Damaged goods not refunded at Serendipity

DAMAGED GOODS NOT REFUNDED AT SERENDIPITY Kenilworth

On Monday 19 July I phoned Serendipity and told them telephonically that I would be returning their candlesticks as one was broken and I was extremely distressed and disappointed that I had been sold a damaged item.

I returned the candlesticks later on that day. The attendant said she didn’t have authority to refund me, or to do a return onto my credit card without the owner’s permission. She took the candle sticks and my proof of payment.

I have phoned twice a day since; and have asked repeatedly for a refund and I have not been given any response from the owner, others than to say “ he is looking into it”. This is simply not good enough in fact totally unacceptable.

I am an elderly woman of 73, I certainly don’t have strength in my hands to break apart a silver candlestick. Furthermore if I had a broken an item of silverwear I would take it to a reputable silversmith to repair. Not glue it together and try and sell it on...

Mr Viney has the silver candlesticks which he sold to me in a broken/ mended- with -glue state. I require a refund ASAP please.

The saga started on Monday 6 July I went with my friend to Serendipity Antiques in Kenilworth. We saw a pair of silver candlesticks in the bottom of a glass cabinet(at a distance) in the rear of the store, which I was advised were of Art Deco provenance. I asked if the owner of the store Mr Graham Viney, would consider a reduction in the price (R 4500). Kay, the kind attendant said she would ask him, and took my mobile number. She called me later and said I could have them for R4000. I accepted as I believed the owner, My Viney to be an honorable dealer with a membership to SAADA (South African Antique Dealer’s Association) and I was looking for a special birthday present for myself.

I arranged to collect them on Wednesday 8 July. They were wrapped and given to me. I paid R4000 with my credit card. I had kept them carefully displayed on my dining room table. I had noticed there were some glue drips on the base of one of the candle sticks which I pointed out to my friend who joined me for dinner on 17 July.

On Sunday 19 July I took the candles out of the sticks to give them a gentle rub with a silver cloth. To my shock one of the candles started to bend at a certain point, where I noticed the stick had a type of milky glue holding the candle stick together.

I then returned the damaged goods and never expected not to be refunded immediately. Please intervene. Thanks J

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