On ground confusion prevents mobile handset retailers from opening stores

New Delhi: Mobile phone retailers have not been able to open most of their bricks-and-mortar stores nearly a week after easing of lockdown restrictions by the central government because of persisting confusion on the ground regarding containment areas and lack of clarity from state authorities, said industry executives.

“There is still a lot of confusion on which areas are permitted to operate and there are no clear guidelines from district heads. So, at places where we have opened, managers have faced problems from police,” the head of a leading retail chain in southern India told ET on condition of anonymity.

Besides, retailers are grappling with shortage of employees, inability to acquire new models, negligible customer walk-ins and certain courier partner companies refusing to deliver online orders.