JG
Josh G
Active since Feb 2026
2
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2 reviews3 months ago
Warranty issue eventually resolved by Takealot
I originally posted a 1/5-star review regarding this matter, but I am updating it now that the situation has been resolved. I purchased a De’Longhi La Specialista Opera espresso machine from Takealot (±R12–R13k). After about three weeks of normal home use, the machine developed serious issues, including abnormal boiling-water discharge during steaming and later a power failure where the unit would not switch on. Takealot initially referred the matter to the manufacturer under the product’s manufacturer warranty. De’Longhi’s appointed service agent tested the machine but could not reproduce the intermittent fault, and the unit was returned to me after several weeks without a repair or replacement. The behaviour I experienced was clearly not normal operation, leaving me with a machine I no longer had confidence in and uncer*****y about when the intermittent issue might occur again. To their credit, however, Takealot ultimately stepped in and offered either a refund or a replacement as an exception to their standard warranty process, given that De’Longhi South Africa had declined to resolve the issue. I elected a replacement and a brand-new unit has now been delivered. While the process took longer than it should have and required persistent follow-up, I do appreciate that Takealot ultimately honoured the resolution and replaced the unit. For that reason I have updated my original rating to reflect the final outcome.
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3 months ago
Intermittent fault + poor warranty support + unit returned with cosmetic damage
I bought a De’Longhi La Specialista Opera new from Takealot (±R12k–R13k). It made excellent coffee for about three weeks, then developed serious issues: an abnormal boiling-water discharge during steaming (with unusual internal noise), followed shortly after by a complete power failure where it would flash briefly, shut down, and then not power on at all for multiple days (tested across different plug points). Takealot referred me to De’Longhi/Philtec (appointed service agent). Philtec kept the unit for extended testing but ultimately advised “no fault found” because they couldn’t reproduce the intermittent failure, and no replacement/credit was authorised. The unit has now been returned to me. Two things left me extremely disappointed: 1) Warranty process feels meaningless for intermittent faults. A brand-new machine can fail, yet if it happens intermittently and can’t be reproduced in a workshop, you’re effectively left without a remedy. 2) The unit was returned in worse cosmetic condition than it was sent. I sent a spotless, near-new machine (I’m meticulous and it had only been used for ~3 weeks). It came back with visible dull scratches/scuffs on the front stainless area/display fascia and a small ding—damage that was not present when it was collected I understand service agents can only act on what they can verify, but the overall experience was deeply frustrating and left me feeling helpless as a consumer. I would not purchase De’Longhi again based on the warranty support and handling of the unit.
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