The anxious wait for a bookcase - will it arrive?
Frustrated customers of PK Furniture are awaiting undelivered orders while the company continues to trade through its receivership.
The furniture chain shut the doors of its 16 North Island stores - including Pukekohe - after announcing it had entered receivership on Monday, May 15.
Stores were apparently open again on Wednesday, as receiver Andrew McKay of BDO Auckland decided trade could continue.
However, Martin Toop is now an unsecured creditor having paid $188 for an order placed on Sunday, May 14.
Toop’s wife Beryl ordered a bookcase, chosen by their 12-year-old grandson as a birthday present, from the Pukekohe store.
The couple’s son went to collect the bookcase on Wednesday last week, only to find a locked door guarded by security.
‘‘My grandson visited several stores to choose what he wanted. So, this is pretty disappointing.
‘‘He might get it, but he might have to wait some time to get it.’’
Toop said no clear resolution was in sight.
‘‘Apparently the bank comes first, and unsecured creditors afterwards.’’
Customers with outstanding orders are asked on the company’s website to complete a form for the receiver.
‘‘Please do not approach the PK Store staff as they will not have all of the information to assist customers at this stage,’’ the website says.
This is not good enough, Toop said.
He called four of the stores only to get through to voicemail message banks already at capacity.
A furniture store with 16 locations would have a manageable amount of outstanding orders, he said.
‘‘It’s one of these cases of corporate ethics.
‘‘They might have someone there to answer the phone, apologise, and explain what the process is going to be.’’
Receiver Andrew McKay did not respond to requests for comment.
Previously, he said there were a significant number of customers with outstanding orders will be worked through on a case-by-case basis.
Consumer New Zealand said customers should make a claim to ensure they’re in the queue for compensation.
‘‘If a company is in receivership or liquidation there’s usually not enough money to go around, so you are likely to get only a fraction back, or even nothing at all.’’