DON’T BUY NIKON BINOCULARS! AND DON’T USE TAKEALOT!

Item: takealot.com
Rating: 2
Author: Gordon O

· On the 28th of March I purchased a pair of NiKon binoculars for R4409 · We received the binoculars in good working order just before a trip to the Kruger National Park. While “trying them out” we dropped them off a table which I thought dislodged a prism in the left side of the binoculars. · Under warrantee I communicated this to Takealot and returned the pair on the 17 of April 2017. · On the 24th of April I asked for progress and a replacement pair if possible as we were planning to go to the Kruger. · Andile Isaacs (takealot.com) responded on Apr 24, 19:17 SAST to say: “ Please be advised that as soon as the item has been evaluated and validated, we will create a replacement order.” · All good at this stage! · Daphney Mulaudzi responded on Apr 26, 15:22 SAST that takealot has “rejected your return request due to the following reason/s: Item tested no fault found. Both sides of binoculars are working fine.” · GREAT! So I asked to have them sent to me (already in the Kruger). They said no they’d send it back to original address. I felt foolish for having sent “perfectly working binoculars” back, and organised to have them sent to me in Phalaborwa R800 extra now. And I needed to drive out to fetch them from Satara. BUT When in the Kruger you need binoculars. · BUT alas they we just as I sent them back – not working! So I asked: “Please assist me! This is very frustrating! I’ve received the binoculars which I couriered to me at a high expense to the edge of the Kruger National Park, collected them from our courier and found that they are still not working! Again the left side cannot focus at all. Thus I refute your claim re below that the “Item tested no fault found. Both sides of binoculars are working fine”. I don’t think that they were checked as the fault is the same as when I sent it. No matter what I or a local expert does the left side will not focus. What do I do now?” · The “No matter what I or a local expert does” part was included because I had been told during the original repair that they “experts” knew their craft and I was not one. · I also asked to be contacted! HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FIND A CALL CENTRE NO FOR TAKEALOT? THERE IS NONE!!! · On the 10th of May Nicole (see below) contacted me and I asked for her assistance. She said I should lodge a new return. I was in the Kruger and struggling to get emails/work on the net so I asked for her assistance. She took my info and said she’d do it. Also commented that there was an opportunity to have a new pair sent so that they could “swop” them on collection! She even provided me with a table to complete! WOW sounded great and what service and new hope! BUT…. · A few days later (15 May) I packaged and dropped off the binoculars at the Phalaborwa and asked for an update! · Later that day my real frustration started… Charmaine Saais then send me an email saying” As per previous email kindly be advised that the return has been declined. The original item has been dispatched back to you. Please note that we have rejected your return request due to the following reason/s: Item tested no fault found. Both sides of binoculars are working fine.” I.E. she had no idea of my previous email/discussion with Nicole. So what did I do? · I responded “Please refer to email correspondence below and please call me. You have provided a conflicting response vs. What I discussed with Nicole. I'd like a manager please to phone me asap on ********** 161. You don't appear to have a call centre. It's Urgent now please respond.” · She responded: “We will forward your query to the relevant team who will contact you back soonest.” Sounded good – hope…. · Nothing on the 16th (next day only) so I asked again: Please call me or provide me with a call centre contact number please so that I can discuss this with a manager?” I was in the Kruger and wanted some nice binoculars I paid for! · On 17 May Gerald Jowo said “We apologise for the delayed response. We would like you to create another return of your product so that we may be able to process your query.” I didn’t understand why/what was wrong with Nicole’s idea and remember that the binoculars we at the Phalaborwa gate!!! So I collected them and tried to initiate another return on the 25th of May! Please understand that I was upset by now! · They received the return on 31 May. Okay….. · And then on the 5th of June they sent the pair for evaluation… · I tried to contact them for information and on the 7th of June, Jason Petersen said their working on it… I said thanks please fast track it (8 June). · And then on the 21st of June after nothing I asked: “Please give me some feedback on my replacement request below. This is the last notice on the process I received on the 5th of June! Cheers”. · Ricardo Sagewis said he’d look into it! AGAIN I’m super frustrated! · On the 23rd Ricardo Sagewis said the “supplier and the supplier has quote the return.” I had no idea what for or why! Again I asked for someone to CALL me! And I didn’t see that the return was a link on the email and couldn’t find it! I sent some requests to say please add attachments, AND CALL ME!… and then got! · From Ricardo Sagewis (on the 24th of June – DAY AFTER FIRST EMAIL)… “We have not recived any respones on a quote that have been mailed to you. The quote will be rejected and the item will be shipped back to you unrepaired.Please confirm a delivery address in order for this to be shipped back to you. Our warehouse will be in contact with you to arrange for a delivery date and time.” WHAT!!!! Is this how customers are treated! I was at a conference and didn’t get back to him straight away! (and spelling!) · While at the conference on the 29th I sent an email saying… “Please see signed and approved quote attached. I’ll make payment this weekend. Please confirm that you will proceed with payment. I would like to lodge a complaint re this repair please get a manager to contact me. Thanks”. I believed that the original fall was my fault (or actually my kid’s) but agreed to pay extra R1007 for repairs! STILL FRUSTRATED! · When I got home today (30th of June). Guess what my binoculars have been returned… Not only still broken without me confirming it!!!! THEY ARE IN A WORSE CONDITION!!!! Both sides cant focus!!! And the casing is loose and off!!!! · I advise all potential buyers of binoculars not to buy Nikon!!! And not to use takealot! You may also have them fall off a table and NEVER SORT IT OUT! · Oh and I’m still waiting for a manager to call me!

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