Takealot being unjust and simply ridiculous...

I purchased a clothes rack not long ago, and before too long it arrived. As I took the product out the box, which required some assembly, I knew immediately that I would return it as the quality of the components was *******.

Nonetheless, I thought I'd assemble it first and then make a final decision. I discovered that there were no instructions in the box for assembly, plus, the item didn't look like the image on the box. Eventually I decided to return the product, and as I was disassembling it to put it all back in the box, one of the pieces broke.

Now to clarify - I was NOT using the product outside of it's intended purpose, I wasn't even using it at all! Nor was I being negligent, it simply broke because the quality and design of the product was so poor.

I logged my return with Takealot and explained the situation and why I wasn't happy with the product. The response I received was that my case has been determined to be "User Damage" and thus cannot be returned. I then tried, very hard, to explain to Takealot that it can't be deduced to be user damage if I didn't use it out of the ordinary, and it broke due to the very poor quality of the item itself.

What followed thereafter was another 3 emails and a phone call and in each case I received the communication, "... we are unable to assist due to the item being returned and being validated as user damage." Despite my numerous attempts to explain the situation I am very disappointed that no one has taken the time or put in the effort to read and understand my case properly. Undoubtedly the staff are looking to 'get it off their desk' and do the least work possible.

All I'm asking for is to be treated fairly and reasonably, which Takealot DEFINITELY isn't doing.

Still holding onto hope that someone will contact me to rectify the situation and simply accept the return so I can get on with my life...