Customers owed millions as online sporting giant announces collapse

One of Australia's biggest online retailers has collapsed owing millions of dollars to its customers, who say they raised concerns with authorities for months.

A liquidators report revealed T & R Sports International, which also operated Sports Leisure and Bike Scooter Hub, is $11 million in the red.

Around $7 million is owed to secured creditors, while just over $4.5 million is owed to thousands of customers.

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Owner Shanshan Han, who calls herself Rita, pulled the trigger on winding up the company alongside the only other shareholder, chief executive and husband Hui (Tony) Xiong.

The initial report to creditors says there's $18,000 left in the bank, but other assets could see some customers get their money back.

NSW Fair Trading revealed to A Current Affair it had 397 complaints about the three retailers, and had launched an investigation about possible breaches of Australian Consumer law.

Multiple customers told A Current Affair last month they'd been refused refunds after delayed orders, and in some cases were owed money, while others claimed they'd been sold defective goods.

The company shut down its websites and abandoned its three factories in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane the day it went bust.

"They pulled up with trucks and took what they could," a man claimed in Sydney.

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An eftpos machine was left at the reception in Sydney, with workers' flak jackets still hanging over seats in an empty office.

The shelves of the factory still had some stock.

Multiple customers arrived at the Sydney warehouse to see notices stuck on the front door of the office warning them not to trespass and urging them to send an email to the liquidator as the company had ceased.

"I don't have much money to lose, $3000," said one man who drove to the factory to confront the workers after chasing his scooter order for months.

In an email, chief executive Tony Xiong blamed "cash flow challenges, compounded by setbacks in our partnerships and supply chains following [A Current Affair's] report".

"We have lost almost everything we built over the past 14 years, and the emotional and financial burden has been overwhelming," he said.

Hundreds of customers have written negative reviews online over the past 12 months.