Computer maker Dell appears to have changed its mind about quitting physical retail stores in Singapore. 

After news broke that the company was ending reseller agreements in Malaysia and Singapore last month, it issued a statement to commercial partners confirming it would adopt an online-only model.

“Dell Technologies has announced plans to transition out of the retail market in Singapore and Malaysia,” it wrote to vendors. “Customers will still have access to the full complement of our products and services through Dell direct.”

However, this week a Dell spokesperson contacted Inside Retail Asia to say the company would continue to operate three of its own stores in Singapore – at Plaza Singapura, NEX and Funan mall – “in addition to Dell direct”. Those stores have been trading since October 2017, December 2018 and July 4 last year, respectively.

Pushed further on longer-term plans for the three company-operated stores, the spokesman told us: “There have been no announcements regarding the closure of the Dell exclusive stores. We will continue to offer customers the option to purchase products direct from Dell, through Dell website and the three Dell stores…”

The company reportedly plans to exit brick-and-mortar retailing in other international markets as well, but has not as yet disclosed the list. Dell has followed a direct-to-consumer online business model in the US and other western markets for decades.