Takealot DC inbound checklist: labels, cartons, pallets and bookings

Last updated: 2026-11-07 · GoMate 果麦

Short answerTo get stock accepted at a Takealot DC: book every delivery in the Seller Portal and arrive in your slot; put a Takealot barcode on every unit and a shipping label on every carton; keep one PO per master carton (multi-PO cartons only under Takealot's conditions); keep mixed master cartons at or under 18 kg; use 1200 × 1000 mm wooden pallets no taller than 2 m; and bring two printed shipping notes. Damaged cartons, missing PO numbers and wrong paperwork are the usual reasons for rejection.

Who this is for: Takealot marketplace sellers and their logistics partners delivering stock into Takealot's Johannesburg and Cape Town DCs.

Booking

Book each delivery through the Booking System in the Seller Portal.
Arrive within the window: up to 30 minutes early or 15 minutes late. Late arrivals risk full rejection.
Unbooked POs on a delivery are rejected at the door.

Labels

One Takealot product barcode per unit (or per set), printed on 45-up labels, covering any existing barcode.
A shipping label from the Seller Portal on the outside of every carton, away from cutting seams.
Remove old Takealot shipping or returns labels – cartons carrying them are rejected.
No labels on inner cartons; write the count instead (for example “1 of 4 inner cartons of master carton 2 of 2 for PO …”).

Cartons and pallets

Master cartons with several standard items: 18 kg maximum.
One PO per master carton is the default; up to 5 POs can share a carton only under Takealot's conditions.
Pallets: wooden, 1200 × 1000 mm (no euro-pallets), clear shrink wrap, maximum 2 m high and 1,000 kg, Ti-Hi shown, no mixed expiry dates.
Packaging should survive a 1 m drop test.

Paperwork

Two printed shipping notes – one inside a marked box, one signed as proof of delivery.
Booking confirmation for self-delivery or third-party couriers.
Courier waybills must show the PO number.

Most common rejection reasons

Visibly damaged cartons or product packaging, or wet or leaking stock
Missing PO or carton numbers on the outside
Missing or wrong paperwork
Incorrect palletisation, or stock too close to expiry

Takealot updates these rules from time to time. Always check the latest version in the Seller Portal before shipping.

FAQ

What is the weight limit for a Takealot carton?

Takealot's current guidance sets 18 kg as the maximum for a master carton holding several standard items. Sets and oversized items have separate rules.

Can I put several POs in one carton?

Takealot's default is one PO per master carton. Its guidance allows up to five POs in one carton under specific conditions, and DCs may still reject mixed cartons.

What happens if I miss my booking slot?

Arrivals more than 15 minutes after the slot start risk the whole delivery being rejected.

Shipping to Takealot?

TakaGrow, the company that owns the GoMate brand, runs air & sea freight from China, the South African overseas warehouse and delivery to Takealot DCs.

Ask about logistics[email protected]

Sources

Takealot – Goods Receiving Requirements: Packaging and Shipping

GoMate is an independent seller-services team and is not affiliated with Takealot. Platform and government rules change; check the official sources before acting.