I’ve Had Enough with Ackermans – Endless Repairs, No Accountability, No Resolution

I have had it with Ackermans. I purchased a cellphone from Ackermans last year and paid cash. The device is still under a two-year warranty. The only issue was that the phone suddenly went blank and would not switch on. There were no scratches, no cracks, and no water damage. The phone was in excellent condition when I handed it in. On 5 February 2026, I booked the phone in for repairs at the Ackermans Cell store in Greenacres, Port Elizabeth. I handed in the original purchase slip and was told I would receive it back when the device returned. When I later asked for it, I was told there was no slip and that it could not be retrieved from the system. That alone is extremely concerning. On 16 February 2026, I received an SMS stating the phone was on its way back from repairs. On 17 February 2026, I was informed it was fixed and ready for collection. On 18 February 2026, I went to collect the phone and spent nearly two hours in the store, only to discover that the phone was still not working despite the repair report stating: “Part replaced, repaired okay. Part replaced fully tested and passed.” How does a phone pass testing and still not function? The device has now been booked in AGAIN. I was informed that if it is not fixed the second time, it must go back a third time before a replacement may even be considered and even then, it is not guaranteed. This is unacceptable. My daughter urgently needs this phone for homeschooling. Because of this endless back-and-forth repair process, she is missing out on her schoolwork. Ackermans appears to be taking this very lightly. Communication has also been unprofessional. I have been contacted via Messenger instead of receiving proper phone calls or formal email correspondence. I was promised a call back from head office, which never happened. Every response simply says the matter is being “escalated” or “reviewed as a priority,” yet no clear decision is provided. If this process had been properly explained to me when I purchased the device, I would never have bought it from Ackermans. Customers should not have to fight this hard for a working device that is still under warranty. I am requesting a replacement phone not another repair cycle. Ackermans needs to take responsibility and resolve this properly.