TB
Terrance B
Active since Mar 2021
11
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Industries
Reviews
11 reviews12 months ago
Beware of Unreliable and Dishonest Metalwork Services in Somerset West: Marais Groenewald
I am deeply disappointed to share my experience with a metalwork contractor, Mr. Marais Groenewald, in Somerset West, Helderberg area. I hired Mr Groenewald to design, quote, and install galvanized burglar bars, sliding double-door gates, pedestrian garden gates, and a large sliding rail motor gate for my home, based on a neighbor’s glowing recommendation and Mr. Groenewald's seemingly impressive portfolio. The contract, worth tens of thousands of Rands, was awarded out of trust and a desire to support someone reportedly in need of work. However, red flags appeared early: Mr. Groenewald frequently arrived late, citing vehicle breakdowns, worked sporadically without staff, and presented a consistently unprofessional appearance. I overlooked these issues, even assisting Mr. Groenewald with heavy lifting due to concerns for his own safety. Out of empathy, I assigned additional work, hoping to help Mr. Groenewald get back on track. Regrettably, the final results were far below the professional standard showcased in Mr. Groenewald's portfolio and my neighbor’s property. The most egregious issue surfaced six months later when rust spots appeared on the supposedly galvanized metalwork, despite my explicit request for galvanization suitable for a coastal environment. After months of ignored calls and evasive WhatsApp messages, Mr. Groenewald eventually admitted to outsourcing the galvanization and knowingly installing non-galvanized metal, painted to deceive me into believing it met my specifications. This was a clear breach of trust and contract, as I was charged for galvanization that was never done. After 12-18 months of delays, Mr. Groenewald delivered a replacement motor gate, which has sat uninstalled under my carport for over four weeks. Mr. Groenewald’s excuses - lacking funds for basic materials like cement, a post, and a runner track - demonstrate a shocking lack of professionalism, accountability, and integrity. Despite my offers to provide more work if Mr. Groenewald showed remorse and rectified the issues, Mr. Groenewald has failed to act, leaving me with a rusted, defective gate and unfulfilled promises. As someone experienced in corporate governance, I regret letting empathy override clear warning signs. I strongly advise others in Somerset West to avoid Mr. Groenewald's services to spare themselves the stress, financial loss, and endless excuses I’ve endured. Trustworthy contractors prioritise quality, honesty, and accountability - qualities Mr. Groenewald sorely lacks. Save yourself the grief and choose a reputable provider.
0 replies
13 months ago
Deep Disappointment with Misleading Pricing and Poor Service from Chamdor Faktry Sales
To Whom It May Concern, I write this note with deep regret and disappointment, after what has been a long history of satisfaction and loyalty with Chamdor Faktry Sales. As a customer who has repeatedly chosen and recommended your business over many years — particularly for custom-made curtains — it is unfortunate that my most recent experience has not only fallen short of expectations, but has left me feeling misled, disregarded, and completely let down. Having relocated from Johannesburg to the Western Cape, I was reassured by the knowledge that Chamdor supports online and remote orders with the same attentiveness and professionalism I had come to know from in-person interactions at your branches. Regrettably, this proved not to be the case. My recent attempt to place a custom curtain order was marred by confusion, inexperience, untimely delays and ultimately, a lack of transparency. After initially liaising with a senior staff member, I was handed over to a new and evidently inexperienced salesperson named Tally. Despite providing her with detailed measurements and specifications -- information I also provided to your competitors -- the quote she returned (R19,000 for 12 curtains) seemed attractively low. Encouraged by this pricing, I increased my order to 17 curtains. Suddenly, the quote more than tripled to an implausible R56,000 for the additional five curtains - without a coherent explanation. After several unproductive exchanges, I scaled back to the original 12-curtain order - only to be told the new quote was now R31,000. The reasoning: the original quote had not included the necessary fullness or gathering required for proper curtaining - a fundamental element in curtain making. This critical oversight speaks directly to the inexperience of the staff member and highlights a lack of internal checks and balances that should exist for custom orders. Worse still, at no point did this salesperson escalate the matter to a supervisor, nor was any effort made to restore trust or offer a meaningful resolution. Instead, I received a curt message wishing me “all the best in my future endeavours” - a dismissive and rather inappropriate gesture, particularly when I am now left with an unfurnished home, no product, and immense frustration. I am disheartened that a company I once spoke so highly of, and to which I referred others, could allow such a breakdown in professionalism and accountability. This is not just a case of poor customer service - it is a cautionary tale of what happens when businesses fail to properly train their front-line representatives and fail to uphold their standards across all platforms, especially remote ones. Let this serve as a reference of caution to your management and potential customers alike: when placing online or telephonic orders through Chamdor, ensure that you are working with an experienced consultant - especially for customised products. One bad interaction, unfortunately, can erase years of goodwill. I do hope Chamdor reflects seriously on the implications of this experience - not only on individual customers like myself, but on the long-term reputation of your brand. Reputation matters! Sincerely, Terry Booysen A Former Loyal Customer
0 replies
13 months ago
First-class service, exceptional results, true professionalism - a rare gems!
