UMI: All set to lose Indian Market without selling a single phone?
https://gizchai.blogspot.com/2013/05/umi-all-set-to-lose-indian-market.html
We have been watching the developments from UMI right from the beginning when the X2 was announced.
The mere specs left us awestruck at that time and we followed every bit of news, leak and updates we could grab our hands on. Infact 30pc of the page hits on GizChai.com come from news of UMI alone. People from all over the world especially US, Spain, Italy and more follow news on the UMI X2 closely.
Unfortunately due to the limited supply of phones UMI India is all set to lose its market if the phones do not hit the market this week. Here is a synopsis of all the (mis)adventures of this ill timed, overly marketed venture.
1) UMI Collaborates with Indian Blogger on pricing X2
2) UMI S1 announced
Current Status- Except for a price tag of 12000INR and listing on its site UMI is notoriously mum on the status of the S1. Which makes us wonder if the phone even exists or even if it does when would it ever make its way to the market.
3) UMI Tab announced, Quad core tab with IPS screen and Quad core chipset
Current Status- This piece of news caused lot of furore when Gizchina picked this news, their initial enquiry proved that UMI was developing no such tablet at which point UMI India (a distributor for UMI China products) showed snippets of mail communication from the parent company to prove the authenticity of its claim. At this point we had already pointed out the growing concern amongst buyers in UMI. Already UMI had started to ban hundereds from its facebook page for badmouting.
3) First confirmation of X2 Delay, launch of X2 lite version and X1-S announced
Current Status- No more updates on Delays by UMI. A bunch of dissapointed customers wrote to us and all of them had the same concern "We do not get nay reply", "No one picks the phone", "Email always goes without response","We have never seen a single office of this company anywhere",
The only place where someone from the comapny speaks is the Umimobile India Facebook page. And clearly the guys behind it is loud, Outspoken, and makes a lot of Unrealistic claims and promises. Worse at times the admin is openly posting in crude laungage with words like "Bull Shit".
4) Finally Prototype review but one of India's top 10 tech bloggers
Current Status Gogi of Googi.in has been the only reviewer in India to get his hands on this handset, an still it was a prototype. It had quite a few issues especially the black border issue. It managed to create a lot of flutter and UMI basked in the limelight for a few days, even posting long emotional messages "thanking" people for their patience and support.
Well that was that, we never say any other review or even a peek by any other Inidian Site or Blogger after that.
4) Turbo version of UMI X2 Announced, free upgrade for those who prebooked!
Current Status We predicted right then that this was more Bull from UMI and before long UMI themselves ate their words. But at the same time hiked prices to 16500INR for the 32GB version and priced the 16GB version with 1GB RAM at 14500INR.
5) Dr Dre headset free with all those who book the new batch of UMI X2
Current Status Well we write to Beats by Dr Dre and they refused this claim. Well it did not take a genius to figure this out. Which company in the right mind would offer you a $149 headset with a product worth $296?
The last 7 days has been particularly hot for UMI. For after 4 months the Indian Consumer finally seems to have lost their legendary patience. Every update by UMI has been brushed aside, qustioned and openly abused with threats and harsh language.
Cornered UMI even reached out to Gogi with photos and details saying it would start deliveries in "a day or two" but this just intensified the barrage of comments. Many even called Gogi being "Paid by" UMI for posting this. Well three days later and handling a lot of criticism and not seeing a single delivery so far here is an update from Gogi
While UMI has been showcasing its DHL delivery tracking code to prove that deliveries are indeed on its way they just show 3 units. We believe these are nothing but demo pieces to be showcased in thei Androidguruz store slated to open on June 10 or couple of review sets for Gogi and one other tech site.
Its fake claims about a future UMI Phone with 4GB RAM, Free Dre Dre Headsets, has not helped it win any brownie points either.
The mere specs left us awestruck at that time and we followed every bit of news, leak and updates we could grab our hands on. Infact 30pc of the page hits on GizChai.com come from news of UMI alone. People from all over the world especially US, Spain, Italy and more follow news on the UMI X2 closely.
Unfortunately due to the limited supply of phones UMI India is all set to lose its market if the phones do not hit the market this week. Here is a synopsis of all the (mis)adventures of this ill timed, overly marketed venture.
1) UMI Collaborates with Indian Blogger on pricing X2
Current Status-
The price has been hiked from the magical and clearly improbable pricing of 14000INR to 16500INR (500INR for Shipping!). Ironically UMI had mocked Micromax for Hiking the price of its Canvas HD during the same time from 14000INR to 16000INR and had proudly proclaimed it would never do so. Ouch!
That was the first egg on its face
Current Status- Except for a price tag of 12000INR and listing on its site UMI is notoriously mum on the status of the S1. Which makes us wonder if the phone even exists or even if it does when would it ever make its way to the market.
3) UMI Tab announced, Quad core tab with IPS screen and Quad core chipset
Current Status- This piece of news caused lot of furore when Gizchina picked this news, their initial enquiry proved that UMI was developing no such tablet at which point UMI India (a distributor for UMI China products) showed snippets of mail communication from the parent company to prove the authenticity of its claim. At this point we had already pointed out the growing concern amongst buyers in UMI. Already UMI had started to ban hundereds from its facebook page for badmouting.
3) First confirmation of X2 Delay, launch of X2 lite version and X1-S announced
Current Status- No more updates on Delays by UMI. A bunch of dissapointed customers wrote to us and all of them had the same concern "We do not get nay reply", "No one picks the phone", "Email always goes without response","We have never seen a single office of this company anywhere",
The only place where someone from the comapny speaks is the Umimobile India Facebook page. And clearly the guys behind it is loud, Outspoken, and makes a lot of Unrealistic claims and promises. Worse at times the admin is openly posting in crude laungage with words like "Bull Shit".
4) Finally Prototype review but one of India's top 10 tech bloggers
Current Status Gogi of Googi.in has been the only reviewer in India to get his hands on this handset, an still it was a prototype. It had quite a few issues especially the black border issue. It managed to create a lot of flutter and UMI basked in the limelight for a few days, even posting long emotional messages "thanking" people for their patience and support.
Well that was that, we never say any other review or even a peek by any other Inidian Site or Blogger after that.
4) Turbo version of UMI X2 Announced, free upgrade for those who prebooked!
5) Dr Dre headset free with all those who book the new batch of UMI X2
Current Status Well we write to Beats by Dr Dre and they refused this claim. Well it did not take a genius to figure this out. Which company in the right mind would offer you a $149 headset with a product worth $296?
The last 7 days has been particularly hot for UMI. For after 4 months the Indian Consumer finally seems to have lost their legendary patience. Every update by UMI has been brushed aside, qustioned and openly abused with threats and harsh language.
Cornered UMI even reached out to Gogi with photos and details saying it would start deliveries in "a day or two" but this just intensified the barrage of comments. Many even called Gogi being "Paid by" UMI for posting this. Well three days later and handling a lot of criticism and not seeing a single delivery so far here is an update from Gogi
 |
| Gogi got fed up too! |
Its fake claims about a future UMI Phone with 4GB RAM, Free Dre Dre Headsets, has not helped it win any brownie points either.
Now people are calling for Consumer cells, booking case for fraud with the police and boycotting UMI Products. UMI claims that it has over 9000 people who have booked the phone this puts the figure of amount collected to almost 12,60,00,000INR (almost $2267496.00).
What happens next? Will a miracle happen to save UMI or will this all end tragically? Will UMI's failure affect other brands like Gionee, Zopo, Lenovo, Huawei and others?
June will have our questions answered.
