TB
Terrance B
Active since Mar 2021
15
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
15 reviews10 months ago
Beware of Unreliable and Dishonest Metalwork Services in Somerset West: Marais Groenewald
I am deeply disappointed to share my experience with a metalwork contractor, Mr. Marais Groenewald, in Somerset West, Helderberg area. I hired Mr Groenewald to design, quote, and install galvanized burglar bars, sliding double-door gates, pedestrian garden gates, and a large sliding rail motor gate for my home, based on a neighbor’s glowing recommendation and Mr. Groenewald's seemingly impressive portfolio. The contract, worth tens of thousands of Rands, was awarded out of trust and a desire to support someone reportedly in need of work. However, red flags appeared early: Mr. Groenewald frequently arrived late, citing vehicle breakdowns, worked sporadically without staff, and presented a consistently unprofessional appearance. I overlooked these issues, even assisting Mr. Groenewald with heavy lifting due to concerns for his own safety. Out of empathy, I assigned additional work, hoping to help Mr. Groenewald get back on track. Regrettably, the final results were far below the professional standard showcased in Mr. Groenewald's portfolio and my neighbor’s property. The most egregious issue surfaced six months later when rust spots appeared on the supposedly galvanized metalwork, despite my explicit request for galvanization suitable for a coastal environment. After months of ignored calls and evasive WhatsApp messages, Mr. Groenewald eventually admitted to outsourcing the galvanization and knowingly installing non-galvanized metal, painted to deceive me into believing it met my specifications. This was a clear breach of trust and contract, as I was charged for galvanization that was never done. After 12-18 months of delays, Mr. Groenewald delivered a replacement motor gate, which has sat uninstalled under my carport for over four weeks. Mr. Groenewald’s excuses - lacking funds for basic materials like cement, a post, and a runner track - demonstrate a shocking lack of professionalism, accountability, and integrity. Despite my offers to provide more work if Mr. Groenewald showed remorse and rectified the issues, Mr. Groenewald has failed to act, leaving me with a rusted, defective gate and unfulfilled promises. As someone experienced in corporate governance, I regret letting empathy override clear warning signs. I strongly advise others in Somerset West to avoid Mr. Groenewald's services to spare themselves the stress, financial loss, and endless excuses I’ve endured. Trustworthy contractors prioritise quality, honesty, and accountability - qualities Mr. Groenewald sorely lacks. Save yourself the grief and choose a reputable provider.
0 replies
11 months ago
Deep Disappointment with Misleading Pricing and Poor Service from Chamdor Faktry Sales
To Whom It May Concern, I write this note with deep regret and disappointment, after what has been a long history of satisfaction and loyalty with Chamdor Faktry Sales. As a customer who has repeatedly chosen and recommended your business over many years — particularly for custom-made curtains — it is unfortunate that my most recent experience has not only fallen short of expectations, but has left me feeling misled, disregarded, and completely let down. Having relocated from Johannesburg to the Western Cape, I was reassured by the knowledge that Chamdor supports online and remote orders with the same attentiveness and professionalism I had come to know from in-person interactions at your branches. Regrettably, this proved not to be the case. My recent attempt to place a custom curtain order was marred by confusion, inexperience, untimely delays and ultimately, a lack of transparency. After initially liaising with a senior staff member, I was handed over to a new and evidently inexperienced salesperson named Tally. Despite providing her with detailed measurements and specifications -- information I also provided to your competitors -- the quote she returned (R19,000 for 12 curtains) seemed attractively low. Encouraged by this pricing, I increased my order to 17 curtains. Suddenly, the quote more than tripled to an implausible R56,000 for the additional five curtains - without a coherent explanation. After several unproductive exchanges, I scaled back to the original 12-curtain order - only to be told the new quote was now R31,000. The reasoning: the original quote had not included the necessary fullness or gathering required for proper curtaining - a fundamental element in curtain making. This critical oversight speaks directly to the inexperience of the staff member and highlights a lack of internal checks and balances that should exist for custom orders. Worse still, at no point did this salesperson escalate the matter to a supervisor, nor was any effort made to restore trust or offer a meaningful resolution. Instead, I received a curt message wishing me “all the best in my future endeavours” - a dismissive and rather inappropriate gesture, particularly when I am now left with an unfurnished home, no product, and immense frustration. I am disheartened that a company I once spoke so highly of, and to which I referred others, could allow such a breakdown in professionalism and accountability. This is not just a case of poor customer service - it is a cautionary tale of what happens when businesses fail to properly train their front-line representatives and fail to uphold their standards across all platforms, especially remote ones. Let this serve as a reference of caution to your management and potential customers alike: when placing online or telephonic orders through Chamdor, ensure that you are working with an experienced consultant - especially for customised products. One bad interaction, unfortunately, can erase years of goodwill. I do hope Chamdor reflects seriously on the implications of this experience - not only on individual customers like myself, but on the long-term reputation of your brand. Reputation matters! Sincerely, Terry Booysen A Former Loyal Customer
0 replies
11 months ago
First-class service, exceptional results, true professionalism - a rare gems!
