Phones 4u stock goes on the block

Auctions of kit from Phones 4u liquidation going live across the UK

Thousands more phones and other electronic items from wound-up reseller Phones 4u go under the hammer today at John Pye Auctions, its seventh dedicated Phones 4u online auction since the sales began in December.

PwC joint administrators Rob Hunt, Ian Green and Rob Moran have been managing the remarketing ahead of the auctions to recoup monies from the sale of some 600,000 items that could have retailed for £10.8m, according to John Pye Auctions.

"The first batch, of over 14,500 lots, included smartwatches, fitness trackers, phone accessories and headphones. Customers were able to get their hands on some real bargains such as the Beats by Dre headphones for £65, including fees," it said in its press statement.

Kit is also available for physical inspection on site in Staffordshire, Derby and London, although the auction is online only.

This afternoon's bids for some 2,000 lots will be for smartphones including the Apple iPhone 5 and 5c and Sony Xperia Z as well as tablets such as the Apple iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Note.

Much of the inventory available is consumer-oriented.

As reported by ChannelWeb, the Phones 4u retail business, estimated as worth about £225m a year, collapsed in September after the last remaining mobile partner EE withdrew supply. Almost 5,600 staff were employed by the retailer.

According to administrators, a deal has been agreed with Vodafone UK which will see the mobile network firm take on 140 of the Phones 4u stores together with preservation of 887 jobs for store employees across the UK.

EE also recently agreed to buy 58 Phones 4u stores, preserving 359 jobs, while major Phones 4u rival Dixons Carphone has offered to take on remaining Phones 4u staff as well.

"Unfortunately, there is limited interest in the balance of the estate from parties considering going concern offers. This comprises 362 stores," according to PwC's related statement.

"Regretfully, as a result, the administrators announce that those stores will close permanently and 1,697 staff employed at these locations will be made redundant. Another 720 people have been retained in the short term to assist with the closure programme."