B&W Fires President Doug Henderson

[KaliKid2013]

https://www.strata-gee.com/bowers-wi...oug-henderson/

[malba2366]

I think this is a good move for them. They need to move into the information age with their sales/pricing policies. Many customers are turned off by the strict pricing policy of B&W whereby dealers can't discuss sale prices over the phone with potential customers. If I can fully negotiate the price of luxury cars or high end watches over the phone/email then there is no reason I shouldn't be able to for a pair of speakers. Making customers jump through hoops to find out the sale price of products is no longer a sustainable practice.

[Patrick Butler]

Hi malba2366,

We don't have any restrictions on our dealers discussing retail prices of products. In fact, they are available for everyone to see online if that would assist.

Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

Originally Posted by malba2366

I think this is a good move for them. They need to move into the information age with their sales/pricing policies. Many customers are turned off by the strict pricing policy of B&W whereby dealers can't discuss sale prices over the phone with potential customers. If I can fully negotiate the price of luxury cars or high end watches over the phone/email then there is no reason I shouldn't be able to for a pair of speakers. Making customers jump through hoops to find out the sale price of products is no longer a sustainable practice.

[Blueoak]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi malba2366,

We don't have any restrictions on our dealers discussing retail prices of products. In fact, they are available for everyone to see online if that would assist.

Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

Patrick,

What about the restrictive sales policies B&W places on dealers?

For example, I can't call up a high-volume dealer in NYC and have speakers drop shipped to me in California. Instead I have to use a local dealer with terrible pricing and pay sales tax. This forces a lot of people to buy off the classified sites and get a substantial discount. For example, right now anyone can buy a pair of new 802 D3 speakers for $15,999 (retail is $22K) by browsing the classifieds. I've called up several B&W dealers in California and they can't even touch that price; and most of them do not want to discuss price over the phone and insist discounted pricing is face-to-face, even though it maybe a 200 mile drive.

[malba2366]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi malba2366,

We don't have any restrictions on our dealers discussing retail prices of products. In fact, they are available for everyone to see online if that would assist.

Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

Every B&W dealer I have called to get the actual sale price (not MSRP) told me they can't discuss any prices besides MSRP on the phone. As you know (like with cars and watches) high end audio equipment is typically sold at a discount and not at MSRP. The last four vehicles I purchased I only went to the dealership to pick up the vehicle, everything else was handled over the phone/email. There is no reason I should have to drive all over the place to compare prices on a pair of speakers.

[Patrick Butler]

Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick

Originally Posted by malba2366

Every B&W dealer I have called to get the actual sale price (not MSRP) told me they can't discuss any prices besides MSRP on the phone. As you know (like with cars and watches) high end audio equipment is typically sold at a discount and not at MSRP. The last four vehicles I purchased I only went to the dealership to pick up the vehicle, everything else was handled over the phone/email. There is no reason I should have to drive all over the place to compare prices on a pair of speakers.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick

Damned good question.

If one utilizes a local dealer to hear product, calling around after that for best price is not appropriate.

[malba2366]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick

Not for the B&W speakers I am looking at. I have listened to the speakers in question (804D3) extensively at a friend's house. I did listen to the other speakers I am considering (Focal 1028BE) at a nearby dealer who discussed sale price with me before I ever stepped foot into their showroom, I would buy the Focal from that dealer if I go that route. In addition the Focal dealer is willing to ship the speakers to me from out of state (I am in NY, about 5 miles from the NJ border) to save on Tax, the B&W dealer is unable to do this.

[Mahalo]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi malba2366,

We don't have any restrictions on our dealers discussing retail prices of products. In fact, they are available for everyone to see online if that would assist.

Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

Are you the Patrick Butler that used to be with Vienna Acoustics?

[Patrick Butler]

Yes.

Originally Posted by Mahalo

Are you the Patrick Butler that used to be with Vienna Acoustics?