HiFi
Reviews and Complaints

Hi Fi corporation placed brochure in local news paper with specific item in this case being a Samsung S3 Mini for R1500. Approached the shop and was promptly shown a sign on counter stating this price had been a mistake. Manager approached me and started informing me he is at right to do so under some act at which point I stopped him and informed him I received the brochure and at the price advertised is what I would like the item being the phone. He continued his story about it being his right to change prices under the act and with me getting quite upset now, told him that this is fraudulent and criminal as false advertising. After more explaining of his rights and me being upset he threatened me with calling the police and having me arrested. I accepted and told him I would charge him with fraud, at which time he informed his staff ( now surrounding us) to call mall security and have me thrown out of his shop, as this too is his right referring to right of admission. I said I would like the police present at which he refused and said he will get the mall security to contact the police. He then walked away from me.

I am writing this to hopefully receive a speedy satisfying resolution.
I have a 32" LED 'BY DESIGN' TV which had a 'no text' issue on the screen. The TV is still under manufacturer's warranty, I took it in for repairs to HiFi Corp Westgate at the beginning of March 2014, on 28 March 2014 I received an sms saying that my TV has been repaired and ready for collection. Saturday 29 March, I went through to collect, only to find that the some parts are missing, like the TV stand and the remote (which is nowhere to be found), to add to this, the TV's glossy front trim around the screen has been scratched so badly, the screen itself is damaged/scratched and there is soldering spatter on the back cover of the TV when they replaced the mother board.
The TV was physically in perfect condition (given my German nature) when it went in for repairs due to a software issue, and came back in a shocking discarded condition. Anna and Sabelo, (the service department staff) were just as disgusted by the nature of the situation.
I was taken to the one floor manager at Westgate who had no sense of responsibility nor wanted to take any accountability for the problem but remained arrogantly steadfast in his condescending tone that the companies' protocol was to leave me the consumer caught up in a feud between the Westgate branch and the repair agents (which by the way, happened several times prior to other consumers that week according to Anna).
I had to make a scene and throw my toys just to get an inferior 25" loan TV as he was not willing to credit me, but rather send it back to the repair agents for assessments. . . I mean really. . .what is there to assess, the TV came back damaged, it's obvious, even Anna and Sabelo could see it and agreed that I should be given an article change. Apparently Jackie from the repair agents (Sansui) was to collect the unit that Monday (31 March), but only sent a driver the Wednesday (2 April). Till now there has been no resolve. First of all I struggle to comprehend that that one manager I dealt with - even both managed to retain their jobs when all of this is happening right under their noses. . .poorly managed store, no sense of customer care and most of all unacceptable tolerance by Hifi Corporation as a whole from their service/repair agents from Sansui.
I will gladly point out the manager whom I dealt with, as I received absolutely no empathy or support/backing, but a slap gat - higher than thou attitude! I am tired of fighting this battle, and am now considering taking further action if this debacle is not sorted by the end of this week!

Yours Sincerely
A very very unhappy client.

I am writing this to hopefully receive a speedy satisfying resolution.
I have a 32" LED 'BY DESIGN' TV which had a 'no text' issue on the screen. The TV is still under manufacturer's warranty, I took it in for repairs to HiFi Corp Westgate at the beginning of March 2014, on 28 March 2014 I received an sms saying that my TV has been repaired and ready for collection. Saturday 29 March, I went through to collect, only to find that the some parts are missing, like the TV stand and the remote (which is nowhere to be found), to add to this, the TV's glossy front trim around the screen has been scratched to [censored], the screen itself is damaged and there is soldering spatter on the back cover of the TV when they replaced the mother board. The TV was physically in perfect condition (given my German nature) when it went in for repairs due to a software issue, and came back in a shocking discarded condition. Anna and Sabelo, (the service department staff) were just as disgusted by the nature of the situation. I was taken to the one floor manager at Westgate who had no sense of responsibility nor wanted to take any accountability for the problem but remained arrogantly steadfast in his condescending tone that the companies' protocol was to leave me the consumer caught up in a feud between the Westgate branch and the repair agents (which by the way, happend several times prior to other consumers that week according to Anna). I had to make a scene and throw my toys just to get an inferior 25" loan TV as he was not willing to credit me, but rather send it back to the repair agents for assessments. . . I mean really. . .What is there to assess, the TV came back damaged, it's obvious, even Anna and Sabelo could see it and agreed that I should be given an article change. Apparently Jackie from the repair agents (Sansui) was to collect the unit that Monday (31 March), but only sent a driver the Wednesday (2 April). Till now there has been no resolve.
First of all I struggle to comprehend that that one manager I dealt with - even both managed to retain their jobs when all of this is happening right under their noses. . .Poorly managed store, no sense of customer care and most of all unacceptable tolerance by Hifi Corporation as a whole from their service/repair agents from Sansui. I will gladly point out the manager whom I dealt with, as I received absolutely no empathy or support/backing, but a slap gat - higher than thou attitude!
I am tired of fighting this battle, and am now considering taking further action if this debacle is not sorted by the end of this week!

