Extremely Dissapointed: Takealot refuses return of Faulty Samsung Item

I bought the Samsung Freestyle Smart Portable Projector 2nd Gen on 16 February 2026 for R6,999 expecting a premium portable streaming device. Unfortunately, it has been a major letdown from day one. The projector constantly buffers and fails to load YouTube videos or stream movies smoothly. AirPlay casting from my Apple devices repeatedly cuts off and struggles to connect reliably. These issues make it impossible to use for its main purpose – watching content wirelessly. Even after basic troubleshooting (restarts, firmware checks, 5GHz WiFi, etc.), the problems persist. For this price, it simply does not deliver the smooth, reliable smart projector experience Samsung advertises. When I tried to return it through Takealot (still well within the 6-month window), they refused to log the return. They insist it’s a “manufacturer warranty” item and that I must contact Samsung directly for a technician visit, repair, or possible replacement/refund. Their customer service repeated that they “are unable to assist further” despite the item clearly not being fit for purpose. As a South African consumer, I expected Takealot – one of the country’s biggest retailers – to stand behind the products they sell under the Consumer Protection Act (Sections 55 & 56). Instead, they are pushing the entire responsibility onto Samsung and leaving the customer to chase repairs. This has left me extremely frustrated and out of pocket for a high-end product that doesn’t work as it should.

Warning to other customers: If you buy this projector (or any “manufacturer warranty” big-ticket item) from Takealot and it turns out defective, expect no support or return option from Takealot. You will be forced to deal directly with Samsung while being stuck with a faulty, expensive product. Think very carefully before purchasing — this has been an extremely frustrating and costly waste of time and money.