Myer chief Bernie Brookes has apologised to angry online customers who were stonewalled by the retailer's crashed website on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Mr Brookes, the outgoing chief of Australia's biggest department store group, said the company was ''really disappointed'' that its website suffered technical difficulties and prevented online purchases.

Visitors hoping to nab a bargain on Myer's Boxing Day Sale website were left disappointed.

''We've upset quite a few of our online shoppers, and we really apologise for that. We expect to have it [the website] up in the next couple of hours, maybe earlier,'' Mr Brookes told Fairfax Media on Boxing Day.

''I understand their frustration and for that we have to apologise.''