WARNING: Do not buy any DELL products from Takealot.

WARNING: Do not buy any DELL products from Takealot.

I recently bought a faulty DELL XPS 13 laptop from them for R18699 which I then returned to be exchanged. This is my right in terms of both the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) as well as Takelot's own returns policy which gives me 6 months to return/exchange the product (see https://www.takealot.com/help/exchange-return-policy) Subsequently I logged a return (RRN-1cc7-27fb), eligibility was immediately confirmed and the laptop collected. Yesterday Noluthando Adams and then today Lestine Arendse from customer support sent my the following email:

"Please note that we have rejected your return request due to the following reason/s: "Dell have requested that Takealot should not facilitate their returns . We request you to please contact Dell at ‪ ********** 710‬ as they will assist you regarding the faulty item.""

This is in direct contravention of the CPA as well as their own returns policy which is clearly worthless. Dell SA's support is notoriously bad (which is why I rather bought the laptop from Takealot in the first place) and now Takealot wants to pass their responsibility of facilitating the return to me. I have informed the above mentioned persons about this, but all I get is "sorry". Well I'm sorry too Takealot. You do not walk away from your responsibility so easily. This is not only absolutely unacceptable but also ********. I strongly advise you not to buy anything more than a few rands worth from this company. Please share my experience with everyone you know to be regular Takealot customers like I used to be.

(Another interesting revelation which actually says a lot: I couldn't even write this warning on a review of the product on Takealot's website as they first need to accept my review. So much for honest reporting). At least there are many other ways of being heard.

Regards, Daniel