Apple Reportedly Preparing to Remove Bose Audio Products From Retail Stores

[adbe]

These seems very childish and anti-competitive by Apple. The real loser here is the consumer who has lost some choice and is being funnelled sheep like towards those products Apple deigns to sanction. The Apple fanboys here will doubtless herald this as a brilliant move by Apple, because it allows them to fill Apple's pockets with more of their money.

Don't be an idiot. Apple stores exist to market and inform about Apple products. The other stuff on the shelf is purely there to fill in space, and generate a few extra alongside sales. Totally ignoring that even in the US and Europe, where Apple store penetration is at its highest, most people have a wide range of consumer electronics stores between themselves and the nearest Apple store, *no-one* is hunting out an Apple store to buy a set of headphones. I can get everything that is available in the Apple store at my local BestBuys, or HHGreggs, and with a lot more options at better prices. Even Target and Walmart offer most of the range.

Pretty much the only thing that Mac stores stock that you can't easily find elsewhere is Mac software, and with the Mac App Store, who cares?

No choice is being lost anywhere. Apple is a boutique store, it is in no-way equivalent to BestBuy or Dixons etc, and it's entirely Apple's prerogative to stock whatever they so choose.

 

[Iconoclysm]

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.

It's Apple's store. Do you expect to find Beats in a Bose store?

 

[BoulderAdonis]

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

You're right. And while they're at it they should start selling Microsoft products in their stores too. /s

 

[miketheappleguy]

A.P.P.L.E.
Angry
People
Producing
Laughable
Electronics


Overpriced junk shouldn't be sold in Stores regardless of what you think of Apple.

Apple is ok...but very overpriced.

You can do much much better for your dollar.

Apple might be overpriced but in the specific case of phones name me one better.

 

[chasemac]

Does the Nike deal with the NFL blow your mind? Or the million other endorsements the NFL has blow your mind? I find it funny people here are up in arms like this is something new. The "OMG how can they do that" posts are hilarious when the NFL has been doing this for years. And the players AGREED to it which makes these posts even funnier.

Oh I remember when.

 

[ksz]

Bose bashing has become a knee-jerk reaction for some people. It's nothing more than mob mentality where a single entity is collectively disparaged. People love to hate, and soon they forget why.

Almost every company produces good stuff and bad stuff. Yet those other companies aren't bashed.

My Bose Companion 5 speakers are truly wonderful. My primary audio system is relatively modest:

1. Revel Performa mini-monitors. Stereophile Class A rated I believe.
2. Sony CDP-555ES SACD/CD player. Stereophile Class A rated.
3. Naim Nait integrated amp. A legendary integrated from the British company.

And yet the Bose Companion 5 still sounds fantastic. It is driven by Audirvana software running on a Mac Pro and sounds far better than iTunes.

If I am thoroughly satisfied with my Bose product, no amount of public Bose bashing is going to change my mind about the way it sounds.

 

[mdlooker]

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.

Right you are... I believe Apple can get the best of all of the worlds if they just put their own products in their stores.

 

[AdonisSMU]

The NFL in itself is non profit. Because each team in considered an independent business. All the money the nfl makes goes to the teams. And those teams do pay taxes.

And like most non profits that means almost nothing they make goes to the cause. It only goes to fund the administrators.

 

[bob24]

These are the headphones I ended up purchasing===> Bose

Expect the low quality rubber of the cables to peel-off after 2-3 years of fairly moderate use (personal experience).

 

[rnizlek]

B.O.S.E
Buy
Other
Sound
Equipment

Overpriced junk shouldn't be sold in Apple Stores regardless of what you think of Beats.

Beats are ok...but very overpriced.

You can do much much better for your dollar.

Generally agree with you - except, I find they have the best noise canceling technology on the market. Have a pair of QC15 headphones and their A20 pilot headset and think both products are phenomenal.

Outside of active noise cancellation, however, I agree - don't waste your money.

 

[webbuzz]

I don't think it's childish because if this wasn't an apple product people wouldn't be up in arms about it. These kind of deals have been going on in all major sports leagues in the U.S for years.

His comments had nothing to do with the Bose NFL sponsorship.

Are we really going to pretend we don't know why this is being done? That in itself is childish.

It is business, plain and simple. Do I agree with it? No. But, we also do not know the real reason.

 

[darkslide29]

The problem with your analogy is that Apple has sold Bose gear for over a decade. They never sold Samsung gear and then stopped. I think what Apple is doing is fine. It's their store they can sell whatever they want but it's not the same as not selling android or windows gear because those were never sold there in the first place.

Good point. My example was a bad one for the reasons you pointed out. I am replying to you because it was the most sensible and polite reply to my statement. Thanks.

 

[MrXiro]

It completely normal and common for major sponsors of events - sports or otherwise (conferences, etc) to prohibit the promotion, branding or visualization of competing brands. It's part of the exclusivity that they are paying for when they sponsor the event.

Without corporate sponsorships, sports would crumble - and many other events/conferences would never happen.

As I said, it's within their rights. But it's shady business and borders on stepping on an individual's freedom (not by law, I know I know). A $10k fine is downright criminal... and I would pull Bose products from my store too if they just stepped all over my endorsement deals like the NFL and Bose just did. I'd probably drop any NFL licensed merch too.

