Samsung is slashing prices of its smartphones from January, thanks to
stiff competition from brands like Micromax, Colors, Sony and Lenovo,
among others.
Officials of International Marketing Services (IMS) - the authorized
distributor of Samsung in Nepal - confirmed that prices of Samsung
smartphones would go down form the first week of January. “But we can´t
say by how much margin the prices will be cut as we are yet to get
confirmation from Samsung,” an official of IMS said.
A snap survey conducted by Republica shows Samsung is losing market
share, albeit marginally, and new smartphone brands like Micromax,
Colors, Lenovo and Sony, among others, are making gains. Lenovo, which
is yet to be launched formally here, is gaining popularity in Nepal.
A New Road-based dealer of Samsung told Republica that IMS is decreasing
prices of Samsung smartphones by 8-15 percent from the first week of
January. “Samsung smartphones are priced comparatively higher in Nepal
than other countries, including India and Thailand,” the dealer said
preferring anonymity. “Stiff competition in the market is forcing IMS to
go for a price cut.”
Samsung India had slashed prices of various smartphone models in
October. It had reduced price of
Galaxy S4 Mini (16GB) and
Galaxy S3 by
around IRs 4,000. According to Times of India, Samsung had cut the price
of its flagship phablet --
Galaxy Note 3 -- by IRs 2,000 in October end
within a month of its launch.
“If I get all the features that a Samsung phone has on a cheaper phone,
there is no point paying more for just the brand,” Alisa Pradhananga, a
user of Colors phone, told Republica.
Vivek Sharma Dhandh, managing director of Virgin Mobiles, said people do
not hesitate to pay ay amount for new gadgets with latest features.
“But if they get the same features at lower price, they will definitely
go for it regardless of the brand,” he added.
As the average life of mobile phones is around two years and technology
gets updated day by day, dealers say people prefer to carry phones with
affordable price tag and keep changing them time and again.
Published This News on Republica Dec 26
