Another fallen brand repurposed - Blaupunkt - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 01:41:18 pm
content: Blaupunkt went out of business in 2016. Obviously someone has control of the name and is licensing it to whoever want's to slap it on any old tat, in this case rated in Chinese Watts (divide by 3 to get the real rating...)At least we now know the name of those capacitors you find in a lot of cheap Chinese electronic items are called Chengx not Changx or ChongxAnd it's not just amps

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 02:13:57 pm
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on March 30, 2019, 01:41:18 pmBosh retained the engineering and manufacturing that was Blaupunkt before 2010 and still makes OEM car audio products.The Blaupunkt brand in USA...https://www.blaupunkt.com/us/brand-partner/Audio North AmericaWorldWide Accessories, Inc PO Box 194 244 Madison Ave New York, NY 10016techsupport@worldwideacc.com 1-800-751-3247Mobile Phone AccessoriesWorldWide Accessories, Inc PO Box 194 244 Madison Ave New York, NY 10016techsupport@worldwideacc.com 1-800-751-3247In vehicle entertainmentShagal

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 02:36:34 pm
content: And here's the Australian page.https://www.blaupunkt.com/au/BTW is China the only place where an SD is called TF?The range is vaguely plausible, mostly consumer electronics, but I'm not so sure about the windscreen wipers, or any of the other claims on their website. The digital radios are available through places like JBHiFi.Great use of stock photos though...And here is where the mask drops:https://www.blaupunkt.com/ase/brand-partner/

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 03:20:31 pm
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on March 30, 2019, 02:36:34 pmTransFlash was the original name for the microSD form factor.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 07:02:35 pm
content: In Germany, they market a ridiculously broad range of products under the Blaupunkt name:https://www.blaupunkt.com/de/Anything from audio and video equipment, kitchen appliances, ... to batteries. Probably more than the real Blaupunkt portfolio ever had...

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 10:44:03 pm
content: Quote from: tsman on March 30, 2019, 03:20:31 pmThanks, I noticed that a Bluetooth speaker the 'Australian' Blaupunkt is offering used TF as the name for their SD card slot, doing a quick search on that site bought up a list of 'Brand Partners', I've linked to in my previous post. One in Hong Kong, One in Malaysia, these will be the people supplying the goods.

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 11:06:48 pm
content: More digging into just who is behind 'Blaupunkt' these days bought up this website, they are mentioned as a 'Brand Partner' via the Australian version of the site.http://www.ayonz.com/QuoteWhich when stripped of the fancy language, means they take cheap tat from China, slap a respected (but now defunct) name on it and sell at an inflated price.The list of names they manage in addition to Blaupunkt are:Westinghouse Electronics? (Chinese owned, US based marketer of TVs. Owned by the owner of the company below)Seiki Digital (Chinese owned, US based maker of inexpensive TVs)Germanica (Washing machines/Whitegoods, website copyright 2019)Jaeger (?) (Laptop Bags and similar for Women.)LEX (?)EKO (?, check the linked website for how the name appears.)Urbanworx (Consumer gadgets, wireless microphones, selfie sticks, etc.)Westinghouse Electronics & Seiki Digital are both owned by Tsinghua Tongfang Pty Ltd (aka 'The Chinese Connection')

author: electromotive
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 11:31:41 pm
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on March 30, 2019, 11:06:48 pmI could have sworn Westinghouse Electronics and GE's small home appliances were both controlled by Salton.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2019, 11:56:12 pm
content: Brands used to mean something, now they are virtually irrelevant, just a name slapped on whatever stuff. The world would be a better place without the marketing types.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 02:35:40 am
content: Chinese companies have been buying up entire western companies, not just the brand names, for years.A few I found surprising, but there are plenty more.GE AppliancesMG MotorsMotorola MobilityPirelliVolvo

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 02:45:01 am
content: Here's a trip down memory lane

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 02:56:48 am
content: Quote from: rdl on March 31, 2019, 02:35:40 amJust a consequence of the huge trade deficits the West has been running with them for decades. They can't eat dollars, and they do not need our exports, so the only thing remaining is to buy T-bills or securities.Seehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_of_payments

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 03:13:19 am
content: Quote from: rdl on March 31, 2019, 02:35:40 amIts not just China. Turkish businesses now have the rights to the names of a variety of defunct European brands. Oddly, they tend not to reuse those names for the kinds of products the original company produced. For example, Grundig is now a name on fridges and washing machines, rather than consumer electronics.

author: electromotive
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 04:42:43 am
content: Turkey has been quite direct about trying to draw investment dollars from U.S. investors for about a decade and a half now.

