Takealot - Bad Customer Experience

I purchased a drone as it was reasonably priced and appeared suitable for children. Initially, we had a few successful flights on the farm, with normal take-off and return functions.

However, during a subsequent flight, the drone became completely unresponsive while in the air. We attempted all available controls including the Home/Return function and manual descent but none of the commands worked. The drone continued flying until it was out of sight and ultimately lost.

I reported this to Takealot Returns and returned all remaining items and packaging. I clearly explained that the drone itself could not be returned due to what appears to be a malfunction in flight. Despite this, my request for a replacement was declined.

In terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), specifically Section 55, consumers are entitled to receive goods that are of good quality, in good working order, and free of defects. Furthermore, under Section 56 (Imp**** Warranty of Quality), if goods fail to meet these standards within six months of purchase, the consumer has the right to return the goods and request a repair, replacement, or refund.

In this case, the product failed during normal use and became uncontrollable, which strongly indicates a defect. The fact that the drone could not be physically returned is a direct consequence of this failure, not negligence or misuse.

As such, the refusal to replace or refund the product appears to be inconsistent with the provisions of the CPA. I will be escalating this matter further and exploring additional avenues, including lodging a formal complaint with the relevant consumer authorities, and engaging with other customers who may have experienced similar issues.