Takealot took a lot, and gave nothing in return.

On 28 April 2024, I ordered a bottle of whisky, as a gift, through Takealot.

I arranged for the package to be delivered to my friend’s daughter – to ensure safe delivery for the ‘surprise’.

The whisky never arrived.

Takealot insists that it was delivered and signed for, and that the delivery driver’s GPS coordinates match the delivery address. Yet, no whisky.

We have questioned the security guards of the complex. We asked if we could search the guard room. Courier packages are routinely delivered to this complex. We believe the security guards. No delivery.

Several phone calls and maybe twenty emails, and at least 3 ‘fob offs’ later, Takealot concluded with the same story: the delivery driver’s GPS coordinates match the delivery address, and the driver says it was delivered.

Of course, it is now a matter of our word against that of Takealot.

Takealot are unable to show any evidence of delivery. There is no signature to show that we received it; or approved of a surrogate; there is no OTP evidence. Nothing. Just their insistence that we are lying (the only obvious deduction).

We are not.

I have spent R600 on a special gift which never arrived. Takealot surely has some responsibility for ensuring that a customer actually receives the parcel; and good practice – to protect themselves and the customer – would be to provide proof of delivery. They cannot, because delivery did not happen.

Be wary of Takealot.

I regret I didn’t just organise for my friend to pick up his gift at a pick up point. It’s been an expensive lesson.

But of this I am certain. Takealot’s pretence to care for their customers (in the blurb), is an obvious business pretension.

I was never listened to; no proof proffered - no signature of the addressee, not OTP, no photo – just GPS coordinates!

Whatever else Takealot is, it is a delivery business. That their deliveries can be conducted so carelessly, and with stubborn impunity is remarkable. I feel ******.