Poor Service Delivery

I purchased two computer screens through Bobshop, one of which from the seller Guards_On_Duty_Security, operated by Marc-Oliver Bezuidenhout. Delivery of the 1st screen, from seller Guards on duty Security, took 9 days, the second took 10 days, despite other items I ordered through Bobshop at the same time arriving promptly via a different courier.

My negative rating simply reflected my actual experience: the courier delay, having to stay home waiting for delivery, and ultimately having to drive to a neighbouring town after one of the screens was misrouted a 2nd time, to ensure I received it.

The seller argued that the courier's poor performance was not part of his service delivery. However, Bobshop itself allows buyers to rate sellers on service, communication, delivery and product quality. The seller was given the opportunity to respond to my rating and explain his side, which should have allowed future buyers to see both perspectives.

Instead, Bobshop removed my negative rating.

This completely undermines the purpose of a rating system. If a seller can have a negative rating removed simply by blaming the courier, despite delivery being one of the criteria buyers are allowed to rate, then the ratings no longer necessarily reflect the genuine experiences of customers.

To make matters worse, I paid R400 more per screen through Bobshop than I could have paid elsewhere because I expected the convenience and protection of buying through an established online marketplace.

My lesson learned: a good seller rating on Bob Shop may not necessarily tell you the full story if negative ratings can be removed.