Siliguri dealers mull ban on Rashi

Siliguri: Taking on Rashi Peripherals in Siliguri a majority of dealers in the region are mulling the decision to boycott the distributor. “The decision is still pending and a meeting will be held to decide on the ban. But we are keen on banning Rashi in the area,” a dealer said on condition of anonymity.

Speaking on the issue, Debojyoti Gupta of Universal Computers said, “For long, there have been issues related to Rashi. In the first place, Rashi is charging a logistic fee of Rs 150 for any deliveries made. Compared to it, other distributors are not charging the logistic fee for all deliveries. Secondly, Pallav, the Branch Manager of Rashi has an attitude problem.”

The local channel are also planning to ban five dealers who are backing Rashi. The list includes Placewell Computers, Logic Fusion, Himalaya Computers, Micro Infosystems and Cyber Informatics.

“We are planning to ban Rashi along with its loyalists in the area. If the ban is enforced we will all stopping dealing with Rashi and the five dealers. If these five dealers decide to support Rashi all transaction with them will be stopped and a hold will be put on their credit and non-payment of dues,” said Gagan Joshi, Director, Landmark Office Systems.

Explaining the move, Gupta said, “We have collected signatures of a majority of the dealers in the area with their remarks and complaints against Rashi and will be officially putting it across to the company with a demand to look into the dealers' issues.”

Dealers across the area alleged that the problem with Rashi has been going on for quite sometime and previously also dealers had complained about the same, however, no action on the two issues was taken.

Taking stock of the situation and giving a clarification on the logistics fee, Gopal Pansari, Regional Head-East, Rashi Peripherals said, “In Siliguri, we have a warehouse and charges are taken for deliveries made to shops. It is not mandatory for a dealer to pay logistical or handling charges if we are not delivering the product to his shop. However, it is only on the dealer's request that we deliver the goods and thereby, a handling charge is involved.”

He added that Siliguri has since long been plagued with credit problems and delays in payments. “For the goods delivered a PDC is needed and in such cases, many dealers do not issue PDCs at the time of delivery. Also, bouncing of cheques is a rampant issue there. In case of late payments, interest is levied on the outstanding amount. If these matters are conveyed to the dealers, it is an 'attitude problem,' according to them,” he added.

Interestingly, the five pro-Rashi dealers are part of IT Dealers Association (ITDA), one of the two rival associations in the area. Dealers who want to ban Rashi confirmed that in this case, IT Forum, the rival association of ITDA, has not taken a move in this regard.

“The initiative has been taken as an independent decision of dealers in Siliguri and no association is involved. It is a matter of dealer's interest and not of any association,” Joshi added.

As tension has begun to mount in the area with dealers taking an aggressive stance on the decision to boycott the disti, differences of opinions in the dealer community has started to emerge. It appears that the war between the two rival associations in the area is set to take a new shape and direction. While dealers in the area have long been talking of uniting the two warring associations and looking for a merger, the rivalry between the two is at its highest point now.