UK Price Rises
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I was very disappointed to be informed of the Sonos price rises in the UK. Although the dollar rate is blamed it doesn't account for why the products are much cheaper in some countries? £100 rise on the Sub and Playbar is just too much. I am very lucky that my system is now pretty complete but think UK sales will suffer
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The market will find its own level however I see an opportunity being created for a grey market in components sourced outside of the UK.
Sonos wants to maximise its profits in the UK (as everywhere), as it should do. The new prices are those at which it thinks it will do so, in the current situation. It makes not a blind bit of difference whether or not this is really currency / Brexit related. Sonos is entitled to list its products at any prices it wants, and if it gets it wrong, it will suffer. That is commercial reality. It doesn't HAVE to justify its strategy to anyone. Nobody HAS to buy the products.
There is no inalienable human right to buy Sonos at a particular price. To read the nonsense written by so many people on this thread you'd think there were.
And as for those who have never even run a whelk stall but think they are better judges of Sonos' business strategy than the entrepreneurs who have built a multi-billion dollar business... well, the arrogance is staggering.
And one final point for all those saying the increases are suicide. Denon, Yamaha, Bluesound, Bose.... which of these competitors has its costs denominated in sterling? They are all feeling the currency pain in the UK. Will their strategy be to absorb the currency losses to steal market share? Or will they follow with their own price hikes? I have no idea - this is business and it is tough and competitive. But let's see how competitive or otherwise Sonos' prices look in a few months.
For avoidance of doubt I'm am not trying to defend the price increase, nor criticise it. I have no idea if it is a good or bad decision. It's the spectacular ignorance of business and the stupidity of so much of the comment as a result, that makes me want to scream.
Rant over.
Consumers are unhappy about seriously old technology being increased in price by 25%. As much as Sonos are entitled to put their prices up, their customers are entitled to bemoan it.
Deal with it.
Consumers are unhappy about seriously old technology being increased in price by 25%. As much as Sonos are entitled to put their prices up, their customers are entitled to bemoan it.
Deal with it.
Can we have some new products Sonos? The Connect is antique and seriously lacking in functionality. No bathroom speaker. No portable (battery) speaker. No bedside clock/alarm speaker. Controller software that gets poorer with each release. Failure to integrate Apple Music properly. Withdrawal of Audiable support. It seem only playing around with pointless misguided trivia such as speech recognition for the teens is all that matters.
A Serious loss of focus all round. For me (and many others) this is the final straw, whatever the usual evangelists here might believe.
Consumers are unhappy about seriously old technology being increased in price by 25%. As much as Sonos are entitled to put their prices up, their customers are entitled to bemoan it.
Deal with it.
Can we have some new products Sonos? The Connect is antique and seriously lacking in functionality. No bathroom speaker. No portable (battery) speaker. No bedside clock/alarm speaker. Controller software that gets poorer with each release. Failure to integrate Apple Music properly. Withdrawal of Audiable support. It seem only playing around with pointless misguided trivia such as speech recognition for the teens is all that matters.
A Serious loss of focus all round. For me (and many others) this is the final straw, whatever the usual evangelists here might believe.
Although.... Sonos is a networked hifi music system and your priorities are for it to produce a non-networked speaker, to invest in reinstating a non-music service, and to tell the time. If ever there were a lack of focus....
BTW Brits, thanks for the dossier. It's being looked into carefully now. Hope there's something actionable therein!
Can we have some new products Sonos? The Connect is antique and seriously lacking in functionality. No bathroom speaker. No portable (battery) speaker. No bedside clock/alarm speaker. Controller software that gets poorer with each release. Failure to integrate Apple Music properly. Withdrawal of Audiable support. It seem only playing around with pointless misguided trivia such as speech recognition for the teens is all that matters.
A Serious loss of focus all round. For me (and many others) this is the final straw, whatever the usual evangelists here might believe.
Although.... Sonos is a networked hifi music system and your priorities are for it to produce a non-networked speaker, to invest in reinstating a non-music service, and to tell the time. If ever there were a lack of focus....
The disappointment is not a surprise, no one likes paying more money for the same product. But after that natural response, people have the option of buying something else, to the extent there are valid options. I suspect the problem is that in the area of audio there aren't too many even with the higher price point, which may be one reason for more complaints than is the norm?
For now I see that the Sub is still in stock on Amazon UK, for GBP 549. As is other kit.
For now I see that the Sub is still in stock on Amazon UK, for GBP 549. As is other kit.
+1
ok understood 🆒
These prices also still available in my country, the UK. But trading on the forum is against forum rules. If you are an authorised Sonos reseller, and wish to remain so, it would probably be in your best interests to delete your post.
The exchange rate was 1.5 back in Feb 2013 when the playbar was launched. Today's exchange rate is 1.25 - that does not equate to an extra £100!
This will go down in history. Almost comical.
