Despite making a name for itself right on its first foray in the mobile phone market last year, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has obviously learned a great lesson in economics. In order to meet consumer demands, it has to have sufficient supply.
Unfortunately, it was not the case for the company for OnePlus One, but in a good way. The Chinese handset maker was actually caught by surprise by the overwhelming success of its 2014 flagship killer that the company eventually found itself with scarce supply to meet the huge demand.
Typical of a sound business strategy, OnePlus was also correct in its conservative production of the OnePlus One prior to releasing it to the market. Introducing a new product in a highly-competitive market in great quantity is a big risk, and many companies have already folded up because of too much inventory, notes the OnePlus Blog.
So when OnePlus One hit the market last year and was met with an overwhelming positive response, the Chinese smartphone maker got itself a happy problem. It needed to produce more OnePlus One to be able to meet the strong demand.
OnePlus promised flagship specifications and superb aesthetics with the OnePlus One at half the price compared to the other flagship smartphones of other big name companies and that was what the company delivered, details the Phone Arena.
But instead of making available the smartphone on retailers, OnePlus utilized an invite system where users or consumers buy the phone through an online invite system, similar to pre-ordering products online.
While a good number of consumers managed to buy the phone, many others were simply annoyed, frustrated and ultimately infuriated at the company. After all, it’s always better for consumers to see and personally touch the smartphone they are buying than simply checking it out in the internet and only see it in person after buying and paying for it.
Standing firm with the strategy
But OnePlus will stand firm on its decision to sell its phones via invites as it will employ the same strategy with the OnePlus Two when it officially releases on July 27.
However, OnePlus has promised a more streamlined and well-organized invite system for the OnePlus Two because judging from the initial feedbacks that it has been getting for its upcoming flagship smartphone, OnePlus Two will be hotter than the OnePlus One.
The Chinese smartphone maker is also ready this time assuring consumers that it will not have the same happy problem it has experienced with OnePlus One because OnePlus Two will have 50 times more inventory than its predecessor.
More confident now
Now brimming with confidence after its success with OnePlus One, the Chinese smartphone maker assured its fans and consumers that it will also have 30 to 50 times more launching inventory for the OnePlus Two compared to its 2014 flagship killer. It will also be easier for users to get an invite right from the start.
The company will also come up with a painless reservation list for those who do not have time to hang out on forums or the social media. Prospect buyers just need to enter their e-mail addresses and they will receive an invite soon, although forum supporters have the priority for the company.
Buyers who get their OnePlus Two will subsequently receive invites which they can share with their friends just like the way it did for OnePlus One. But unlike with the OnePlus One where the sharable invites arrived quite some time, it will come faster with the OnePlus Two this time around, assures the Chinese smartphone maker.
Indicative of how confident it has become, OnePlus also says outright that OnePlus Two will be better than OnePlus One in more ways.