Terrible communication and empty promises

I bought a grey-imported Apple Homepod Mini in January 2022. The product was faulty and I handed it in to Apple for repairs as Apple indicated to me I could do so even though I did not buy it from them. I did so as this seemed quicker. Apple however informed me that they could not repair it in SA as it was a grey import and it needed to be returned to the store where I bought it. By this time the warranty had expired but we handed the product in to the HiFi-Corporation Nelspruit store with a letter from Apple stating that they would repair it as it was handed in before the warrahad expired, just not in South Africa. By early May I had not heard anything back from HiFi-Corporation and I enquired for a progress update upon which they called me to inform me that they cannot repair it due to it being out-of-warranty. I then argued the point that Apple will actually repair it and the person agreed to try again and get back to me. When I enquired for another progress update by end May I received an email from them stating that my “complaint” is now closed due to the product being out of warranty. Zero deliverance on the promise of getting back to me. Even though I believe I have a case to be handled as an exception, the worst is that I have been without this product for over six months now of which HiFi-Corporation did not communicate with me whatsoever unless I prompted them for a response. Unacceptable - they will unfortunately lose me as a customer.