Appreciates "customers will be concerned".

Former game-seller Zavvi could be about to close for good; the company announced it has entered administration and that it has ceased trading while the insolvency process is resolved.

Zavvi announced the news in a boilerplate message on its website, announcing BDO LLP as the company handling the administration process. The message reiterated that: "[Zavvi] is unable to fulfil any outstanding orders or pre-orders. Please also note that we are unable to accept any returns for items of any kind.

"We appreciate that customers who have paid for goods that have not been received will be concerned about their orders and payments," the message added, before suggesting that those customers contact their bank, card issuer or payment providers "to establish whether they may be entitled to recover their payment". A customer inquiry email address has been set up but it sounds as though it'll mostly send an automated response.

Zavvi's intention to appoint administrators had been reported a month ago, with the alleged aim of "protecting the business and its stakeholders and securing the best possible outcome". Exactly what that means and whether it's a genuine play to save the company or ensure investors recoup money before it closes, remains to be seen. But this appointment of administrators - foreboding though it is - doesn't necessarily mean the end for Zavvi.

Zavvi was once a familiar name in video gaming. Zavvi formed when Virgin Megastores split from the Virgin company as an independent company in 2007, making it - at the time - one of the largest independent entertainment sellers in the UK. But the good times didn't last as barely a year later, Zavvi entered administration (for the first time). The Hut Group bought Zavvi out of administration in 2009, and the company pivoted more towards pop culture and entertainment sales thereafter.

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