AW
Andi W
Active since Nov 2017
5
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
5 reviews46 months ago
Pietermaritzburg Couriers can’t deliver, don’t care, and aren’t held accountable
I, like many South Africans, rushed to buy a source of light and electricity after the news of level 6 loadshedding. I bought from Takealot because they promised a delivery date of Friday, 1 July, which was the earliest date anyone could offer. Since I work for an international company from my home, the thought of having to be unreliable for only 2/3 days was far better than being out of commission for an entire week. On Friday, I checked my app when it was nearing 17:00 to find that the couriers say they were unable to deliver. I immediately phoned the call center and asked them whether maybe my old number was still being used, since I recently got a new number. The lovely lady said yes, and transferred me to the courier side of things who added a note about the change of number. I received email confirmation about this. So I felt rather guilty, really, that the poor courier had to come out to my town again. I made sure to be up and about early and rather than go for my usual run I puttered around in the garden, asked my family to help keep an ear out as well, and finally sat myself on my stoep- all in view of my gate- to make sure the courier doesn’t face any issues with delivery this time. Time again passes and I check my app again around 12:00 only to see that the delivery has once again been logged as undeliverable. I had no calls, and no one had been to my gate during the entire time. I immediately phone the call center again and am helped by a lovely gentleman who admits that the couriers were in the area, but not at my complex, and also sends me an email confirming that he has advised the couriers re:delivery of my package and assures me they will try again. So I settle back to wait some more, happy in the knowledge that my package will arrive before 17:00. However, by 16:00 I am getting rather nervous again. So I go back to my app and find that the parcel was returned to the depot (at 14:44 it was LOGGED in the system, meaning that it had been returned BEFORE that time) and delivery rescheduled for Monday, 4 July 2022. During none of this was I contacted or informed of anything. If I hadn’t checked, I would still be sitting on my stoep like a… let’s say idiot to keep it PG. So I phone up the call center again and by now I am annoyed because I have been waiting on and calling after these couriers for an entire day. Of course the lady there is very lovely and promises to phone them and hopefully get me earlier delivery (on Sunday). I’ll admit I did not have hope since I had never seen deliveries on Sundays, we’re a small town, etc., but I thought she would shoot me an email to say that the couriers would ensure that I received my delivery on Monday, come hell or high water. Maybe even deliver my package first thing, because they realized that they had dropped the ball today. But then the lady phones me back and says that the depot not only refused Sunday delivery (unsurprising but disappointing for my wallet), but that no statements regarding ensuring the successful delivery of my package were made. The only thing said was apparently they would send it out on Monday. This was when my patience snapped. I had done everything in my power to ensure successful delivery of my package- tracking my shipping, calling to make sure things were on track on my end, WAITING ON MY STOEP- and these couriers could not be bothered to even drive to my gate? And then no plan or even vague promise that it would be delivered on Monday, no reassurance that they would deliver it, come rain or shine? That they would update their drivers or make them aware? Just the normal delivery protocol which had failed abysmally for 2 days in a row? Despite, might I add, my SITTING ON MY STOEP WAITING for them. I feel the need to say that I live in a town. I know everyone in my neighborhood and complex. Since my house overlooks the complex gate and a fair section of the street, I often notice or hear couriers/other service people and after checking with my neighbours I’ll help sort something out, often even take delivery of the package. And my neighbours do the same for me. I have never, ever had a problem with any other company delivering my goods. I often get home to packages having been delivered without my knowledge. I’ve even had deliveries at 18:30-19:00 from poor exhausted drivers who were determined to deliver despite the N3 being closed off. And prior to this I had no issues with Takealot either, which is why I felt secure enough to place my absolutely vital order through them, secure in the knowledge they would deliver, because EVERYONE CAN deliver in my town and complex. It’s not hard. And yet here I am. On Saturday evening, in the dark, unable to work and earn money. If I cancel the order now, I’m still left in the dark minus the money I could have earned had I just ordered from a company with ANY OTHER COURIER. With not even the vaguest, most obvious “calm the customer” PR nonsense guarantee that my package will be delivered on Monday. All I’m left with is the question of whether this package will just remain in the courier’s vehicle until South Africa no longer has load shedding, or whether it will be returned to Takealot’s warehouse and sold to another chump. Because It’s clearly not going to be delivered to me. I understand now why Takealot will not let you contact the couriers yourself: that would involve actually holding them responsible rather than doing your best not to be irritable with the poor call center staff who are not at fault and cannot actually do anything about the situation. No one from the couriers are being held accountable and it shows. Useless, absolutely useless.
0 replies
56 months ago
Best Asian online retailer- definitely try the subscription box
I’ve been ordering from A-Mart for several months now - both the subscription box and my monthly fix of kimchi - and I’ve never had an experience I wouldn’t rate absolutely excellent! Last minute change of address? No problems! Sorted within minutes of your email. Courier trouble? More than willing to send you a replacement order for free despite it absolutely not being their fault! The subscription box has never felt like I was shortchanged- rather I’m always shocked by the variety and value! The new list that explains all the different goodies included is both educational and makes it so easy to reorder your favorites (which is honestly most of the box usually). I look forward to my box every month! Thank you Allen for an always amazing experience!
0 replies
56 months ago
The SA Post Office is better
Absolutely terrible service from the Vereeniging branch! The driver’s phone is set on “Unknown” and the calls keep dropping. He’ll call you twice and no matter whether the calls dropped or not he’ll leave. And you cannot phone him back, obviously. Might I add that this delivery is to a retirement complex? The first time, I went to fetch my parcel. The second time I managed to convince him to wait for a neighbour to go fetch it since I was not home. The third time I only got an email that the package could not be delivered. I managed to receive several packages from different couriers that day with no issues, some were even nice enough to come straight to my door - especially since most of them assumed I was elderly or asked whether I was looking after an elderly family member. None of them had a single issue. I immediately let the company know that I had received several other packages that day, had no missed calls, and the intercom had never been used. I also let them know that I would not be available for the next week which was why I had timed the deliveries as I had. A Ms Wessels was the only one who responded from the UAfrica team (and the poor retailer!) It is now one day later and I still do not have my package or any further communications from the UAfrica team. The Courier Guy clearly does not care about customers or delivery. I’ve gotten better and more reliable service from the South African Post Office and I will be recommending them over the Courier Guy every time.
0 replies
82 months ago
Going the extra mile with a smile
My grandfather forgot his chronic medication when he came to visit us in KZN. Esther helped us to sort out his prescription and they paid for the 5 days medication even though he'd filed his prescription only 3 days prior. Thanks Esther! You are amazing!
105 replies
88 months ago
Prompt delivery across the country
Got Apple Pencil tips from them, and they arrived before the expected date and in great condition. Also- with the free shipping across the country it was the best possible deal out there. I wouldn’t mind getting a bit more feedback when it comes to deliveries, since it was a little startling to receive it so early, but honestly I’m very happy with my purchase and how promptly everything was handled. Definitely recommend.
61 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
3 (60%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
2 (40%)