C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
long story short
- Another Indian retail association has threatened to stop selling OnePlus products in the market.
- This may prevent OnePlus products from being sold offline in India.
- The threat came after a smaller offline retail association said it would stop selling OnePlus products from May 1.
Updated: April 16, 2024 (12:45 AM ET): OnePlus India has shared a statement via email Android Authority Regarding the current situation in India, the brand is facing a retail ban. Here’s what the company said:
OnePlus values all the support our trusted retail partners have received over the past seven years. We are currently working with our partners to address key areas to ensure we remain committed to building strong and prosperous relationships.
Original article: April 15, 2024 (6:05 a.m. ET): OnePlus may have suffered a major blow after the association representing retail chains in southern India announced that it would no longer sell OnePlus products from May 1. However, it sounds like this sales ban may be extended to other parts of India.
The All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which represents over 1.5 lakh offline smartphone retailers in India, told OnePlus that its members may stop selling OnePlus products.
In contrast, South India’s Organized Retailers Association (ORA), which represents 4,300 offline retailers, announced a sales ban from May 1. Therefore, AIMRA’s sales ban will have a greater impact and may effectively translate into a nationwide ban on offline sales.
Why Indian retailers want to ditch OnePlus phones?
AIMRA sent a letter to OnePlus, a copy of which was Android Authority. In it, the organization expressed support for Euler’s decision to stop selling OnePlus products.
An excerpt from the letter reads: “If the issue is not resolved, we may also discontinue OnePlus operations across India as the situation in general trunk trade remains worse with no relief and promises fulfilled (sic).”
The group also revealed the reasons for its threats:
OnePlus India has ignored mainstream retailers for years due to failure to provide adequate inventory, poor margins, poor claims handling, failure to deliver on promises and lack of meaningful relationships with Indian retailers (no demos, no promotions staff, no overall market access, no SOP) showing neglect.
The association also accused OnePlus of selling products through “illegal channels to inflate numbers.”
We’ve reached out to OnePlus for comment on the matter and what consumers should do if offline sales are cancelled. As of press time, we have not heard from the company.