I cannot speak highly enough of the exceptional service I received from Gordon's Bay Blinds and Shutters, particularly from Johnny, who went above and beyond from start to finish. From our first meeting, Johnny was punctual, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. He offered practical, honest advice that was not only design-savvy but also cost-conscious - at no point did I feel pressured or upsold. Instead, I felt I was in the hands of someone who genuinely cared about delivering the best value and result for me. The project involved both installing new blinds and refurbishing older ones, which they took off-site, repaired beautifully, and reinstalled to look absolutely brand new - all at a fraction of the cost of replacing them. The quality of the workmanship and materials was top-class. What truly set them apart, however, was their respect for our home. Despite challenging conditions -- including a heavy downpour of rain on the final installation day -- Johnny and his team arrived fully prepared with towels to clean their feet, and even brought a vacuum cleaner to clean up any dust from drilling. There was no mess, no fuss, and no disturbance; just courteous, thoughtful professionals doing their job with pride and precision. It’s rare these days to find service providers who still work with such integrity, care, and old-school values - putting the customer first and treating your home like their own. I would recommend Gordon’s Bay Blinds and Shutters, and Johnny in particular, without a moment’s hesitation. First-class service, exceptional results, and true professionalism - a rare gem these days!
0 replies
14 months ago
Updated Review – Kwikot restores confidence through outstanding service!
I am writing this follow-up to my earlier complaint about the Kwikot gas geyser I had installed at my cottage, which had performance issues when used with a mixer tap. Initially, I experienced significant frustration with customer engagement and support—my concern was not about a warranty claim, but rather a performance issue that had affected my tenant's use of the system. Despite several attempts to escalate the issue, I felt unheard. That changed dramatically when I was contacted by David Crawley, Head of Product Line – Watercare at Kwikot (Haier) SA (Pty) Ltd. David took the time to truly understand the heart of the problem, which had never been about replacing a faulty or broken unit, but about the suitability of the product in a real-world application. To Kwikot’s credit -- and particularly to David’s -- an appropriate solution was quickly found. A team was sent out to replace the gas geyser with an electric model more suited to the installation context, at no cost to me. Their responsiveness, professionalism, and willingness to resolve the matter went above and beyond, and I feel that Kwikot has fully redeemed itself in how it handled this issue. This experience has reaffirmed my belief in the power of respectful stakeholder engagement, open communication, and sound governance principles. Mistakes or misunderstandings can happen in any business, but HOW a company responds defines its true character. In this case, Kwikot demonstrated integrity, accountability, and care. I would like to publicly acknowledge their outstanding response and give credit where it is due. Trust, once dented, can be repaired - and Kwikot has done exactly that. Thank you again to David Crawley, Johann Coetzee, Anton Voges and the team. You’ve restored both my confidence in your brand and my admiration for how good companies should handle customer complaints. Kind regards, Terry Booysen
1 reply
16 months ago
Attitude, Professionalism, Quality and Customer Service is a rare find these days!
Having recently relocated to the Western Cape, I purchased a residential property that was in serious need of repair, and this included revamping, and/or installing new gutters. Living high up on a mountain, the wind speeds have the power to ******* roof tiles, including gutters! One of the existing older gutters took a wind beating two days ago, one which was reinstalled -- at my instruction -- but was clearly no longer strong enough to withstand the monstrous, unrelenting winds in Somerset West. Truth be told, the technicians of Helderberg Aluminum Gutters ('HAG') did warn me at the time of my first repairs that the re-installation of my older gutters may not last, BUT economics caused me to take a different route. So for context, all the new gutters, including the box gutters -- all manufactured and installed by HAG -- have not budged in these 60-70km winds for the last three years, and they are still very solid! Then two days ago, one of the old gutters was ********** the house by the wind. I called HAG and within hours, they responded, and the following day they were at my house to assess the damages. When I suggested repairing the old gutter and reinstalling, they advised differently, and went about supplying and fitting a new section of guttering, running some 3m in length. Expectedly, I asked HAG to send me the bill and followed this up with an email (knowing full well that replacing the old for new was what I should have done three years earlier, but economics stood in the way at the time). The following day, I received an email from HAG, saying, "Your account has been settled in full", meaning that I was not charged for their call-out, the new 3m section of gutter, nor its implementation! This is off-the-chart professional service! It is very clear how the HAG's leadership go about their business. Their attention to detail, including their professionalism and customer service orientated actions simply delight customers! To be honest, it is rare that one comes across these sorts of companies who practice good governance and ethical behaviour. They demonstrate and treat customers fairly, and with respect. Being in the corporate governance profession for over two decades, I can attest that HAG is a rare 'find', and I applaud their leadership which clearly is an ethos that runs throughout the company and their employees. This has been my experience with HAG from day one! Exceptional in every aspect, and well done!!
