Refused refund because I opened package - item defective

Refused refund because I opened the package!! I returned a webcam due to it being defective! I see other complaints like this on hello Peter. Still have not received any response after many emails and have not been returned the defective item. I feel cheated! (And also this item was delivered to me in very shoddy taped up packaging and the webcam was in a household ziplock bag - not the original packaging. This item looks like it's been back and forth numerous times) I've had to replace the webcam with another brand that works because this is taking too long to resolve and I still don't have my money back or even this defective webcam returned. Within two minutes of it arriving at their returns they deemed it "not for refund" because the package was opened. How then can one check their item without opening the package? Something very weird going on at Takealot Cape Town - my next step is to lodge a formal complaint with the consumer council and I'll go a step further and charge them with theft too. 700 rand for a cam that is faulty and I don't get my money back AND they keep the cam AND zero response. Also my review of the product on takealot keeps getting deleted!