Takealot Exchange for TV: Warehouse Cracked TV Screen

I ordered a Television ( LG 50 UP7500 4K UHD AI ThinQ Smart TV, value R8000+) that arrived in early August 2021, shortly thereafter it stopped working. I logged a return of the product online with Takealot. They picked it up from my home and thereafter I received an email that my return was invalid as the LED screen was cracked. To be clear, the screen was not cracked when the item left me home, the warehouse is attempting to claim that I intentionally packed a cracked screen TV and sent it back to the warehouse when the fault was a technical issue. Takealot and their warehouse are not acknowledging that the screen could have been cracked in transit, by poor handling and are now pitting this on me in an attempt to "solve" the issue. Since Friday (August 27), I've sent emails, called four call centre agents and I beyond frustrated with their lack of ethics. I've highlighted that upon picking up the item they should have done onsite evaluation of the product and in this way could have mitigated the issue. This is warning to not purchase items from Takealot (or Mr D or Superbalist). They are mainly concerned with profits and not with protecting consumer rights! You've lost a long standing customer with this debacle!

Case is now with the SGSO Ombudsman- save your money and health, don't order at Takealot.