BOUGHT A FAULTY PHONE

I bought a cell phone at Pep Cell in Lusikisiki Plaza i was given the phone with the slip and adviced verbally that the guarantee is 7 days and warranty is 1 year, i must charge the phone till its full and make sure that i dont drop the dop. after charging the phone i switched it , saved the number and after that the phone froze i tried to switch it on and off but failed. Following took back the phone and i was told it had a scratch, they will send it to Vodacom they will not give me another phone or refund, 2 weeks later i was contacted and i was told that after the assessment the phone has liquid damage they wont five me another phone or refund me, what kind of madness is that within a day i scratched the phone and put it on water, i bought that phone because i needed it and apparently i am not the first person who bought the same phone and experienced the same problems