0 replies
20 months ago
TBZ Removals & Delivery: There's great importance to being honest and fair!
A company's reputation depends largely upon the ratings it receives from its customers, and all it takes is for one very dissatisfied customer to provide a bad rating, which in itself causes doubt for future customers to engage in the company's services. It takes many years to build the company's reputation, and a few minutes to destroy it! My experience with TBZ Removals & Delivery (Cape Town, Epping) was abysmal! Besides their shocking customer service, including their false delivery promises, they attempted to manoeuvre themselves out of errors they had made. Trying to speak to a higher authority in the company was fruitless. I would strongly dissuade doing business with TBZ, unless you have a solid contract in place. And trying to establish more information about them through a PAIA manual is also a waste of time. This in itself is a massive red flag! A lesson for all customers, of which I was rudely reminded. First establish the governance credentials of the company, which is usually done by checking the company's website. If the company does not meet regulatory requirements, stay far away! If there were a zero rating, TBZ would get zero! The review will also be posted on other social media platforms. Lessons learned!
0 replies
21 months ago
When a so-called 4-star lodge offers less than one-star patron service!
A shocking three (3) night stay at a so-called 4-star lodge, that offers less than one-star patron service! Never again! If you don't mind the constant highway noise, or waiting for your steak to thaw out before it is prepared (two hours for dinner), cold water in the room and therefore cold showers and shaving, late breakfasts because the chef is in a bad mood; or a room safe where you need to use the key at reception; then this is the lodge for you! Don't even bother asking for the owner or manager to call you to discuss these matters; that falls on deaf ears! A truly shameful reflection on the SA tourism industry!
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51 months ago
Definitely more superior in pool netting services!
What an amazing experience with Aqua-Net team in Cape Town! This has definitely been a memorable experience; from the outset, Aqua-Net were accommodating, price-sensitive and they actually listened to my requirements (unlike their competitors). Giving Aqua-Net a 5-star rating is so deserving; their professional services from start to end was a breath of fresh air! Well done Andrew Reed, Antoinette Benjamin and your Cape Town implementation team. You exceeded all my expectations! Kindest regards, Terry Booysen
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51 months ago
Electra Bug - a shocking experience!
There's just so much to write about Electra Bug that's so wrong; but besides their arrogance and slap dash manner of conducting their water and electrical CoC for the property I purchased, to verbally threaten a customer because their workmanship was highly questionable has got to be the ultimate reason why no one in their reasonable mind would recommend this company! Read the content on the Electra Bug Facebook page carefully, and exercise professional scepticism. Until such time that this company rectifies its errors on my property, I shall do everything in my power to forewarn unsuspecting customers of their poor workmanship and unethical behaviour that I experienced! Surely this is why Hello Peter exists; to advise of the good and THE BAD experiences!
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63 months ago
Conways Aluminium Profile Stockists (Randburg) - a division of Wispecko
Would love to big a big 'shout out' to Conways Aluminium Profile Stockists in Randburg, more specifically their branch manager, Steffanie Schuster. I did not realise Conways in Randburg was having a stock-take on 26 March 2021, and arrived at their outlet to purchase aluminium. Expectedly, most outlets would have turned a customer away during their stock-take exercise. Upon explaining my urgency of having to complete a job on my trailer for my two German Shepherds on their way to Cape Town -- and hence the need to purchase the material -- Steffanie took the time to listen to my desperate appeal for her assistance. Without any delay, Steffanie called her sales manager (Jackie) out of the factory during their stock taking and between the two of them, they went out of their way to assist me. I could see what my sale could do and how potentially it could mess up their stock-take process, yet they graciously assisted me in a polite and professional manner! This was so unexpected, and their exemplary service reminded me of the times when customer service was king. Boy, was I blown away by these ladies! Just goes to show what good attitude and excellent customer service can do for a company's brand and reputation! It's the attitude of a company's people (employees) that can either make or break it! Conways (Randburg); you have an excellent, world-class Branch Manager at the helm and the customer experience with you today was off the scale!. Thanks a million!! Terry Booysen
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Review Distribution
5 Star
6 (54.54545454545455%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
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2 Star
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1 Star
5 (45.45454545454545%)