Better late than never. The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO) has finally reacted in Mexico, expressing its position on one of the most recent and uncomfortable phenomena for those who bought a smartphone over the Internet at a more affordable price: the unilateral blocking by Samsung, Motorola, ZTE and other brands of those devices.
Over the last few months, mobile phone users in Mexico had witnessed the relentless application of one of the most extreme measures in memory in the smartphone market.
For more than a decade it has always been possible to resort to the gray market, that of small importers, to be able to purchase a smartphone at a much more affordable price than what it usually costs at traditional points of sale, such as department stores or the operator itself. mobile.
These are smartphones in international versions or manufactured for foreign telephone companies, but they end up being sold in Mexico at a price where even the conversion rate from dollars to pesos keeps them cheaper.
Online sales points such as Amazon or Mercado Libre, as well as some specialized sites led to the rise of this custom, where new high-end models are increasingly more expensive through the usual means.
But then, manufacturers with an official presence in Mexico began to implement a series of blockades. Detecting those terminals acquired on the gray market to turn them into virtual bricks.
ZTE started this practice, then it was followed by Motorola and things got serious when the national market leader, Samsungimplemented the same restriction measure, generating a wide reaction on social networks.
Now the national authority on the matter has spoken.
PROFECO asks to stop the blocking of smartphones purchased on the gray market since it would affect consumers
Through a statement on its official website the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO) revealed his position on this controversial issue. Calling on manufacturers to stop this massive blockage:
“Recently it has been observed that different companies manufacturing mobile phone devices and equipment have unilaterally blocked equipment from parallel imports.
These refer to telecommunications products, devices or equipment that enter the national territory, without having formally complied with the approval process.
(…)
However, the absolute blocking of terminal equipment in the manner in which it is being carried out affects the rights of consumers and end users.
(…)
PROFECO and the IFT, in accordance with and observance of their regulatory frameworks, call on companies that have implemented blocking measures to suspend such actions immediately.”
So the institution calls for finding a different solution to the phenomenon experienced in the sector with the recurrence of use of the gray market. But he asks that consumers not be impacted.
Manufacturers comply with PROFECO and suspend blocking of smartphones in Mexico
The approval process, referred to by PROFECO in its statement, is the one that officially recognizes that the technical specifications of the equipment satisfy the applicable standards or technical provisions.
This review officially guarantees that the smartphone will function correctly on telecommunications networks, be safe in use, and will not cause interference to other equipment or services.
The reality is that this approval has not been a mandatory or efficient mechanism. However, Samsung has already stated your official response at the request of the Mexican institution, suspending the blockades:
“At Samsung Electronics México, we are committed to our consumers and to unrestricted compliance with the regulatory framework, as well as to communication and active participation with government institutions.
In this sense, and in line with the request made by Profeco together with the IFT; “We will suspend the blocking of cell phones coming from the gray market.”
Even so, the challenge of resolving this point of conflict remains pending.