Apple Reportedly Preparing to Remove Bose Audio Products From Retail Stores

[roland.g]

In some ways Bose is the new Samsung. They can't seem to get by on their own so they use these business practices to help their market position rather than relying on the quality and reputation of their brand.

"Uh-oh, it looks like their stuff is more popular, ok, so how can we steer people to our stuff without actually doing it based on the merit of our stuff?"

 

[DonMega]

Regardless of what value, you or I think Bose have to offer the Audio market.

I really hate this type of move. It just reeks of uncompetitive business practice.

Apple were happy to push Bose when they had no interest, however on buying Beats they are sending out the wrong message in my opinion.

I think you are wrong. I believe Apple would have let Bose products peacefully co-exist with Beats in their stores. Bose was the one who shot across Apple's bow with their deal with the NFL. The NFL didn't arbitrarily say they would fine players for representing anything but Bose, Bose pushed for that as part of the deal. That's how it works and they knew that it would push Apple to remove their products from Apple Store shelves.

I think it is simply ignorant to think Apple is being anti-competitive or anti-choice. They are a business primed to make money. They are under no obligation to sell their competitor's products - AT ALL. Someone said it earlier, Why would you expect to walk into a Microsoft Store and be able to buy an iPad???

 

[plinktog]

Fair game

Apple has always carried competing accessories in their stores, and allowed or sold competing apps. I don't think acquiring Beats made any difference to that, and the need for diversity in the accessories market for their core business.

But along comes Bose which pi$$es on Beats' cornflakes with this NFL deal. So I'm not surprised Bose is now seen as opposition. I'll bet Bose will achieve a level of exclusivity that they neither planned nor wanted.

 

[H2SO4]

Personally, I think it's a dumb idea. Bose appeals to a different market than Beats. I'm a Bose customer, not a Beats customer. That means there are both types of buyers buying Apple. Why remove a product that appeals to one group but not another?

Honestly, it probably doesn't really matter to me much in the long run, since I would probably never buy either brand in an Apple store.

I agree, sometimes I may browse the Apple store looking for a non Apple product and at that same time might buy an Apple product. However it’s a difficult bridge to balance as with Apple owning Beats they are much more of a competitor.
It’s like being able to buy Mobil oil in a Texaco petrol station.

 

[IbisDoc]

I'm sure there is a reason for this move, be it vindictive, the NFL "ban", competitiveness, etc.

But, it could be Apple wanted to make room available to push its own Beats speakers/headphones and told Bose, rather than have 10 items in our stores, we will only carry 2 which ones do you want, and Bose said NONE.

Apple needs space for their Watches later on.

Maybe Apple only wants 10% "hi-end/hi-priced" speakers and Beats fills that entire percentage.

Apple makes money off Cases or cables from third-parties because they use the MFi or whatever license. but for headphones, I'd guess nothing. maybe sound docks they would for the license but when you are selling $100+ headphones, I am sure Apple wants the most $ it can take from it, and Bose headphones won't get them much/if at all.

Yes, they removed ALL Bose merchandise (the week of the Kaepernick fine for wearing Beats headphones) because of.........the future Apple watch.

Got it.

 

[voicegy]

Oh, who remembers?

Image

Nice, I owned that bad boy for a few years.

 

[LordQ]

Oh, c'mon guys, I was planning on buying a Bose wireless headset and a Dock and now you tell me they're crap as well?

 

[Marx55]

Apple, you are PATHETIC! Bose products are not just better, but much better.

 

[filmantopia]

Apple should start selling Dell computers in their stores to be less anti-competitive.

 

[numlock]

I think you are wrong. I believe Apple would have let Bose products peacefully co-exist with Beats in their stores. Bose was the one who shot across Apple's bow with their deal with the NFL. The NFL didn't arbitrarily say they would fine players for representing anything but Bose, Bose pushed for that as part of the deal. That's how it works and they knew that it would push Apple to remove their products from Apple Store shelves.

I think it is simply ignorant to think Apple is being anti-competitive or anti-choice. They are a business primed to make money. They are under no obligation to sell their competitor's products - AT ALL. Someone said it earlier, Why would you expect to walk into a Microsoft Store and be able to buy an iPad???

wait so you think bose pays tens of millions of $ per year to be the the "official sound of the nfl" to have players not use bose?

but you seem privy to a lot of inside details on the deal.

 

[Gasu E.]

Whilst I’d never buy Beats or Bose, this is an embarrassingly anti-consumer, anti-choice move.

Why? There are plenty of other places you can buy Bose, so this does not limit consumer choice the tiniest bit. Meanwhile, this move opens up more shelf space for Apple brands, which is what an Apple store is all about. Why shouldn't Apple be focussing their marketing efforts on promoting Apple?

 

[bob24]

Oh, c'mon guys, I was planning on buying a Bose wireless headset and a Dock and now you tell me they're crap as well?

Only my opinion, but I wouldn't say Bose is crap ... just overpriced (and they do have best in class technology when it comes to noise cancelling which could justify the premium for some).

Beats ... yes I would say crap :-D

 

[Gasu E.]

Apple should start selling Dell computers in their stores to be less anti-competitive.

