ALL is not lost for HMV customers left with worthless gift cards.
The ailing music chain is refusing to take tokens after calling in the administrators.
But a Durham City restaurant is giving music-lovers something back for their bucks.
Oldfields, in Claypath, is giving people with HMV gift cards 50 per cent of the card’s value off their bill as a gesture of goodwill.
Managing director Bill Oldfield said: “We heard about them not honouring people’s gift cards and we were thinking about how many people must have received those cards at Christmas. We wanted to ensure that people at least got something for their money, as a Christmas gesture from us.”
Since the deal was tweeted from the restaurant’s Twitter account, the venue has been inundated with bookings.
Bill added: “The high street is hard work and we know that, so we wanted to do something.
“We couldn’t afford to take the cards at full value but we thought 50 per cent would be something, plus it’s a way of introducing people to our restaurant that might not have been before.
“All we ask is that they bring the gift receipt with the gift card.”
The collapse of the 92-year-old music giant, which has stores in Sunderland and Durham, has put 4,000 jobs at risk across the country.
HMV’s 238 outlets will remain open while administrator Deloitte attempts to find a buyer for some or all of the business, although it is likely there will be widespread store closures.
The company’s administration also means that vouchers and gift cards, many of which were given as Christmas presents, will be worthless.
Shoppers have blasted the firm for continuing to sell the gift cards despite HMV’s boss Trevor Moore warning before Christmas that the entertainment group was in trouble.
l THE future of Blockbuster is uncertain after it became the latest high street casualty to enter administration.
The firm has branches in Roker Retail Park, Houghton, Chester-le-Street, Peterlee and one in Framwellgate Moor, near Durham City. In total it has 528 stores in the UK, employing almost 4,200 staff.
Accountants Deloitte will now take over the running of Blockbuster in the hope that a buyer can be found.
Lee Manning, of Deloitte’s Restructuring Services practice, said gift cards and credit acquired through Blockbuster’s trade-in scheme will be honoured.
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