Online IT reseller Custo closes doors

Sydney-based online reseller Custo has closed down, but a completely new company has been tipped to take its place from next Monday.

Emails and phone calls to Custo's three offices in Sydney's North Rocks, Silverwater and Pitt Street have been going unanswered this week.

An account manager at distribution partner, BCN Technology, said this morning it was as if the online reseller of computer systems and networking gear had disappeared.

Nicholas Ziade, account manager at BCN Technology, said the distributor had found out this week that Custo had shut up shop. It appeared to have gone bust, he suggested.

"They had bought a lot of things," Ziade said.

A customer service officer at Telstra's faults and repair service said the line was working and someone had answered the phone.  Eventually, after redialling the number for about 10 minutes, CRN got through to a spokesperson for Custo.

"I am sorry, but actually the company Custo has finished," he said.

When asked when and why Custo was closing, he said that didn't matter. Actually, a new company was starting up from next Monday. The new online reseller would be called IT Estate, he said.

"But actually we're not just changing the name," he said.

The spokesman said new management was also on the cards for the new reseller. He could not say who. "But it's a whole new company, with different people," he added.

He said that he had been employed to answer the phone for the defunct company and had only been working at the job for two days. So he couldn't answer many questions, he said.

Further information would be available from the new company from next Monday, he said.

A message on Custo's website home page this morning said: "Due to change of management, we will be closed for a period of time. Should you have any warranty claims, please contact North Rocks store at 9630 9630. Sorry for inconvenience caused."

Five-year-old Custo is believed to have previously been an online reseller called IT-rite.com. Custo is listed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) as having changed its name early last year. The last document filed for Custo was on 5 April 2005.

IT-rite.com's website still automatically redirects users to Custo. Until early 2004, Custo also officially traded as Focus Technology International.