Fire sale? What fire sale?
Hardware chain Masters had been spruiking that Monday was going to be the start of one of the biggest liquidation sales in Australian history, with between $600 million and $700 million of hardware needing to be sold.
"The entire store will be on sale," said Kevin Olson, general manager of GA Australia, a liquidation specialist that is running the Masters sell down told Fairfax Media on Friday.
"The lion's share will be anywhere up to probably 30 per cent [off]."
But the DIY enthusiasts that rocked up to the Masters store in Bayswater on Monday morning were less than impressed with the discounts on offer.
And while the store wasn't exactly brimming with hardware hunters, all of the shoppers WAtoday spoke too were left flat by the fire sale.
"It's pretty rubbish," said Clare Bell, who dropped into the store purely for the fire sale.
"They are not going to sell much at these prices."
Ella Roach was hoping to pick up a cheap outdoor setting.
"It's not really," when asked if it was a fire sale.
"But I live local so I will come back again.
"I think in a week or two it will change, but I get to get the pick of it now because there might not be much left."
It's easy to see why people were miffed by the lack of marked down prices, after one staffer who didn't want to be named, said whitegoods were only six per cent off and most of the goods were 10 per cent off, with a "handful" of items discounted by 30 per cent.
Donna McGrath said it was "not a sale".
"I wouldn't call 10-30 per cent off a sale," she moaned.
"What are they going to call it next?"
Masters said it was going to go through half-a-million worth of stock before it shuts up shop on December 11.
The Woolworth-owned retailer failed to make a dent in the hardware market after opening stores in WA in 2012.
Dan McGresham said was expecting the shelves to be overflowing with stock.
"It's not the stand-out sale as I thought," he said.
"And like Masters the sale is confusing."
Scott Roberston who was looking for a bargain on shelving wasn't impressed with the prices.
"There are lots of signs, but it's not that cheap," he said.
"It's only day one, but there aren't any good sales."
And for those bargain hunters who think they can cash-in on Bunnings lowest-price guarantee mantra, better think again.
Bunnings lowest-price guarantee doesn't include liquidation stock.
Woolworths has been contacted for comment.
