Buyers beware! Extended warranty appears worthless

I bought a new Samsung washing machine from Makro on 23 June 2015 and also selected to take the extended 5-year warranty at an additional R759. I didn't really expect such an expensive washing machine to break within a year, but in August 2016, I had to contact Makro to repair it, as the tub had stopped spinning. It took more than a month to have the issue resolved, as Makro claimed that 'Potchefstroom was very far away'.

On the 9th or 10th of August 2017, I once again had to call Makro to report the exact same problem - the tub wasn't spinning, again. I was told that I would be contacted by the repair company within 5 - 7 working days. Makro called me on Wed 16/8 to ascertain whether this had happened - it had not. After that, I called Makro every 2nd day to follow up. After about another week, Makro claimed that they had the incorrect contact details for me - this despite the fact that I've had the same cell phone number (and no alternative) for more than 20 years. I repeatedly gave them my correct cell phone number. When I still hadn't received a phone call more than 2 weeks after my initial call, I threatened with legal action, and only then received a call from Panaservice, who claimed to have had my wrong contact details.

Panaservice then came to my house to investigate the problem but had to order a part for the machine. By the 1st of September, they claimed to finally have gotten approval from Makro for ordering the part (I would have assumed that was imp**** in their original appointment for the repair?) and came to fix the machine Thursday the 6th of September. They had me sign a document to say it was fixed, and I mentioned that I sincerely hoped that this time the machine would last longer.

Lo & behold, on the 7th of Sept they call to tell me that they had installed the wrong part, but that I 'could use the machine so long'. They promised to repair the machine on the 11th of September, then called to say that their supplier had delivered the wrong part. It is now the 14th of September, five weeks after my initial call, and I still don't have a washing machine to use.

So, buyers beware! An extended warranty is apparently worthless. It will be a very long time before I buy from Makro again, and I certainly will never be silly enough to accept an extended warranty again.