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Saturday, July 4, 
1:23 pm

Bankruptcy Watch: Whitehall Jewelers

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whitehall.gifWhitehall Jewelers Inc. may be the next jewelry company to file for bankruptcy. The wholly owned subsidiary of Whitehall Jewelers Holdings, Inc. has received two default notices that may force the company to file Chapter 11.

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The jewelry retail chain received a default notice for its failure to make payment on a $3.06 million promissory note to Fabrikant Receivables LLC, and a default notice for its failure to make payment on a $2.07 million promissory note from Rosy Blue Inc. Whitehall has until June 21 to pay these notices or be in default.

Ironically enough, Whitehall scooped up 78 stores from bankrupt Friedman's Inc. in March 2008 for roughly $14.5 million. Friedman's fell on similar hard times, when a group of creditors submitted an involuntary Chapter 7 petition against it on Jan. 22 and the company was forced to sell its assets.

Whitehall seems like it could be the latest in a rash of retail jewelery and luxury bankruptcies as consumer confidence has plummeted and creditors are opting for out-of-court restructurings resulting in a number of quick liquidations. - Maria Woehr

Other recent jewelery bankruptcies include:
Lexington Jewelers
Luxury Ventures LLC
Lexington Jewelers Exchange Inc.
Four Points Corp.
Diastar Inc.
OTC International Ltd.
L.I.D. Ltd.





Comments

From: Margaret Jensen,

Who will honor our warranties on existing jewelry?


From: Kathleen,

Does anyone have any idea on whom I can contact about who will still honor our warranties/ cleaning schedules on our existing jewelry?


From: AV,

no one...they will screw everyone over...we got an engagement ring from them i guess right before the filled bankruptcy (which i had no idea that they were going to do that). First the diamond was cracked, they took it back, when the gave it to us again the new diamond was also cracked. We then wanted to return it and they didn't want to take it back. Their policy is returns with in 90 days, well we didn't even have the ring for 30 days out of those 90 days...they broke my heart now we are stuck with a broken diamond ring and i don't know what to do because THEY WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK...how can they do this...an engagement is suppose to be one of the happiest moments in a couples relationship and it has turned into a nightmare. I HAVEN'T EVEN WORN THE RING YET I FEEL LIKE IT'S BAD LUCK...I'm so mad, sad, disappointed and depressed about it. :(


From: Mr. B,

The new process is you have to call the warranty company directly and they will mail labels to you to ship the item(s) to them via post office. I was told to get a receipt of mail from the post office when the package is shipped. after that they are liable for your item(s). Each item has to be shipped seperately. You will need copy of your receipt, warranty and brief description of problem. The number to call is 877-338-7836 option number 2. they say it should be returned with 30 days.


From: Scott,

We purchased our rings several years ago. Who is now going to be responsible for the warranties and cleaning of the rings?


From: lexi,

My husband bought me a large purchase ring for a 25th ann. 3 years ago and we have nothing but problems with this company over it. He paid quite a bit for it but the diamond was very yellowish and some of the baguettes cracked etc. etc. The supposed to be sale price was only half of the value of the ring. I have tried to get them to do something about it for years,they are quite a joke!!! It does not suprise me that they went bankrupt but it sucks that us as customers now have to suffer for it. I would like to see a class action lawsuit against them to at least give us a little help in cost for our repairs with now- no warranties. By the way-if you try the warranty number listed above it now goes directly to what seems to be a fax line.If anyone gets any info on the warranties please contact me . Thank you


From: elena,

had nothing but problems with this place. bought a couple pieces from them and had problems with both. white gold turned gold on both rings one being my wedding set and returned a few times only to find out i can only upgrade so after 3 or 4 times i upgraded to platnum (remind everyone the closest store was 3hrs away) beacause the one near me closed yrs ago. after a few months with the platnum ring set 1 cracked in half the main ring lost a diamond and i havent been able to find any info till now after months and months of searching thank you for conact info.


From: MARIA,

IF any one has any insite in a number for warranties please let me no the number that is above is a fax number please some one help me with some info.

Thank you


From: Jennifer,

I am also looking for information on warranties, i have necklaces, rings, earrings etc, all with paid warranties...i have googled everything i can think of to find out who to contact. Any info or numbers appriciated.


From: christine,

found the number on one of the many links on the whitehall bankruptcy on google: 1-877-338-7826. On the phone now to find out info.. fingers crossed...


From: christine,

got off the phone with N.E.W. rep, Jack. VERY polite and helpful, wonderful experience. Gave me all the info I needed to know. Said if you purchased the ext warranty from whitehall, N.E.W. picked it up. they don't honor the "regular cleaning / inspection" of the ring, so you're on your own to make sure that you stay on top of the quality of your ring. He also noted that they don't cover the center stone. I didn't have too many questions, just wanted to see if my fiancee wasted his money buying the extended warranty to have our local store close down a month later. But, so far, he hasn't. Fingers crossed, we won't need to use it! but use the #, it works:
1-877-338-7826.


From: Gail,

What is N.E.W? And, thanks for the info.


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