Ryobi Tools

I bought a Ryobi electric lawnmower from Makro in Vanderbijlpark on 19 November 2011 after the salesman convinced me that it was an excellent buy due to the fact that it has a 2 year guarantee. After only using it for the second time, smoke started pouring out of the motor. I took the machine into Makro on 8 December 2011 demanding that I was not happy with the product and insisting that I did not want it. They claimed that there is only a 14 day return or refund policy in store and that they would need to send the machine into Ryobi for repairs. I was not happy about this at all, as the machine is of an extremely inferior quality. I contacted Ryobi via email stating all of this upon which I received an email reply that their workshop manager, Johan would contact me the next morning, which he never did.
I have phoned on several occasions, leaving my contact number after being informed that Johan is "not available".
I am getting the "run-around" from the company and getting very frustrated. I am now sitting without a lawnmower, my garden is starting to look like a forest and nothing is forthcoming. Shocking after-sales service. So much for the so called 2 year guarantee when a product does not even last 2 weeks!
What I am concerned about too is that if the product initially only performed twice in a period of two weeks, after it is "repaired" is it going only work for 2 weeks again and will then be sent in for "repairs" again?
I would prefer to be refunded and to purchase another brand.

Purchased a very expensive ($199) ryobi 4 cycle grass/weed trimmer in mid 2009 — over periodic use, the unit spews hot oil when operated in traditional trimmer positions — ryobi quickly replaced it, but the replacement trimmer does the same thing — furthermore, the trimmer does not start and run properly anymore — I have asked ryobi for a full refund because this is a dangerous, non-performing product that should be recalled — they have denied my request, even though they have a 2 or 3 year warranty on this shoddy product.