Refund policy

Returns, Cancellations & Warranty Policy

GigaBuild · gigabuild.co.za · Last updated 23 October 2026

This policy explains how to cancel an order, return an item, or claim for a faulty product. It is written to comply with South African law — in particular the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 ("ECTA") and the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 ("CPA"). Nothing in this policy limits your rights under those Acts. Where this policy and the law differ, the law applies.

There are three separate rights below. They are different, and which one applies depends on why you are returning the item. Please read the one that fits your situation.

1. Changed your mind? Your 7-day cooling-off right (online orders)

Because you bought from us online, you may cancel your order for any reason within 7 days of receiving it, under section 44 of ECTA. You do not need to give a reason.

  • There is no cancellation fee, no restocking fee, and no penalty of any kind for a cooling-off cancellation.
  • You are responsible only for the direct cost of returning the goods to us.
  • The item must be returned unused and complete, in its original packaging with all accessories, seals, and included items.
  • We will refund you in full to your original payment method within 30 days of your cancellation.

Exclusions: This 7-day right does not apply to certain goods, including software or digital licences once unsealed or activated, and made-to-order or custom-configured builds. Any such exclusion will be stated on the product page.

To cancel, contact us at info@gigabuild.co.za and state that you are cancelling under your cooling-off right.

2. Faulty, defective, or not as described? Your 6-month warranty right

Under section 56 of the CPA, every product we sell carries an implied warranty of quality for 6 months from the date of delivery. If, within that period, an item is found to be defective, unsafe, of poor quality, or not fit for its intended purpose — and the fault is not the result of misuse, accidental damage, or unauthorised modification — you are entitled to your choice of a repair, a replacement, or a refund, at no charge to you.

  • Defective goods are returned at our risk and expense. If the fault is confirmed, we reimburse your return shipping cost.
  • A refund under this section is paid to your original payment method if you choose a refund. We will not require you to accept store credit in place of a refund you are entitled to.
  • If we repair an item and the same fault (or a new defect) appears within 3 months of that repair, you are then entitled to a replacement or a refund.

This right cannot be waived or contracted out of, and no manufacturer warranty term or "no refund" notice overrides it.

How faulty-item claims are handled

Because GigaBuild coordinates warranty claims with our distributor, faulty-item returns follow this process. It is designed to get you a resolution quickly while verifying the fault:

  1. Contact us first at info@gigabuild.co.za with your order number and a clear description of the fault, before sending anything back. Do not return an item without contacting us first.
  2. We will help with basic troubleshooting where relevant — many issues are resolved at this step without a return.
  3. If a return is needed, we will issue a return authorisation and instructions on where to send the item. You may be asked to arrange and pay for the return courier at this stage; if the fault is confirmed, this cost is reimbursed to you (see above).
  4. The item is inspected and the fault verified. Where the claim is escalated to our distributor for confirmation, we will keep you updated on timeframes.
  5. Once the fault is confirmed, we provide your chosen remedy — repair, replacement, or refund.

If no fault is found (for example, the item works as intended, or the issue was user error, physical damage, bent pins, liquid damage, or unauthorised modification), the warranty claim does not apply. In that case the item is returned to you, and any return shipping is not reimbursed. The item may still qualify under the manufacturer's own warranty, which we will help you pursue.

High-value items (R15,000 and above)

For high-value items such as graphics cards and processors, the following conditions help us verify faults and protect against damage-in-transit and fraud. They apply to warranty claims on these items:

  • Report any dead-on-arrival (DOA) fault within 48 hours of delivery.
  • Provide an unboxing video clearly showing the sealed package being opened and the item's condition and serial number on arrival.
  • The item's serial number must match the one supplied, and factory seals, anti-static packaging, and connectors (e.g. GPU pins) must be intact and undisturbed.

These conditions set out how to make a claim on high-value goods; they do not remove your 6-month warranty right where a genuine manufacturing defect exists.

3. Change-of-mind returns after 7 days

Outside the 7-day cooling-off window, we are not obliged to accept change-of-mind returns, but we may do so at our discretion where:

  • the request is made within 30 days of delivery;
  • the item is unused and complete, in its original packaging with all seals, accessories, and included items intact; and
  • the item is not a non-returnable item (see below).

For a discretionary change-of-mind return of this kind:

  • You arrange and pay for return shipping.
  • A restocking fee of 5% may be deducted from your refund to cover inspection, repackaging, and restocking.
  • We may reduce your refund further if the item shows signs of use or handling beyond what is reasonable to inspect it.

This restocking fee applies only to discretionary change-of-mind returns under this section. It never applies to a cooling-off cancellation (Section 1) or a faulty-item claim (Section 2).

Order cancellations (before dispatch)

You can request cancellation of an order, or removal of items from it, within a short window after placing it and before it is dispatched. Contact us as soon as possible at info@gigabuild.co.za. Once an order has shipped, the returns process above applies instead.

Non-returnable items

Some items cannot be returned except where they are faulty under Section 2, or where the cooling-off right in Section 1 applies. These include:

  • software, digital licences, or activation keys once unsealed or activated;
  • made-to-order or custom-configured builds;
  • items marked as final sale, clearance, or non-returnable on the product page at the time of purchase.

Your statutory rights for faulty goods are not affected by this list. If you are unsure whether an item can be returned, contact us before purchasing.

Refunds

  • Cooling-off cancellations (Section 1): full refund to your original payment method within 30 days.
  • Confirmed faulty items (Section 2): your choice of repair, replacement, or refund; a refund is paid to your original payment method. Reimbursement of your return shipping cost is provided as store credit or to your original payment method.
  • Discretionary change-of-mind returns (Section 3): refund to your original payment method, less the 5% restocking fee and any reduction for use.

We will notify you once we have received and inspected a return and let you know whether it is approved. Your bank or payment provider may need additional time to process and post the refund. If you do not see an approved refund within a reasonable period, contact us.

Your rights under the law

This policy does not limit any rights you have under South African consumer protection law, including your rights if goods are defective, not as described, not delivered within the agreed timeframe, or otherwise do not comply with the law. Any term that attempts to waive these rights has no legal effect.

Contact

To cancel an order, start a return, make a warranty claim, ask about an exchange, or report a damaged or incorrect item, contact us at info@gigabuild.co.za, or use the details in our contact information.