Takealot refuses to exchange damaged recliner

I bout a recliner for my husbands Christmas gift, it arrived 13 November 2025, I put it in safe storage still sealed in the box, come Christmas Day at 10:20am he opens it up and puts it together so excited but saw the back panel was damaged I immediately logged a complaint on Takealot website they fetched it Monday 28 December just for me to receive an email stating they returning it not fixed nor exchanged because of the "time line of damaged goods should be returned within 30 days" I never opened it up as it was a Christmas gift..... it was alot of money and to get this response from Megan not on.