• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Shoppers shocked at empty Expert stores

Published: 21 Sep 12 14:03 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/43372/20120921/

Bargain hunters who queued outside stores of the recently bankrupted Swedish home electronics chain Expert were left disappointed as the shelves were found to be empty long before any of the customers entered.

Shoppers at one Stockholm outlet in Fältöversten were reeling after finding that hardly anything was left when they entered the store on Friday morning.

"They had emptied the whole lot, there were just a few demo products, some washing machines and four televisions left," said Tomas Gedal to the Aftonbladet newspaper.

“It feels like a trick, I wonder if they’re actually allowed to do this.”

However, staff at Expert explained that their stock was being liquidated as early as two weeks before the company filed for bankruptcy.

“We’re only selling what we have in stock, if it’s just demo examples of a certain model that we have left, then that’s what we’re selling,” store head Martin Dahl told the paper.

Meanwhile in Kista, northern Stockholm, violence broke out among the more than 1,000 would-be customers who had crowded outside the shop in hopes of snagging discounted items. Several police officers were called in to quell the situation.

Expert’s bankruptcy directly affects 817 employees at the company’s Swedish head office and in 73 of the company-owned stores. The Swedish franchise-owners are not included in the bankruptcy but are indirectly affected by the process.

Expert Sweden AB has 136 stores across the country, of which 73 are owned by the company and 63 by owned by franchisers. The company is one of the largest retailers on the market and has an annual turnover of 2.8 billion kronor ($428 million).

In July 2011, home electronics retailer ONOFF went bankrupt, citing stiff competition, price pressure, and low profits.

TT/The Local/og
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15:37 September 21, 2012 by Snood
These people think that they're entitled to the leftovers from the demise of a private company? ummm.... what?
16:57 September 21, 2012 by teslar
#1 - can't really blame them for expecting that though, given how much we've read about an upcoming massive sale with discounted prices in pretty much all the media over the last couple of days.
17:38 September 21, 2012 by fredlave
In the U.S liquidating the stock of a bankrupt retailer is a science, not an art. There are companies that will buy, at a considerable discount, the assets of the "bankruptee" and other companies that will conduct the actual "going-out-of-business-sale". The best items are sold long before the customers arrive. I assume the same practices exist in Europe.
18:34 September 21, 2012 by jostein
What is important in a bankruptcy is not the rights of consumers. It is the rights of creditors.
23:47 September 21, 2012 by Swedish Cat
This is news alongside with that Princess Kate swims toppless with her husband? Were are the headlines about the riots killing 19 people over a movie made in the US??
00:22 September 22, 2012 by Jackdempsey187
Swedish Cat

All over the f*cking place
08:26 September 22, 2012 by frenchviking
@Jack

indeed... but somehow thelocal missed it...
13:23 September 22, 2012 by Swedish Cat
Just stating that The Local didn't just mention a word about it in the news flow and even happened to delete the tread on the happening on discussion forum placed by someone else?
15:26 September 22, 2012 by Mb 65
Most stores in Sweden hold hardly any stock, and if they haven't got it they won't order it for you.
17:31 September 22, 2012 by skogsbo
I think media market snapped up most of it.
01:44 September 24, 2012 by avatar
guys, 'The Local' is supposed to publish 'local' news. is it too difficult science to understand for your fat heads?
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