8 November 2026 · Issue 161
Three Perth DJ Stores Likely To Close
At least three Perth David Jones stores are flagged to close after this week’s receivership, while stores keep trading under FTI Consulting. The gift card picture is less clear than it was on Friday: the retailer has stopped selling new gift cards, and Saturday reports headlined that gift cards and refunds are no longer accepted. That is the shopper story for Sunday: check whether your card will be taken before you travel, treat new purchases as non refundable, and do not buy new David Jones gift cards.
Today’s brief leads on the Perth closure signal and what small Australian suppliers are saying about unpaid invoices, then covers a short Black Friday pricing tip and today’s verified Top 5 deals from a disclosed partial scan. The retailer offers later in this issue are a separate selection from the David Jones story.
Three Perth stores flagged, CBD still uncertain
ABC News reporters Nicolas Perpitch, Mya Kordic and Zahra Anwary reported on Saturday that the Westfield Carousel, Garden City and Karrinyup David Jones stores are all likely to shut, according to investment analysis firm MST Marquee. The fate of the Perth CBD flagship in Hay Street Mall is still uncertain. Landlord Starhill Global REIT has flagged a smaller footprint for David Jones in that building, or an entirely new tenant, and told the Singapore exchange that the city store was $1.48 million behind in rent.
Receivers have not published a national closure list. Administrators McGrathNicol and receivers FTI Consulting say physical and online stores continue to trade while options are assessed. Our Saturday brief covered concession brands emptying shelves and the end of new gift card sales.
Gift cards: check before you go
The Australian Financial Review’s Carrie LaFrenz and Campbell Kwan reported on Friday evening that David Jones will stop selling gift cards as administrators take control, and that staff were told any new purchase will not be eligible for a refund. The AFR story is headlined as gift cards and refunds no longer being accepted, and a short Sydney Morning Herald news item published at 8.07am on Saturday carries the headline “David Jones no longer accepting gift cards or refunds”. Earlier in the week, The Sydney Morning Herald’s Colin Kruger reported that existing cards were still being accepted, with the receivers not saying for how long.
We could not find a statement from McGrathNicol or FTI Consulting this morning that clearly says whether existing gift cards can still be redeemed, so we are no longer telling readers that cards are still accepted. If you hold a David Jones gift card, store credit or rewards balance, ask the store or check online before you make a trip, keep the card and any receipts, and do not buy new David Jones gift cards. Gift card holders rank as unsecured creditors if the business is wound up.
Small suppliers are months behind on invoices
Guardian Australia business editor Jonathan Barrett reported that some small Australian brands were months behind on payments before administration, while luxury houses could clear their own concession stock. Beysis co founders Ariana Hendry and Jessica Bryce described a restock that was meant to be paid on 14 day terms drifting past a month and then three months, with little communication. Slowdown Studio co founder Jacob Leung said an invoice of almost $75,000 for blankets sent to major city stores was due and unpaid.
ABC News business reporters Emilia Terzon and Katie Silver reported on Saturday that FTI has asked suppliers to keep trading under fresh receiver accounts for post appointment invoices, while older debts sit with the administration process. McGrathNicol told ABC it will issue its initial creditor circular on Tuesday 10 November, with a first creditors meeting at 11am on Tuesday 17 November. For shoppers, empty designer bays and unpaid local brands are the same signal: the range on the floor can change quickly, so buy only what you would buy anyway and keep receipts.
Black Friday is three weeks away: price your list this weekend
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Finder’s Black Friday 2026 guide notes early deals are already appearing, and that last year’s ACCC action showed how inflated was prices and fine print exclusions 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 for a quieter Sunday shop: screenshot prices on your list this weekend, 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. Confirm how a store is treating gift cards and refunds before you pay, 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, Nicolas Perpitch, Mya Kordic and Zahra Anwary, 7 November 2026; The Australian Financial Review, Carrie LaFrenz and Campbell Kwan, 6 November 2026; The Sydney Morning Herald news item, 7 November 2026 (unbylined); The Sydney Morning Herald, Colin Kruger, 6 November 2026; Guardian Australia, Jonathan Barrett, 6 November 2026 (updated 7 November); ABC News, Emilia Terzon and Katie Silver, 7 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 7 November retailer scan, with every price and size rechecked this morning, 8 November, at 6.38am Gold Coast time.
We attempted all 179 retailer sale URLs in our 7 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
Cosmetic CapitalBeautySale. Bondi Sands Pure Self Tan Foaming Water Dark 200ml is $2 from $24.95 (about 92% off), listed as available when checked. A deep clearance self tan bottle ahead of summer, if the shade suits you.92%OFF2
AlfaberryWomen’s DressesSale. The Lead Singer Maxi Velvet Dress in Black is $15 from $79.95 (about 81% off), listed as available in brand sizes 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 when checked. Marked NO RETURN, so check the size guide carefully before you buy.81%OFF3
ShielsJewellerySale. The 26 Diamonds Round Cluster Stud Earrings in Sterling Silver are $49.99 from $199 (about 75% off), listed as available when checked. A diamond cluster stud pair at a quarter of the listed was price.75%OFF4
AjeActivewearSale. The Ribbed Active Tank 135 in Skyline Stream is $35 from $115 (about 70% off), listed as available in sizes 4, 6, 16 and 18 when checked. A printed active tank with a strong cut on the listed was price, if those sizes fit.70%OFF5
Eckersley’sArt SuppliesSale. The Winsor and Newton Cotman Watercolour Half Pan Compact Set is $59.95 from $175 (about 66% off), listed as available when checked. A travel friendly watercolour set for beginners or a gift under a third of its listed was price.66%OFF% discounts shown are for the verified example in each card. Individual product savings vary.
One More Category Worth a Look
GUESS: for a dress option outside the Top 5, the Blue Allie Mini Knit Dress is $95 from $189.95 (about 50% off), listed as available in XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL when checked. A half price knit mini with a full size run, useful if the Top 5 fashion picks are not for you.