Defy Appliances / Defy South Africa review: 30L Solo Model Microwave broken 1 week after purchase

30L Solo Model Microwave broken 1 week after purchase
I purchased the Defy microwave oven from Game Cresta on Friday, 20 June 2025.

Just one week after purchase, on Friday, 27 June 2025, the microwave experienced a fault during normal use. After cooking oats for approximately six minutes, I pressed the door button to open the appliance. At that moment, there was a loud pop and a flash of light near the door button. Since then, the internal light has stopped working, the microwave emits an unusual sound, and it switches on and off intermittently during use.

When I returned the appliance to the store, I was informed that the warranty was voided due to a plug change. I would like to clarify that I had no choice but to change the plug due to the configuration of my built-in kitchen. The power socket is located inside a cupboard above the microwave enclosure, and the cable needed to be threaded through a small hole in the melamine to connect to the socket. For this reason, a standard plug did not fit, and I had to replace it with one compatible with the setup.

Despite this being a manufacturing or internal fault that occurred within one week of purchase, I was advised that my only option is to contact Defy directly and pay for both the call-out and repair costs. I believe this outcome is unreasonable, particularly given the timing of the fault and the nature of the plug replacement.

I attempted to contact Defy using an email address I found via Google, but my message was returned with a notification that the address does not exist. Additionally, I’ve been unable to locate any contact details — either a phone number or an email address — on the Defy website to speak with someone directly or to submit my complaint.