Zizzle.com.au in Administration. Unable to redeem vouchers!

LSkMed on 17/01/2013 - 17:18

Does anyone have any info on what has happened to zizzle.com.au?

It looks like they have gone bust, and possibly also either been hacked or had their database wiped….

I went to redeem a $400 voucher a few months back that I purchased in 2011 for a Thailand holiday but my zizzle account now show no deals have been purchased (I used zizzle 4-5 times a couple of years back).

Also the email confirmation which includes the voucher code image is no longer loading from their website so I am unable to redeem it. (which means that they have moved it or deleted it).

Zizzle are now only contactable via email, and I did have contact with someone who was investigating the issue, but they have not responded to my emils in almost 3 months now.

I recently learned that Zizzle.com.au is a part of DealMe and DealsDirect and have been making some progress chasing a refund via a manager there, but I have been told all i can do is wait at this point….

Anyone else have any info on the situation?

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  • c64 on 17/01/2013 - 19:06

    you purchased in 2011? do the vouchers last that long?

    • SkMed on 17/01/2013 - 19:59

      Yeah, i bought it in May 2011 and it is valid for two years. I think only the expensive holiday ones usually last this long.

  • scotty on 17/01/2013 - 22:16

    Sorry to hear the mess.

    ZIZZLE has not posted a deal here since September 2011 and they used to post multiple deals a month. Their Facebook page status update stopped in March 2012. So I suspect the shop might have died for almost a year.

    As of DealMe, DealsDirect dumped the site last October (6 months since launch).

    Who is the current owner of Zizzle? If they are in administration which makes you, the coupon holder, a unsecured creditor — it would be tough to get your money back.

    • SkMed on 17/01/2013 - 22:38

      Ah yeah I see now, The deal I bought is actually on here back from May 2011:
      http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/45245

      Well I think DealMe and Zizzle were offshoots of DealsDirect.

      DealMe still have an active call center but Zizzle only have a contact email: [email protected]

      When I contacted [email protected] back in Oct 2012 when I was going to use the coupon I was receiving reply's from a Kristina and she was trying to help, but all of a sudden the emails just stopped.

      So when I found out that DealMe were connected to Zizzle I started emailing them to try and get my coupon code. My email contact there just kept saying she would send my case to the team at zizzle, mark it urgent and I should get some sort of answer in a few days.

      After two months of that and still nothing I called DealMe and got through to a manager who is updating me whenever she can about the situation at Zizzle.

      I spoke to her today and she hopes I will have an answer in the next two weeks as apparently Zizzle are trying to make some sort of internal decisions or something… but after 4 months im doubtful this is going to get anywhere either.

      It looks like whatever team is left at zizzle are sitting on this until my coupon expires in May and im down $400.

      Im thinking about reporting them to the ACCC but not sure if that is the right place to go, or even possible if the company is in administration.

      Anyone got any suggestions?

      • A3Australia on 18/01/2013 - 01:05

        Name: ZIZZLE PTY LTD
        ACN: 144 654 982
        ABN: 23 144 654 982
        Registration date: 16/06/2010
        Next review date: 16/06/2013
        Status: Registered
        Type: Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares
        Locality of registered office: Murrumbeena VIC 3163

  • SkMed on 01/02/2013 - 16:32

    Can someone explain how these coupon sites work?

    If I have purchased a coupon from Groupon/zizzle does Groupon/zizzle hold onto the money until the coupon is used at the retailer? or does the money go straight to the retiler once I have purchased the coupon (with a cut going to Groupon/zizzle I take it)?

    Cheers

    • scotty on 01/02/2013 - 17:21

      Usually it goes like this:

      • Brick & Mortar Retailer (BMR) approached Group Buy Site (GBS) to feature a coupon
      • GBS posted a coupon on their site — $100 service for $20!
      • 500 people bought the coupon, so $10,000 goes to GBS (assume transaction fee is nil)
      • GBS will take a cut of the commission (say, 25%) — $2,500 profit
      • GBS will then pass on probably 50% of the remain to BMR — $3,750
      • GBS will then pass on the rest to BMR after 3 months (to pay off possible refund) — $3,750 assume no refund

      So right after the sale, BMR would have $3,750 in the bank without servicing one customer, and GBS would have $6,250 in the bank with $3,750 liability.

