23 mobile retail chains in India to stop selling OnePlus devices: Report

According to reports, OnePlus devices will be delisted in southern and western India following a new directive from the Organized Retailers Association (ORA) of South India. The Mobile Retailers Association, which owns a large number of stores, reportedly announced the development in a letter that has not yet been made public. According to reports, ORA said that it will stop selling OnePlus mobile devices at retailers under its network starting from May 1, 2024. ORA has large stores in the southern region like Poorvika, Sangeetha, Big C. The association cited ongoing problems with the Chinese brand and its products as the reason behind the move.

A Report The letter, which Money Control claims to have obtained (reportedly written to OnePlus India sales director Rajeet Singh), describes the long-term issues ORA faces and the challenges retailers face when dealing with the popular Chinese smartphone brand. The association claims that its retailers have faced significant hurdles in selling OnePlus products for years but have yet to resolve them.

One of the more prominent issues is the persistently low profit margins set by OnePlus, which according to the association makes their business unsustainable. The association also cited delays in processing warranty and service claims, which it said left customers unhappy.

Retailers also claim that they often have to bundle products and services with OnePlus devices, which ORA says limits their ability to meet customer demand and results in unsold inventory of devices.

OnePlus is yet to officially comment on the South India Organized Retailers Association’s move, but we have reached out to them on the topic.

For years, OnePlus has been selling smartphones through its website and other e-commerce platforms, giving customers the option to buy directly from the brand without any middlemen. This is not just the case for OnePlus, but also for other Chinese smartphone brands like Xiaomi, Vivo, and even bigger Korean brands like Samsung.

Over the years, the above-mentioned brands have also focused on opening their own experience stores in India, where customers can try and buy products, making mobile retailers increasingly distant from customers. After years of delays, Apple also opened two of its own Apple Stores in the country last year, and Samsung followed suit with one. Similar design stores In Mumbai.