A Sydney court has ordered businessman Gerasimos “Jerry” Lord to pay compensation totalling $37,683 to seven consumers after he was found guilty of breaching Australian Consumer Law ten times through his online store, Gallery Furniture, which failed to deliver paid-for items. However, many others, including a victim named Grace, were left without remuneration despite having lost significant sums; Grace herself paid $3,500 for furniture that never arrived.
Grace did receive a $700 chargeback refund from her bank, which led to her exclusion from the court’s compensation process since the remaining $2,800 was deemed insufficient. She expressed disappointment and noted that numerous other victims felt similarly left out. Grace played a pivotal role in exposing Lord’s dishonest practices, which ultimately led to the court proceedings.
In addition to the compensation, Lord received a 15-month community corrections order. This ruling comes on the heels of previous legal issues he faced nearly a decade ago involving the sale of faulty spas, for which he and his brother were fined $18,000 and ordered to pay nearly $46,000 in damages.
Despite his legal troubles, Lord has continued to engage in the furniture market, now operating under a new online business named Avant Garde, which promotes “handcrafted” items purported to enhance home aesthetics. While he stated that affected consumers would eventually be reimbursed by liquidators, many remain sceptical about their chances of receiving any funds. The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding consumer protections and accountability in online retail.
Grace’s story exemplifies the frustration experienced by many consumers who feel overlooked by the legal system, raising questions about fairness and the adequacy of consumer protections in such cases.