IT took all of Darryl Higgs’ self-control not to smash the front window of the Toowoomba Kleenmaid store yesterday.

The Middle Ridge renovator was one of about 25 angry customers who gathered outside the shop at 10am, searching for information about the thousands of dollars they have lost in the company’s shock collapse.

The glass doors stayed shut.

Taped to the window overnight was information about the business going into voluntary administration, dated April 9. A handwritten notice confirmed the store was "temporarily closed".

But the cheated buyers — farmers, retirees and builders — stayed and fumed about the company’s "mongrel" bosses, united in their loss of kitchens full of appliances.

"If I went in there and took what was mine, they would call it shoplifting," Mr Higgs said. "But they can rip us off and we can’t do a thing."

He holds little hope of recovering the nearly $20,000 he spent on Kleenmaid appliances for his wife Sue’s dream kitchen.

"(Company founder and owner Andrew Young) should be locked up and the key thrown away," he said. "They hide behind the door, take our money and keep it."

Clifton man Lindsay Holmes and his wife had saved for two years for a new kitchen. Their appliances were meant to be delivered yesterday.

Instead, he could only peer through the shop window at the range hood and dishwasher he bought for $2500.

Ann Liebke was caught up in the Kleenmaid mess two days before the company went into voluntary administration.

She paid $1800 upfront for a washing machine. It was meant to be delivered on Thursday, the same day the collapse was announced. It never came.

Customer Nick Farquharson, who has lost $10,000, doesn’t blame the "poor buggers" at the Toowoomba store.

"I blame those who ran the show," he said. "To turn over $90 million and make no money, something is going on."

Employee Kristy Delaforce, who worked part-time at the Toowoomba store, did not receive a pay cheque last week.

The mother of two, who performed cooking demonstrations, tried to call the company yesterday morning, but had no luck.

"I haven’t heard anything from Kleenmaid. I thought if something was happening, I’d be told."

A former staff member told The Chronicle yesterday he had been threatened and abused by jilted customers. The man, who asked to remain anonymous for his own safety, said he left Kleenmaid five months ago because he was sick of stock delays and head office inefficiency.

"But I’ve done nothing wrong. I was a customer myself and now I have $14,000 worth of appliances with no warranty.

"People who are targeting us (the staff) are targeting the wrong people. Leave us alone."

For more information, ring 1300 652 100 or visit www.kleenmaid.com.