I cannot speak highly enough of the exceptional service I received from Gordon's Bay Blinds and Shutters, particularly from Johnny, who went above and beyond from start to finish. From our first meeting, Johnny was punctual, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. He offered practical, honest advice that was not only design-savvy but also cost-conscious - at no point did I feel pressured or upsold. Instead, I felt I was in the hands of someone who genuinely cared about delivering the best value and result for me. The project involved both installing new blinds and refurbishing older ones, which they took off-site, repaired beautifully, and reinstalled to look absolutely brand new - all at a fraction of the cost of replacing them. The quality of the workmanship and materials was top-class. What truly set them apart, however, was their respect for our home. Despite challenging conditions -- including a heavy downpour of rain on the final installation day -- Johnny and his team arrived fully prepared with towels to clean their feet, and even brought a vacuum cleaner to clean up any dust from drilling. There was no mess, no fuss, and no disturbance; just courteous, thoughtful professionals doing their job with pride and precision. It’s rare these days to find service providers who still work with such integrity, care, and old-school values - putting the customer first and treating your home like their own. I would recommend Gordon’s Bay Blinds and Shutters, and Johnny in particular, without a moment’s hesitation. First-class service, exceptional results, and true professionalism - a rare gem these days!
0 replies
12 months ago
Updated Review – Kwikot restores confidence through outstanding service!
I am writing this follow-up to my earlier complaint about the Kwikot gas geyser I had installed at my cottage, which had performance issues when used with a mixer tap. Initially, I experienced significant frustration with customer engagement and support—my concern was not about a warranty claim, but rather a performance issue that had affected my tenant's use of the system. Despite several attempts to escalate the issue, I felt unheard. That changed dramatically when I was contacted by David Crawley, Head of Product Line – Watercare at Kwikot (Haier) SA (Pty) Ltd. David took the time to truly understand the heart of the problem, which had never been about replacing a faulty or broken unit, but about the suitability of the product in a real-world application. To Kwikot’s credit -- and particularly to David’s -- an appropriate solution was quickly found. A team was sent out to replace the gas geyser with an electric model more suited to the installation context, at no cost to me. Their responsiveness, professionalism, and willingness to resolve the matter went above and beyond, and I feel that Kwikot has fully redeemed itself in how it handled this issue. This experience has reaffirmed my belief in the power of respectful stakeholder engagement, open communication, and sound governance principles. Mistakes or misunderstandings can happen in any business, but HOW a company responds defines its true character. In this case, Kwikot demonstrated integrity, accountability, and care. I would like to publicly acknowledge their outstanding response and give credit where it is due. Trust, once dented, can be repaired - and Kwikot has done exactly that. Thank you again to David Crawley, Johann Coetzee, Anton Voges and the team. You’ve restored both my confidence in your brand and my admiration for how good companies should handle customer complaints. Kind regards, Terry Booysen
58 replies
13 months ago
Kwikot: It takes many years to build the brand and reputation of a company, and just a few moments to undermine it!
