Comments on: EzyDVD Goes Into Receivership… Gift Vouchers Are Not Honored…

By: Charly Leetham

Charly Leetham — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:56:34 +0000

Hi John, I really can’t comment about the Franchises deliveries or their fulfillment of customer orders. I do know that the two remaining stores here in Canberra shut recently…

What I do know is that most of EzyDVD’s stock, if not all, came from Australian suppliers – they didn’t use overseas’ distributors to my knowledge. There are some reasonably strict guidelines (or at least there were 18 months ago) about importing DVDs to sell commercially….

I haven’t purchased anything from EzyDVD in the last 18 months. I have however, found a new supplier here in Australia that is easy to deal with. You may find the title you’re looking for there. DVD Orchard

By: John

John — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:21:37 +0000

Would it be foolish for me to order an out-of-stock DVD from the EzyDVD website? Do you think EzyDVD are still being supplied by overseas distributors? Other option is to purchase the title from Amazon.com. I’m happy to do that if Ezy is truly out-of-business, but I’d rather help the local guys trade out of insolvency than pipe the money overseas.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:20:56 +0000

The inside news is that many offers have been received for the sale of EzyDVD but the tip is that Video Ezy has the best overall offer. The receivers are expected to make an announcement tomorrow.

I think Jordy represents the opinion of most narrow minded customers I have had to deal with. I can’t get through to them that the franchisee does not hold the money in the Gift Card. We are an exchange agent for the Gift Card company and Ezydvd.

If I hear the “I’m going to Fair Trading” speil again I’ll flip. I’ve already been to Fair Trading and they have confirmed that referring the customer to the receivers is the correct procedure. Customers think that by mentioning “Fair Trading” that retailers will start shaking in their boots. Truth is we shake our heads because we know its a hollow and baseless threat. Fair Trading also protects the retailer from customers just like Jordy.

By: sean

sean — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:43:28 +0000

Its sad for anyone who purchased a gift card but spare a thought for the franchisees who have invested in this group. Their future is now in limbo. I very much doubt this group will be salvaged. All the corporate stores will close and franchise stores will have to rebrand. The owner of this group is a comnplete twat!!

By: Kym

Kym — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:55:39 +0000

While all this is going on and the website is showing nearly a dozen stores availoable for ranchise and one in SA lookiing for staff.

You would think that the website would either be updated or shutdown as it does not reflect the current situations and there seem to be a lot of complaints of items being purchased online and then not deliveres!

By: Kym

Kym — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:43:35 +0000

I have just had a chat with the local store that I purchased a gift voucher from in October for a family member who waited for a particular movie to be released at xmas only to find that the gift voucher would not be honoured.

I feel sorry for the franchisees who are in the middle of the whole situation. They would like to do the right thing but are unable to as the EFTPOS machines that the vouchers have to be swiped through are locked for these cards, Receiver’s instructions (and as most of their own assets are tied to the business there is no way for them to be ‘personally responsible’ for money that is ultimately the company’s responsibility to supply). They stand to lose a lot more than the value of a gift voucher.

So spare a thought for them – the real blame in the end is the owner of the company and he should be the one made to pay!

By: Charly Leetham

Charly Leetham — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:47:32 +0000

Jordy, thank you for taking time to put your thoughts in. I debated whether I should delete your comment or not and decided that I would edit the swear words you used.

Please… you are most welcome to add your thoughts, but please have a care for my readers. We do not appreciate foul language and in future, I will delete any comments that uses it.

In regards to the Franchises being required to accept Gift Cards or not – you are mistaken at this point – they have received official direction from the Receiver and they must comply (if the Receiver direction is not appropriate will be confirmed in the ‘fullness of time’).

Many franchisees are very upset about the whole issue however, if they accept Gift Cards at this point the funds will come straight out their own pockets – they do not receive the proceeds of the Gift Cards at all… If you read this post What Do You Do When Business Goes Wrong, this blog Riches To Rags – EzyDVD Franchisee Having His Say and the comment by Steve on this post… you’ll see that the franchisees are already hurting and many who have put everything they have into their franchise business must be very concerned about their future now.

