Takealot has delisted several smartphones that mimic popular flagship models from Apple and Samsung, pending an investigation.
Takealot has removed several third-party seller listings for fake smartphones mimicking popular flagship models after MyBroadband informed the e-commerce platform of their existence.
The online shopping giant told MyBroadband that third-party sellers of electronics and smartphones must comply with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s requirements.
MyBroadband spotted several fake smartphone listings on Takealot’s marketplace, each of which mimicked a popular flagship model. Takealot has delisted the products pending an investigation.
These included “Children and Elderly Android Smartphones” that resemble Samsung Galaxy S devices and models from the latest iPhone line-up.
Another listing priced at R1,688 was for a “POCA M6 Pro”, a fake version of the POCO M6 Pro, which claimed to pack a flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
MyBroadband asked Takealot how it moderated third-party listings for gadgets and smartphones on its marketplace.
“All third-party sellers who trade on the Takealot platform are required to comply with all applicable South African laws and regulations, including applicable ICASA requirements,” it said.
“Takealot may request supporting documentation or information where appropriate as part of our marketplace compliance and onboarding processes.”
Takealot added that, as with any marketplace of its scale, maintaining the integrity of every listing was a continuous process. It said it was reviewing the examples MyBroadband had shared with it.
“We have delisted these specific products pending the outcome of our investigation,” the South African e-commerce giant said.
“Any sellers found to purposefully or repeatedly contravene our policies are dealt with urgently and with the seriousness it deserves, and appropriate action is taken.”
Takealot added that, in incidents where customers aren’t satisfied with the product they purchased, they are entitled to return it and receive a full refund, subject to the returns policy.
The South African e-commerce giant recently denied that its marketplace had become a hotbed for counterfeit goods from Chinese merchants.
This came after MyBroadband received numerous reports from local merchants, which alleged that their sales on Takealot were suffering due to an influx of Chinese sellers.
They also claimed that foreign sellers were cloning their products, with similar designs and functionality, to sell them at a lower price.
Local merchants complained about the reputational damage these trends could cause, as Chinese sellers sometimes manufacture inferior-quality products.
However, Takealot told MyBroadband that it had observed no increase in customer or seller complaints related to counterfeit goods.
“We respectfully dispute the characterisation of a ‘proliferation of counterfeit products’ on our platform,” Takealot said.
It added that it had a strict zero-tolerance policy against counterfeit goods, with immediate account termination for any sellers found to be in violation.
“Our robust anti-counterfeit measures include proactive monitoring, rapid response protocols, and comprehensive seller verification,” Takealot said.
It said its brand programme protected 1,500 brands with registered trademarks at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.
It also said many of its established local merchants were themselves importing products to remain competitive.
“The expansion of international sourcing reflects the natural maturation of South Africa’s e-commerce landscape,” Takealot said.
It added that its approach followed global best practice, in which leading platforms operating hybrid marketplaces combine local and international suppliers.
Local merchants also alleged that they were allowed a maximum lead time of 5 days for deliveries, while foreign merchants were allowed up to 3 weeks.
However, Takealot said all sellers were treated equally regardless of origin. It said lead time variations reflected legitimate international logistics realities, not preferential treatment.
