Unfair trade practices

I am extremely disappointed with the manner in which this order has been handled and I am requesting that this matter be escalated for formal investigation.

On 01 August 2026, I purchased the BMW E90 Left & Right Cup Holder Set with Trim Panel – Black, advertised as a complete set, from the seller Qinglin for R653.00.

Although delivery only took place on 04 September 2026, approximately one month after placing the order I accepted the delay. However, upon receiving the parcel, I discovered that only the right-hand cup holder had been supp****. The left-hand cup holder and the trim panel were completely missing, despite these items being explicitly included in the product title and adverti*****t.

I therefore logged a return and specifically requested a replacement with the complete product as advertised, rather than a refund.

What happened subsequently is particularly concerning. Instead of resolving the issue by supplying the missing components or providing the advertised product, my order was cancelled. I then noticed that the same item was suddenly listed at approximately R850, despite my having purchased it for R653.00 and having already waited approximately a month for delivery.

This sequence of events is extremely concerning and leaves me feeling that I have been unfairly disadvantaged as a consumer. I purchased a specific product at an advertised price, waited an unreasonable period for delivery, received an incomplete product, requested a replacement, and was then left without the product I had purchased while the apparent replacement price had increased substantially.

I understand that Takealot operates a marketplace involving third-party sellers however, consumers should reasonably be able to rely on products being supp**** as advertised and on complaints involving incomplete or incorrectly supp**** goods being resolved fairly. Sellers should also be appropriately vetted and monitored to prevent potentially unfair trading practices.

I request that Takealot:

1. Investigate the seller and the circumstances surrounding this order and its cancellation. 2. Investigate why an item advertised as a complete left-and-right cup holder set with trim panel was supp**** incomplete. 3. Explain why my requested replacement was not honoured and why the order was cancelled instead. 4. Explain the significant increase in the advertised price following the cancellation. 5. Confirm what measures Takealot has in place to prevent sellers from cancelling orders or otherwise disadvantaging consumers in circumstances such as these. 6. Provide an appropriate resolution that does not leave me financially or otherwise disadvantaged as a result of the seller's failure to supply the product as advertised.

I would prefer to receive the complete product I originally purchased at the original advertised price of R653.00, rather than simply receiving a refund after having waited approximately a month and having to restart the purchasing process.

I believe this matter warrants more than a routine return/refund response, as the circumstances raise legitimate concerns regarding product misrepresentation, fulfilment of the advertised sale, and potentially unfair trading conduct. I reserve my rights as a consumer in terms of applicable South African consumer-protection legislation should this matter not be satisfactorily resolved.

I look forward to receiving a substantive response and explanation from Takealot rather than a standard automated response.