Yours Sincerely
A very very unhappy client.

Dear Sir,
I had given by By Design Bar Fridge to Hi Fi Corporation Gaborone, Botswana as it had stopped working. It was in Garentte for 3years. When I gave the fridge to Hi Fi they told me that it will be replaced by our suppliers. I gave the fridge on 7th OCT 2013. As upto now I have called them on [protected] 3times and they say its coming when its here we will let you know. My Job num is 87017.
Please email me on [protected]@gmail.com
I have spoken to Edwin who was assisting me on this matter. Your Immediate action will be highly appreciated.
Regards
Manu.

In early july, we purchased a sansui car DVD system, it stopped working after 5 minutes of use and was returned to the store shortly thereafter. The store claims that it was abused (highly unlikely in 5 minutes of use). The store then returned to unit to the supplier who claims they have no spares and cannot repair it. So we are R1800 out of pocket with a useless unit with no guarantee and no possibility of repair. How can a "reputable store" sell a "reputable brand" that actually has no backup support or spares without at least giving the consumer fair warning of this prior to purchase. I find this completely unacceptable by both Sansui and Hifi Corporation. The only remedy they have offered me is to purchase another new unit at a slight discount.

Bought a 42′ Sansui Plasma tv just under 5 years ago cost me R14000.00, I was impressed as it came with a 5 year gaurantee. 13 months later there was a huge black vertical stripe down the centre of the tv I took it back to hi-fi corp. but was told it only had 12month gaurentee.There quote was high, so I took it to another electronic repair centre who told me that one of the three panels was hurt and needed to be replaced at R4000.00 . Ihad it repaired. 6 months after that the powersupply packed up it cost R3000.00 Then June this year The black vertical stripe reappeared I was just about to throw the tv into the rubbish when I recalled it has a 5 year gaurantee I found the receipt with the 5 year gaurentee stamped on it. After huge amounts of phone calls they told me that santronics their repairers said I had focefully hurt the TV and I must Pay R4500 to repair it. I am annoyed as this is not right they just do not want to keep their gaurentee. I have already spent R21k on this. I reckon Hi-fi Corp. Sells alot of rubbish and their gaurantees are nothing but a fake promise.SA must stop supporting them. I know me my family and everyone I know will not shop there ever again!

Hi
I bought a TV from HiFi corp with a 5 year warranty. The failed to repair it in 21 working days. Now they want to pay me out less than half of the price I paid for the TV. I told them I dont accept that. What should I do?
Nico Fourie - [protected]

I returned my samsung digital camera, purchased in November 2009, to hi-fi corporation on the 20 March 2010. The item was deleting pictures automatically and scrolling through the menu automatically and not allowing me to select a function. It was unable to take pictures as well. Hi fi corp failed to stick to their promise of contacting me within 7 days to update on status of repair. I only heard of them after i called them on 3 occasions, to find out on the 23rd day, their policy 21 days for repair, that the item was ready for collection. Faults were repaired, however, the item came back even more problematic than when checked in initially. It was now unable to click to take pictures and the left and right scroll button was now no longer working. I am yet to wait another few days (as per Bennie, the managers request) before i actually get my camera back, i called samsung and mastertronics and have logged a complaint with argus action. Nice that they happily accept payment and push for sale of an item but are unable to stick to their policies and ensure customer satisfaction. I want a refund! Gawie has a pathetic attiude and should consider a peoples skills course!

