Google Glass: Priced but Not in Demand; Zhongguancun Sellers Ask for 1 Million RMB per Pair

Wearable smart devices are currently the hottest concept products in the global tech circle, with major IT giants experimenting with them. However, investigations by reporters have revealed that these novel gadgets are still in their infancy and remain in a phase of being priced but unsold.

Currently, the main wearable devices available include smartwatches, smart glasses, and smart bracelets. Google Glass is undoubtedly the most anticipated wearable device at present. During visits to electronic markets in Zhongguancun, merchants consistently stated they do not yet have Google Glasses in stock, but expect to receive shipments within a week of its official release. A store owner from Dinghao expressed that he has a developer version of Google Glass and showed the reporter an alleged "unboxing photo," though no physical demonstration was provided. When the reporter inquired about purchasing it, the store owner quoted a price of 100,000 yuan, but admitted that he hasn't sold a single pair yet. It is understood that Google Glass is currently only available for developers at a pre-order price of $1500, with deliveries expected next year.

The reporter found on Taobao that nearly a hundred merchants offer pre-orders or immediate purchases of Google Glass, with prices ranging from ten thousand to one hundred thousand yuan, but none have been sold. Some online shop owners claimed they have stock available for face-to-face transactions or video inspections to ensure authenticity.

In contrast to Google Glass's lack of sales, wearable smart devices introduced by athletic brands like Nike seem to be selling better. Although only a few Nike stores in Beijing sell the Nike sports watch sensor, staff at those stores mentioned that sales are decent, mostly purchased by sports enthusiasts. The reporter observed on an online store that the Nike smartwatch had sold 60 units in the past month. Meanwhile, the Nike smart bracelet, which has not yet been launched domestically, recorded over 400 sales in the last 30 days.

However, in Zhongguancun, there are very few shops selling wearable smart devices. Products such as the Smart Watch by Guokr Electronics, the inwatch smartwatch by Shenzhen Yingqu Technology, and the Gudong bracelet by Gudong, among other domestic manufacturers' wearable smart devices, are also difficult to find in the Zhongguancun market.