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Chapter 289 Explosive Sales

In the winter of 1997, the biting wind was like countless tiny knives, scraping painfully against people's faces. But even so, it could not cool people's burning, almost boiling, desire for new things.

This Christmas, a company called AI Technology suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Before that, not only ordinary consumers, but even veterans in the electronics industry had never heard of this name and wondered where it came from.

This little-known company, with its first product, the iPod, stormed into the consumer electronics market like a tiger descending a mountain, causing a sensation and shaking the world.

This item looks just like a set of exquisite playing cards. It's small and delicate, pure white, and holding it in your hand feels like holding a treasure from the future. It exudes a strong sense of science fiction and fashion.

What's most amazing is that it can easily put 1000 songs into people's pockets, directly subverting the traditional music playback model. Like a sudden revolution, it has completely changed the way people listen to music.

Just as popular as this amazing product is its imaginative and stylish GG logo.

In Gossip Girl, the Italian muse is stunningly beautiful with captivating eyes and irresistible sexiness. When she appears alongside the equally enchanting iPod, the scene is breathtakingly beautiful. Everyone who has seen Gossip Girl is deeply attracted and mesmerized.

On Christmas Eve, the special day before Christmas, the streets and alleys were enveloped in a festive atmosphere. Christmas trees adorned with colorful lights shone brightly in front of shops, and the air was filled with a sweet aroma.

This was supposed to be a day when people were enjoying the festive joy, but it was also the day the iPod was officially released.

Actually, the date for this sale was very poorly chosen. Although Christmas Eve is indeed the day with the most gift purchases during the Christmas season, with people everywhere carrying gift bags and busy choosing gifts for relatives and friends, the problem is that most people have already chosen their Christmas gifts several days in advance.

Ernst knew the date was bad, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The iPod inventory was so low that they didn't even dare to do pre-orders, let alone release them ahead of schedule.

They were afraid that if they started pre-orders, the order volume would explode, and they wouldn't be able to deliver the goods in time, which would definitely cause consumers to complain and damage the brand value that iPod had just established.

He could still tell the difference between a losing proposition and a losing one.

Even so, the iPod's popularity far exceeded his expectations, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

Because he realized he had made another basic mistake, namely, his judgment of sales volume.

When he predicted iPod sales, he referred to the original Apple iPod data from his memory. Even considering that MP3 players were not yet a novelty on the market, and that the iPod, as the first to try it, would definitely have a much higher sales volume than the original Apple iPod, he deliberately raised his expected data by a lot.

But despite all his careful planning, he forgot one crucial thing.

That means Apple's iPod and iTunes can only be used on Apple systems, and how small is the user base of Apple systems? It's pitifully small.

That's why Apple's iPod sales were so poor in the first two years, and they were nowhere near the tens or hundreds of millions of units sold each year thereafter.

But Axon's iPod is different; it comes with Google's iTunes, which supports Windows systems.

The results of it?

Just three hours after the iPod officially went on sale, the inventory was completely depleted.

Graduate.

In his New York mansion, Ernst watched the news report on TV with a mix of amusement and exasperation, while Monica Bellucci, who rose to fame with the iPod GG, used every trick in the book to thank the man who made her who she is.

Spitting out what was in her mouth, she turned to look at the television screen, which was filled with images of frenzied iPod sales.

Reporters, microphones in hand, jostled through the crowd, afraid of missing any breaking news.

The scene shifts to Fifth Avenue in New York, where a long queue has formed outside the Apple store, winding its way through several blocks and stretching as far as the eye can see.

The cold wind was still biting, but the young people queuing up were unusually excited. Their cheeks were flushed with excitement, and their eyes sparkled with a burning anticipation for the iPod. Their enthusiasm seemed to melt away the cold wind around them.

Stomping their feet and rubbing their hands, they discussed everything about the iPod. Even being told that there were no more in stock and that they could only make a reservation did not dampen their enthusiasm at all; on the contrary, it strengthened their determination to buy an iPod.

When asked by a reporter, a passionate music lover spoke with trembling excitement, "I saw an iPod on TV..."

From the moment GG was born, owning an iPod became my new Christmas wish.

Perhaps it was too cold, he stamped his feet, and then continued, "I simply can't believe that it can hold so much music and be carried around so I can listen to it anytime, anywhere. For us music lovers, there is no more perfect music product than this."

