Advice needed: Takealot delivered me an empty box

[colebattell]

Back story: I ordered an expensive pair of headphones off of Takealot on Wednesday. They arrived Friday afternoon. When the delivery guy gave me the box I thought it felt pretty light but didn't think too much of it. Got back to my apartment and opened them up to find the box of the headphones inside but no headphones, no carry case and no charging cable. Only the manuals and things.
My guess is someone at the packing/shipping warehouse decided they wanted a new pair of headphones? Otherwise they maybe have some empty boxes around and someone made a mistake?

TL;DR: Ordered headphones from takealot. Got the box but no headphones.

So I want to ask you guys if you have ever had the same thing happen before? What did you do and what was the outcome?

I have already filed a return through their website and wrote that I received the box but no headphones, carry case or charging cable. They are collecting the box from me on Monday and then according to their SOP they'll inspect the product (lol enjoy inspecting the empty box and some manuals) and make a decision on what to do.

If there is anything else I can do to ensure I actually get a refund please do let me know. I'm very worried because what's stopping them from saying I just took the headphones out and want another pair for free? In this situation surely they have to assume I'm telling the truth?

 

[moedeez]

See here https://carbonite.co.za/index.php?threads/takealot-order-missing-stolen.420985/ and maybe @_muhammed_ can comment. He hasn't been online in a while though.

 

[goldfritter]

I once ordered something from Takealot and some of the parts were missing. Granted, it was a cheap item (microwave rice cooker). But I sent it back and they refunded me, no questions asked.

I think you're likely to be OK. I suspect they would be more suspicious of someone who frequently claims their order was stolen, but if this is your first time, I doubt they'll give you uphill.

 

[colebattell]

I once ordered something from Takealot and some of the parts were missing. Granted, it was a cheap item (microwave rice cooker). But I sent it back and they refunded me, no questions asked.

I think you're likely to be OK. I suspect they would be more suspicious of someone who frequently claims their order was stolen, but if this is your first time, I doubt they'll give you uphill.

Yeah it's my first time asking for a return/refund so it should be okay. Thanks for the reply.

 

[TheJudge]

Keep pics (I know, of an empty box) and take pics of the Takealot box itself in case there is anything useful to have a record of. Also check if it was a third party sale or if Takealot was the seller.

The other reason for the pic is to post on Facebook with a suitably sarcastic complaint, they tend to try and fix things when you embarrass them in my experience.

Also, once the packaging is with them you are pretty much in their hands in my experience.

 

[hubeny]

I remember something similar happening to me with a takealot order. In their response (which they found in my favour) they intimated that they go back and check footage of the box being packaged and sealed.

 

[colebattell]

Keep pics (I know, of an empty box) and take pics of the Takealot box itself in case there is anything useful to have a record of. Also check if it was a third party sale or if Takealot was the seller.

The other reason for the pic is to post on Facebook with a suitably sarcastic complaint, they tend to try and fix things when you embarrass them in my experience.

Also, once the packaging is with them you are pretty much in their hands in my experience.

There is a hyperlink to the Sony Store on takealot under the product name so maybe they're fulfilling for sony? Not sure. Have pics of both boxes in case.

 

[colebattell]

I remember something similar happening to me with a takealot order. In their response (which they found in my favour) they intimated that they go back and check footage of the box being packaged and sealed.

Wow okay if they can go back and see my item being packed and potentially stolen before being boxed up that would be good. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Trajectory]

Take pictures (even if its an empty box) as proof, just in case. They likely won't have too much fuss if its your first refund though.

 

[TheAverageGamer]

Same thing happened to me when I ordered my PS5 and got two speakers instead. I sent a email via the site. Like everyone has said, they will ask for pics.

The lady that helped me was amazing. They initially wanted me to return the box and then they would investigate before sending me a replacement console but after a bit of back and fourth she organized the replacement (or the 1st console in this case. Lol) for the very next day.

It seems they also have multiple delivery companies working for them as the first delivery was a random car and the second time it came with DHL.

 

[ELEMENTS]

Back story: I ordered an expensive pair of headphones off of Takealot on Wednesday. They arrived Friday afternoon. When the delivery guy gave me the box I thought it felt pretty light but didn't think too much of it. Got back to my apartment and opened them up to find the box of the headphones inside but no headphones, no carry case and no charging cable. Only the manuals and things.
My guess is someone at the packing/shipping warehouse decided they wanted a new pair of headphones? Otherwise they maybe have some empty boxes around and someone made a mistake?

TL;DR: Ordered headphones from takealot. Got the box but no headphones.

So I want to ask you guys if you have ever had the same thing happen before? What did you do and what was the outcome?

I have already filed a return through their website and wrote that I received the box but no headphones, carry case or charging cable. They are collecting the box from me on Monday and then according to their SOP they'll inspect the product (lol enjoy inspecting the empty box and some manuals) and make a decision on what to do.

If there is anything else I can do to ensure I actually get a refund please do let me know. I'm very worried because what's stopping them from saying I just took the headphones out and want another pair for free? In this situation surely they have to assume I'm telling the truth?

I myself have made use of takeAlot and have never been disappointed with their return policy. You just sit back and relax, they will sort it out. They will check on their side what they can pick up, but 99% of the time they will find that its not your problem and will replace your item without to much of a problem. Good luck my friend, if you can let us know what the outcome has been.

 

[Scrooloose]

I've had both good and lukewarm experiences with Takealot, but no bad experiences yet.

Once, I returned an Acer monitor that had 3 dead pixels. This was a budget monitor, and Acer's warranty makes allowance for a certain amount of dead pixels per whatever given area - Which the monitor I was returning did not exceed.

However I received the same monitor with a new panel only a few days later, no worries.

We did have incorrect deliveries, including empty packes, a few times and getting the exchanges or complaints handled have been rather straightforward.

One thing I have not done is return an item that I had buyer's remorse on. The rest of the scenarios have probably happened for us. The wife loves online shopping, so we are on a first name basis with the dude that delivers to our suburb by now.

Now for the advice part, as you are soliciting it in the original post.: Wait a couple of days for their support to perform their investigation. They have probably dealt with this more than once by now, so chances are that they'll catch the guy if it's an insider. If not, then they're most likely going to refund you or send you the appropriate item. A little bit of patience is required for now.

 

[Skylark]

Op, how did this work out?
Another way to prove you didn't get headphones would be the weight of the package which they would have recorded at some stage of the delivery process.

 

[lolcopter]

Yes, this happened to me twice, both times a CPU was ripped from its box, heatsink and everything else was left as is. Messaged them and they exchanged it, no problems. Very good service, but they did ask for pics IIRC.