Bang Olufsen Pre Loved Demonstrates Commitment to Circular Production, or a Desire to Sell old and Refurbished Stock.

 

The re-utilisation of older tech devices is an extremely nuanced practice.  On the one hand there's the idea that high quality products should be able to be re-used, otherwise why bother paying a premium. Then there's the highly contentious environmental conservation argument.  Based around the principle that producing products requires energy, so using older ones is simply good use of limited resources. Weighing into this sector is Bang Olufsen's "Reloved" retail arm.

There's not much to say about the logistics here. It's a new Bang Olufsen department that sells refurbished items.  Presumably stuff that came in for repair and didn't have an issue, or had some other reason to come to the brands workshops that could be turned around and resold.

The website for these items speaks both overtly and covertly of the idea that this is a major step towards "circular" production methods.  This is not an entirely bad idea, as conceptually circular production really just means a product is manufactured with a view to it lasting longer.  However this directly contradicts with the brands approach to this, as they're constantly producing new colour ways to maximise profit with their Atelier range we often deride.

We don't entirely disregard the idea that hi-fi products can be reused and have longevity.  It is definitely one of the the categories of technological products that can last and last, and have real workmanship put into its production.  It certainly falls into the group of products such as cars and watches that can be handed down.  Yet Bang & Olufsen's approach here is pretty nakedly an attempt to profit unfairly by selling deadstock and repairs they have lying around.  Don't believe use?  Just take a look at their pricing; an M3 speaker discontinued around a year ago which sold for £300 are on their new website for £319.00.

You might disagree, and there is of course one counterpoint; that you can get designs you might like that aren't available any longer with a B&O warranty.  If that's for you head to https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/gb/home/reloved to browse the regularly updated selection.