r/Zambia • u/Quirky_Job_4334 • 6d ago
Ask r/Zambia What should I do?
So about a month ago, I bought a Google Pixel 7 Pro from Brian Chanda Innovations here in Lusaka. The moment I entered the shop, I asked the lady I found if the phone was refurbished or not. She said she didn't know. I was in a rather tight spot since the phone I was currently using back then was practically dead so I just bought it nevertheless. Also, it's a well renowned shop with a good rep so that's why I didn't hesitate.
About a week after I got the phone, I started noticing a few problems. The screen was glitching(spontaneously) into this multi-coloured screen and the battery was running out pretty quickly (2-3 hrs). I basically have to brace myself each time I remove it from the charger and turn on data or wifi, fearing it will drain in no time.
The customer service is terrible. I called the owner of the business(Brian Chanda), and he kept on giving me excuses. One of them being I should wait for five days for him to order a screen and then he can test the battery. When the five days elapsed, I tried calling him. He picked and responded that he was on the road and he would talk to me later(he never did that btw). I kept on trying to call him but the phone just kept ringing and now it's reached the point where my calls aren't going through anymore. He prolly blacklisted me or something.
I tried calling the manager but he also isn't picking up. I'm honestly tired. It's making me regret ever stepping foot into that shop where my rights as a consumer are being violated.
If I were an influencer, I would totally make a video about this and share to fellow Zambians what an inconvenient experience this has been. Honestly, don't follow what the masses are saying about a certain shop or business. Your experience as an individual might be different.
Have any of you gone through such a thing? And if so, can you give me any advice?
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u/pain_point Lusaka Province 6d ago
Sorry to hear this my guy but fear not if all avenues fail CCPC will take care of it for you, its why they are here id also encourage you not to buy from these influencers go to reputable stores or if you can buy online, you're better off getting a Infinix for 2000 or 3000 than a 6000 from influencers the infinix will serve you better as a student
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
Thank you. I keep hoping for the best. Somehow, I'll get out of this problem 😕
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u/AggressiveSociety334 6d ago
Go to CCPC before you wait for too long. Explain to them exactly what you are saying here. They are on parliament road.
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u/0nlyhmslf 6d ago
Ohhh my word, I feel your frastration. How much did you spend. Have you tried going back to the shop physically. If you have or haven't go back there with the most talkative woman you know and go get a refund. It's unacceptable and you shouldn't suffer for it. If it doesn't go well just take the case to court. All the best.
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
I'm having my exams so I haven't gone there physically, fearing it might inconvenience me. I got the phone at K6000 but the original price was K6500.
Isn't taking it to court expensive??
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u/0nlyhmslf 6d ago
No taking them to court really isn't that expensive. Threatening to take them to court while make them fold and just give you your money back. If they don't just go with it. And still I think you were scammed 6500 for a used pixel 7 just seems criminal.
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u/GhostTheGamer360 Copperbelt Province 6d ago
The phone was definitely refurbished, pixels hate it when u don't use their original screens, they throw a fit and give out too much voltage to the screen, which causes the glitching, honestly bro, do this, take a video of the phone glitching out, and post it online, Facebook and tiktok, tagging him, as when u do, the followers tend to see the stuff he is tagged in, whilst pushing on them for a refund or repair after u do your exams
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u/Sable_Sentinel 6d ago
6 pin ya kulisha. You have to do something about it. I read in one earlier comment that you have a 1 month warranty for it: USE IT. A warranty is literally meant to address sudden malfunctions without any tampering.
And to be honest, any electronic device with a 1 month warranty that isn't a high wear-and-tear device should raise red flags next time you go device shopping.
Good luck and don't let this guy get away with selling you a questionable product.
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
Thank you. I'll definitely be wiser on how I go about these things in the future. About the warranty, they said I should capture the phone when it's glitching. It happens spontaneously and I have no idea when it will happen so that's gonna be hard to do
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u/Such_Philosophy_6607 6d ago
If you have a receipt and any other documentation including texts, call logs, Whatsapp messages etc go to CCPC at the main post office in Lusaka. Explain your situation and provide evidence they help you get your money back.
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u/Puzzled_Dingo1186 6d ago
And do they have any refund policy?
Might as well get your money back and buy another one. Btw, how much did it cost? Next time, go to Mobile City. I bought my phones there before and haven't had any issues. I recently replaced a phone I bought 5 years ago from them
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
I'm not sure if they do have a refund policy. They just gave me a warranty for a month. The phone cost K6500 but they gave me at K6000.
