MAKRO ONLINE

I have previously had good experience with smaller online Makro orders, but my most recent experience with Makro South Africa online leaves me wondering about the overall customer service and accountability of this retailer. I ordered and paid for a Sleeper Couch for delivery through Makro online on the 29th May. The due delivery date was 5 June. On the 5 June the tracking on the item said that it was still waiting for shipping, so I phoned the call centre to follow up. The agent called the courier who said they were waiting for the seller to contact them to collect. When i pointed at that the seller is Makro, the agent told me that the seller is, in fact, a third party, but she couldn't say who that third party is or how to contact them. She also said she didn't have any way to contact the third party. She advised me that I must wait to see if I get the order that day. I called back a few hours later and this time I was told the seller was waiting for the courier. Needless to say no delivery arrived. On Thursday evening I received an email to say that my refund was being processed and my money would be returned within 14 working days! I called the centre yesterday and the agent could offer no reason other than to say the system showed the couch had now been returned (we never got it to begin with!). I've just spoken to an agent again today as I am getting no joy whatsoever and no answers. Today's agent says the item was out of stock and therefore the order was canceled. (Keep in mind, Makro are still advertising it online but now at a higher price). I am VERY UNHAPPY as I find the service and lack of communication absolutely shocking. I have emailed, and via phone, requested a call back from someone higher up who can give feedback. I am now left without a couch and more than a week before my money is back. How can I now go shopping for this product elsewhere since my refund isn't yet through? If Makro do this to enough people regularly (and from what I can see on other forums, they do) they could literally sit with extra millions in the bank and earn interest on it for those two weeks they've got it. So yes we might get money back eventually and at their leisure, but by running a sort of phantom product **** (which I can only assume this whole situation alludes to) they have found a way to earn extra money on interest for money they should refund immediately. I think it's worth a more in depth look from a consumer watch or Ombudsman of some kind, as I am now seeing on other forums that this has become a fairly common occurrence with Makro.