I personaly went to sattle my account in the store and ask them to stop the debit order from my bank account, the accouts ladie asured me that the derbit order is removed from their systerm, but to my supprise the money was deducted from my bank account on the 26th of March 2010, i then imediatly contacted the accounts department and spoke to another assistant, he advised me to go to the bank and stop the debit order from my bank side. It was not successful from my bank side as the derbit was created from Hi-fi Corporation, i then contacted the same individual from Hi-fi then he asured me that the money will be deposited in my account on Saturday 27th March 2010, which did not happen, i then contacted them again and they promissed that it will be deposited as soon as possible which did not happen aswell, i then phone them later on that week and spoke to the Superviser Lerato on Friday afternoon, she asured me that it will be handled on her side and the money will be deposited on Saturday 10 April 2010 and still have not received anything from them not even a phone call.

I had an account at Hi Finance at Hi fi coperation, i bought a Defy Stove on credit and made few payments and the store and then I was advised at the store that i can make payments at Morkels as they were working together at that time. I then made the final payment at Morkels in Pinetown Durban and apparantely that was closing the account for me in 2006 or late 2005 . Early this year 2010 i threw away the slips as it was old news, i have never been contacted by the store all these years then this year in March I was contacted by the company called Mariveli something apparently they are sent by Hi Fi coperation to collect the monies for this account that I paid up and told them i payed the account and they told me it not. I then went to hi fi where i opened the account in springfied they told me there is nothing they can do i should speak to Morkels i told the lady that it is the store that told me i can make payments at Morkels . I then proceeded to Morkels and told me point blank they cant help with old slips every three years they desctroy the records as they made a manual receipt i thought it will be captured somehow, Everyone in the store told me they were all new.

I bought a 42' plasma TV from HiFi corp on [protected]. On [protected] the picture just disappeared while there was still sound.We took it in for repairs on [protected] to the Centurion branch.We were told that they would give us a quotation within 7 days.After 30 days I called to find out what was happening.A very rude staff member told me to have patience and that they cannot call the service agents to find out.After a further 2 weeks, we visited the branch to get some answers and wa stold by the manager 'Welcome' that he will find out & let me know.On [protected] 'Vicky' called to say that it would cost R7000 to repair but if we produce our proof of purchase, which by the way we paid R7000 brand new for, that amount would be lowered. On [protected] I took the proof of purchase to the store and was told by 'Eugene' that the TV was still under guarantee and that it would not cost anything to repair.Today, [protected] I was called by the Service Manager 'Welcome' to find out if we're accepting the quote of R7000 or not. The TV is not under guarantee as we were told and the amount cannot be lowered. Why would I repair for R7000 when I bought it for R7000 brand new. HiFi Corp is pathetic.

I sent my TV in for repairs to Master Care as advised by Hi-fi Corp Fourways. After a three week battle to get an update on the status of the repair... A gentleman “John” from Master Care calls me to ask me for the serial number of my TV... I of course gave him the incorrect info as they should have had this recorded when they collected the TV. A few hours later they delivered a TV to my house that was scratched and broken... there are screws missing and the unit has not been reassembled correctly... I checked the serial number... It doesn’t match ... No one can tell me where my TV is... the wall mount bracket on the back of the TV doesn’t match the other half on my wall!

I purchased a fridge from hi-fi corporation westgate on the 24th october 2009 and requested that it be delivered on the31 oct 2009 at 10h00 as I had a busy day ahead of me. Long story short, it never happended... After many calls from my cell phone to the store the item eventually arrived at 12h00. I find that totally disgusting as the 'delivery men' who arrived stank of booze and were totally unprofessional. I wish businesses in this country would relalise how inportant good service delivery is and stop making excuses. After spending r10 000.00 at the store and receiving such poor service, I will never be a customer of hi-fi corporation again...

This is now my 3rd complaint and I will continue until this matter is sorted out! You are very quick to respond to a complaint, very quick to call the client, but you are NOT AT ALL good at getting the job done!

I now tell you again, I want this sorted out or I want my R700 back. I paid for repairs that weren't done! Add a new Hi-Fi Corporation report

I opened a hire purchase account at HI FI Corp (Branch Number - 02515) for a TV and a decorder. I then returned the decoder and the whole contract was subsequently cancelled. A new contract for the TV only was then opened but to my disappointment, money was deducted from account for the cancelled contract. Upon querying this with the branch, a lady called Refilwe asked me to furnish her with my ID and proof that money was indeed deducted from my account. I duly furnished her with all those details and she even indicated that she'll check with her system to confirm my query. Disappointingly, the time she promised to have deposited the money into my account has elapsed and there still isn't anything from HI-FI. Disgustingly, maybe aware that someone was sitting on her laurels instead of transferring money into my account, someone from the parent company, JDG, called me from their Randburg offices asking me to re-furnish them with my ID & Bank statement. I really would like to express my dissapointment with such shoddy services from Hi-FI. If everyone knew that everything that glitters isn't gold, I dont think some of would have done business with some companies as HI-FI.

