Appliance store fails to open for liquidation, customers still without orders

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Last month the I-Team told you about fuming customers of Grant's Appliances, Electronics and More, who said they lost thousands after the company's six area stores closed with no warning.

There may be some good news for customers looking for a deal, but that doesn't mean there is a resolution in sight for other consumers who paid thousands of dollars for orders they never received.

The appliance store chain says it is planning on re-opening its doors to begin a liquidation process, but that didn't happen Thursday as expected. Signs on the door at the Joliet headquarters say "Due to a systems shut down couldn't open today re-opening soon."

Other new signs on the windows indicate plans for a sale saying, "everything must go... nothing held back," yet workers were spotted walking in and out Thursday.

In November the I-Team told you about several customers who said they were left hanging after paying grants hundreds to thousands of dollars, in cash or check, for items which were on order.

Then, the stores closed with no warning before the items were delivered.

The I-Team learned that the attorney general's office has dozens of complaints and that Grant's is undergoing an "assignment for benefit of creditors," which is similar to a bankruptcy.

The I-Team stopped by the listed addresses for the chairman of the board, president and CEO, but no one answered.

The future sale could generate funds to go to creditors. Customers who paid in full and never got products are part of that group but they must file a claim with an assignee, High Ridge Partners, Inc.

According to reports, the assignee says Grant's has twice as much debt as assets.

The I-Team left messages asking the assignee what the possible sale in Joliet means for customers who never got orders. No one called back.

Anytime you are paying in full before you get the products, use a credit card so you can reverse or dispute those charges.