me what I'd done, who I'd met, where I'd travelled, the cars, the holidays, the great parties, the trips to Struer, the wonderful times - I'd have taken it in a heartbeat. So, no regrets.
9 LEE:— snipped — I must move forward though. I'm lucky I've had some great people around me, who are still there. Keith, Steve (Soundsheavenly), Peter, Jeff, Matt (ex-LifeStyle) are all people I talk to on a daily or weekly basis, who have remained close and supportive.
9 LEE:— snipped —Aside from two or three official dealers I've heard nothing from the dealer network, or head office, or Struer. No emails, no phone calls, nothing.
9 LEE:— snipped —Some people I thought were good friends have deserted me (as I'm clearly no longer useful) with zero contact from the day I closed the doors, and some people I thought were just acquaintances have really stepped up and proved they're good people when you need them. It's funny how people show their true colours when the time comes...
9 LEE:— snipped — You live and learn, and you never stop learning. I'm very glad I've met who I have here on BeoWorld, and through LifeStyle AV. I've made some great friends out of people who are far too good for me!Lee
Hi Lee,
I want to second Elephant's closing words - you are a true gent and we all appreciate the benefit of your wit, wisdom and experience on a daily basis on Beoworld.
This forum is a very rare thing - an online discussion site where the arguments and flaming that are rife elsewhere across the net rarely trouble us. This is no accident - you (with the support of the other moderators) have crafted this site and tactfully reined in the occasional wayard discussions to keep it a dignified and respectful place.
Lee, your "B&O legacy" isn't limited to Lifestyle (although that was a great success for many years) - Beoworld is a direct product of your humour and style and something to be proud of. I still think Prizedrawbot is a stroke of genius - I giggle all through the prize draw threads.....
So can I propose that we change the title of this thread from "Lifestyle AV - now closed" to "Beoworld - now open"?
Three cheers for Lee - and a big thank you!
Kind regards, 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
HEAR HEAR Steve!
well said !
Well done Lee,
Its always hard closing down, but you have to be realistic.
Having a business is about putting food on the table and not just indulging a hobby.
I had a buisness for 9 years, working myself to death and just making ends meet. I took a good look at ny buisness and stopped.
Best decision I ever made, saved my marrige and gave me a beter relationship with my kids.
After 2 years I started a completly new buisnes with a friend, and its going great.
Look ahead and not back, your best chances are in front of you !
best wishes,
Ken
9 LEE: Some people I thought were good friends have deserted me (as I'm clearly no longer useful) with zero contact from the day I closed the doors, and some people I thought were just acquaintances have really stepped up and proved they're good people when you need them. It's funny how people show their true colours when the time comes...
This is so true. I've learned this myself over the years.
I have a "business partner" now where it's strictly business (he used to be a friend). He reminds me in no uncertain terms that "I absolutely do not care about you, just remember that" and I can't get rid of him. It's almost mental torture. To see someone you regard as a friend, you choose to set up in business, become so spiteful, is incredible.
One lesson I've learned is that friends do not make good business people or partners. Worse, sometimes people really believe their contribution is significant when it's actually tiny. Hence the arguments.
9 LEE: coming to terms that 12 years of my life working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, has come to nothing.
I have to pick up on this, Lee - it hasn't come to nothing. In those 12 years you spread the B&O word, made friends and, most importantly, set many people up with high quality, superb condition used B&O - me included.
Yes, it is very sad that it has come to an end but you should be very proud of what you achieved in those 12 years.