On 19 Mar 2025 at 10:52, I wrote: Kwikot's gas geyser massively disappoints! Worse, customer engagement sucks! I had a new Kwikot gas geyser installed at my newly built cottage circa three (3) ago, but because we were still building the cottage, we only commissioned the geysers' operation about eight (8) months ago. To be clear, the geyser was brand new, and was never properly tested, nor used before our tenant took occupancy of the cottage eight months ago. Then, shortly after the tenant moved into the cottage, we began hearing about the geyser's' performance issues, and that it did not function properly in the shower, where a hot/cold tap mixer has been fitted. Since the tenant did not actually stay in the cottage for the first few months and was abroad, I would not have known about this ‘performance problem’ and that the tenant, on their return from a lengthy overseas stay, was unable to adjust the hot/cold functions in the shower when they first used the shower. So for the purposes of clarity, the geyser works, BUT in spite of now trying to do finer adjustments at the geyser itself, no matter how the settings are adjusted, the geyser does not allow a mixer to function at the shower, resulting in the geyser producing either boiling hot water, or nothing at all. The result is a boiling hot shower, or a cold shower. There's no in-between option! I then escalated this problem to the Kwikot representative in the Western Cape -- namely to Christopher Solomon -- and was told the two (2) year warranty had expired, and that I would need to pay for their call -out to inspect the geyser. I refused, since this is technically a new geyser and it's not broken, it's simply not doing what it's meant to do. I was then escalated to Johann Coetzee, the Kwikot National Service Manager in Gauteng, who was just as unwilling to understand my complaint, and he repeated that I would need to pay for their site visit and inspection. One would have thought (and I made this point to both Kwikot employees), given that my complaint was about the geysers' performance, someone with technical knowledge from Kwikot would have been interested to understand the problem at hand, and through this, apply their new found knowledge to avoid other customers experiencing the same problems, including mitigating possible reputational damages to both the product, as well as to the company's brand and reputation. But alas, both these 'brand ambassadors' saw not need to follow up as a customer courtesy. They are clearly quite willing to put their reputation on the line. It's ironic though, as I am well versed in governance matters, and understand the incredible damages that can be caused through uncaring employees who have no clue about what it takes to build a credible company and maintain its reputation, I have to wonder what the Kwikot shareholders who do when they read this post. Based on this experience, would I recommend a Kwikot gas geyser if you are intending to install a hot/cold mixer tap in your shower? ABSOLUTELY NOT! What makes matters worse; there was no warning on the product stating that such an installation would be a wasted exercise...BUT then again, maybe the company pursues profits at all costs, regardless! It will be interesting to see whether Kwikot respond to this post, and just how many views and non-purchases occur as customers begin to understand not only the problems attached to this gas geyser, but more importantly, the power of customer activism! Finally, I was intrigued by the Western Cape's Kwikot's comment about the company following due processes, and when I questioned why the company had no PAIA Manual (Promotion of Access to Information Act) on their website -- in order that I could follow the correct channels -- he had no response. It's a legal requirement to have a PAIA Manual on the company's website, as well as a copy in their main offices, and seemingly this has not been done! A one-star rating for this company's lack of customer service is far too much! On 26 March Kwikot (Haier) SA (Pty) Ltd’s rep****: Dear Mr Terrance Thank you for reaching out and taking our calls. We apologise for the inconvenience experienced. As discussed we would like to clarify that our products are sold through merchants and installed by qualified installers. If there is a performance issue with the unit, we recommend that you first contact your installer, as they are responsible for ensuring that the system is correctly installed and functioning before issuing the Certificate of Compliance (COC). In this case, we have reviewed your COC, which confirms that the unit has been out of warranty for three months. However, we are happy to assist by arranging for an installer to inspect the unit. Please note that any costs associated with the repairs would be at your expense. If you require further assistance with regards to the technical requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us. On 26 March 2025 I rep****: What a shocking response from Kwikot! They fail to understand the problem; the unit was installed with a registered plumber, a COC issued and the geyser was not used up until circa 9 months ago. It remained dormanet whilst building operations were taking place. Kwikot fail to understand that this complaint is NOT an issue of warranty, but one of PERFORMANCE! Why is Kwikot hung up about a 3 month expiry of a warranty? Why will they not send out their own representative at their own cost to check out the problem? Surely their brand is worth the visit? It is my view that Kwikot refuse to do this because they know the geyser is not designed for a shower with a hot/cold mixer tap AND they have not made this clear to the unsuspecting consumer of their products. It takes many years to build the brand and reputation of a company, and just a few moments to undermine it!
