Complaint against Tafelberg Furniture
Complaint against Tafelberg Furniture – Cape Gate
We bought an Elegance portable air conditioner from Tafelberg Furniture (Cape Gate). The original unit stopped working and was returned to the store. It was sent away, confirmed to be faulty, and replaced under warranty with a new unit.
Within 24 hours of using the replacement unit, excessive water started pouring out from underneath the air conditioner. This never happened with the previous unit. We had to grab towels and clean up large amounts of water. I checked the drainage and could not find anything wrong. As the air conditioner continued running, the same issue would occur again within a few hours sudden bursts of water pouring out from underneath the unit. This happened two to three times per day.
Please note:
This issue never occurred with the original unit.
I regularly drained the water from the back as instructed.
I am fully familiar with how to operate this unit the previous one was even used on camping trips without a single issue.
I returned the replacement unit to Tafelberg Furniture and dealt with a staff member named Maria, who informed me that the replacement unit was “out of warranty,” but that she would test it. The unit was taken downstairs to an open area for testing.
Later, Maria phoned me and said she could not find anything wrong with it. I explained that this was not possible and requested that the unit be sent for professional assessment. She refused, and instead instructed me to collect the unit and contact the supplier (a Mr Steve), who would supposedly assess the problem via a WhatsApp video call showing how I use the air conditioner.
I find this approach completely absurd and unprofessional. I refused and requested either a proper assessment or a refund. Maria again refused, stating that a refund or repair was not possible because the replacement unit was “out of warranty,” but that Mr Steve would call me as a favour.
I clearly stated that I was not satisfied with this level of service and reminded her that under the Consumer Protection Act, I am entitled to a repair, replacement, or refund within three months for defective goods. This was simply brushed off.
Based on this experience, I will never do business with Tafelberg Furniture (Cape Gate) or any of their branches again, and I will not recommend them to anyone.
As for Maria’s customer service it was extremely disappointing. She was rude, aggressive, loud, and unpleasant to deal with. This entire experience shows a complete lack of accountability and respect for consumer rights.








