GrabOne has shut down and won't refund unredeemed vouchers
E-commerce deal website GrabOne has ceased trading after its owner went into liquidation today.
Daniel Stoneman and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners were appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand Limited, which operates the GrabOne business in New Zealand.
GrabOne’s website has disappeared, replaced by a message from the liquidators.
“Due to funding constraints, the business has ceased trading and the liquidators are immediately commencing a sales process for the company’s business and assets,” the liquidators said.
“As a result, the company will not be promoting any existing or future deals whilst in liquidation.”
The liquidators said the company was unable to provide refunds to customers who hold onto unredeemed vouchers.
“Consumers will need to take steps themselves - including contacting individual merchants - to assess how unredeemed vouchers will be treated.”
Retail expert and managing director of First Retail Group Chris Wilkinson said the GrabOne model became “quite a dated concept”.
“There was a lot of euphoria around that type of model around a decade ago.
“It’s almost like the catalogue model of digital marketing, where catalogues were superseded by e-commerce. It’s a legacy digital marketing model.”
Wilkinson said a decade ago deal websites tended to be nationwide models but over time became more localised.
“The deals were always typically good, often to help businesses get some cashflow and to reach new markets.
“Particularly as time went on, they became a very localised response, and it really was down to smaller businesses who needed a boost and were prepared to cut the prices.”
New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), publishers of the New Zealand Herald, sold GrabOne in 2021 to Global Marketplace New Zealand for $17.5 million.
GrabOne was founded in 2010 as a 50/50 venture between IdeaHQ - controlled by entrepreneur Shane Bradley - and then Herald publisher APN. APN progressively bought out Bradley’s stake, taking full control in 2013 in a deal worth up to $12.2m.
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Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.2% Yes
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46.8% No
Aucklanders, we want to know: How are you feeling about the current property market?
New Zealand homeowners are now more likely to sell at a loss than at any time since 2013, and if you’re in Auckland or Wellington, the odds are even higher.
But there is a silver lining: buyers are still in a strong position when it comes to negotiating prices.
So we’re curious…
How are you feeling about the current property market?
If you’re keen to dive into the details, Deborah Morris breaks down all the latest insights.
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
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