Why Takealot Ruined Christmas (And is Generally Useless)

<p>1. When they confirmed our order on the 3rd December of 13 items (by email) to be delivered by 21 December they don't tell you that they actually don't have stock of three of our items (despite their website showing the items in stock). Essentially they lie about having items in stock on their website. Click and pay now - worry about the rest later it seems.</p> <p>2. On the 15th December (nearly 2 weeks later) they tell you they can't source one of your items!! No mention made of changes in expected delivery dates while they try to source your item ordered and paid for.</p> <p>3. On the 20th December (they day before expected delivery) - they let you know that another item is delayed. </p> <p>4. On contacting the call centre and speaking to countless agents on 21 December, only then do we find out that our order will only be delivered on 5th January!! NO MENTION MADE OF THIS AT ALL IN PRIOR CORRESPONDENCE. In short we would only have found out on the 23rd or 24th that our children's Christmas gifts were not going to arrive in time. We have to help them apply their minds to send what was available and send the rest when available. Pathetic!!</p> <p>5. If you don't phone Takealot to press their buttons - nothing gets done proactively and the call centre agents haven't got a clue how they can help you. They also never call you back when they promise to and when we asked to speak to a manager, they also don't call you back. Running scared. No accountability.</p> <p>6. Of the 13 items ordered (For Christmas gifts mind you) only 9 arrived by 23rd December to our address on holiday in Durban.</p> <p>6. Despite informing them 3 times that our delivery address has changed for the remaining items, (because we had to go home from our holiday) they still delivered it to the wrong address. The call centre can't help you because they can't seem to communicate with their couriers. WE NOW HAVE TO ARRANGE FOR THE PARCEL TO BE COURIERED TO US IN JHB BECAUSE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CALL CENTER IS NOW BEYOND US!</p> <p> </p> <p>Takealot is pretending to be a legitimate online shopping service. Their systems are a joke, their call centre is useless, their communication with their customers is unhelpful and useless, the whole experience is completely inconvenient and stressful. In short, the worst service we have ever experienced.</p> <p> </p> <p>Never order anything from Takealot if you want to order large batches. Their systems can't handle it. Also, don't order anything if you really do need it by a certain date (regardless of the dates they confirm or provide you up front). There are no guarantees they even have the items. We certainly would never use Takealot again. One star is too many!! What an absolute mess.</p>