You are correct. That equates to more than £100.
Exrate change plus 20% VAT = a 20% increase.
Plus 3.7% import duty to the UK.
Consumers are unhappy about seriously old technology being increased in price by 25%. As much as Sonos are entitled to put their prices up, their customers are entitled to bemoan it.
Deal with it.
Whether something is overpriced is a subjective assessment. I personally think the PlayBar was grossly overpriced as it was, now it's just up there in la la land. Others I know think it's the best device available for what it does (granted I haven't yet met one who's heard anything else).
People will always buy Sonos, it's a luxury mass produced consumer item like Apple, many people buy for the brand not the product - you could stick a dog poop on a popsicle stick, shove an apple logo on it and people will buy it, Sonos is no different - it has it's loyal fans. That is how branding works.
It's like Beats headphones, most of us know they sound crap, and better headphones can be had for considerably less money but hey, lots of people on the beats forum will disagree until death.
But more to the point, why does this bother you? You are not the CEO, you are not a shareholder, you have nothing to defend. If you are happy with the price rise and think it's still wonderful value that's your right.
But don't bemoan people who think Sonos are taking the proverbial. You'd be better off just ignoring the thread (and the press).
For what it's worth, the price of Sonos products in Canada rose substantially when the Canadian dollar fell against the US dollar. The C$ was at par until late 2013, with its decline accelerating in mid-2014. However, if I recall correctly, Sonos held off on price increases for a while.
As stated above, the UK have been getting a huge price break for a few months compared to the US:
And this is not even figuring in the 3.7% import duty. So you are welcome for the price break, while we here in the states were paying what you are finally paying now!
As stated above, the UK have been getting a huge price break for a few months compared to the US:
And this is not even figuring in the 3.7% import duty. So you are welcome for the price break, while we here in the states were paying what you are finally paying now!
Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.
Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.
Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
Regardless of the disparity (or not) in shipping costs, I'm sure the 3.7% import duty can explain most of the £18-20 difference between US/UK prices, that is if one is prone to quibble over a £18-20 difference between units costing £500 and up. :8
Personally, I chalk it up to rounding.
Aren't Sonos products made in Malaysia? Why would shipping expenses to the UK from Malaysia be much different from shipping expenses to the U.S.? I doubt that Sonos is shipping its products to the U.S., then reshipping to the UK. If they are, they could certainly reduce costs by not doing so.
Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
Regardless of the disparity (or not) in shipping costs, I'm sure the 3.7% import duty can explain most of the £18-20 difference between US/UK prices, that is if one is prone to quibble over a £18-20 difference between units costing £500 and up. :8
Personally, I chalk it up to rounding.
I'm not "missing" anything. You mentioned it, so I'm questioning it. If it isn't important, why bother mention it in your post? Also, my research shows a lower import duty on speakers from Malaysia into the UK.
I'm not "missing" anything. You mentioned it, so I'm questioning it. If it isn't important, why bother mention it in your post? Also, my research shows a lower import duty on speakers from Malaysia into the UK.
I mentioned it as speculation. If I was wrong, so be it, you caught me. Alert the internet police!
But in reality, it has about the significance of a gnat's behind on a £18-20 price difference on items costing £500+, and complaining about it is the very definition of missing the forest for the trees. My main point about comparing prices which include VAT with prices which do not include state sales taxes still stands, regardless of the nits you choose to pick.
Did I date your sister or something? At least the other complainers knew when to give up after being shown the current UK pricing is right in line with US pricing.
I'm not "missing" anything. You mentioned it, so I'm questioning it. If it isn't important, why bother mention it in your post? Also, my research shows a lower import duty on speakers from Malaysia into the UK.
I mentioned it as speculation. If I was wrong, so be it, you caught me. Alert the internet police!
But in reality, it has about the significance of a gnat's behind on a £18-20 price difference on items costing £500+, and complaining about it is the very definition of missing the forest for the trees. My main point about comparing prices which includes VAT with prices which do not include state sales taxes still stands, regardless of the nits you choose to pick.
Did I date your sister or something? At least the other complainers knew when to give up after being shown the current UK pricing is right in line with US pricing.
Talk about missing the forest for the trees. The issue here is a significant price increase. Nobody, no matter where they live, likes a price increase. It is quite common for people, no matter where they live, to complain about rising prices. Frankly, I doubt that the residents of the UK shopping for now-more-expensive Sonos gear care what the US pricing is. I certainly do not, because I do not, nor have I ever, lived in the US. As others have pointed out, what should be more relevant are exchange fluctuations between the ringgit and the UK pound, since the products are made in Malaysia and presumably exported to Britain. Over the past year there hasn't been much change, although there have been significant fluctuations.
And yet, the original comparisons by the most vocal complainer were using the USD/GBP exchange.