I'm not a supporter of either brands (Beats or Bose). Just don't like this kind of shady tactic.

 

[Alphabetize]

You can do much much better for your dollar.

I see comments like these a lot, but nobody mentions any real alternatives! I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I'm just curious:

What are the best, highest quality headphones/speakers money can buy?
What are the highest quality headphones under $40?

 

[appleii.c]

You are the reason people make fun of Apple users... Seriously? Nobody should have the option to use speakers with their iPhone?

It's posts like this that cause people to make fun of Apple fans. They read this post and think Apple fans are being snobby. When in reality The guy made a sarcastic comment, and basically said it was tacky on Apple's part to remove it.

 

[AppleMark]

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???

I do not think so. Also your choice of analogy is wrong, along with calling me ignorant.

Someone said it earlier, Why would you expect to walk into a Microsoft Store and be able to buy an iPad???

Your analogy is invalid and not relating to this instance, as based on your quote Microsoft would have had to already been selling Apple the iPad...

Therefore, your question should be 'Why would you expect to walk into a Microsoft Store and they cease to sell you an iPad???' The answer to which is already covered in my original post.

Also, I never said they were under obligation, only that it sends the wrong message.

It say's; that to protect our newly acquired product ecosystem we must remove the competitor. The reason you feel this is fine is because Bose struck an exclusive deal with the NFL.

Really? Justification, or excuse is the real question here.

So if Amazon stopped allowing the selling Apple items because they have an interest in selling the Kindle Fire..., would that be ok...? See where I am going?

I have never has an issue with seeing Apple products along side others, such as Samsung etc as I know my own mind and choose what I feel is best.

However the aggressive removal of choice, is non-comparable to an exclusive deal struck with the NFL that bans players from wearing non-exclusive sponsor merchandise. Blame the NFL for accepting the deal and taking the money.

Bose did not force them...

To think that the Bose control the NFL, is to use your term of phrase.... ignorant..

 

[HenryDJP]

why not just get rid of all other audio gear why they are at it? It seems very tacky to me.

How is it tacky? Bose got Apple's Beats headphones banned from the NFL. Have you been watching the news? Apple SHOULD discontinue their relationship with Bose. It's counterproductive to keep a business relationship with a company who just had your product banned from being seen on TV.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Expect the low quality rubber of the cables to peel-off after 2-3 years of fairly moderate use (personal experience).

It wasn't that. It was the problem with the headphones actually working. One of them has already cut out.

 

[apolloa]

Sooooo does this mean they are going to ditch Bowers and Wilkins products too then?

You know cause Beats products OBVIOUSLY sound sooooo much better than anything B&W has made [Sarcastic hat on there BTW]

Seems like an utterly stupid move by Apple, the Bose 2.1 system seems to be very popular with Apple folk. But as they now have to directly compete with every other Audio product manufacturer then I guess this is inevitable.
Good luck to them, they'll certainly need it!

 

[AdonisSMU]

How is it tacky? Bose got Apple's Beats headphones banned from the NFL. Have you been watching the news? Apple SHOULD discontinue their relationship with Bose. It's counterproductive to keep a business relationship with a company who just had your product banned from being seen on TV.

Lets face it. iBought my Bose headphones in the Apple Store.

 

[miketheappleguy]

And like most non profits that means almost nothing they make goes to the cause. It only goes to fund the administrators.

That the NFL teams collectively pay for. Which get taxed.

 

[darkslide29]

Fun Facts:

The highest current denomination is the $100 bill. The highest bill ever printed, however, was a $100,000 note that was printed from December 18, 1934 to January 9, 1935. It was used for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks. President Woodrow Wilson was pictured on the front.

Lol, it was just a post meant as sarcasm/humor. I don't believe any part of my story was part of actual events. But a sincere thank you for the fun fact about the $100,000 bill, that is new to me and pretty cool.

 

[vixster1901]

Bose missed the boat. They could have had the wireless audio market. They stayed complacent thinking the bose docks would last forever. Sonos came in and out performed them. AirTunes never worked 100% solid, it would cut in and out, unpredictable. Sonos has great products from easy, none audiophile to integration with audiophile gear..

 

[miketheappleguy]

Their store, they can sell what they want. Next I'll be hearing I can't believe the Apple Store doesn't sell Samsung Galaxy devices, so anti choice. And why isn't it the same thing? Apple now owns beats, and to show they are serious about ownership, the Beats app is under the category "Made by Apple" in the App Store.

Not every store carries every product available in every category they sell, either by choice or lack of shelf space.

That's not a fair statement in my mind because apple was selling an accessory to their product that was made by a different company. Not a main product itself from a different company.

 

[bozzykid]

and I would pull Bose products from my store too if they just stepped all over my endorsement deals like the NFL and Bose just did. I'd probably drop any NFL licensed merch too.

Endorsement deals? You mean the ones where they got free advertising by players wearing their products in press conferences without the endorsement of the NFL? Beats can still advertise like every other company by actually paying for it. Beats will continue to advertise like they always do, they just want get free advertising as much.