Channel partners who are purely into selling telecommunication products and solutions in Kanyakumari district has recently formed an association. This association has been registered solely for the Telecom Industry and its name is registered as “Telecom Retailers Association of Kanyakumari District” (TRAK).
The key objectives of this association are to create unity among retailers and distributors in Kanyakumari district, maintain market operated price, solve issues related to warranty and post-sale services and maintain a uniform tariff in minimum service charges. Any individual into the business of telecom products with proper government registration can become a member of this association.
The association has selected Babu of Metro Mobiles, Nagercoil as district President and S. Vimal Jeba Singh of Alpha Technologies, Marthandam as district Secretary and Sabarish of New Mobile as Treasurer. “At present, there are more than 500 retailers who are selling handsets in our district. We wanted to create unity among retailers and earn profit from this business. Till date, there is no state forum for this industry and Kanyakumari district association is taking initial steps for forming a state forum. We are also planning some welfare activity for association members and common public. For association members, we are planning to give training for GST immediately because many retailers till now have no idea of GST. For the common public, we are planning programs like Road Safety and other awareness programs,” said Vimal Jeba Singh.
Singh also said that initially, the dealers had a registered association for Nagercoil and Marthandam area. “We were not able to streamline the market when the market expanded into interior areas of our district. As there are more issues arising day-after-day we planned of expanding the association to cover the entire four talukas of Kanyakumari.” he avers.
Many retailers in mobile phone business suffered due to many issues from the telecom industry. Few are, misuse of Id proof while obtaining new sim card (now it is getting streamlined); collecting promised claim from the company; loosing sales to modern retail traders who are selling below dealer operated price; and buying and selling used handsets, when a customer approaches a dealer for handset exchange they are not able to find out whether the handset is stolen from someone or whether that particular handset is used for some illegal activity. In both the case if a FIR is registered upon that IME in the later stage the retailer has to run behind the legal formalities.