Phone retailers call government to block predatory pricing

NEW DELHI: Brick-and-mortar retailers have urged the government to curb the practice of etailers forging exclusive tie-ups with smartphone makers and offering lower prices, saying, ahead of the critical festive season, the buildup of inventory owing to “predatory online pricing” would sound the death knell for offline sellers and lead to huge job losses.

The All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA), which represents thousands of brick-and-mortar stores across the country, has shot off letters to the commerce ministry, the Competition Commission of India and the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT).

“The predatory online pricing and exclusivity has damaged the ecosystem of the trade beyond repair,” the association said in one of the letters, which has been seen by ET, without naming any specific etailer.