Perfect analogy!!

 

[arftech]

Bose audio is superior to Beats in every aspect. But both are way overpriced for what you need, unless you somehow have the need to be a follow-the-herd conformist.

Bose has a history of unfounded legal attacks against some of its critics, and for that reason alone I own no Bose equipment.

For those who do appreciate top quality engineering and distinctive, functional design, I suggest considering Bang and Olufsen for audio products:

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/sound

Yes, they are expensive. No doubt about that. You have to pay for their near century of experience. But in return you get top notch products which, if you care about it, also show to others that you are not a sheep.

B&O is awesome but I prefer Bowers and Wilkins. One of the industry leaders!

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com

 

[rwilliams]

People can just spend the money they've set aside for Bose products at other stores now instead of the Apple Store. I'm sure their competitors appreciate this move.

And can we not turn this into yet another tired "these headphones suck/mine are so much better" thread?

 

[brendu]

Whilst I’d never buy Beats or Bose, this is an embarrassingly anti-consumer, anti-choice move.

Or it's a company that now wants to promote its own products in its own store. You don't see them selling a roku. Bose are great Mac/iOS accessories but they are also direct competition with apples own offerings. Apple can chose to sell them or not. If best buy stopped selling them I could see it being anti consumer.

I'm sure if apple bought Epson and stopped selling cannon printers no one would flip out about it being anti consumer.

 

[bozzykid]

I think Bose fired the first shot, with the NFL debacle. It's unfortunate because Bose makes some decent stuff. Certainly not the best, but definitely better than the beats crap.

Bose did nothing but sign an exclusive deal with the NFL. The NFL made it clear that wearing Beats is a violation of the CBA and it was the NFL's decision to enforce it just like every single other exclusive deal they have.

 

[g0odfr1end102]

Not trying to spark WW3 here... But I've always wondered: why do so many here think Bose is crap?

I have the sound dock and Quiet Comfort 15 Headphones: they are both FANTASTIC.

I'm not a "professional" listener by any means, but I use them 2/3 hours per day and never have had any problems with them!

On the other hand, I find Beats to be more of a fashion device. Sound quality is meh and the noise cancellation doesn't even come close to Bose's products!

 

[Larry-Bloom]

Bose

I have owned a couple of Bose Product while they do sound good they are cheeply made. I had the 1st Gen of the noise canceling headset and the sppeds where held in with cardboard and it was a very cheap speaker...

B&W for Speakers and Sennheiser for Headphones. Though I really like my Logitech UE wireless speaker. (which I purchased at an Apple Store)

 

[Gasu E.]

although the phrase anti competitive implies something illegal i think the posters meaning was rather anti choice and anti consumerism which it is. that has got nothing to do with what they can or cant do.

You can get Bose at Bose stores. You can get it at Best Buy. You can get Bose from Amazon. There's nothing special about buying Bose from an Apple store.

Apple has only so much shelf space, and if they choose to focus on using it to show more Apple products, there is nothing anti-consumer, anti-choice or anti-competitive. It's pro-Apple. Does Bose sell Beats at the Bose store?

 

[cliffster82]

NFL - get over yourself. Bose - sucks for you, I'm sure you sold a lot of gear out of Apple's stores. Apple - this is the only move that actually makes sense, as they do own a headphone and speaker maker. Still, if this truly was your intention (wink), the timing is childish.

 

[bozzykid]

Good for you Apple. Bose banning NFL players with Beats endorsements from wearing their headphones in NFL related activities was a dick-move.

Either way you cut it though, both companies are being stupid about their headphones.

Bose didn't' ban Beats from the NFL. The NFL is only enforcing their own policy that the players agreed to in the CBA.

----------

Cost too much anyway. Plus seems like this NFL ban for players killed beats advertising and they are still on the hook for all the contracts they have with NFL players.

How did it kill the Beats advertising? You mean the free advertising they got during press conferences? Otherwise, their sponsorship of certain players will not be any different. I'm pretty sure Colin Kaepernick's commercials will still air on tv and in magazines.

 

[M-O]

Frankly I find what Apple is doing here is anti-competitive.

From the article:

...either Bose or Apple may have decided to end their retail relationship.

 

[MrXiro]

both brands are overpriced, but I would much rather buy Bose than Beats.

Frankly I find what Apple is doing here is anti-competitive. but hey, I don't buy accessories from Apple store anyway, so it doesn't bother me.

And what Bose and the NFL is doing is ok with you?

I'd wager that this has everything to do with the NFL ruling/deal with Bose and the asinine new "rule" of not being allowed to wear your endorsement deal products off the field in front of cameras.

A $10k fine, seriously? I know it's within the NFL's rights but this is pure greed, just as greedy as asking half time show performers to cough up money to work... yeah Paul McCartney really needs the exposure.

The NFL is becoming as corrupt as FIFA and the Olympic committee.

/rant

 

[CelestialToys]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything made by Bose or Beats, there are far better offerings by other companies available for much less money.

Really doesn't bother me what accessories Apple decide to sell in their retail stores either, as I'm not going to pay full RRP for something that I can buy discounted elsewhere anyway.