9 LEE: It's easy to get negative about B&O - especially when you really, in your heart of hearts, want them to do well. We're here as fans of the brand, on a forum about B&O, after all. Back to the closure of LifeStyle AV giving a 'boost' to other resellers and Authorised Dealers though, I don't really know. I suppose it must have, but only by a small amount as we weren't turning over much at all towards the end. It fell off a cliff. I'm still sad it ended up the way it did, and re-reading this thread made me a bit misty-eyed. I cannot tell you how hard it's been over the last couple of months, just coming to terms that 12 years of my life working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, has come to nothing. It annoys me that doing it well, and doing it properly, wasn't viable. I suppose it's the same in many businesses. Cut corners, save money, stay in business. However, I console myself in the belief that it's about the journey. I've had an absolutely brilliant time - and if you'd have said to me twelve years ago (when I had nothing) that I'd end up again with nothing, and shown me what I'd done, who I'd met, where I'd travelled, the cars, the holidays, the great parties, the trips to Struer, the wonderful times - I'd have taken it in a heartbeat. So, no regrets. I'll always have some B&O in the house, but not as much as I used to. A BeoSound 2 is on my wish-list, and some Lab 5's at a decent price - but my next TV will most likely be a Loewe. It'll be strange not having a Beo4 in my hand though. I'm still sad I never got chance to do Loewe, but the demise of the B&O side was so rapid, and so severe, the pressure on establishing it would have been too much. A great product, nice people (Jan-Nel at Harrods is a great guy if you're in there anyone) and sensibly priced. As for my next move... I can say with some certainty that my future no longer lies in AV. The market is changing so rapidly I'd find it too hard to predict, and aligning myself with the fortunes of one brand now makes me recoil.... I've been 'burned'. I must move forward though. I'm lucky I've had some great people around me, who are still there. Keith, Steve (Soundsheavenly), Peter, Jeff, Matt (ex-LifeStyle) are all people I talk to on a daily or weekly basis, who have remained close and supportive. Aside from two or three official dealers I've heard nothing from the dealer network, or head office, or Struer. No emails, no phone calls, nothing. Some people I thought were good friends have deserted me (as I'm clearly no longer useful) with zero contact from the day I closed the doors, and some people I thought were just acquaintances have really stepped up and proved they're good people when you need them. It's funny how people show their true colours when the time comes... You live and learn, and you never stop learning. I'm very glad I've met who I have here on BeoWorld, and through LifeStyle AV. I've made some great friends out of people who are far too good for me! Lee
I know what you mean about hearing from people (or not) when you move on... if you find yourself 'ooop North in York (Tue - Fri) or Mcr, let me know and we can have a beer or two and compare notes as ex B&O blokes.
You continued support for this forum speaks volumes, btw.
Lifestyle AV was more than just a shop. It was a place where you could pick up interesting and unusual things (such as my Beomaster 3400) and see things you had never before encountered in the flesh (such as Lee's prized Beovox 2500 cubes). It was also a place you could ring for advice on stuff you hadn't bought there or simply because you felt like chatting about B&O. It will be very sadly missed, and only Bremdal in Struer strikes me as remotely similar. B&O has been very silly to alienate and lose such a hardworking brand ambassador.
I personally have a great deal to thank-you & Matt for and you should be proud of what you've achieved.
From my POV, I first encountered B&O in 1988 at a (then) girlfriends house. Her father had a big (for the times) CRT B&O TV that had a picture quality that blew me away. I remember watching the film "For all Mankind" late at night, and just being mesmerised by the quality of reproduction. I promise myself that "one day" i'd own one of those TV's ...
It took another 20 years until I could afford my own setup (!) but over the last 4 years you & Matt have supplied a BV11, BL18's and a BL19. Paired with a BS Moment I have a beautiful and great sounding setup that's a joy to watch and to listen to. I will keep it as long as I can.
On the legacy of LIfeStyle AV, creating something from nothing is a rare gift. I started my own business with some pals 17 years ago, and today we employ over 75 folk, and afford a respected position in our industry. Our success has been built on the hard work of our team over the years, but also some shrewd steering on our part. You need a great combination of "head, heart and hands" to make any business work - and clearly you had all three covered with ease.
Doing great work, with people you like, and making a living should not be mutually exclusive - and i'm sure having done it once, you'll find the magic formula of all three once again very soon.
Thanks again & best of luck
Tom
I am saddened with this news. B&O just lost one of its greatest proponents.
Lee, I Just wanted to wish you you all the best in your new ventures.
With the warmest regards from a cold Canada,
O.
Lee,
Can I add my best wishes to you. I'm really sad that you have had to close Lifestyle, but obviously the best thing to do under the circumstances. Without you I would not have bought my Avant 32RF, which I still enjoy every day in the knowledge that my next television will not now be from B&O.
Definitely the end of an era!
Neil.
I second Peter's statement and would like to thank Lee and Matt for what they did for the B&O brand.
Looking back at the early days of BeoWorld with Steve and Peter, and the new direction of BeoWorld as Lee took over, we should nominate Lee for president and CEO of B&O. He could have sorted out B&O IMHO
Roger