0 replies
13 months ago
Kwikot's gas geyser massively disappoints! Worse, customer engagement sucks!
I had a new Kwikot gas geyser installed at my newly built cottage circa three (3) ago, but because we were still building the cottage, we only commissioned the geysers' operation about eight (8) months ago. To be clear, the geyser was brand new, and was never properly tested, nor used before our tenant took occupancy of the cottage eight months ago. Then, shortly after the tenant moved into the cottage, we began hearing about the geyser's' performance issues, and that it did not function properly in the shower, where a hot/cold tap mixer has been fitted. Since the tenant did not actually stay in the cottage for the first few months and was abroad, I would not have known about this ‘performance problem’ and that the tenant, on their return from a lengthy overseas stay, was unable to adjust the hot/cold functions in the shower when they first used the shower. So for the purposes of clarity, the geyser works, BUT in spite of now trying to do finer adjustments at the geyser itself, no matter how the settings are adjusted, the geyser does not allow a mixer to function at the shower, resulting in the geyser producing either boiling hot water, or nothing at all. The result is a boiling hot shower, or a cold shower. There's no in-between option! I then escalated this problem to the Kwikot representative in the Western Cape -- namely to Christopher Solomon -- and was told the two (2) year warranty had expired, and that I would need to pay for their call -out to inspect the geyser. I refused, since this is technically a new geyser and it's not broken, it's simply not doing what it's meant to do. I was then escalated to Johann Coetzee, the Kwikot National Service Manager in Gauteng, who was just as unwilling to understand my complaint, and he repeated that I would need to pay for their site visit and inspection. One would have thought (and I made this point to both Kwikot employees), given that my complaint was about the geysers' performance, someone with technical knowledge from Kwikot would have been interested to understand the problem at hand, and through this, apply their new found knowledge to avoid other customers experiencing the same problems, including mitigating possible reputational damages to both the product, as well as to the company's brand and reputation. But alas, both these 'brand ambassadors' saw not need to follow up as a customer courtesy. They are clearly quite willing to put their reputation on the line. It's ironic though, as I am well versed in governance matters, and understand the incredible damages that can be caused through uncaring employees who have no clue about what it takes to build a credible company and maintain its reputation, I have to wonder what the Kwikot shareholders who do when they read this post. Based on this experience, would I recommend a Kwikot gas geyser if you are intending to install a hot/cold mixer tap in your shower? ABSOLUTELY NOT! What makes matters worse; there was no warning on the product stating that such an installation would be a wasted exercise...BUT then again, maybe the company pursues profits at all costs, regardless! It will be interesting to see whether Kwikot respond to this post, and just how many views and non-purchases occur as customers begin to understand not only the problems attached to this gas geyser, but more importantly, the power of customer activism! Finally, I was intrigued by the Western Cape's Kwikot's comment about the company following due processes, and when I questioned why the company had no PAIA Manual (Promotion of Access to Information Act) on their website -- in order that I could follow the correct channels -- he had no response. It's a legal requirement to have a PAIA Manual on the company's website, as well as a copy in their main offices, and seemingly this has not been done! A one-star rating for this company's lack of customer service is far too much!
106 replies
15 months ago
Attitude, Professionalism, Quality and Customer Service is a rare find these days!
