I’ve been using Takealot for nearly three years and in that time have never, repeat, NEVER, had an issue. In fact, when I accidentally ordered the wrong lens protector for my camera they returned the day after to replace it. That is not bad service if you ask me. Also, because the protector was over R250, it was delivered for free as per their minimum order price policy. Well people of the internet, button up your rage suit, because things are getting a bit more expensive now. So much more I may need to find an alternative…
Takealot’s minimum order cost to qualify for free delivery has now nearly doubled in price and is sitting at R450. That is a pretty huge jump. Not only that though, the standard shipping has jumped from R36 to R60, again an increase of almost 100%. Speaking to Mybroadband, Takealot said:
This delivery charge fairly reflects the actual cost of delivery to our business, which before that point had remained unchanged for some time.
I suppose that is true. Costs of everything have increase, which is odd because my salary certainly hasn’t. That still doesn’t explain the huge leap in the cost of minimum orders though. I get going up even 50% but nearly 100%? Apparently it has to do with keeping their product cost low and being competitive with other online stores within South Africa:
As we grow, we can’t continue to offer free delivery on orders below R450. This wouldn’t be sustainable without increasing our prices and our delivery charges, neither of which we want to do. Making this change allows us to keep our prices low, delivery charges the same, and keeps our delivery options competitive with other South African online stores
While I completely agree with increasing cost to offset inflation this seems like overkill to me. I am not sure if there is some new management structure since their merger with Kalahari but people have noticed differences. For example, when they have ‘specials’ it seems that they increase the price of a product, before adding on the ‘discount’… I’ve also heard and seen many complaints in regards to the shipping (again, I haven’t experienced this) but perhaps that is more the fault of the people I follow on social media.
What do you think? Do you think this increase is a justifiable sum and, has the quality of service suffered in your eyes?
Last Updated: March 10, 2017
Geoffrey Tim
March 10, 2017 at 10:07
I use Takealot pretty frequently, and it’s precisely because of the free delivery on smaller ticket stuff. I’d regularly “top up” my order with smaller items I may or may not actually need just to hit the free delivery threshold. I probably wont be doing that anymore.
Admiral Chief
March 10, 2017 at 12:54
Takealot was infected with the kalahari virus, ever since then it has been dying a slow death
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 13:05
My heart hopes you are wrong, but my head….. is starting to lean that way
Viking Of Science
March 10, 2017 at 10:10
You see, The Problem is that Takealot is owned by Naspers, so Takealot is helping sustain their own failing magazine divisions and the like. BIG MEDIA strikes again.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:22
Does Tiger Global (American Hedge-fund) not still own the majority? They bought Take2 in 2011 and moulded that into Takealot.com, while pumping in millions of dollars to do so.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:33
For those interested in the whole owns who thing
http://www.fin24.com/Tech/News/Naspers-CEO-Merger-vital-for-SA-etail-growth-20141007
Viking Of Science
March 10, 2017 at 11:55
Nope, Remember that Whole Kalahari thing…. That was Naspers Taking Control of Takealot, and keeping that name, because it’s more recognisable than Kalahari.net
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 12:21
Nah, 41% to each Naspers and Tiger Global.
“Naspers and Tiger would each hold about 41% of the equity in the deal, according to Naspers investment relations officer (IRO) Meloy Horn” from article i reference below
Viking Of Science
March 10, 2017 at 12:51
Well now, I Stand Corrected.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 13:05
I do read a lot of the financial pages in various publications, over the years. Certain things, especially about companies I do business with, tend to stick
Matthew Figueira
March 10, 2017 at 10:10
More like Takealot of your money AMIRITE? *flies away on a cabbage*
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2017 at 10:22
They used to be my main online retailer. While they’ve broadened their sales categories, they’ve reduced the amount of stuff in the categories I’m interested in and upped their prices. I don’t even bother looking at their site anymore when wanting to buy.
Galbedir
March 10, 2017 at 10:37
So damn true! I commented on this just the other day to a friend. I’ve used Takealot since the Take2 days, and I’ve noticed massive stock variety loss over the years. I don’t even bother looking for PC parts on tTakealot anymore…they took like 3 months after release before they even got any Rx480’s or GTX1070’s, and then they only got like 2 models. Sad how the bigger a company gets, it starts to loose track of why people began using it.
HvR
March 10, 2017 at 11:02
Same, when they still was the “mirror” retailer for Amazon Uk it was absolutely awesome.
Since the Kalahari takeover with BS special,ad spamming , terrible service I’ve only bought a vacuum cleaner
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:04
Yeah, I do not use them for items like that, but for household items, craft material and all that, their prices are normally damn good. Cat sand, sometimes pool supplies, sometimes not.
except for sticker books. Go to cna.co.za and type in stickers, sort by price descending and buy loads of stickers for the toddler for the price of ONE Name brand sticker book in the shops.
HvR
March 10, 2017 at 11:06
Household items I’m just using the normal retailer online shops.
My takealot purchases dropped from 3 a month, to one in 2 years.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:07
Yeah, but we shop around. But habit, over many years, from Take2 days, we start at Takelot.com
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:06
We still find good values, but we, especially my wife (ok, only my wife) is on expert at this online price compare thing. We have accounts at most places in SA and some abroad as well.
We still use Takealot.com for lots of goods, but only if the price makes sense, as one should. AND yes, we both think that since they swallowed Khalari.com, their prices have gone up AND their specials are less special
Matthew Holliday
March 10, 2017 at 11:47
Pretty much the same, Ive been using them since they were still Take2, thats like, 2008/2009 and since theyve taken over kalahari, and started adding in home, gardening and baby supplies, their collection of cool stuff has drastically dropped off.