On Friday, [protected], I purchased a 40' Samsung that was advertised with a Blue Ray DVD. There was no stock of the LG Blueray player and our number was taken by Moses who made a commitment that this could be collected on Monday [protected]. No call was received from Moses on either Monday nor Tuesday [protected] and making numerous calls, I was told that he had either 'just stepped out' or 'is on lunch' and would call back. Eventually I spoke with him where he then stated that the stock had to come from the warehouse and would be in-store by Wednesday (3009), in the afternoon. I queried why no courtesy call had been made. Again the day has passed and again no courtesy call received.

My total transaction amounted to R13, 829.96, which I consider to have been a reasonable sale. However, the service received is not acceptable and my expectation now is that the whole transaction be reversed, I receive my money back and go and make my purchase at another supplier where service is still important.

I am not happy with the service i got from Hi-Fi Corporation. They sent me an sms saying that my item was ready for collection after it was sent in for repairs only to find out that when i got their and asked the guy to switch it on and test it before i leave that it does not work. SO all that time wasted only to find out that it does not work. Then he tells me that if the supplier cannot fix the unit that they will only give back a partial amount ie. the value that the item is worth now. What i can't understand is that the item is under a Double Impact guarantee, if I'm under guarantee why am i not getting back the full amount that i paid for item. I am totally disgusted at the service that we get from Hi-Fi Corporation.

I bought my sister a brand new cellphone 3 months ago, an LG chatter box - she was crazy about the phone. In the third month of having the phone she one day took the phone out of her pocket it was off and would not turn on. Immediately i returned the phone to hi-fi coruption and as expected they were only willing to repair the phone after three months old i did not want a repaired cell phone when i had gone out to buy a brand new one that still had not one mark or scratch on it. The phone came with a guarantee not a warranty and to my knowlege there is a difference. They wanted the phone but could not help us with a temporary phone till our one would come back. They were rude un-helpful and nasty. I went through 3 Managers at the store and still could not get a new phone nor my money out of them i told them i needed a phone and would take anything because my phone is my monthly income and i can not do without it, still they were not helping me after 5 days i recieved my REPAIRED phone back with the old guarantee, if it has been so well repaired then why dont they re-new my one year guarantee, after all their goods are always at fault.

In july hi-fi - corp swapped my tomtom for a new on and within a month it freezes. took back to hifi and an indian service manager told me he call tomtom and they are going to send him some doc on what to do with the tomtom, he said he is going to test it and call me back the following day and he advised his staff member to book the gps in and he will confirm with tom tom if he has to swap it again or what. I'm still waiting for his call as he has promised and it is more that 3 weeks now.

Hi
I bought a Canon printer from HiFi Corp. after 6 month it shows only paper jam, doesn't do anything else!
I send it in to Hifi Corporation!
Hifi Corp. has a "Our no nonsense guarantee" = "faulty products will be repaired within 21 days or replaced by a similar product!"
I waited 25 Days! nothing!
I complaint with the Service Manager Nadia! Her answer: "You have to hold on, I have to contact Canon, I cannot give you a new Printer!
I complaint with the Call Center! After 5 Hours they got the Printer back!
on the following Day I collect the Machine!
The first Fax came in on Monday! Now the machine not only shows the Paper jam on the Display, you can see it
every page get stuck!
I called again, message to Nadia! No reply Message to Beggy! No Reply
finally I get hold of Nadia. She ask me to bring the printer in to get the Serial Nr.: I gave this Nr over the Phone.
Now more nonsense! with our no nonsense guarantee!
Remember! I send the Printer in on the 2nd of Sep.2008 today is the 16.10.2008
I have to hold on, for the Rep of Canon! only he can say YES/NO!
When you see on the Website http://www.hificorporation.co.za/information/guarantee/ a nice Sticker (LIVING THE PROMISE!)
Living a Lie/Joke would be better!

Thanks

Michael