1 reviews | Active since May 2012
Ongoing Consumer Protection Act Violations by Makro - False Advertising and Review Suppression
Dear Executive Management, I am writing to bring to your immediate attention systematic deceptive trade practices being conducted by Makro, which expose Massmart Holdings to significant legal, reputational and regulatory risk. Summary of Violations: Makro is actively engaging in false advertising of an "R36Max" handheld gaming console while simultaneously suppressing customer reviews that would alert other consumers to this deception. This constitutes knowing participation in consumer *****, not mere negligence. Timeline of Events:
Makro advertised and sold "R36Max" product Product delivered was not the Max version as advertised I submitted complaint - Makro customer care refused to escalate, told me to find the right person myself I sent formal legal notice citing Consumer Protection Act violations - NO RESPONSE After further escalation, Makro offered simple return/refund but ignored all substantive issues I gave 48 hours to address ongoing false advertising and review suppression - NO RESPONSE False advertising continues unchanged on Makro website today Review suppression continues today
Critical Legal Issues: Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 Violations:
Section 41: False, misleading and deceptive representations Section 43: Bait marketing Section 14: Failure to deal fairly, reasonably and equitably with consumers
Review Suppression as Active Complicity: Makro solicits customer reviews but does not publish negative feedback. This deliberate suppression of material consumer information while continuing false advertising transforms Makro from a negligent retailer into an active participant in systematic consumer deception. Ongoing Nature of Violations: This is not an isolated incident. The false advertising continues today. The review suppression continues today. Every day that passes, more consumers are being deceived into purchasing products based on false representations while being denied access to truthful consumer feedback. Regulatory Action Already Initiated:
Formal complaint filed with National Consumer Commission Application filed with National Consumer Tribunal Request for expedited hearings submitted given ongoing consumer harm
Reputational Risk: I am proceeding immediately with:
Publication across all consumer protection platforms (HelloPeter, Google Reviews, Trustpilot) Social media campaign documenting Makro's deceptive practices Outreach to consumer advocacy journalists Public disclosure of review suppression practices
Corporate Governance Failure: The complete failure of Makro's customer service and legal compliance functions to address these violations suggests either:
Inadequate training and oversight of consumer protection obligations, or Deliberate corporate policy to ignore Consumer Protection Act compliance
Either scenario represents a serious governance failure requiring executive intervention. Financial and Legal Exposure: The Consumer Protection Act provides for:
Administrative penalties up to 10% of turnover Civil damages to affected consumers Costs on attorney-client scale Reputational harm affecting customer trust and brand value
What is Required: Immediate executive intervention to:
Cease all false advertising of R36Max product across all Makro platforms Publish all suppressed consumer reviews Implement policy requiring publication of all legitimate customer reviews Provide written acknowledgment of Consumer Protection Act violations Compensate affected consumers Implement compliance training for customer service staff Establish oversight mechanisms to prevent recurrence
Deadline: I require a substantive response from Massmart Holdings executive management within 72 hours addressing all points raised above. Failure to respond will be taken as Massmart Holdings' corporate decision to defend Makro's systematic consumer deception through full legal adjudication and maximum public exposure. The evidence is documented. The violations are ongoing. The regulatory complaints are filed. Executive intervention is required immediately.
Further to my communication of today, I must bring to your immediate attention that Makro's social media team has just publicly admitted on HelloPeter that:
They have been notified by their supplier team that customers are receiving incorrect products
Despite this knowledge, they continue to advertise the product as "R36Max"
They refuse to correct the false advertising unless customers accept their return conditions
This transforms the situation from potential negligence to documented, knowing, deliberate false advertising.
Quote from Makro's Public Statement:
"We have notified the supplier team in regards to receiving the incorrect product from the supplier."
This admission, combined with continued false advertising on your website, constitutes clear evidence of knowing Consumer Protection Act violations.
This significantly increases Massmart Holdings' legal and reputational exposure.
The 72-hour deadline for executive response remains in effect and is now more critical than ever.
Regards,
Further to my communication of today, I must bring to your immediate attention that Makro's social media team has just publicly admitted on HelloPeter that:
They have been notified by their supplier team that customers are receiving incorrect products
Despite this knowledge, they continue to advertise the product as "R36Max"
They refuse to correct the false advertising unless customers accept their return conditions
This transforms the situation from potential negligence to documented, knowing, deliberate false advertising.
Quote from Makro's Public Statement:
"We have notified the supplier team in regards to receiving the incorrect product from the supplier."
This admission, combined with continued false advertising on your website, constitutes clear evidence of knowing Consumer Protection Act violations.
This significantly increases Massmart Holdings' legal and reputational exposure.
The 72-hour deadline for executive response remains in effect and is now more critical than ever.
Regards,
