Samsung Indonesia Scores Another First Day Sell-Out With Galaxy S2

When it was launched two days ago, the Samsung Galaxy S2 was sold out in just 10 hours. Now a gadget selling out on its first day on sale may not seem unusual. But many people waited overnight, sleeping in the open air to make sure they could buy a Galaxy S2. Some of those who spent the night at the south lobby of Pacific Place, Jakarta, are people who got paid to queue.

Fabiant Kayatmo, product marketing senior manager at Samsung Electronics Indonesia, explained that people started queueing at 2pm on Friday. The line grew to 1,200 people – which was the number of smartphones available at the event – by 0:30am on Saturday. Not wanting to lose their spot in line, they slept there until the event started at 9am. He added:

Indonesians started to believe in Samsung since the Galaxy Tab launched last year. After that, we become the top in customers’ minds in terms of Android-powered smartphone and gadgets.

Kayatmo also referred to a report by market research company GFK that stated the company has won 79 percent of the Android smartphone market share in Indonesia, as of June 2011.

A 'sold out' sign indicates no more Galaxy S2 phones are left. Photo taken by the author.

This was the fourth time Samsung made a first day sell-out. The Korean giant started with the seven-inch Galaxy Tab last year, and followed with the Galaxy Mini, the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab, and now the Galaxy S2. Interestingly, both the Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 were released in the same month – yet the two devices still sold out.

As we reported previously, Galaxy S2 overseas sales have hit three million units. While the South Korean sales numbers alone went past one million units in mid June. Considering what has been happening in Indonesia, it should mean a significant bump to Samsung’s overseas sales figures.

[Lead photo: courtesy Samsung Indonesia]