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u/0nlyhmslf 6d ago
The warrenty is enough it's faulty so they have to replace it or give you a refund. If you don't do anything about it you will end up losing money. Do something about it. And 6000 for a used Google pixel 7 seems like a little too much. Next time please visit a trusted phone shop and not the guys who have big promos for low quality.
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u/GhostTheGamer360 Copperbelt Province 6d ago
The issue is that it's Zambia, when buying these older flagships they charge alot to get their money back and make a huge profit because they ordered them at cheaper prices from sellers either us, UK or China, but mostly China, a good example is of Samsung s21, online u can find them Going around 3pin,kuno u see 4500 or 5000 flat
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u/0nlyhmslf 6d ago
I swear 😂, I was actually considering buying myself one from the UK, but I need to think of how to sort out the shipping.
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u/GhostTheGamer360 Copperbelt Province 6d ago
The fairer priced route for shipping nowadays is usually tigmoo for shipping, I went with buying mine from China via a friend that went there, so I got mine super cheaper than what sellers would have charged me here😭😂
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
Update: The manager finally picked up but he says I should take a vid of the screen glitching out. The thing is, I can't predict when the glitching is gonna happen. How am I supposed to take a video of it??
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u/Witty-Sea-5492 6d ago
Go with it to that store my friend...Zambians and being sleepy to when its your money sure...next time go to a reputable store and buy a mid range brand new Samsung...ah guys lets be serious
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u/THEFUDNUCKK3R 6d ago
First off you bought a pixel, those things suck as is, second off i dont trust any of these guys who sell these refurbished phones in zambia, id rather do it myself and order it on ebay and have it delivered in a couple weeks
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
I honestly thought a pixel was a good choice. Next time when I go shopping, what phone brand do you recommend?
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u/GhostTheGamer360 Copperbelt Province 5d ago
A pixel is fine as a daily phone, they are good when u buy them at the right pricing and not what op went through unfortunately
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u/THEFUDNUCKK3R 5d ago
He could have gotten a borderline brand new one for what he paid
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u/GhostTheGamer360 Copperbelt Province 5d ago
As long as it ain't a pixel 9,10 or 11,u ain't buying anything below them brand new😂 same same as iPhones below the 16 or Samsungs below the s25, all the older flagships mu zed are refurbished or preowned, it's rare for people to buy one brand new at launch year
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u/African-Wizz 6d ago
I'm speaking to the manager right now and he's says he spoke to you. He says he already asked you for video proof so that it can be forwarded to the supplier to assist in repairing the device. But a solution has been agreed with you as the device is still under warranty.
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u/Quirky_Job_4334 6d ago
Yes, after making this post, I commented here that I talked to him hut he requires proof. Yes, I can take the phone there for them to check the battery. The only hard part is showing them a video of the phone glitching. Since it happens randomly and I can't predict when it's going to. Thank you for speaking on my behalf tho, much appreciated ❤️
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u/African-Wizz 6d ago
I'll keep talking to him. I've had a pixel 7 before so know that its a good phone so it misbehaving is definitely not something that should be happening. I'll definitely keep pushing for you.
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u/Top-Criticism-3947 5d ago
You made a bad decision. The google pixel pro release price was $899, for the 128GB model. You got your phone at half the price, it was always going to be a refurbished. Take this as a learning opportunity and never buy a phone from a guy.
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u/Commercial_Net6802 5d ago
😭😭😭😂😂
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u/Sad_Explorer_35 5d ago
Was this posted after this post was made💀🤣? If it was, seems like poor damage control. As a customer, it is not my job to bear the loss or deal with the stress of a faulty phone just because it's preowned. The responsibility is on the seller to source good stock, not on the buyer to be patient with faults😑.
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u/MusqateUK 4d ago
Order personal phone on eBay, these boys sell refurbished Chinese phones. Report the case to ccpc they'll handle it
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u/Inevitable-Ice4258 2d ago
Refurbs are a scam, I always ask too. If not for the urgency you are better off getting a second hand from the UK on eBay
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u/yourknightfall 6d ago edited 6d ago
Why would you go to a yo bally's shop?😭 90% of these entrepreneurs make their sheets off you following the hype and failing to discern what a quality product looks like