Dozens of Australians, including the family of a terminally ill girl, are losing thousands of dollars out of pocket after a popular spa company allegedly failed to deliver their orders.
Spas Direct, which has operated under various names including Sunseal Garden Spas, went into liquidation on June 3, 2024 according to ASIC data.
Several customers have made shocking allegations against the Queensland-based company in a Facebook group with more than 400 members.
One affected customer claimed he paid $5,000 to the now-defunct company for a spa, but allegedly never received the product.
Lauren Elise, whose daughter suffers from an incurable illness, claimed she ordered a spa for her in hopes of easing her symptoms, but it never arrived.
‘We are also part of this debacle. $25 thousand down payment. “We have a child who is terminally ill and needs rehabilitation because he can’t leave the house,” she wrote.
‘We are more than gutted. “We just wanted her to feel comfortable.”
Terry Bartholomai, 57, bought a mini plunge pool for $16,000 last November to help treat his debilitating back pain, but he says it hasn’t arrived.
Dozens of Australians were left thousands of dollars out of pocket after Spas Direct allegedly failed to deliver products before going into liquidation (file image pictured)
The company issued a statement saying that “due to an ongoing dispute with our third-party logistics partner, we regret to inform you that we are temporarily unable to release or ship any Spas from our facilities.”
Several customers stated that they had contacted Spas Direct on multiple occasions with questions about their product, but never received a response.
However, others said they had received refunds for their orders.
Another disgruntled customer, Kerri Wright, claimed she paid more than $15,000 for a spa that was never delivered to her home.
“Once all the bills were paid for four days, they deceived me, didn’t answer phone calls and then didn’t answer the phones,” he said.
“I feel angry, frustrated and disappointed that the laws allow businesses like this to continue operating.”
Spas Direct also allegedly owes more than $1.75 million to shipping company 3Sixty Global Logistics. Mark Carmody, a lawyer for the logistics company, said the company had filed legal proceedings.
He said Sixty Global Logistics currently has more than 500 spas and spa products in its warehouses and has yet to decide what to do with them.

A woman shared a heartbreaking post and claimed that she ordered a spa for her daughter, who lives with an incurable disease, but never received the product (stock image pictured).
“360 is (allegedly) owed around $1.8 million for the warehousing and logistics services it has been providing to JKJ/Sunseal Garden Spas trading names Spas Direct (Spas Direct) during 2024,” it said. 7news.
‘360 has filed two claims against entities linked to Spas Direct for the debt owed to it’.
Others claimed that when their spas arrived, parts like the heater were not working. Even though he was given a replacement, a company technician did not come to install it.
Spas Direct’s website is temporarily unavailable “due to an ongoing dispute with a logistics company.”
“As more information becomes available, this website will be updated accordingly,” their website states.
According to ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) filings, Spas Direct trades under nine different trading names, including Sunseal Garden Spas Pty Ltd and Spas 4 U Australia.

The Spas Direct website (pictured) is temporarily unavailable “due to an ongoing dispute with a logistics company”
The company is also registered under the JKJ Trust, which was registered in February 2023. Company director Gregory Lord declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Thursday Legal, which represents the company, as well as ASIC and the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.
Spas Direct sold dozens of spas, including plunge pools and infrared saunas.
Some of the models sold for up to $18,995, while its swim spa range sold for up to $42,995.