Offline traders warn of Xiaomi, Samsung boycott over online discounting

NEW DELHI: More than 20,000 offline retailers have told India’s top smartphone makers — Xiaomi and Samsung — that they will boycott the two brands if there’s no stop to deep discounting and aligning with ecommerce players.

In similar but separate letters dated January 10, the All India Mobile Retailers’ Association (AIMRA) also said that if deep discounting continued online, brick-and-mortar retailers could also “simply deduct the difference and sell at online prices.”

ET has seen a copy of the letters, which were addressed to Mohandeep Singh, senior vicepresident, mobile business, Samsung India and Sunil Baby, director, offline sales operations, Xiaomi.