30/09/2006 19:28 - (SA)
Disgruntled client demands a refund
Staff Reporter
A JOHANNESBURG hair salon owner is stuck with a credit voucher for hairdressing equipment that was never delivered.
Elvin Longwe believes he is entitled to a cash refund of the R8 480 he paid to Sharplines Hairdressing Equipment for the undelivered goods.
The suppliers have however refused to pay him back.
“Is it not within my rights as a consumer to cancel the deal?” asked Longwe.
In August Longwe ordered hairdressing equipment valued at R20 876 from Sharplines. When Longwe requested a quotation from Sharplines he made it clear he wished to pay only for goods that were available.
His new salon, Bomocine Hair Boutique in Lanseria, was scheduled to open on August 28.
The salesperson at Sharplines indicated to Longwe the work stations he had ordered were not available, but that if he (Longwe) paid for them they could be ordered and delivered within 48 hours.
On August 16, Longwe deposited R20 820 into Sharplines’s bank account but by August 22 the work stations had still not been delivered.
He contacted Sharplines and was assured delivery would be made.
However, when delivery was finally made two work stations valued at R8 480 were not included in the delivery. His wife was told the items would be made available in two weeks’ time, said Longwe.
Longwe decided to buy the work stations from another supplier hoping he would be refunded by Sharplines.
“Firstly, they did not deliver on time. And after finally delivering, some items were missing,” said Longwe.
Sharplines refused to refund Longwe and instead offered him a credit voucher valued at R8 480. Longwe contacted Hotline and we spoke to Darryl Longford, project manager at Sharplines.
Longford confirmed his company failed to deliver the goods valued at R8 480.
He said the warehouse manager noticed there was some damage on the work stations and he phoned Longwe to inform him of the damage and to find out whether they could deliver the equipment the following week.
But Longwe was not available and the manager called his wife who agreed to the new arrangement, Longwe said.
He said it was company policy not to refund cash to clients unless they were unable to deliver goods at all.
Longwe confirmed that his wife agreed when Sharplines called and asked for an extension but argued his wife had not entered into a contract with Sharplines.
Hotline referred Longwe to the Gauteng office of Consumer Affairs.
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