********* Takealot Business Ethics

I would like people to know about Takealot's ************ business ethics, and how they are taking advantage of the vulnerable state of the economy and people's cash to make a buck and most likely make up their loss of income over the last 8 weeks.

I'm sure this hasn't just happened to me, and I'll be voicing concerns most likely experienced by many.

On the 23rd March, I purchased a treadmill from Takealot for R9500 (R9700 with delivery), on the 26th March the order indicated as shipped, and I received a notification that it had been dispatched to their Montague Gardens warehouse on the morning of the 26th March. I expected delivery that day, but it never happened, and the very next day the lockdown started.

Understandably, Takealot could not deliver the treadmill, and the delivery date kept getting pushed out further as the lockdown extended. I constantly received email correspondence from Takealot staff notifying me of the change in delivery dates, asking if I'd like to cancel the order, however, since we really wanted the treadmill, I kept responding that we will wait.

So the day finally arrives on the 18th May that all deliveries are now allowed, and coincidentally on that day, I received notification that my order had automatically been canceled, and that the R9700 that I had paid would serve as a credit for future purchases.

Naturally upset by this, I contacted Takealot, and the call centre representative said that the company had taken the difficult decision to cancel orders made prior to lockdown, as instructed by government. Now, I find it hard to believe that government, who already have alot on their plate, would involve themselves to dictate to Takealot to cancel orders.

After sending them email correspondence, I received further feedback where the reason had all of a sudden changed. A manager got back to me and advised that they had decided to cancel all orders at the beginning of April, however I told him that I had still been contacted towards the end of April by staff, advising a change in the delivery date, and that the order still indicates as active on my profile. Then the manager changed his tune and said their supplier had taken back all their treadmill stock, and they no longer have treadmills for sale, and that they will credit my account to purchase the treadmill when it becomes available again. What is strange is that my treadmill which I purchased and was on its way to me, was still located at the Montague Gardens warehouse (it was paid for so there's no reason for the supplier to take it back).

I eventually asked for a refund on the 18th May, to which they only refunded R9500, and not the R200 delivery fee which I paid. It's in poor taste that they would actually retain delivery charges after not having actually delivered the treadmill.

On the 20th May, I noticed that the treadmill was available again on their website, this time more than R2000 more than I paid (R11569), but indicated as discounted by 27%. So what they are expecting is for customers to pay additional costs to make up their losses during the lockdown period. This isn't the first I've heard of Takealot inflating their prices, but making it seem as if products are discounted.

I find this highly ********* and ************ business practice.