Customers on warpath over shut jeweller

ANGER is growing among customers of a Helensvale jewellery store after it closed suddenly in August without returning dozens of items on consignment and repairs.

Inca Gold Jewellers at Helensvale Plaza says it was locked out of the store after falling behind in rent payments.

It’s believed nearly 60 customers are waiting for owner Robert Dalton to contact them in regards to how he intends to return their jewellery.

Mr Dalton told the Bulletin that customers would have their valuables returned. A text message was received stating he would “touch base” after a medical appointment on Friday afternoon, but no contact was made.

Margaretha Dudok, of

Coombabah, said she had jewellery worth $6500 on consignment to the store.

“They’ve sold pieces for me in the past but it’s always taken about three months to get full payment because I was told the items were bought on lay-by,” she said.

“I’ve contacted centre management but they’ve told me it’s between the landlord and the tenant and they can’t get involved.

“But I don’t understand why the landlord can’t have the locks changed, take out all our jewellery and help return it to us.”

Beverley Bates said she helped an 83-year-old friend take two rings, worth $12,000, to the store to be sold.

She messaged centre management asking for help but its spokeswoman Demelza Berry said the landlord couldn’t assist without the tenant’s cooperation and that Inca was no longer a tenant of the centre.

Ms Berry said the owner was “simply not responding” and it was not possible for the landlord to determine if customers’ claims were legitimate or items were even there.

“Unless the tenant admits a customer’s claim and returns to the premises to identify and return the claimed item, the landlord cannot assist customers any further,” she said.

The landlord encouraged customers to seek independent legal advice.

“Any customer claiming an interest in any item left in the premises should act promptly to vindicate its rights as the landlord cannot refrain from clearing out and re-letting the premises indefinitely,” she said.