6 November 2026 · Issue 159
David Jones Enters Administration
David Jones, the 188 year old department store chain, entered voluntary administration on Thursday. Directors appointed McGrathNicol as voluntary administrators, and secured lender Hilco Capital then appointed FTI Consulting as receivers to run the business while a sale or recapitalisation is sought. Physical and online stores are still trading this morning. If you hold a David Jones gift card, store credit or a pending order, act on it now and keep every receipt.
Today’s brief leads on what the administration means for shoppers after the first day of trading under receivers, then covers the big four banks all passing on this week’s rate rise from 13 November, plus a short Black Friday shopping note. The retailer offers later in this issue are a separate, freshly verified selection from a disclosed partial scan.
Administrators and receivers take control of David Jones
ABC News’ Emilia Terzon, Bronwyn Herbert and Michael Atkin reported on Thursday that the board appointed McGrathNicol after rent talks with Westfield owner Scentre Group broke down, and that Hilco appointed Christopher Hill, David McGrath and Joanne Dunn of FTI Consulting as receivers. In a letter to staff obtained by the ABC, David McGrath of FTI said the receivers had “ultimate control and responsibility” for ongoing trading, and that “It is likely there will be steps to reduce the retail footprint in the near term.” Chief executive Erica Berchtold said, “We have a well developed plan on how to reset the business for the future and will be working with the Administrators, the Receivers and our secured lender as we continue to pursue that reset of the business.”
Ragtrader’s Christopher Kelly reported that Jason Preston, Shaun Fraser, Jacinta Neilsen and Matthew Hutton of McGrathNicol were appointed voluntary administrators, and that McGrathNicol will immediately seek offers to recapitalise the business or sell it as a going concern. WA Today’s Jessica Yun and Colin Kruger reported that FTI said stores and the website continue to trade under the receivers while operations are reviewed, and that Christopher Hill of FTI said rising costs, an outdated retail footprint and supply chain challenges had led to this point. The Australian Financial Review’s Campbell Kwan reported late on Thursday that fashion brands were removing stock from David Jones floors, including flagship stores, and that the chain is expected to shrink from 38 stores to as few as 12, with some closures possible before Christmas. Our Thursday brief covered the collapsed landlord talks that came just before this appointment.
What it means if you shop at David Jones
Stores and the website are still trading under the receivers this morning. Gift cards can still be used in store and online for now, but that can change. ABC News’ Loretta Florance and Michael Atkin reported on Thursday afternoon that shoppers rushed into stores to redeem gift cards within hours of the news, including at Highpoint in Melbourne. Consumer Policy Research Centre chief executive Erin Turner told the ABC, “If you have a gift card, go now,” and, “Definitely do not buy another gift card.” She warned that if the business is wound up, gift card holders are treated as unsecured creditors. Queensland University of Technology retail expert Gary Mortimer told the ABC that receivers may honour cards but add new conditions, as happened with Barbeques Galore.
Finder’s Sarah Megginson reported Finder shopping expert Angus Kidman saying, “If the business doesn’t find a buyer, that gift card will almost certainly be worthless. So if you’ve got a David Jones gift card, use it as soon as you can.” Finder also noted that Latitude has stopped new applications for David Jones credit cards, while existing Latitude cardholders can keep using their cards. Our advice: spend any David Jones gift card or store credit now on something you would buy anyway. Do not buy new David Jones gift cards for Christmas presents. Finish or cancel pending click and collect and online orders you care about, pay with your own debit or credit card rather than a gift card so any refund goes back to your card, and keep receipts and order confirmations in case you need to ask your bank about a chargeback later. Check the receivers’ next update before you assume returns or change of mind rules are unchanged.
All four big banks pass on the rate rise from 13 November
CommBank said on Wednesday it will lift variable home loan rates by 0.25 percentage points from 13 November, with Group Executive Retail Banking Angus Sullivan urging customers who are worried to get in touch early. Westpac announced the same 0.25 point rise from 13 November, and said its Westpac Life bonus saver total rate rises to 5.50%. NAB and ANZ had already matched the full pass through from 13 November. ANZ said the rise adds about $79 a month on a $500,000 owner occupier loan. As of this morning those four announcements still stand. Check your bank app for your new repayment and set your Black Friday and Christmas budget around what is left.
