Mobile Retailers Association backs call to suspend Christmas e-commerce sales over unfair practices

In a post on X, the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) expressed its strong support to BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Praveen Khandelwal, retired general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), India’s largest trade body, in demanding immediate suspension of festive sales on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

Their position is based on a recent CCI report that highlights disturbing concerns about unethical business practices, including preferential treatment, exclusive agreements with mobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), preferred vendors and preferential offers.

AIMRA argues that such practices are designed to tilt the scales in favour of large corporations, ultimately threatening the livelihoods of millions of small and medium-sized retailers using these platforms.

Khandelwal had earlier raised serious concerns, stating that these deep discounting practices not only distort fair competition but also enable a grey economy fuelled by unaccounted money. He urged the government to take immediate action, saying that these aggressive sales tactics can undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

Amazon’s holiday sales, which offer massive discounts — up to 75% off appliances and electronics and up to 80% off fashion — have sparked strong reactions from retailers, with many feeling unable to compete with the deep discounts, accusing the e-commerce giants of “predatory pricing.”

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier raised concerns about Amazon’s heavy discounting, even questioning its compliance with Indian laws. The minister, however, later admitted that e-commerce is convenient but stressed the need to balance it with the prosperity of brick-and-mortar stores.

Khandelwal and AIMRA India continue to push for a stricter e-commerce policy, including the creation of a regulatory body to ensure fair competition, protect small retailers and hold corporations accountable for their business practices.