Returns & Refunds Policy

Last updated: 8 May 2026

1. Nature of Goods

All items sold on SAPawn are second-hand / pre-owned goods that have been legally forfeited or acquired by registered South African pawn shops. Unless otherwise stated by the seller, items are sold in “as-is” condition as described and photographed on the listing.

2. Cancelling Before Payment Is Verified

While your order is in the Reserved or POP rejected state (i.e. you have not yet uploaded a verified Proof of Payment), you can cancel from your order tracking page at no cost. The item is released back to the marketplace immediately and no money has moved.

3. Cancelling After Payment But Before Delivery

After SAPawn has received and verified your EFT but before the seller has shipped or handed over the item, you may cancel from your order tracking page. The order is refunded from SAPawn’s escrow account, normally within 2 business days, paid by EFT into the bank account from which we received your original payment.

A 1% administrative fee may be deducted from the refund in the following case:

  • You selected the Shop arranges delivery option, the seller quoted you a courier price, and you declined the quote and cancelled the order. The 1% fee covers SAPawn’s payment-processing and platform costs (we incurred bank-side EFT fees on the way in and refund processing on the way out, plus the seller spent time arranging the quote).

No fee applies when:

  • You cancel before SAPawn has verified your POP
  • The cancellation is because the item is unavailable (police lock, seller error, or any reason on the seller / SAPawn side)
  • The cancellation is within the CPA Section 44 cooling-off period after delivery (see below)

4. Cooling-Off Period (After Delivery)

In terms of Section 44 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), you have the right to cancel an online purchase and return the goods within 5 (five) business days of receiving them, without providing a reason. Cooling-off cancellations attract no administrative fee — you receive a full refund.

To qualify for a cooling-off return:

  • The item must be returned in the same condition as received
  • All original accessories, packaging, and documentation must be included
  • The item must not have been used, damaged, or altered in any way
  • You must notify us within 5 business days of receipt by emailing accounts@sapawn.co.za with your order reference number

Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the buyer unless the item is defective or substantially differs from the listing.

5. Refund Method

Once a refund is approved:

  • Refunds are paid by EFT into the bank account from which we received your original payment. SAPawn does not currently issue refunds to cards because no card payment was involved.
  • Refunds are typically processed within 2–5 business days of approval (cooling-off returns: within 14 business days of the returned item being received and inspected by the seller).
  • Where a 1% administrative fee applies, it is deducted from the refunded amount and disclosed on the order tracking page before you confirm the cancellation.
  • Buyer-arranged courier costs (where you booked your own courier) are paid by you directly to your courier and are not part of SAPawn’s refund.

6. Defective Goods

In terms of Section 56 of the Consumer Protection Act, if goods are found to be defective, unsafe, or not of good quality within 6 (six) months of delivery, you are entitled to request:

  • A repair of the item
  • A replacement of the item
  • A refund of the purchase price

The choice of remedy is at the seller’s reasonable discretion. For second-hand goods, “defective” refers to faults not disclosed in the item listing or that render the item unfit for its intended purpose.

7. How to Initiate a Return

To request a return or report a defective item:

  1. Email accounts@sapawn.co.za with your order reference number, the item description, and the reason for return
  2. Attach photographs of the item if reporting a defect
  3. Our team will review your request and respond within 2 business days
  4. If approved, we will provide return shipping instructions

8. Non-Returnable Items

The following items may not be eligible for return:

  • Items purchased at auction (auction sales are final)
  • Items that have been altered, damaged, or used after receipt
  • Items collected in person where the buyer inspected the goods before taking possession

9. Unavailability

In cases where an item becomes unavailable after payment has been received (e.g., due to a police lock or administrative error), SAPawn will refund the client in full within 30 days.

10. Disputes

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a return or refund request, please contact us at accounts@sapawn.co.za and we will escalate the matter internally. You also have the right to approach the National Consumer Commission or the relevant consumer court.

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