There are one other greater than 30,000 microwave ovens, AC and washing machines which wants restore at a time when Indians are locked indoors and doing family chores themselves as a result of lockdown.
The numbers have been collated by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) for the interval from the Janata Curfew on March 22 to April 13.
The associations embrace the makers of manufacturers similar to LG, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Godrej, Panasonic, Haier, Sony, Apple, Havells, Hitachi, Lava and Micromax.
“A lot of gadgets have become dysfunctional and need urgent service, which is not possible remotely,” mentioned Kamal Nandi, CEAMA president and enterprise head at Godrej Appliances. “With so many refrigerators not working, customers are finding it difficult to stock up food and preserve medicines.”
With as many as 70% of the service technicians staying near the service centres, there is no such thing as a situation of migrant labour and operations can simply be restarted as soon as the federal government permits it, he mentioned.
Most firms are at the moment working on-line and phone assist in a restricted manner and have uploaded do-it-yourself movies to assist shoppers.
ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo mentioned cellphones are a necessity, with about 900 million handsets in use.
“Though companies are running remote services, not all consumers can solve software issues and there is no way a hardware issue can be solved remotely. There is a huge pile-up of devices for repair,” he mentioned.
One of the highest three smartphone firms in India is flooded with over 11,000 service complaints daily, an govt mentioned, requesting anonymity.
Xiaomi, which has the largest share of smartphone gross sales in India, mentioned it has obtained a powerful inflow of shopper queries and complaints throughout the lockdown and has tried to resolve minor software program points over chat and emails.
“Today, smartphones are one of the most essential items, after food and groceries. It helps enforce social distancing by helping people connect without having to go out and this is something that cannot be overlooked,” an organization spokesperson mentioned.
An LG spokesperson mentioned shoppers are working their air-conditioners with out first getting them serviced as temperatures rise, whereas even water purifiers can’t be serviced or repaired proper now.
Many firms have prolonged their service and restore guarantee durations to offer shoppers some advantages as a result of lockdown.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has recommended to the ministry of house affairs that people, small businesses or on-line entities concerned in offering restore companies for cellphones, fridges, ACs and televisions ought to be allowed to perform to “assist the residents beneath lockdown to avail these crucial companies” and supply some revenue alternatives.
Kerala final week allowed outlets that promote and restore cellphones, computer systems and cell phone recharging to open each Sunday with restrictions.
Both ICEA and CEAMA have written to the federal government to declare service and restore of cellphones and digital merchandise as important companies. ICEA has additionally recommended permitting on-line gross sales of cellphones so that customers can substitute their defective handsets.
India on Tuesday prolonged the nationwide lockdown to May 3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned some rest could also be allowed after April 20 in areas the place the unfold of the coronavirus has been contained.