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 06:16:56 am
content: Still trying to unravel who holds the brand name. Bur here is the list of firms associated with the brand in Australia.Brand PartnersFrom the Car equipment section of the Australian Blaupunkt pageSKN Global Limited, Kwun Tong, Kowloon Hong Kong (Batteries/LED Lights)Blaupunkt Asia Pacific Competence Centre : BLAPAC SDN BHD, No 11, Jalan DBP 1, Dolomite Business (Car Accessories/In Car Entertainment)From the TV SectionAyonz Pty Ltd (Audio Visual/Television) (No address is given for this company, just a phone number and an Email address.)And those three companies seem to be the suppliers of everything sold in Australia.This page linked below seems to cover all the firms using that brand for their own products, whether made by them or someone else.https://www.blaupunkt.com/en/brand-partner/And then there is this,...Quote, this comes from the following page:https://www.blaupunkt.com/en/navi-footer/imprint/Who owns that company I have no idea.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 07:41:53 am
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on March 31, 2019, 06:16:56 amYes, they seem to be holding, or at least managing, the brand. They are not exactly keeping this a secret, including the company details on the imprint page (as they should). The company also has its own website; they manage various other brands:http://gip-development.net/Whether it is possible in Luxemburg to get information on the shareholders of a limited liability company (SARL), I don't know. For a German GmbH, this information would be available from the trade register. But I am not curious enough to dig further at the Luxemburg register:https://www.lbr.lu/mjrcs/

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 09:10:34 am
content: How sad. When I got my first car back in 2001, it had its factory radio from the early 90s with tape player, and I replaced it with a Blaupunkt CD stereo (a fairly expensive model that I got a great deal on). I had no idea that the company had folded.

author: WackyGerman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 09:30:02 am
content: Almost every company cheats with the output power. Best example : Yamaha Music Cast Sub 100 - Output Power : 130 W (5 ohms, 100 kHz, 10% THD) frequency range : 28–300 Hz .. So the power declaration is absolutely irrelevant

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 10:09:35 am
content: These days the question is more about knowing which of the formerly reputable manufacturers still do at least some of their R&D in house.I've found that many deceiving that I no longer buy anything new from former good brand names, either go for cheap far-east stuff, knowing I'll have to check and correct some of the design flaws or buy old equipment knowing that even if it requires some maintenance at least the basic quality is there.

author: Gromitt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 10:20:50 am
content: Quote from: rdl on March 31, 2019, 02:35:40 amVolvo is not owned by a Chinese company, Volvo Cars is (by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group). Volvo and Volvo Cars is not the same thing anymore.

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 04:01:08 pm
content: Liars,Damn Liars,And car audio specs writers

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 04:23:01 pm
content: Quote from: Gromitt on March 31, 2019, 10:20:50 amGeely fully own Volvo cars, but they also own a portion of Volvo trucks these days.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2019, 04:28:08 pm
content: Quote from: Gromitt on March 31, 2019, 10:20:50 amYou are correct. The source was not very clear on that.Quotehttps://www.msn.com/en-nz/money/companies/32-famous-western-brands-bought-by-the-chinese/ss-AAkCT9X#image=2Bought by Ford in 1999 for $6.45 billion. Sold by Ford in 2010 for $1.3 billion. Not such a good deal for them.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 12:11:11 am
content: Quote from: rdl on March 31, 2019, 04:28:08 pmFord ruined Volvo, they were completely out of touch with the customer and the reasons people bought Volvos. It was almost exactly the same thing GM did even more thoroughly to Saab. Instead of building safe, comfortable but simple and incredibly practical cars they started chasing after the luxury market trying to compete with makes like Audi and BMW. The cars became bloated and unappealing and much of the outdoorsy market wanting sturdy, roomy practical cars suitable for camping and skiiing trips, hauling cargo, etc was taken by Subaru.When you've got a winning formula, stick with it. If you're going to look at a company as a "brand" then understand what the brand means to the people who buy the products.

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 02:00:31 am
content: Quote from: james_s on April 01, 2019, 12:11:11 amExactly, the company holding the Blaupunkt branding seems to have some dim idea of that since all the aftermarket car radios they offer are named after places (Something the original company did.), the radio in the video I linked to in the OP is called the Toronto (and does not appear on the Blaupunkt website so it may no longer be being offered.), others I've seen include the Salto & New Zealand.Now all they need to understand is Quality control and not overstating your specs.BTW it might be interesting to get one of those Toronto's while they last and replace the 'knock-off' part identified with the genuine item, if only to see if it affects the performance.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 04:42:34 am
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on April 01, 2019, 02:00:31 amThe company which holds the brand has nothing to do with the product design and specs, I think. While all "Blaupunkt" products are presented on a shared website, they come from different licensees, who have licensed the brand for individual product segments:https://www.blaupunkt.com/de/markenpartner/The car radios come from a German company. They seem to have acquired not only the brand, but also the rights to technical designs; they claim to sell radios based on Blaupunkt designs, including the Blaupunkt tuner. The detailed "about us" page is only available in German, the English version is abbreviated:http://www.bpautomotive.de/ueber_uns/evo_sales.htm

