IStore selling faulty I Phone 17's and refuse to refund clients

I bought an iPhone 17 in January 2026. Worst phone ever, with connection issues all over. As a result, my clients are unable to get hold of me, and I am unable to speak to my personnel overseas etc.

I sent an email to the store in February 2026 to request a refund for me, and they simply ignored the call. Went into the Somerset West Branch to request a refund. The operational manager provided the worst service I've seen in years by gaslighting me and telling me that it is "misinformation" that the iPhone 17s have connectivity issues, as experienced firsthand by me...They stated that they can run a "diagnostic test", but required me to sign away my rights to privacy before they can run this test. Of course, I refused.

In March, I contacted the Canal Walk store from where my phone was dispatched. They rep**** by stating that I can bring my phone in for a diagnostic test (and sign away my privacy rights). Again, my request for a full refund for the faulty phone that they provided was, for the 3rd time, ignored.

After insisting that I want a refund for the phone, Istore started to play the corporate game by referring me to a toll-free number that I can phone to "explain to them what the issues are".

To date, I have a R30 000 "phone" which cannot even do the basic functions like...phoning and WhatsApp messaging...I cannot make any other inference other than that I Store sells faulty devices and refuses to refund the client, as clearly required by SA Law.

I will be replacing all Apple products with alternative products for myself and my business in SA and Europe with immediate effect.