Apple iPhones available online and offline to cost the same now

In the backdrop of a proposed launch of Apple’s stores in India and huge discounts, iPhones may cost the same in online and brick and mortar stores in the country.

Apple is not the first one to do as Samsung Electronics has already moved for a uniform pricing.

As per reports, this helped Samsung to gain overall share in the Indian smartphone market.

"The poor sales of iPhone SE in India have further accelerated the move of Apple to push for uniform pricing structure. Even offline sales of iPhones had taken a hit due to the huge online discounting, which Apple headquarters has not taken in good spirit and hence the company now wants to correct and bring about a common pricing," a chief executive of a leading cellphone retail chain told ET.

It is believed that top Apple India officials have informed its four distributors in India about the plan.

However, ET quoted Apple as saying that the company does not control prices and there has been no change in maximum retail prices. "It is wholly incorrect for your line of questioning to assert that Apple has communicated any pricing change," the company told ET.

One of the reasons to bring the price parity is under pressure to meet the targets, Apple distributors were lowering prices towards the end of a quarter.

"This too should now stop since Apple wants to bring back channel hygiene, since the way the distributors were fluctuating prices the offline retailers were sceptical about picking up huge stock," an official told ET.

Apple sees India has a bright spot and is placing high stakes in the country.