As I and many others wade nervously through the administration emails (I'm getting mixed messages as to the outcome of my heatpump purchase…), Smiths City is in dire straits I guess, even if voluntary administration, and having a liquidation sale.
Smiths City — Voluntary Administration & Liquidation Sale
Smiths City (2020) Limited was placed into voluntary administration at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. Licensed insolvency practitioners Colin Gower and Diana Matchett (both of BDO Christchurch) have been appointed as joint administrators (smithscity.co.nz).
All nine Smiths City stores and its online store were temporarily closed to allow the administrators to conduct an urgent financial assessment and stocktake, which were completed today (smithscity.co.nz).
Reopening & Liquidation Sale:
- Auckland and Christchurch stores reopened this afternoon.
- Stores in Greymouth, Oamaru, Alexandra, Gore, and Invercargill will reopen Saturday, 6 September at 9:00 a.m.
- The Dunedin store will remain closed (smithscity.co.nz).
This is a liquidation sale, running for a limited time only and while stocks last (smithscity.co.nz).
Sale Discounts (Floor Models Only – In-store Only)
- Sleepyhead Beds: up to 70% off lowest marked price
- Bedroom Furniture: 40% off
- Dining & Living Furniture: 40% off
- Multiple other categories (Upholstery, Outdoor Furniture, TV & Audio, Appliances, etc.): 30% off
- Soft Furnishings: 20% off
- Tech & everything else: 20% off
Important: Discounts apply only to floor models, are off the lowest in-store ticketed price, cannot be combined with other offers, and are valid in-store only, while stocks last. Sale is ongoing until Sunday, 14 September. Terms and conditions apply—ask in-store for details (smithscity.co.nz).
Terms of Trade
- Gift cards will not be accepted as payment (smithscity.co.nz).
- All goods are sold “as is, where is”—no returns, no exchanges, no refunds (smithscity.co.nz).
- No warranties (express or implied) are offered (smithscity.co.nz).
Consumer Alert: What You Need to Know
- If you’ve paid a deposit: Most customers have been contacted by the administrators with order updates. Those not yet contacted “will be contacted again in the coming days” (smithscity.co.nz, 1news.co.nz).
- There are no refunds or exchanges, and gift cards aren’t accepted—so be absolutely sure before you buy.
- Everything is sold as-is, and warranties are void. That means you're on your own if something goes wrong.
- Only floor stock is on sale, and quantities are strictly while-stocks-last.
- Dunedin store remains closed—no reopening and no access to stock from there (smithscity.co.nz).
Bottom line
This is a serious clearance of nearly all of Smiths City stock—but it’s aggressive, no-holds-barred liquidation. If you're shopping, don’t expect refunds, returns, or warranties. Everything is final.
you know, my personal opinion on gift cards are they should be held in a trust or like a govt account and with no expiry. I know on their financial statement it is treated as a liability because it's something they owe. But really the money given for the gift card is no different to if someone gave me a cheque to go buy something except they have chosen that store. I understand if it's like a promo or refund and they have given a credit but gift cards. I know people could easily buy a preezee card or a card which can go to multiple places. But just my personal opinion lol And I wouldn't mind having like a $2-5 dollar loading fee if it guarantees there's no expiry and in an event like this I can claim back the money as it's sitting in a trust