HMV "intends" to honour pre-orders

Customers who have pre-ordered games or other items with HMV have been told not to worry.

HMV’s PR boss Gennaro Castaldo told Eurogamer that the chain would intend to follow through on [pre-orders]”.

This, of course, depends on both the business remaining open and suppliers being willing to provide the stock. Neither of which are certain for the time being.

All of HMV’s 239 stores and 4,350 staff remain open and in work for the time being as administrator Deloitte attempts to find a buyer.

"We’re doing our very best to continue operating as per normal,” Castaldo added. There are a couple of areas such as gift cards where unfortunately we can’t do that, but effectively we’ve got new owners now and when you get into an administration it can impact on vouchers and gift cards. But everything else we’re doing our best to continue as normal.

"We don’t see this as a final chapter; we still believe there is a future. It might have to be a slightly different future, but one we can still try to achieve, so we’re working hard to make that happen."

It could well be that HMV, much like GAME before it, successfully finds a buyer and continues on, perhaps in a smaller capacity. Or the brand could live in in a number of guises, such as online or in events.

It’s also possible, though, that its days are numbered.

The chain this morning confirmed that it is no longer accepting gift vouchers or store credit. Should the chain go under gift card holders will of course be able to apply to the administrators for a refund, but those affected should be aware that customers normally fall right to the bottom of the lists when it comes to rebates.