Kogan and Coles offer gift card exchange to Dick Smith customers caught up in the retailer’s collapse

Electronics retailer Kogan.com is offering to exchange Dick Smith gift cards with some credit to its own store, while Coles shoppers can now exchange Dick Smith gift cards purchased at the supermarket prior to Dick Smith’s collapse for Coles vouchers of equal value. 

After Dick Smith collapsed on Tuesday, the company’s receivers Ferrier Hodgson announced they would not accept any outstanding gift cards or refund customer deposits.

The move has angered Dick Smith customers, some of which purchased gift cards with the retailer as recently as last weekend.

But those customers can now send their Dick Smith gift cards to Kogan.com and in exchange will receive credit to spend at Kogan.com.

“We know it sucks to be out of pocket, which is why we want to help Dick Smith customers,” the retailer said on its website.

Earlier this week, Kogan.com founder Ruslan Kogan told SmartCompany the collapse of Dick Smith is a “bittersweet situation” and his business is “always considering all opportunities” when it comes to acquiring other businesses or their assets.

The Kogan gift card exchange is limited to $25 in credit regardless of the value of the Dick Smith card.

The offer is also limited to one voucher per customer and shoppers must post their valid Dick Smith gift card to Kogan.com by February 1.

Kogan.com credit will then be sent to customers by February 14 and will be valid until the end of March. The exchanged Dick Smith gift cards won’t be returned to customers. 

Coles has offered to exchange Dick Smith gift cards with Coles gift cards of equal value for customers who purchased a Dick Smith gift card from a Coles supermarket prior to Dick Smith collapsing.

Coles said in a statement this morning it is making the offer as a “gesture of goodwill” to its customers.

The supermarket giant said it has also written to the administrators of Dick Smith “urging” them to honour outstanding gift cards.

The offer will apply to Dick Smith gift cards purchased from Coles since July 1, 2015 and customers will need to show proof that the gift card was purchased from a Coles supermarket.

To exchange a Dick Smith gift card with Coles, shoppers will need to fill out a redemption form on the Coles website and then post the form and their Dick Smith gift card to Coles by the end of February.