Also, the ringgit comment is incorrect, if you believe Sonos' official statement:
“We pay for everything we make in US dollars,” the California-domiciled Sonos said in a statement. “Over recent months, there has been a significant change on the US dollar to GBP exchange rate. As a result, our existing pricing has become unsustainable and, like many other companies, we have to increase prices for all products priced in GBP.”
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/13/sonos-hikes-uk-prices-by-25-due-to-brexit
So, forgive me for working with what the most vocal commentators were stating, not to mention Sonos' official statement.
Also, the ringgit comment is incorrect, if you believe Sonos' official statement:
“We pay for everything we make in US dollars,” the California-domiciled Sonos said in a statement. “Over recent months, there has been a significant change on the US dollar to GBP exchange rate. As a result, our existing pricing has become unsustainable and, like many other companies, we have to increase prices for all products priced in GBP.”
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/13/sonos-hikes-uk-prices-by-25-due-to-brexit
So, forgive me for working with what the most vocal commentators were stating, not to mention Sonos' official statement.
I am even less inclined to believe the "we pay for everything in US dollars" line is the sole reason for the price increase now that I've done a little more research. Sonos gear may appear to be "manufactured" in Malaysia, but I am betting it is assembled there, largely from parts made in China. A look at Sonos job postings indicates the company has contract manufacturers in China. For example, this job posting, for a position in Penang, Malaysia, said: "This is a critical leadership position on the Sonos Manufacturing Operations team located in Penang and will be reporting directly to the Director of Manufacturing Operations. The materials team is responsible for overall material supply line and inventory risk management in the Sonos’ Contract Manufacturing (CM) Factories in China." And "Develop and execute the right material strategy and inventory model for Sonos business with our Contract Manufacturers in China." There's nothing wrong with that--everybody manufactures in China these days--but it does take some of the edge off the dollar-pound argument. BTW, the Chinese currency has been falling against the US dollar recently.
CreditSuisse seems to think Sonos manufactures in Taiwan. "Inventec Appliances Corporation (IAC) was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It was consolidated into Inventec Corporation in 2011 and is now a wholly- owned subsidiary. IAC designs and manufactures handheld and wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, GPS navigation devices and smartphone accessories. Wireless devices include wireless speakers, SOHO routers/switches, wireless AP and smart home devices. The company's key customers currently include Xiaomi (smartphones, tablets and smart home devices), Huawei, (smartphone), Sonos (wireless speaker), Tom Tom (GPS), Nest (smart home devices) and Verifone (POS). Previously, they manufactured Apple's iPod and their Newton PDA.
Sonos: wireless Hi-Fi audio products
Sonos is a California-based electronics company selling Hi-Fi wireless audio products. The company was founded in 2002. Inventec has been its primary manufacturing partner since the company was founded.
CreditSuisse seems to think Sonos manufactures in Taiwan. "Inventec Appliances Corporation (IAC) was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It was consolidated into Inventec Corporation in 2011 and is now a wholly- owned subsidiary. IAC designs and manufactures handheld and wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, GPS navigation devices and smartphone accessories. Wireless devices include wireless speakers, SOHO routers/switches, wireless AP and smart home devices. The company's key customers currently include Xiaomi (smartphones, tablets and smart home devices), Huawei, (smartphone), Sonos (wireless speaker), Tom Tom (GPS), Nest (smart home devices) and Verifone (POS). Previously, they manufactured Apple's iPod and their Newton PDA.
Sonos: wireless Hi-Fi audio products
Sonos is a California-based electronics company selling Hi-Fi wireless audio products. The company was founded in 2002. Inventec has been its primary manufacturing partner since the company was founded.
As I said, I couldn't care less about all that. The only reason I posted what I did is if you are going to compare prices between two countries, at least make it an apples to apples comparison. If one wants to get into the economics of all that BS, feel free, but count me out. I've already wasted far more time on a cut-and-dried fact than I needed to, never mind reading that minutia. I don't care what the freaking price is in the UK, as I stated in my first post.
There are others reading this thread, who might be interested. Your continued involvement or lack of involvement in this discussion is immaterial. Feel free to not be interested, or to not care what the price is in the UK, or to be counted out. The original poster was not comparing UK and US prices. The message said: "Although the dollar rate is blamed", in reference to the fact that Sonos did just that. He did not start this discussion by comparing prices in the two countries, but by lamenting a price increase in the UK and the fact that "the products are much cheaper in some countries."
My replies were to those (particularly alberto98) who were posting about the disparity between US and UK list prices. As such, they were on-topic and to the point. Up until then, I never said anything in this thread beside a humorous reply to a cheap shot attack. Why you are trying to make my posts out to be an attack on the OP, a statement on the right of others to be angry, or anything else other than to clarify an oft seen mistake due to included VAT vs. excluded state tax, I'll never know.
Go ahead, have the last word. I've spent far too much time on your BS. :8
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