"Before, when I went out and wanted to listen to music, I had to carry a heavy CD player and stuff a stack of CDs in my backpack. It was such a hassle. Now that I have an iPod, everything is different."

Another young man next to him couldn't help but come over. His eyes first sparkled with anticipation, but then dimmed, and his tone was full of disappointment. "I made sure I didn't sleep in today so I could buy the iPod as soon as possible, but I'm still late. It's really disappointing."

At the height of his excitement, Jack couldn't help but swear, "FXXK, that damn Ernst, didn't he know to stock up on more products? How could something so great not be popular? Is he out of his mind? He can't even predict this much sales."

Jack's complaint was like stirring up a hornet's nest. The people in line around them were already frustrated because they hadn't been able to buy an iPod, and when they heard Jack's words, they immediately erupted into a cacophony of complaints.

This is New York, and the Knicks' previous trades still leave many fans feeling resentful. Everyone was already a bit angry and had nowhere to vent, so now they've finally found an outlet.

Immediately afterwards, many people in line were seen pointing their middle fingers at the reporter's camera without hesitation, and shouting "fk, Ernst" at the top of their lungs.

The scene was absolutely spectacular.

The scene shifts to a shopping mall in London, where the atmosphere is just as vibrant and exciting as in New York.

Outside a retail store inside a large shopping mall in London, long queues had formed, but this time the reporter was interviewing a young girl.

Unlike the unfortunate souls in New York who couldn't buy an iPod, this young girl was wearing white iPod headphones, listening to music, and proudly showing off her iPod to those around her, basking in the envious sunshine.

Facing the reporter's interview, she still had a proud smile on her face. She gently took off her headphones and said to the reporter, "This is not just a music player, it is also a fashionable work of art."

As she spoke, she opened the iPod interface to show the reporter, but it was obvious that she was not very familiar with the functions.

The interface only displays three songs, which are pre-saved. Essentially, Google Tunes is giving away three songs for free. Although few, each one is very good, making consumers want to go home and figure out how to use Google Tunes immediately.

Okay, I'll download more of my favorite songs.

The same frenzy wasn't limited to New York and London; romantic Paris, bustling Tokyo, and even the Middle East were all experiencing buying frenzies for the iPod.

In shopping malls and outside electronics stores, crowds of people can be seen queuing up everywhere, all just to reserve an iPod, even if it takes a long time, they are willing to wait.

Besides the frenzied buying by ordinary consumers, something else caught Ernst off guard: even gang members joined the iPod rush.

In some of the queue scenes, you can see many burly men with tattoos all over their arms, but at this moment they are like obedient children, standing in line obediently, not daring to make the slightest disturbance. Such a scene is truly a once-in-a-century sight.

The reporter, who seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, actually dared to approach and interview these gang members.

Many people were shocked to learn that the iPod was already selling for over a thousand dollars on the black market less than a day after its release.

The iPod itself is not cheap, costing as much as $339, but such a high price is tripled on the black market. The popularity of this product is beyond everyone's imagination.

For a moment, even the reporters couldn't keep up their interviews and wanted to join the long queue.

Then, as more and more "FXXK, Ernst" sounds came from the TV, Monica choked, coughing so hard that tears almost streamed down her face.

As Ernst watched the scene on TV, he couldn't help but wonder, "Could this end up becoming a popular saying?"

He suddenly remembered those videos on the Internet from his previous life, where everyone called Jack Ma "Dad" and Liu Qiangdong "Brother Dong".

When it came to his turn, the fans immediately gave him the middle finger and shouted "FXXK, Ernst!"

The scene is so beautiful, even more beautiful than a chicken.

After Monica recovered, she noticed Ernst's strange expression and guessed why he was acting that way. She couldn't help but give him a charming smile and said with a hint of teasing, "So you can be scared too?"

"I'm scared?" Ernst snapped out of his daze and saw Monica completely naked. Her voluptuous figure and perfect curves were enough to make any man's blood boil.

He deliberately straightened his back and, mimicking the tone of those people on TV, said ambiguously, "FXXK, Ernst?"

Monica glared at him, but her eyes were full of laughter as she gracefully crossed her legs, her movements incredibly skillful.

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