Midas, Sonny's Actonville - aggressive ***** motor spares.

On Sat 1st July I visited the (Tharman Motor Spares cc T/A) Sonnys Actonville Midas looking for a 1.1bar echlin radiator cap for my toyota bakkie. They sold me a thin tin-plate fabricated, apparently LUCAS, radiator cap with no pressure marking, but heat-sealed in a LUCAS plastic bag. (till slip “Doc. Nº 30H07216” to the value of R40) It was the deep (22mm) radiator cap whilst I needed a shallow (15mm) cap. Today, 4th July (at approx. 13h20), I took it back as I was in the area. I had just visited three other motor spares outlets investigating this radiator cap. I pointed out that I did not believe that the cap I had purchased on Saturday was a LUCAS as it; • Had no markings, not even pressure ( all caps I had seen today, the one on my bakkie and all old spares I have in my garage have pressure markings), • It was fabricated from thin tin-plate estimated 0.5mm thick. I have measured the steel thickness of a number of other caps and have thickness’ of 0.8-1.0mm

The LUCAS that I know do not supply unmarked goods with no specs where the norm is to have spec markings (pressure in the case of radiator caps). Having just visited autozone and another midas branch, I know there should be pressure markings!

One of the four persons behind the counter phoned their “Supplier”, who on enquiring apparently was “Hennies Auto supply”. And there I was thinking Midas was the supplier of motor parts in a shop with a MIDAS sign hanging out front?!

Harsh words were directed at me by ALL FOUR INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THE COUNTER. I was sworn at numerous times, and one particularly aggressive individual came around the counter wanting to physically assault me, stating that they had been in business for 49 years and that Midas had not in fact bought them out. However a lady who identified herself as the manager intervened numerous times, keeping the aggressive individual from attacking me. She refunded me the price of R40 that I had paid for it, even without the till slip which I had not brought with me as initially it had not been my intention to visit them. I happened to find myself at ACTON MOTOR SPARES, around the corner and decided to call in to sonny’s.

On Saturday, besides the cheap and nasty radiator cap I also bought two bottles of fuel system cleaner and paid with a card. My till slip stated only R40 for the radiator cap however the card machine proof of payment reflects R100 (R40 for the cap + 2xR30 for the fuel system cleaner). I am in possession of this slip for inspection if requested. Clearly this ***** shop is keeping two sets of books to avoid paying tax to SARS as required by all SA registered business’.

Steer clear of this shop! Not only will they try to sell you ***** sub-standard parts but they appear to be de*****ing the receiver, AND THEN THEY GET AGGRESSIVE WITH YOU IF YOU SAY ANYTHING!!!