Bad Service by Vodacom, Woodlands Pretoria East

Last month (21 June 23) I bought (R9500.00) new Samsung A54 at the Vodacom shop in Woodlands Boulavard Mall, Pretoria East.

On Tuesday 4 July 23 (13 days after I purchase the phone) at approximately 07:00 my brand new phone screen just went black. When I checked the phone it was still working except the screen was not working. It was clear the screen was defective. I immediately return the phone to vodacom Woodlands and because the phone was still new I demanded a new phone. It is clear that the phone has a defect. The technician (Stefan Meiring) confirm that the screen was defected and him and the manager, Vusi Nani ***) refuse to replace my phone but indicated that the phone will rather be send to be repaired which will take approximately 21 days. Job Card ***3 refers. I also was not provided with a replacement phone. I was told that I must try to get another phone to be on the air.

According to the Consumer Protection Act if something you’ve bought breaks in some way, through no fault of yours, within six months of purchase, and you’d prefer a replacement instead of repair, the store cannot say: “Sorry, no replacement.”

It is clear that the branch at Woodlands won’t take any responsibility for the defective brand new phone. It seems that the branch is carry on as if the CPA doesn't apply to them or insist on doing what they were doing before the CPA was introduced which is to have the item repaired, regardless of what the consumer wants.