      • SkMed on 01/02/2013 - 17:34

        Cheers for the rundown. So in my situation here it is likely that zizzle doesn't actually have my money, but the holiday booking company who the voucher is for would have it?

        And how exactly would this holiday booking company check the validity of the coupon I have? Would they check it against a database that Zizzle have passed onto them? Or would they contact Zizzle after I submit the Coupon to check against zizzles database?

        Cheers!

        • scotty on 01/02/2013 - 17:43

          Zizzle would still have the commission although they would have passed the majority to the retailer. How do they cross check the coupons? Sorry I have no idea…

  • voteoften on 01/02/2013 - 22:21

    I thought zizzle was now deals.com.au

    • SkMed on 04/02/2013 - 11:47

      If you go to zizzle.com.au it says powered by Dealme. is deals.com.au owned by dealme? I have no idea what is going on with this company, but they have essentially stolen $400 from me and I have no idea if/how i can get it back! :(

  • retiredfeline on 04/02/2013 - 11:58

    It seems DealMe was liquidated Nov last year. Very convoluted.

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:9tAC1w_gnP4J:www.…

    • SkMed on 04/02/2013 - 12:23

      Yeah I came across that document but couldn't really make heads or tails of it!

      I have sent an email to ASIC to see where I go from here after reading through this on the consumer affairs website:

      http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/contact-us/ask-a-question/~/l…

      • retiredfeline on 04/02/2013 - 12:28

        Let us know how you go. Sorry to read your problem. The number of GBS was unsustainable and it was going to end in tears for many.

        • SkMed on 04/02/2013 - 12:35

          Cheers, I will post any updates I have in case anyone else realises that their GBS has gone bust without any warning!

          Yeah I know what you mean about GBS, I stopped buying coupons/vouchers over a year ago, but this deal was purchased in May 2011.

          How do these companies get away with going into Administration/liquidation without at the very least sending out an email to their customers about the situation! I would have assumed that it would be a legal requirement or something… It just causes more confusion and more work for everyone involved!

  • SkMed on 15/02/2013 - 09:31
    +3

    Ok, I have managed to get my money back finally!

    So, I contacted ASIC and got a hold of the Dealme liquidators. But they told me that Zizzle was no longer a part of their company and their debts re their own responsibility.

    So then I went back to ASIC and requested a copy of the businesses details including the businesses registered address, the 3 owners home addresses, DOB and full names.

    Using this info I was able to track down their accountant and leave a message with them.

    At the same time I didnt want to rely on a message to be passed onto these guys so I used Facebook, Linkedin, and Google to find all of their mobile numbers, current place of business, business and work email addresses, linked in profiles, facebook profiles, and company websites.

    Next I sent them all an email to their home and work email addresses, as well as facebook messages explaining the situation to pay up otherwise myself and ASIC would be taking matters further. I also called their mobile phones and left voice messages explaining the same thing.

    Well within an hour I had one guy call me and apologize profusely, and he transferred the total amount into my bank account from his personal bank account then and there!

    By the next morning I had a call from the other two owners. They explained that Dealme had taken over the site and then gone bust so handed everything back to these guys and it was all a big mess or something, blah blah blah. Not really sure what to believe, but yeah. So that's what happened.

    Moral of the story is, you cant hide on the internet, and don't try to rip off an ozbargainer! haha.

    If anyone is in the same situation out there trying to chase a refund PM me and I will get you in contact with these guys to get your money back.

    Cheers for the help all, very happy at the moment :)

    • Strange1 on 15/02/2013 - 13:21

      Great detective work! And remind me to never try and scam you over the internet ;)

    • cloudy on 08/11/2013 - 13:47

      Well done with getting ur money back.

      Technically, i think, if they are under admininstration, they may not be obliged to pay you back. You are probably a unsecured creditor in the legal sense (my guess only). So i think you've done well mate!

  • n3wst3ad on 04/11/2013 - 18:03

    Skmed,

    I need your help to get my money back
    How do I contact you?

    Regards,
    Mitch.

  • holdenmg on 11/11/2013 - 10:40

    Odd, there seems to be a new website at: http://www.zizzle.com.au

    • scotty on 11/11/2013 - 13:46

      Now it looks like just spammy blog content.

      • jimbobaus on 09/12/2013 - 02:48

        The home "sercurity" section was interesting LOL

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