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 05:03:42 am
content: Quote from: ebastler on April 01, 2019, 04:42:34 amI think that wouldnotbe the Bosch era designs, because Bosch sold the Baupunkt brand in 2010 and that article is dated 2016.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 05:46:48 am
content: Quote from: oPossum on April 01, 2019, 05:03:42 amBosch sold Blaupunkt to a finance holding company (Aurelius) at the end of 2008, but Aurelius kept the operating company largely intact at first. After a few years of adding other product lines, establishing joint ventures, and selling the company once again, Blaupunkt went into insolvency in late 2015.I don't think that there was time and motivation during those 6 years to completely reinvent the car radio product line. Hence, I would expect the current "Blaupunkt" radios to still have a lot in common with the ones from the Bosch era.Edit: Typos...

author: Gromitt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2019, 07:57:42 am
content: Quote from: james_s on April 01, 2019, 12:11:11 amActually SAAB didn't give a damn what GM wanted, they went their own way regardless. The luxury cars came before GM because SAAB couldn't survive building "simple" and "practical" cars, they only made 100000 cars a year, and that was in the 80s when I worked there. SAAB was a very small car manufacturer.

author: Deepak
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2019, 04:57:52 am
content: Quote from: helius on March 31, 2019, 02:56:48 amThe causation is reversed here, by buying debt they were able to keep exporting and build their supply chains. Buying brands adds cachet to their exports so they can charge a higher price and reduce the amount of debt they buy in the future.They obviously need our exports - the US is the largest food exporter in the world, and China is the largest food importer in the world. Equilibrium is inevitable, even the Communist party knows that. What they're hoping for is that the equilibrant point will be short and they will have an upward trajectory after that point based on their investment.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2019, 06:07:06 pm
content: Quote from: Gromitt on April 01, 2019, 07:57:42 amThey were a small company and a niche product, but the classic Saab 900 was a fantastic car, with nothing else like it before or since. Fun to drive, roomy, comfortable, relatively easy to work on, it's the only car I've ever seen where changing the clutch can be done in an hour and doesn't require removing the gearbox. If I could buy a brand new ~1990 900 Turbo today I would.Near the end of the road there was some really goofy stuff at least in the US market, like the Saab 9-7 which was a rebadged GM Trailblazer SUV that they tried to "add Swedishness" to, with predictable results.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2019, 10:15:40 pm
content: When I was s kid Blaupunkt, Grundig and other German brands were top of the line and the best you could get. How things have changed!

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2019, 12:54:05 am
content: I think the Eddie Murphy SNL skit (viz. Blaupunkt) is funnier, but I can't find it online anymore.

author: Gromitt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2019, 08:01:11 am
content: Quote from: james_s on April 02, 2019, 06:07:06 pmThat's GM for you. Whereas in Europe SAAB developed and built the Cadillac BLS.

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2019, 12:44:54 pm
content: Just found another review of the 'Blaupunkt' Toronto...Not all that complementary...

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2019, 01:45:30 pm
content: Quote from: Deodand2014 on May 22, 2019, 12:44:54 pmI watched that yesterday too." QC Passed " - With no power wire in the harness - nice -

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2019, 02:35:22 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on March 30, 2019, 11:56:12 pmIn China the opposite, Chinese prefer well known brands as it gives them a feeling of exclusivity. E.g like Volvo suddenly almost a luxyry car in their eyes, in Scandinavia just a slightly better tractor brand. Chinese wines almost non existent etc, etc everyone drinks imports and so on.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2019, 03:43:34 pm
content: Quote from: MT on May 22, 2019, 02:35:22 pmIn countries where local brands have historically been of low quality, high quality brands (especially imports) have been a way to know you’re getting quality. (That imported quality products are often expensive is what relegates them to status symbols, too.)

author: Deodand2014
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2019, 11:38:14 pm
content: And when they put out products rated in 'Chinese Watts' (divide by at least three to get the true rating...) their reputation in the rest of the world goes down.

author: Perfectbaguette
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 27, 2019, 05:31:15 pm
content: Even weirder, there are also Blaupunkt e-bikes now. Obviously Chinese rebrands, the Blaupunkt mid-drive solution is Bafang with a different sticker. At least Bafang is somewhat reasonable as far as Chinese e-bike drive systems go, but still...