Mobile retailers under the banner of the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) have decided to return all Samsung stock to distributors on January 15, accusing the company of unfair practices. This decision comes amidst growing resentment among retailers who allege mental and financial harassment by the tech giant.
Speaking on the issue, AIMRA's West Bengal State President, Mohan Bajoria, stated, “Samsung has repeatedly disregarded the interests of local retailers. By collaborating with foreign e-commerce platforms and offering exclusive models unavailable to us, they have worked against the spirit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Vocal for Local' initiative.”
The retailers argue that their repeated attempts to resolve the issue amicably were ignored by Samsung. AIMRA's General Secretary, Mridul Biswas, added, “We gave Samsung several opportunities to address our grievances, but they chose to overlook us. Now, we are left with no choice but to take a firm stand.”
The allegations center around Samsung's practice of making certain models available exclusively on international e-commerce platforms while denying access to these same models to local retailers. This, according to the association, has caused significant financial losses to Indian traders.
Retailers across the country have expressed solidarity with the decision, viewing it as a united stand against what they describe as unjust and exploitative practices. “This is not just about Samsung; it’s about sending a message that we will not tolerate such treatment from any company,” Biswas emphasized.
The move is being seen as a major step against one of the largest mobile brands in the world and could set a precedent for how retailers deal with grievances against multinational corporations operating in India.