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IrelandDavid Jones gift cards still redeemable as new sales stop
Retail expert Gary Mortimer explains restrictions under administration and predicts a smaller store network, rather than a confirmed shutdown.
AustraliaStory of Why this story? One of 9 News Australia's most watched videos since yesterday, with 31,962 views.
9 News Australia: The news service of Australia's Nine Network, owned by Nine Entertainment. 1.9M subscribers and 1.7B views.
David Jones no longer accepting gift cards or refunds | 9 News Australia
Things we can learn from the video
Press to jump
- 0:10Mortimer says administrators are restricting sales and returns to reduce liabilities and risk.
- 0:47Existing gift cards remain redeemable for now, although sales of new cards have stopped.
- 1:28Mortimer describes gift-card holders as unsecured creditors and urges them to redeem their balances promptly.
- 2:10Mortimer forecasts store closures, rather than announcing confirmed decisions about particular locations.
- 2:56He suggests David Jones could emerge as a smaller business, drawing a comparison with Saks Fifth Avenue.
Existing David Jones gift cards can still be used, retail expert Gary Mortimer tells Australian broadcaster 9 News Australia, despite the retailer stopping sales of new cards amid administration.
That distinction matters for shoppers holding an unspent balance. The upload is titled "David Jones no longer accepting gift cards or refunds | 9 News Australia", but Mortimer explicitly confirms in the interview: "Yes, they can. So right now, you can use your David Jones gift cards."
Speaking from the Gold Coast, the consumer behaviour and retail expert says administrators are trying to reduce liabilities and risk. He urges gift-card holders to redeem their balances promptly, explaining that they rank as unsecured creditors and have limited protection if the business cannot meet its obligations.
The report also describes tighter returns arrangements. An on-screen notice says there are no refunds on new purchases from the day of the broadcast, while another limits exchanges to the first 14 days. Those reported restrictions are separate from the decision to stop selling new gift cards: the segment does not announce an end to accepting existing ones.
One anchor questions how shoppers ended up in this position after store promotions offering bonus gift cards. Mortimer's response centres on the vulnerability of customers owed money during administration.
Looking beyond the immediate shopping rules, Mortimer predicts that between 20 and 25 stores might eventually close, with closure announcements potentially coming the following week. These are his forecasts, not confirmed store decisions.
He nevertheless sees a possible future for a reduced David Jones business, comparing that prospect with restructuring at US department store Saks Fifth Avenue. The discussion closes on the Australian chain's heritage, which stretches back to 1838.
An Australian department store chain founded in 1838. It is the world's oldest department store still operating under its original name.
More on Wikipedia ›An upmarket American department store chain founded in 1867. Its flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue opened in 1924.
More on Wikipedia ›Published on Trari
Where next?
- Channel
- 9 News Australia
- Subscribers
- 1,900,000
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 18,155,161
- Channel views, pace per day
- 2,132,720 (on a normal day: 2,102,203)
- Video published
- November 6, 2026
- Video views so far
- 47,370 (2 days online)
- Video views, pace per day
- 31,964
The numbers
The report drew about 32,000 views since yesterday, placing it among Australia's most-watched news uploads over that period.
💡 Test your knowledge
In which Australian state is the Gold Coast, where Gary Mortimer joins the broadcast?
The Gold Coast is a coastal city in south-eastern Queensland.