More than one million Debenhams customers are stuck in huge virtual queues after the shop offered 70% off in a "fire sale".
The department store was earlier preparing its last ever Christmas blow-out after last ditch attempts to save it collapsed this morning.
JD Sports, which was tipped to rescue the 242-year-old department store, said it's no longer interested after Arcadia, which is worth £75million a year to Debenhams, collapsed.
The chain then began preparing a 70% off pre-Christmas clearance in what's expected to be the last ever sale across its remaining 124 stores.
A notice tonight told shoppers trying to get on the website: "You are in a virtual queue.
"Sorry for the wait, we are currently using a virtual queue due to exceptional demand.
"We will get you onto the site as soon as possible.
"Thank you for your patience."
The company said it will continue to trade on the high street and online with a fire sale of its stock when England’s national lockdown ends tomorrow.
"Debenhams will continue to trade through its 124 UK stores and online to clear its current and contracted stocks," a statement told Mirror Money.
Dubbed "Wild Wednesday", December 2 is set to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year as retailers return from lockdown with new 24-hour trading times in a bid to claw back the £900million lost a day as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.
Geoff Rowley, of FRP Advisory, joint administrator to Debenhams, said: "All reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams.
"However, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached.
"The decision to move forward with a closure programme has been carefully assessed and, while we remain hopeful that alternative proposals for the business may yet be received, we deeply regret that circumstances force us to commence this course of action.
"We are very grateful for the efforts of the management team and staff who have worked so hard throughout the most difficult of circumstances to keep the business trading."
In a brief statement to the London Stock Exchange, the company said: "JD Sports Fashion, the leading retailer of sports, fashion and outdoor brands, confirms that discussions with the administrators of Debenhams regarding a potential acquisition of the UK business have now been terminated."
