Lying cheapskates

<p>I ordered a Russel Hobbs stick blender set during the black friday sale. It was a gift for my mother for Christmas, so, guess how happy she was on christmas eve to open it and find it smahed with a nice big hole in the side. I quickly filed a return request, it was still within their 30 day returns policy window period. The order was picked up and everything seemed to be going great. Until...</p> <p> </p> <p>I recieved an email from them telling me that there is "clear user damage" and that they won't be able to do anything. Excuse me? User damage, it was left in its box hidden away until christmas to be given as a gift, there was no user damage, there wasn't a user to use it, let alone damage it, and besides why would I break my own blender by smashing a hole in the side? So, I phoned the only number that I could seem to find on their site, luckily i had taken a photo and I was told to email this through so that they could take it further with the relevant department. And then I waited...</p> <p> </p> <p>Nothing, so, I had to ask if I could be let into the loop of my own return request! Nothing, then an automated email asking me to evaluate my assissance. What assisstance, clearly customer service is lacking in the cusomer service department. Eventually someone gets back to me and says that my product is scheduled for redelivery. What now? Redelivery, i wasn't even told what the outcome of the "taking it frther with the relevant department" was. I voiced my disagreement, saying it was unacceptable and that I hadn't heard anything about my issue being escalated. I was told that he would find out and get back to me as soon as possible. He didn't, but still I waited...</p> <p> </p> <p>Again nothing...</p> <p> </p> <p>I email asking for an update. Nothing...</p> <p> </p> <p>And then, another automated email asking for me to rate my service? So, i reply saying that i still haven't been helped and am pretty annoyed at this point. Introducing person number 3. I get a reply back from a new person, because all emails go to info@takealot and not to individual people in particular, apparently. He says that he will look into my issue for me, and then silence...</p> <p> </p> <p>But wait, what's this. I come home to find that there was a delivery for me today, a large box, suspiciously similar to the one I'd sent back to Takealot. Was it a replacement, or was it the same one I'd returned. Guess what? It was the broken one, and the box looks even more worse for wear than it did when i received it the first time...</p> <p> </p> <p>Back on the phone to takealot and the woman on the other end wasn't very help. She essentially said that there was a constant sending of the product back and forth and that the warehouse kept saying "user damage" and that she couldn't guarantee that the problem will be solved.</p> <p> </p> <p>So what do I do now, I'm sitting with a stick blender set that I paid a lot of money for thats pretty much useless. I guess I'll contact the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman...</p>