Several renowned retail stores across the Western and Southern regions of the country have decided against selling OnePlus devices due to several obstacles associated with selling the brand’s products, which allegedly remain unresolved. These retail stores are part of the South Indian Organized Retailers Association (ORA), the president of which wrote a letter to OnePlus India’s director of sales on April 10, 2024.
Update, May 10, 2024: Today, OnePlus announced that it’s partnering with JioMart Digital, one of the largest retail networks in the country. As part of the partnership, OnePlus products will be available across 2000+ cities where JioMart Digital has its stores. “As we continue to extend our range of OnePlus products across the JioMart Digital store network, we are positive that our community and consumers at large will continue to truly benefit from this opportunity,” said Ranjeet Singh, Director of Sales at OnePlus.
Thousands Of Retail Stores To Stop Selling OnePlus Products From May 2024
Per the letter, ORA has decided to stop selling OnePlus products, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables, in its establishments from May 1, 2024. It is important to mention here that ORA leads some of the most renowned retail chains, including Pooja, Big C, Sangeetha, and Poorvika, which have several outlets in the Southern and Western capitals and other major cities.
As part of the protest, 4,500 retail stores of 23 retail chains in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh will halt selling the brand’s devices starting next month.
Here Are The Issues Being Faced By ORA Members
- Due to consistently low-profit margins set by OnePlus, ORA members face difficulty managing and sustaining their businesses amid rising operational/financial costs.
- Retailers face constant delays and complications in warranty/service claims, which leads to customer dissatisfaction. Shopkeepers often help customers in getting repairs to their smartphones by dealing with brands. However, delays in settling such claims could lead to additional burdens for retailers.
- The association claims that retailers are often asked to bundle products/services with OnePlus devices, which limits their flexibility and hinders their ability to cater to diverse customer needs. Eventually, this may also lead to stagnant inventory and loss of sales.
- Per the National Joint General Secretary at All India Mobile Retailers Association, a significant portion of products (by the Chinese smartphone brands) is sold via e-commerce platforms, where brands provide exclusive offers (such as exchange bonuses, cashback, no-cost EMI, storage model upgrade benefits, and so on). Such practices often sideline main channels, drawing customers away from them and making it hard to make sales.
In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post published at 08:14 PM on April 10, ORA India’s official account says, “The voice and concerns of over 4,500 stores within ORA membership are calling for the withdrawal of selling OnePlus products in the coming days. Derogatory pricing, delayed settlements, and product delays due to lack of commitments are key issues.” OnePlus India is yet to comment on the issue.
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