Refuses to give me my refund or replacement

I purchased a few items from Takealot nor because I wanted it but because they have me a voucher. Buy for R450 and get R150 off.

One of the items I purchased was a Chilla bubblegum flavour milkshake syrup. It was delivered unsealed, and it looked as if it was opened and used as it was not full, and it was very diluted perhaps with water.

Given the current Covid-19 pandemic we chose not to take any changes and to return it for either a refund or a replacement.

I logged on the return on takealots website and it was collected. I thereafter received an email saying they will put it through quality testing, etc. I then received an email saying my returned item has been refunded.

I waited a few days and no refund or credit or replacement was received. I contacted takealot and they told me that they will follow up. I then received an email giving me another coupon code saying same ts and cs as my previous voucher. I advised the consultant that I don't want another voucher code. I was sold defective goods and I either want a replacement or a refund as the previous email advised that my return has been refunded.

Their responses was that because I used a voucher I can't get a refund. So basically it's too bad that Takealot sold their client defective goods, the client won't get a replacement, neither will they get a refund.

After a whole lot of back and forth emails. I was completely frustrated and told them to either give me a replacement since they now can't give a refund of what I returned, or give me a pro-rata discount on the discount I received. Or point blank cancel the entire order, collect all the items delivered and give me a full damn refund.

They refuse to do anything, no refund, no pro-rata refund, no replacement, no cancelation of order. This is ridiculous, how am I to blame if they sold opened and used food items? This is the reason I am alway skeptical when buying from online stores. Due to this lockdown we had no other option.

Takealot better refund me, give me a replacement or cancel the entire order and give me a full refund otherwise I will take this to the media, the health department, the ombudsman and Wendy Knowler. I will also tell everyone I know about this.