Chinese smartphone vendor OnePlus faces potential wider sales ban in India amid complaints raised by another retail group

The All India Mobile Retailers Association, representing over 150,000 bricks-and-mortar smartphone vendors, is considering a halt to OnePlus sales

It said OnePlus has for years ‘neglected mainline retailers by failing to provide adequate stocks, offering poor margins and settling claims poorly’

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Poeple walk past a OnePlus retail store in Mumbai, India, on January 8, 2023. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:00am, 19 Apr 2024

Chinese smartphone vendor OnePlus faces more disruption at its operations in India, as another major domestic retail industry group is considering a halt to sales of its products in the world’s second-largest handset market.

The All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which counts more than 150,000 bricks-and-mortar smartphone retailers across the country, said that its members are also deliberating whether they should stop sales of OnePlus products, according to a letter directed to Ranjeet Singh, sales director of OnePlus India.

AIMRA, which shared its letter with the South China Morning Post, also said it requested a meeting with Singh to discuss its concerns.

The news was first reported earlier this week by independent online tech publication Android Authority.

OnePlus, a unit of smartphone maker Oppo, is in the cross hairs of aggrieved retailers in India. Photo: Shutterstock

AIMRA said OnePlus, a subsidiary of Dongguan-based Oppo, has for years “neglected mainline retailers by failing to provide adequate stocks, offering poor margins, settling claims poorly, failing to deliver commitments and lacking a meaningful relationship with retailers in India”, according to the report. The association said OnePlus did not pursue any product demonstrations, promotions or market visits to support retailers.

“We may also stop the OnePlus business across India if issues are unresolved as the situation remains worse in the general mainline trade with no solace and deliveries on commitments (sic),” according to an excerpt of the AIMRA statement cited in the report.

Chinese smartphone vendor OnePlus faces potential wider sales ban in India amid complaints raised by another retail group

The All India Mobile Retailers Association, representing over 150,000 bricks-and-mortar smartphone vendors, is considering a halt to OnePlus sales It said OnePlus has for years ‘neglected mainline retailers by failing to provide adequate stocks, offering poor margins and settling claims poorly’