Offline Mobile Sales Drop ~40% While Consumers Wait for Online Deals

Offline mobile retail in India has dropped sharply—around forty percent—as consumers postpone purchases ahead of major online sale events from Flipkart and Amazon. Retailers report that customers are unwilling to buy at regular prices and are waiting for discounts on smartphones. Supply of new high-end models is being directed toward online channels. Once online inventories are depleted, brick-and-mortar stores expect foot traffic to rebound, especially closer to Diwali.