Got shafted by Takealot and Mobicell

Rouxenator

Rouxenator

Dank meme lord
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My first encounter with Mobicell started out bad but then things took a turn for the better and I was quite happy with the Mobicell Retro, read more about that and the review of it here : https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/695880-Mobicell

With that in mind I was eager to buy two of these : https://www.takealot.com/mobicel-ice-4gb-3g-dual-sim-smartphone-black/PLID44705576

Mobicell Ice 4GB 3G Dual Sim Smartphone - R599
Key features that made me buy this over the Vodafone Smart Mini 7 was :
- Processor: 1.3Ghz Quad Core
- Memory: 1G RAM + 4G ROM
- Camera: 5MP Rear + 2 MP Front
- SIM: Dual SIM

The Vodafone Smart Mini 7 only has :
- 512 MB RAM + 4 GB ROM
- Single 2MP Rear camera
- Single SIM

So imagine my surprise when my two Mobicell Ice phones gets delivered on Friday and I find the following :
Screenshot_2017-05-06-05-38-44.png
Screenshot_2017-05-06-05-39-21.png

CPU is worse than the Vodafone, RAM is the same and storage is much less. Add to that it is a single SIM phone and both the front and rear cameras are exceptionally poor VGA modules. I can't believe that Takealot and Mobicell can lie to blatantly on their specs. Takealot is even worse than Mobicell for claim it is a dual SIM phone. The Mobicell specs does not make that claim but all the other lies are there : http://mobicell.co.za/products/desire-series/ice/

I wrote to Takealot about this but I have little faith in them.
 
What OS is it meant to be running? If you get the phone with the specs they advertised, that's actually a decent deal for an entry-level dual SIM phone...
 
hj2k_x said:
What OS is it meant to be running? If you get the phone with the specs they advertised, that's actually a decent deal for an entry-level dual SIM phone...
Click to expand...

The OS is not the problem, I can live with Lollipop. The problem is that the phone is sold as being dual SIM, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, Quad Core CPU, 5MP camera and what I got was single SIM, 512MB RAM, 2GB ROM, Dual Core CPU, VGA camera.
 
Rouxenator said:
The OS is not the problem, I can live with Lollipop. The problem is that the phone is sold as being dual SIM, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, Quad Core CPU, 5MP camera and what I got was single SIM, 512MB RAM, 2GB ROM, Dual Core CPU, VGA camera.
Click to expand...
I hear ya, mate.

Keen to hear what Takealot says in response...
 
Even if they refund me double what I paid that is still not good enough for trying to fleece people like that.
 
TAKEALOT will take it back and refund if it's not as advertised. It's not technically them selling the item, so they don't really know these things. I know that's no excuse though, because that's what happens when you start doing crap like that.
 
Toxxyc said:
It's not technically them selling the item, so they don't really know these things.
Click to expand...
It is them selling the phones. Check the web site, it doesn't say "Sold By XYZ, Fulfilled by TakeALot". They stock them, they are responsible for the correct specs being advertised.
 
Yes, they told me the following :

Thank you for your response.

Can you please be so kind as to forward us an image of the item received as well as the bar-code image so that we can investigate this matter further to ensure that we find a resolution as soon as possible.

Kind regards
Click to expand...

So I sent them this picture telling them I wanted dual SIM phone with the specs advertised.
IMG_20170508_202631923.jpg

I also included screenshots of the actual specs. Bunch of crooks!
 
Make sure that they comply with the CPA and that THEY arrange collection, at THEIR expense. Don't let them put the onus on you to arrange the courier.
 
Have you checked with Mobicel regarding the correct specs as it's possible that CPU X is not returning the correct information. I think that I may be getting incorrect information regarding the quad core processor inside one of my tablets using a different app.

I recently bought a Uhans A101 (LTE, 5" 720p screen, 1/8GB, dual SIM) for around $55 (using Aliexpress app new customer voucher discount) which has much better specs than any of the local phones in that price bracket. I bought it as a gift but I was very impressed with the quality, particularly the screen. You can click on the feedback tab in the link below to see what other customers think. Also very happy with my Nomu S20 although that is quite a bit more expensive.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UHA...lgo_pvid=8cdcb42e-334f-47b6-a6db-92a6c017a437
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTCdRG3QIpY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQJTBIFQHac
 
Last edited:
Dairyfarmer said:
It is them selling the phones. Check the web site, it doesn't say "Sold By XYZ, Fulfilled by TakeALot". They stock them, they are responsible for the correct specs being advertised.
Click to expand...

Ah, I did not see that. I retract my statement then, apologies.
 
The only difference between Takealot and Mobicell is that Takealot has the phone listed as being dual SIM, see the table below :
vaaktap.gif
 
Mr D just collected the two phones. Will see how this plays out, I want a full refund and a lil-sum-sumtin to make up for their cock-up.
 
Toxxyc said:
They're not obliged to give you anything, except a refund.
Click to expand...

Of course, that is the bare minimum. However I have had just one too many s....y experience with them so if they don't make up for it I'll start exploiting all their other falsely advertised goods
 
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