Black Friday is three weeks away: price your list now
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Finder’s Black Friday 2026 guide reminds shoppers that early deals are already appearing, and that last year’s ACCC action showed how “sitewide” claims and inflated was prices can mislead. CHOICE’s Black Friday advice is to monitor prices before the sale week, treat “up to” claims as a range, and check returns rules on sale items. Our tip: screenshot the prices of anything on your list this week, compare delivery fees and returns, and do not treat a countdown timer as a reason to rush.
Today’s shopping note
When a retailer is in administration, the safest money is the money you have not yet handed over. Spend store credit first, pay with your own card, and keep receipts. For everyone else, price your Black Friday list now, compare the delivery fee and returns policy along with the price, and read “up to” as a range claim. Confirm size, stock, delivery cost and exclusions before paying.
Our scan records unsuccessful checks as well as successful ones. A retailer page being retrieved is not enough to establish that every offer, item or delivery condition has been verified.
Primary reporting sources: ABC News, Emilia Terzon, Bronwyn Herbert and Michael Atkin, 5 November 2026 (Erica Berchtold and David McGrath of FTI quoted); Ragtrader, Christopher Kelly, 5 November 2026; WA Today, Jessica Yun and Colin Kruger, 5 November 2026 (Christopher Hill of FTI quoted); The Australian Financial Review, Campbell Kwan, 5 November 2026; ABC News, Loretta Florance and Michael Atkin, 5 November 2026 (Erin Turner and Gary Mortimer quoted); Finder, Sarah Megginson, 5 November 2026 (Angus Kidman quoted); CommBank, 4 November 2026 (Angus Sullivan quoted); Westpac, 4 November 2026; NAB, 4 November 2026; ANZ, 4 November 2026; Finder Black Friday 2026 guide; CHOICE Black Friday and Cyber Monday tips. Shopper advice and synthesis by Neil Fairhead for It’s On Sale. Hero photo: Nick D, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (David Jones store entrances, Brisbane CBD, Queensland).
Top 5 Deals of the Day
Five stores. Five categories. The strongest discounts we verified on in stock items from our 5 November retailer scan, with every price and size rechecked this morning, 6 November, at 6.38am Gold Coast time.
We attempted all 179 retailer sale URLs in our 5 November pool and retrieved usable sale content from 145. The remaining pages could not be verified after fallback checks and are excluded. This is a disclosed partial scan, not a complete audit of every Australian retailer. Retrieval does not mean an offer was fully verified: this ranking includes only eligible stores where we confirmed a ticketed sale price against a was price on an item listed as available when checked. Generic sale descriptions, unresolved price evidence and same category duplicates are excluded. Each percentage is the verified example shown, not a discount on every item in store. Offers and stock can change.
Discount
FILA AustraliaActivewearOutlet. The Womens Amanda Skort in Tobacco Brown is $15 from $80 (about 81% off), listed as available in XXS, L, XL and XXL when checked. A cheap summer tennis and weekend skort if those sizes fit; check the size guide because S and M were not listed.81%OFF2
ReebokSneakersSale. The Club C 85 sneaker in Black, Blue and White is $49 from $230 (about 79% off), listed as available across a wide run of mens and womens sizes when checked. A classic court sneaker well under a quarter of its listed was price.79%OFF3
SheikeWomen’s FashionSale. The Delia Maxi Dress in Mocha is $69.99 from $329.99 (about 79% off), listed as available in sizes 6, 8 and 10 when checked. A long dress for summer events, priced at well under a quarter of its listed was price; size 16 was gone overnight.79%OFF4
Robert GordonHomewaresSale. The Dyson Collection Salad Bowl in White is $20 from $69.95 (about 71% off), listed as available when checked. A large ceramic salad bowl for the Christmas table, and a useful homewares pick outside the fashion racks.71%OFF5
GAZMANMen’s OuterwearSale. The Featherweight Jacket in Stone is $59.95 from $179.95 (about 67% off), listed as available in sizes S, L, XL and XXL when checked. A light layer for spring evenings; M was gone overnight, so check the size guide.67%OFF% discounts shown are for the verified example in each card. Individual product savings vary.
One More Category Worth a Look
Beginning Boutique: for another fashion option, the Beverley Wine Crepe Maxi Dress is $30 from $119.99 (about 75% off), listed as available in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 18 when checked. A useful fashion swap if the Sheike Delia sizes do not fit.