Checkers Sixty60 beats Takealot in tech price showdown

Checkers officially launched its revamped Sixty60 app in November 2024, with an expanded catalogue featuring Checkers Hyper products, putting it in competition with players like Takealot.

MyBroadband compared prices for 15 tech products common to Checkers Sixty60 and Takealot. We found that Checkers’ on-demand delivery service was cheaper for eight of the products compared.

Moreover, Checkers Sixty60 was over R3,300 cheaper when comparing the total basket prices.

On Thursday, 21 November 2024, the Shoprite-owned retailer announced that the country’s residents could access the redesigned Checkers Sixty60 app.

“Over 10,000 larger general merchandise products are now available for same-day delivery within sixty-minute time slots,” it said.

Shoprite chief strategy and innovation officer Neil Schreuder said the company wants to become Africa’s most profitable omnichannel retailer.

The changes to its Sixty60 app introduce 2,500 additional products from brands like Apple, Dyson, Thule, Smeg, Samsung, and Harmon Kardon. However, its extended premium ranges were initially only available in selected areas of Cape Town.

The extended ranges will be rolled out nationally in phases.

“With the new Sixty60 app, we’re again raising the bar for online shopping in South Africa,” Schreuder said.

Adding general merchandise and electronics to its catalogue shows that Shoprite is using the Sixty60 platform to compete against players Takealot, Amazon, and Makro.

We compared its pricing to that of the biggest e-commerce player in the country, Takealot.

The two retailers’ pricing only matched for one product, the Yoco Neo Touch card machine, which is available for R999 through both stores.

The most significant price difference between pricing was for the JVC 40-inch Full HD LED Android TV, with Checkers Sixty60’s pricing being R1,600 less than Takealot’s.

The Shoprite on-demand platform sells the TV for R3,999, while Takealot sells the same model for R5,599. However, Takealot includes an LCD screen cleaner and cloth with the TV, while Checkers Sixty60 doesn’t.

The on-demand delivery platform was also cheaper for products like the Philips 2000 series 6.2L air fryer, DStv Explora Ultra decoder, PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, and the Conti CI-300 Portable Power Station.

Checkers Sixty60 sells the Philips air fryer for R1,499.99 — just under R500 less than Takealot’s price.

Checkers also sells the DStv Explora Ultra decoder, including installation, for R2,999. In comparison, Takealot sells the standalone decoder, without installation, for R3,399.

Shoppers can also save roughly R500 when buying a Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense controller from Checkers Sixty60.

The Conti CI-300 Portable Power Station has a capacity of 310Wh and a maximum output of 300W. Checkers Sixty60 sells the power station for R1,999, R800 less than Takealot.

Takealot was more affordable for six items, including a Logitech Driving Force Racing Wheel for Xbox consoles and PC, the 55-inch JVC QLED Smart TV, and the PlayStation 5 Slim Disc console.

Takealot sells the gaming steering wheel for R6,540. Checkers Sixty60 sells the same unit for R6,999.99.

Those who buy the JVC 55-inch QLED Smart TV from Takealot will save R200 over buying it through the Checkers Sixty60 app.

Takealot shoppers can get the Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Disc console for R11,749 through Takealot, which is just over R50 less than Checkers Sixty60’s price.

The 15 tech products in the basket amounted to R46,724.90 through the Checkers Sixty60 platform and R50,053 on Takealot.

The table below compares prices for various tech products sold through both the Checkers Sixty60 and Takealot platforms.