faulty handset

I bought a samsug A2core phone August 14 2020 Pep Jabulani Mall. the phone has been working well until yesterday 01st May 2021 it went off and while charging on 10 % battery charged I switched it on , then it said IMEI NUMBER 3..... sim not detected use the mtn simcard puzzled me cause the phone has been using Mtn sim ever since. Then tried phoning mtn then before I could even finish the Agent asked me if the phone is samsung A2core and I rep**** with a yes then she quickly said send it back to the Pep(the shop where you bought it from) went to the shop and was assisted by the lady called Nomahlubi and told me that if the phone is to be sent for repairs then it normally takes something like 8 weeks and at times by the 4th week the repairs call them to tell them if they are able to fiX the phone or they should replace the handset with the new one...mmy concern is how does one stay for 4 to 8 weeks without and phone that was paid for and faulty...aand she said no there is nothing that they can do thats The instruction given.

On the leaflet Warranty says 24 month's and to contact the Samsug or the outlet off which at this moment I am not happy with samsug and the customer service for both Pep/ssamsug and their repairs team