Millionaire influencer Sarah’s Day claims Booktopia are holding her books hostage – as thousands of customers rage at collapsed company
Sarah’s Day took to social media to vent her frustration over the failed online bookstore Booktopia.
The Australian influencer, born Sarah Stevenson, complained that fans who ordered her cookbook Sunee Side Up have not received their copies.
Earlier this month, chaos broke out at Booktopia when customers were told their outstanding orders would not be processed and they would not receive a refund.
The company filed for bankruptcy on July 3, just weeks after it announced it would cut 50 jobs to save $6 million.
It turned out that Booktopia had laid off another 165 employees and was no longer accepting new orders.
“You may have had a hard time buying my healthy cookbook called Sunee Side Up. Booktopia, who distributes my book, has gone out of business,” Sarah said in a clip on Instagram.
Sarah explained that the company’s collapse meant she could no longer process orders, forcing her to sell her book on a competing platform.
‘My books are currently frozen in Booktopia. Luckily we have a warehouse in the UK and the US that is separate. You can still buy from there.’
Sarah’s Day has taken to social media to vent her frustration over the bankrupt online bookstore Booktopia
The author subsequently apologized to her fans for the delays and said she hoped the situation would be resolved in the near future.
Many of Sarah’s followers expressed their frustration in the comments.
“I’m in France… I’m so sad I can’t get it,” one fan wrote, while a second person added: “This is why my books haven’t arrived!”
“How awful for you and everyone!” said a third person.
Sarah, who is soon to have her third child with her husband Kurt Tilse, turned her attention to a full-time career as an influencer in the early 2010s and has since risen to fame as a lifestyle and fitness vlogger.
Earlier this month it was reported that the online bookseller, which was founded in 2004, had been placed into receivership.
Earlier this month, chaos broke out at Booktopia when customers were told their outstanding orders would not be processed and they would not receive a refund.
Sarah is set to give birth to her third child with husband Kurt Tilse, while the couple already have children: Fox Ocean, five, and Malakai Koa, two (all pictured)
The announcement came just weeks after the company announced it would cut 50 jobs to save $6 million. CEO David Nenke also stepped down in May after just 12 months in the role.
Business News Australia reports that delivery delays, executive departures and a weak market all contributed to the company’s demise.
McGrathNicol restructuring partners Keith Crawford, Matthew Caddy and Damien Pasfield are conducting an urgent review of Booktopia’s operations and will explore options for sale or recapitalisation.
Booktopia’s sales soared during the Covid pandemic lockdowns as many people were stuck at home looking for something to do. But sales plummeted when lockdowns were lifted and people cut back on spending due to rising interest rates.