Consistent Late Delivery

Takealot have given 100% late or no delivery over the last 8 months despite numerous emails and phone calls to get them to up their game. My current order (and final purchase from Takealot) # ********** 3 was scheduled for delivery on 27 December and I've had a few sms notifications that the item will be delivered before 5pm on a particular day but it never arrives and there's never an apology or reason for non delivery. After cancelling the order and requesting that I be refunded they arrived today to collect the item despite being advised that it has never been delivered. Is this just a delaying tactic to avoid processing a refund? This company has totally missed the point that the only face a customer sees is the delivery man and they've abdicated their level of customer service to a company that worse that useless! M D Stafford