Having recently relocated to the Western Cape, I purchased a residential property that was in serious need of repair, and this included revamping, and/or installing new gutters. Living high up on a mountain, the wind speeds have the power to ******* roof tiles, including gutters! One of the existing older gutters took a wind beating two days ago, one which was reinstalled -- at my instruction -- but was clearly no longer strong enough to withstand the monstrous, unrelenting winds in Somerset West. Truth be told, the technicians of Helderberg Aluminum Gutters ('HAG') did warn me at the time of my first repairs that the re-installation of my older gutters may not last, BUT economics caused me to take a different route. So for context, all the new gutters, including the box gutters -- all manufactured and installed by HAG -- have not budged in these 60-70km winds for the last three years, and they are still very solid! Then two days ago, one of the old gutters was ********** the house by the wind. I called HAG and within hours, they responded, and the following day they were at my house to assess the damages. When I suggested repairing the old gutter and reinstalling, they advised differently, and went about supplying and fitting a new section of guttering, running some 3m in length. Expectedly, I asked HAG to send me the bill and followed this up with an email (knowing full well that replacing the old for new was what I should have done three years earlier, but economics stood in the way at the time). The following day, I received an email from HAG, saying, "Your account has been settled in full", meaning that I was not charged for their call-out, the new 3m section of gutter, nor its implementation! This is off-the-chart professional service! It is very clear how the HAG's leadership go about their business. Their attention to detail, including their professionalism and customer service orientated actions simply delight customers! To be honest, it is rare that one comes across these sorts of companies who practice good governance and ethical behaviour. They demonstrate and treat customers fairly, and with respect. Being in the corporate governance profession for over two decades, I can attest that HAG is a rare 'find', and I applaud their leadership which clearly is an ethos that runs throughout the company and their employees. This has been my experience with HAG from day one! Exceptional in every aspect, and well done!!
0 replies
19 months ago
TBZ Removals & Delivery: There's great importance to being honest and fair!
A company's reputation depends largely upon the ratings it receives from its customers, and all it takes is for one very dissatisfied customer to provide a bad rating, which in itself causes doubt for future customers to engage in the company's services. It takes many years to build the company's reputation, and a few minutes to destroy it! My experience with TBZ Removals & Delivery (Cape Town, Epping) was abysmal! Besides their shocking customer service, including their false delivery promises, they attempted to manoeuvre themselves out of errors they had made. Trying to speak to a higher authority in the company was fruitless. I would strongly dissuade doing business with TBZ, unless you have a solid contract in place. And trying to establish more information about them through a PAIA manual is also a waste of time. This in itself is a massive red flag! A lesson for all customers, of which I was rudely reminded. First establish the governance credentials of the company, which is usually done by checking the company's website. If the company does not meet regulatory requirements, stay far away! If there were a zero rating, TBZ would get zero! The review will also be posted on other social media platforms. Lessons learned!
0 replies
19 months ago
When a so-called 4-star lodge offers less than one-star patron service!
A shocking three (3) night stay at a so-called 4-star lodge, that offers less than one-star patron service! Never again! If you don't mind the constant highway noise, or waiting for your steak to thaw out before it is prepared (two hours for dinner), cold water in the room and therefore cold showers and shaving, late breakfasts because the chef is in a bad mood; or a room safe where you need to use the key at reception; then this is the lodge for you! Don't even bother asking for the owner or manager to call you to discuss these matters; that falls on deaf ears! A truly shameful reflection on the SA tourism industry!
0 replies
49 months ago
Definitely more superior in pool netting services!
What an amazing experience with Aqua-Net team in Cape Town! This has definitely been a memorable experience; from the outset, Aqua-Net were accommodating, price-sensitive and they actually listened to my requirements (unlike their competitors). Giving Aqua-Net a 5-star rating is so deserving; their professional services from start to end was a breath of fresh air! Well done Andrew Reed, Antoinette Benjamin and your Cape Town implementation team. You exceeded all my expectations! Kindest regards, Terry Booysen
0 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
7 (46.666666666666664%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
8 (53.333333333333336%)