Parcel more than two weeks late, nobody knows where it is.

Over the past two weeks, Takealot has promised delivery every other day, before 17:00 (on most of the promised dates, once it was between 08:00 and 12:00), and then the delivery vehicle hadn't shown up before 17:15 on any of those occasions. So naturally, not having contact details (you try finding a contact number on their website), we left work and went home, only to see an update on the site to the effect that "nobody available to receive parcel, delivery will be rescheduled".

At first, I felt bad, like maybe we can take some blame for being impatient. But after two weeks of the same, frankly unacceptably poor service by Takealot, and by extension, MrD courier service, I don't feel bad anymore. Not a bit. Takealot as a business in a sharp growth incline, relying on continued return-business from clients like me for their survival, have just lost 8 clients. Me, my wife, my extended family, and a few colleagues who had to watch me hit the roof every time Takealot has let me down over the past two weeks. I posted on twitter, which in turn reposts to my Facebook account, and I have complained to Takealot directly on Facebook as well, with empty promises and pointless, scripted responses.

I have been a vocal advocate and loyal customer of Takealot since the days when they were still called Take2, selling mostly DVD's and music. I can't take this. All the items in the order are available at many different brick-and-mortar stores, and I somehow deluded myself into thinking Takealot is somehow more convenient. I have been cured. Takealot is not (always) cheaper, and considering I usually volunteer to pay for speedy delivery, even if they were cheaper, it ends up costing more.

And now I cannot even rely on their delivery either. Lesson learnt. I shall be a brick-and-mortar, or perhaps Loot patron. Ordered from Loot last week, delivery took two days.

I feel that I should be compensated for my agony, financially. Like, perhaps a full refund for the order, you know, like pizza places offer. "Your delivery in 40 minutes, or your order is free". Show me there are humans running that company who understand that when a customer orders dog food from you, that the customer's dog is probably nearly out of food, and cannot wait two weeks to be fed. I have had to replace nearly every item in this order because it is mostly things that can't wait for two weeks.

Weak stuff Takealot. I expected more from you. How is it that your call centre can't even tell me where the parcel is at the moment? Lost in transit was the status last Thursday. What is it now?