The offline smartphone market is an extremely difficult proposition considering the amount of money and effort small retailers have to invest to build their stores. Considering that the world has come to a standstill due to the forced lockdown of the pandemic and its subsequent impact on the economy, physical stores are having a hard time surviving. This condition is further amplified when big brands launch their products mainly through online channels like Amazon and Flipkart, along with additional discounts and promotional offers. This is precisely what the Indian mobile retailers forum known as AIMRA (All India Mobile Retailers Association) has a problem with and reportedly sent a letter to Samsung after the launch of the new Galaxy F62. As a reminder, this phone will be mainly sold through Flipkart, Reliance Digital, My Jio, and a handful of authorized Samsung stores.
Letter to @SamsungIndia @Samsung @SamsungMobile Mr. Ken Kang, MD of State Partnerships to STOP Preferential Treatment of Online Businesses Against Press Release 2 and Indian Law Competition Laws. Release F62 at the same time, same price on all channels. @DIPPGOI @CCI_India @CimGOI pic.twitter.com/HS1YOHvbYz 22 Feb 2021 More Information With this letter to Samsung India Managing Director Ken Kang, the representative authority asked Samsung to offer online and offline retailers line up a level playing field to compete on. He claims that the idea of making the smartphone available through limited channels is a predatory marketing practice and also suggested that these practices are against the idea of Vocal for Local started by PM Modi. These retailers have also called on Samsung to end other discriminatory policies, such as unreasonable targeting, unavailability of stock, various online-only offers, and programs like rebates and rebates that create a price difference. As a reminder, this is not the first time a retail organization has heard such a voice. In 2019, the Mobile Dealers Association raised a similar voice, prompting several brands including Realme, Samsung, Vivo and OPPO to confirm in writing that they will end online exclusivity in 2020. However, the leading company India's smartphone maker Xiaomi has avoided making such commitments and thus continues to favor online retailers. Samsung or some strange reason has decided to deviate from the promise made earlier. TechRadar India has contacted Samsung India and we will update this article once we hear back. Via Sammobile
- The foldable phone from Google, Xiaomi and Oppo could have OLED panels from Samsung