Even their daily deals are now just a collection of hosepipes and nappies.
HairyEwok
March 10, 2017 at 12:34
Wanted to buy a gaming monitor from them thinking since their huge the price should be good (since they buy in bulk). I nearly fell out my chair when i saw the price is nearly 70% more expensive than the small computer businesses.
Gerhard Davids
March 10, 2017 at 10:34
“This wouldn’t be sustainable without increasing our prices and our delivery charges, neither of which we want to do. Making this change allows us to keep our prices low, delivery charges the same, ”
But they are still increasing delivery charges…. so how now?
Ottokie
March 10, 2017 at 10:35
“Making this change allows us to keep our prices low”…lol
I am literally going after work today to the mall and buying a webcam from Incredible Connection just because they are R100 cheaper than Takealot
Chris Bellingan
March 10, 2017 at 10:39
Generally Takealot is great with delivery and returns. I’ve had 2 bad experiences with them though. Twice they advertised certain versions or included games in bundled offers and when I received it, one of the games/blurays was not the version advertised. Takealot does inflate prices on certain products especially electronics and takealot often also bundle games, but it is often cheaper to buy those games from them separately. They also inflate tv prices and then offer “major discount %”, but the discounted price is often the exact same price Dionwired is charging for the exact tv (not on special at Dionwired).
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:02
Yes: we buy a coffee maker, it breaks. Next day, they pick it up, day AND bring a new one. All from e-mail, no phone call.
Very impressive after sales, BUT Only on good they sell, i.e. if it says on behalf of or sold through, then all bets, in my opinion, are off.
HvR
March 10, 2017 at 11:05
Lately they have stooped so low as just to use blatant false advertising and bait clicking.
50% off TV’s, click, 20 TV with between 3% and 9% off.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:06
I HATE THAT SORT OF THING. NOT SHOUTING AT YOU.
bad people, bad.
Dawid Eduard Roestorf
March 10, 2017 at 10:42
Raru.co.za
Go have a ball, so much better service than takealot. My last 3 orders with takealot has been nothing but headaches.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2017 at 11:09
They’re my goto for nerd stuff like my dolls. Wootware for tech.
Matthew Holliday
March 10, 2017 at 11:57
They do have cool merch yeah.
Magoo
March 10, 2017 at 10:59
I’ve ordered from them loads of times and none of those orders would have been below R450. But anyway, they aren’t so bad. Prices are higher than they used to be, but they used to be really low in comparison to other shops like Loot, Kalahari, Wantitall, etc.
I must say I have gradually switched over to Raru for when I need things. But they have the occasional gem in the daily deals.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:00
I use Takealot.com A Lot. we hate shopping. We buy loads of things of online, from different suppliers.
This annoys me, but on principle more than cost. Our typical delivery exceeds the R450 mark very rare to not.
BUT: who owns the Takealot.com delivery path most commonly used (we have had another courier once or twice)
http://www.takealot.com/about/mrd – Yeah, Takelot.com own it…..
Hmm, they own it? So why is Insert South African Kitchen place here, who does not own the delivery process, cheaper to deliver?
HvR
March 10, 2017 at 11:09
Their service has really become absolute bull crap.
Like my cousin’s experience last year. Order Xmas gifts for all the children in November, arrived on the 30 December…..
No excuse, no explanation, just shut up and take it.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:11
Yeah, luckily we were not effected (Christmas shopping normally starts in February AND we do not believe in big expense gifts), but we know of several people that were badly effected. I think
Takealot.com did make an announcement, I think early Jan to apologise. It seems that December 2016 had more than double the number of transactions than December 2015, which in itself was a record, but not by near that much. Not an excuse, though.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:17
Question: Why does nobody else seem up in arms, principle of the thing, that Takealot.com OWN (well, majority shares, from memory of transaction a few years back) MRD?
They use MRD for most of their deliveries AND still need to increase delivery prices above what some other online retailer are charging, who must negotiate with, say MRD, for delivery?
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 10, 2017 at 11:25
Well I didn’t know, but their stated reasons for increasing delivery prices does seem disingenuous if they can control the pricing.
miaau
March 10, 2017 at 11:28
Not sure if they control the pricing or not, BUT I read financial papers and remember they bought MRD, to protect their core business they said. Make sure deliveries are smooth, protect brand Takealot.com was the idea.
I think 3 years ago now, Janary? Something like that.
Link again, from Takealot.com http://www.takealot.com/about/mrd
Matthew Holliday
March 10, 2017 at 11:56
Well, they atleast get results for all that, their deliveries are WAY faster than Raru and Onedayonly.
Raru is like a week and Onedayonly is like 3 weeks.
AngelRain
March 10, 2017 at 13:53
First they start shipping collector’s edition boxes that have been removed from the original plastic packaging and plastered all over with Takealot stickers… now this…? Their service has been in steady decline for a long time, but in the last month or two it’s been utterly pathetic, like they’ve completely given up trying. They can keep their stuff, I’ll happily give my money to Raru instead.
Daniel Breiter
March 10, 2017 at 15:05
This is disappointing. It was hard to justify NOT getting some from takealot before. Oh well, aliexpress.com it is.
John Van Rensburg
March 13, 2017 at 13:11
since losing the amazon account and rebranding, their service has progressively become both slower, their prices ridiculous, and their aftersales terrible. I’ve stopped using Takealot 2 years ago in favour of Loot and Raru. might take a little longer, but at least they have better range, and value my return patronage.