Complaint to HISENSE after purchasing a damaged Smart TV SET

I bought a Hisense Smart TV set on 09 April 2018 from a HiFI CORPORATION store in Fourways Crossings (Johannesburg North) for R8,638.50. Six months into using the devise, I had problems logging on and receiving reliable streaming on Netflix and Youtube. These are standard apps that come with the device, and are part of the reason I purchase the product in the first place. After lodging multiple complaints against the vendor, a Technician (who identified himself as a Hisense employee) was dispatched to my house to repair the TV set. The technician replaced processor in the machine after identifying the component to have had a factory fault. I noted that even after the replacement, I still could not get reliable access to these apps, in fact the machine speed deteriorated a few days thereafter. At times, I could not tune onto DSTV channels because the machine took too long to respond to the user commands. After a while, the machine was very slow to reboot and it became difficult to change channels in real time - it took multiple tries and time to change between channels. In the end, the machine failed to reboot at all. As I am writing this note, a mere 2 years after the purchase, the machine is permanently off and I cannot use anymore.

I have written multiple times to HIFI CORP to complain about the issue but they simply divert the complaint to HISENSE who never seem to respond. HIFI CORP argues that machine functionality is the responsibility of the manufacturer, which is a very flawed arguments because as a vendor you have to ensure that the products you selling are off a an acceptable quality at the very least.

I am posting this note on this platform as final attempt to find an amicable resolution to this longstanding issue. I wish to remind the HISENSE and HIFI CORPORATION that I am aware of my consumer rights as inscribed in the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 and will pursue the legal route should I not receive a positive response from you in 7 working days. I also wish to warn my fellow customer to exercise caution when engaging with these names.

From a dissatisfied customer.