I think it very unfair that you tell people that a Franchise store has to accept a gift card – I hope one day, you aren’t in the situation of the Franchisee’s… It is not a pleasant place to be and no one should have to go through it.

By: jordy

jordy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:26:41 +0000

people dont know alot about this but i am 16 and my mum kicked (expletive used) up about this for people saying just do a change back u cant ok there banks would of been closed plus terms of conditions on the back of the card read it they can change it at any time they want to people are only (expletive used) if u if u bought the card by a company owned ezydvd please find out where u got them and go on there website and see what is company and franchised owned if u are lucky and it was bought froma franchise they have to accept it no matter what but if company u really cant do anything about it what they are doing is legal and yes i have a gift card of $50 but i found ways around it i used my head beffor i said and today ferrier hodgson will be getting a nasty fone call from me for being verry rude to my mother and to also get there facts straight beffor they put all thies people into this (expletive used) also i know it’s wrong but they are still allowed to trade it is legal they are doing nothing wrong in the point of it is legal but morrely it is wrong but we have to face this stuff in life even more now because are econemy is falling appart and there will be alot more places that go under this is just a small one next it could be one of the biggest food sellers in australia witch is woolworths and there is nothing we can do.

P.S. Sorry about my grammer and the bad spelling

I just hope use all read what i say and comment back to me because yes there is more way arround this just do what i said and go to there website please not all of use would of been cought out by this.

Ill tell u this though if u do send in a form ull be lucky to get a cent back because the people they have to pay back first is the suppliers or rental agents they owe big money first then us way down the list people we are nothing to them and they do not care about are money also if u read up a bit more ull see they are trying to sell ezydvd i dont think it will sell becuase of the econemy crash and they just dont make the sales they need plus i have been told they want quit alot of money for it to so yea.

well just had to have my say

and yet again sorry about the spelling and the grammer beffor people say anything about it … lol

By: Charly Leetham

Charly Leetham — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:53:34 +0000

Hey Steve,

Sure, I remember you. Thank you for the frank information about the Gift Cards. It’s a shame that the Franchisee’s are affected by this and it will be interesting to see the outcome.

It’s sad to hear that customers are so frustrated that they feel it necessary to get abusive or otherwise… It isn’t the Franchisee’s fault… please bear that in mind…

Charly.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:22:03 +0000

Hi Charly, you may not remember me but I started the Macquarie store a few months before your ACT stores. Yes I’m still part of EzyDVD. Macquarie closed at the end of its lease but Penrith is still running.
I just wanted to say that the Gift Cards are a total debacle. We received info from the receivers on 20 December that gift cards will not be honoured. We started issuing in store credit in lieu of Gift Cards from that time but there were a lot of Gift Cards issued which we did not know would not be honoured. The problem now is that customers aren’t taking this news well (as you’d expect). I have to call security at least three times per day to “escort” abusive and threatening customers from the store. I can sympathise with their position because EzyDVD owes me about half a mill so I’m not real happy with the situation either but customers need to realise that the franchisees don’t have their gift card money. We are merely an “agent” if you like for the Gift Card company and EzyDVD. Its not easy for any of us but threatening staff when they have no control is unfair.
My opinion is that Gift Cards issued from company stores will unfortunately become unsecured creditors, but why does this affect franchise stores? The customer has given the money to the franchise store who has then transferred it to the Gift Card. The franchisee is not in receivership. The card should still be honoured. The Gift Card comapny has stopped all transactions on all Gift Cards.We have received info from the receivers on 31 Dec that they are looking into the legality of this and I’d urge all customers to contact Ferrier Hodgson on 08 8100 7600 and ask for Caitlyn Davies or Alicia Kroschel. They are specifically tasked to deal with franchise issued cards.

Cheers
Steve