WHILE many of the region’s residents were relishing the bargain basement deals on display during yesterday’s post-Christmas Day sales, one Narrabri man was left fuming.

When Jason O’Brien went to spend his $200 gift card at Robins Kitchen in Tamworth, the father-of-two was incensed to find the homewares store was no longer redeeming vouchers.

Mr O’Brien’s wife, Debbie, had purchased the gift voucher as a Christmas gift to Mr O’Brien from their two girls only a week before, on December 15.

Upon hearing four days later that the company had gone into voluntary administration, a concerned Mrs O’Brien attended the store once again on December 23 with the intension of using the gift-voucher then and there, but was deterred from doing so after a staff member assured her everything was fine.

“She was told, ‘No, no, it’s just media hype, we’re still redeeming vouchers’,” Mr O’Brien said.

He questioned the business’s refusal to honour the gift voucher even though, as of yesterday, they were still trading.

“Why are they accepting cash but not a gift card?” Mr O’Brien said. 

“A gift card should be as good as cash - it’s not like I’ve purchased something and taken it back and wanted a refund.

“If I went in there now they would take my eftpos card ... it should just be common courtesy.”

Administrators FTI Consulting were appointed to the company, which has stores nation-wide, including in Tamworth and Armidale, by its Brisbane-based parent company, Lineville, on December 17.

It is understood the shop assistant knew nothing of the gift-voucher policy change until Christmas Eve, but that insight offers very little solace to Mr O’Brien who is now out-of-pocket and was still yet to inform his wife of the bad news.

“I can see her being a little upset,” Mr O’Brien said. “I think she might have a few choice words.”