MY EXPERIENCE WITH REVIBE ZA – PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING

I honestly never thought I would have to write a review like this, but after everything I have been put through by Revibe, I feel that other consumers deserve to know about my experience.

What started as a purchase of a laptop has turned into months of frustration, disappointment, financial loss and an incredible amount of stress.

The laptop I received was not in proper working order, which resulted in me having to deal with Revibe regarding the device and their claims/return process.

What followed was an experience I can only describe as extremely frustrating.

I was subsequently informed that because a shipping fee had not been paid within their required timeframe, my case had been closed and my laptop had been classified as "abandoned" under their warehouse policy.

I was then informed that the laptop had already been disposed of and could no longer be retrieved.

So, to summarise the position I was left in at that stage:

Revibe had my money. Revibe had my laptop. And I was being told that my laptop had been disposed of.

I was understandably extremely upset and frustrated.

Then things took another turn.

I was contacted by Shehab Eldin from the Revibe Customer Experience Team. I was told that my laptop could be sent back to me if I paid an additional R500 transport fee.

Despite everything that had already happened, I decided to give Revibe another chance. I paid the R500 in good faith because I simply wanted my laptop back and wanted this nightmare to finally come to an end.

That was approximately three weeks ago.

I have since checked the tracking information myself, and the laptop is still sitting in Dubai and has not moved.

At this point, I have completely lost confidence in the process and I am no longer interested in receiving the device.

I contacted Revibe and formally requested a full refund for the laptop as well as the additional R500 transport fee I paid.

I received no meaningful resolution.

I have also raised the matter with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud, who has contacted me regarding my complaint and asked how I wish to proceed. I also have a pending Small Claims Court matter.

What makes this even more frustrating is that I have researched Revibe's refund policies and understand that refunds can be considered in exceptional or unique circumstances. Given everything that has happened in my case, I asked Revibe to explain why a refund could not be considered.

Instead of receiving a proper resolution, I have been left chasing my own money.

And I want to make one thing very clear:

I am not complaining because I simply changed my mind about a purchase.

I am complaining because I have been left without the device, without my money, and after paying an additional R500 to have the device returned to me, I am still waiting while the tracking shows that it has not even left Dubai.

There was also a point where I was contacted regarding my negative review and was told that the laptop could be returned if I paid the R500 transport fee. I found this extremely troubling because my review reflected my genuine experience as a customer.

I should not have to choose between getting my property back and expressing my honest experience.

This entire ordeal has been incredibly stressful and emotionally exhausting. I trusted Revibe enough to purchase from them, and then trusted them again when I paid the additional R500. Unfortunately, that trust has been completely eroded.

My experience in a nutshell:

Laptop received in a condition that resulted in a claim/return issue Extremely frustrating customer service experience Case closed because of a shipping fee deadline Laptop classified as "abandoned" I was informed that my laptop had been disposed of I was left without my laptop AND without my money I was subsequently offered the return of my laptop subject to paying R500 I paid the R500 in good faith Three weeks later, the tracking still shows the laptop in Dubai I requested a full refund I have received no satisfactory response to my refund request The matter has now been escalated to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud I have a pending Small Claims Court matter

Revibe, this is not the customer experience I expected when I trusted your company with my money.

I have tried to resolve this directly. I have given Revibe opportunities to rectify the situation. I have paid additional money based on assurances that my laptop would be returned.

At this stage, I no longer want the laptop. I want my money back.

I will continue pursuing the matter through the appropriate consumer and legal channels until it is resolved.

I am sharing this review because I wish I had known about experiences like this before making my purchase.

My advice to anyone considering purchasing from Revibe is to do your research, understand the terms surrounding returns, claims and shipping fees, and think very carefully before handing over your money.

This review is based on my personal experience and the correspondence, payments and tracking information relating to my case.

Revibe has had numerous opportunities to resolve this matter.

I am still waiting for my refund.