OnePlus 2 Purchase By Invite-Only Scrapped For Good
OnePlus has permanently scrapped its invite-only purchase requirement for its flagship smartphone OnePlus 2.
The cancellation of the invite-only requirement for OnePlus 2 comes as OnePlus celebrates its second birthday. When the tech firm launched its "2016 flagship killer" in August, it was available only to consumers with invites, according to the International Business Times (IBT).
OnePlus had previously hosted flash sales wherein its products have been sold without an invite, but those were just temporary. Now, beginning midnight on Dec. 5, OnePlus 2 will be invite-free forever, the report details.
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On Dec. 17, OnePlus will mark its second year of operation, and co-founder Carl Pei said it is about time that they take more risk in their marketing strategy. In a blog post, Pei said dropping the invite-only requirement will help push the company's products to more consumers, the report relays.
"We are always trying to enhance the OnePlus experience for [customers] and taking risks to push ourselves and show real improvements," IBT quotes Pei's statement in a blog announcement. "That's why we're making the OnePlus 2 invite-free forever."
The Chinese smartphone maker has made a lot of noise in media publications because of its claims of giving users a "flagship experience for a very affordable cost. In addition, its invite-only system has also helped increase the hype around its products, although it has also left consumers without invites frustrated.
One of the more practical reasons for implenting the invite sytem is OnePlus' desire to keep its operation costs lean. They want to prevent products from building up in their stock to keep the cash flow healthy in case the firm fails to hit its sales target, Android Headlines explains.
Although OnePlus 2 is invite-free permanently, the more affordable OnePlus X will still be sold through the invite-only system. But the company will still hold open sales every week for this model, and it will also be invite-free from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7.
