Shocked with the service I recieved

I am absolutely shocked and disgusted by the service I have received from Takealot. I purchased an item from Takealot and deliberately chose the more expensive option because I wanted something of better quality and the reviews looked promising. The product was used only twice and within less than a month it stopped working completely. I checked and the item is still under warranty until August 2026, so I returned it expecting the issue to be resolved. Instead, after three days I was informed that my return was declined because there was “visual damage” and they claim it was due to “wear and tear.” Wear and tear? On a product that is less than a month old and used twice? This explanation is completely unacceptable. There was absolutely nothing broken when I returned the item. It even still had the original sticker on it. When I requested proof of this alleged damage, I was essentially told that they cannot provide any proof over email. I have now been sending emails for two days straight and my messages are simply being ignored. The consultant I dealt with, Khanyisile, has completely stopped responding. To make matters worse, the product was simply sent back to me with no proper explanation or resolution. I have been a loyal Takealot customer and place orders regularly, but this experience has been nothing short of disgraceful. The way customers are treated when something goes wrong is clearly not a priority. Under the Consumer Protection Act in South Africa, customers are entitled to protection when a product fails within six months. A product that breaks within a month of normal use is clearly defective. Takealot’s refusal to provide proof, their dismissal of a valid return, and their decision to ignore my emails is extremely concerning. If this issue is not resolved immediately with a replacement or refund, I will escalate this matter further with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud and the National Consumer Commission. Consumers deserve better than this.

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