Shopping Online at Sears... Grrr

[Stuey]

I had a pretty frustrating experience with Sears last night.

I had planned on placing a large order, and once everything was in my cart and ready to go, their 10% Midnight Madness sale that was supposed to end at 5am CT ended at 1am ET, right when I was about to finish the order.

So... I wrote a rant about it on ToolGuyd.

If you would like to share an experience of your own, here is the place to do it. Post it here, via a comment to my post ToolGuyd, or both.

There have been quite a few Sears rants on GJ before, but I think it's time to centralize them. This way, hopefully we can draw the attention of someone who can actually change and improve Sears' website and online store.

 

[billymade]

I would call the customer relations hotline and see what they can do for you... aside from that I don't know what can be done, in your particular situation.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12608_NB_Customer+Relations?adCell=A3

 

[Jay H 237]

I was on the website a few nights ago and don't like that I can't easily find the open stock items anymore. I looked in the new catalog (2009-2010) and guess what?..............no listing of open stock stuff either!

 

[tonydanzah]

What were the items you urgently needed?

 

[dkroth]

I guess I got lucky! I placed my order at 12:23am ET last night. 10% discount applied.

I was on the website a few nights ago and don't like that I can't easily find the open stock items anymore.

Try this link:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12605_NB_Catalogs?adCell=WF

Scroll through the catalogs. Look for the one that says "tools" with the black background. That's the open stock catalog. It's hyperlinked so if you click on a line item it takes you to item on the sears website.

 

[Stuey]

What were the items you urgently needed?

Sorry, I meant "more urgently". I need a chop saw, blades, and was going to pick up a 10" band saw. If I ever need something urgently, I pay a higher premium and order from Amazon or an industrial supplier with next-day delivery.

I would call the customer relations hotline and see what they can do for you... aside from that I don't know what can be done, in your particular situation.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12608_NB_Customer+Relations?adCell=A3

That would introduce too many complications. Ordering online allows me to take advantage of credit card cashback, the sale price, and a $5off$50 coupon. If (and that's a big if) they could allow me to place my order with the promise of a retroactive discount, something will still probably go wrong. At the very least, it will take time to explain everything.

Even if they can alleviate my frustration on a case by case basis, I encounter quite a issues with Sears.com every year, and I'm sure others do as well. I will usually start a discussion here when I get REALLY annoyed, and I'm not the only one, which is why a centralized complaint/venting thread might be a good idea.

 

[Rocket1]

I can beat that.... I placed an order online about a month ago and I'm still waiting for it. They shipped the wrong item and had to reorder it. It should be here this week but its a pain waiting for something this long when its just coming from their warehouse. You would think taking 3 weeks to ship something would be enough time to get it right

 

[Boiler]

I can barely use their website. For some reason it is really REALLY slow on both my home and work computers. Probably one of the slowest websites I've ever accessed.

 

[Art From De Leon]

They still show distributor wrenches and carbureator tools in the new catalog, but no longer sell the tool to remove fans. That would be an ideal tool to put a ratcheting box end on.

 

[usmc_noma]

I can barely use their website. For some reason it is really REALLY slow on both my home and work computers. Probably one of the slowest websites I've ever accessed.

ditto. i hate trying to navigate that website. compared to all others it's slow with everything. that includes pictures, pages, text, etc. i can't stand going to sears.com. you would think with the amount of items sold online they'd get a better webserver or whatever it is to make it more user friendly in loading. hell, look at amazon. it's got who knows how many more items and look how fast it loads.

 

[rodm1]

How often dues the 10% sales come up? I have a few things to order.

 

[Stuey]

How often dues the 10% sales come up? I have a few things to order.

Sometimes every weekend a month, other times several months apart, depends on the season. I'm hoping for at least one more as well.

 

[sawatch]

I placed an order a while back & the next day waited for email confirmation, got nothing. Called & they had no record of the order, said they were having problems with PPal. Didn't try again...

 

[O RLY]

i can't stand going to sears.com.

www.craftsman.com

works a little better for me rather than going through sears' website.

 

[billymade]

I wonder, if it would be any different; if you called the catalog and order with a actual person.... maybe even more brain damage but another possibility. That way you could confirm that everything worked out, pricing was correct and each item ordered. Of course, many times when these sales are on.... the catalog people are closed; I know dealing with catalog people can be brain damage in itself.... as a sears employee, I had to deal with them too! The other day; I went in to have a torx socket warranted; it was a security style.... no open stock on these, they had to special order it through the catalog. The catalog rep on the phone couldn't find the part #; then, when they sent it to me... it was the normal style torx! Sears is a huge dysfunctional organization! I ended up going back to the store and they just swapped out the whole set.

Sears reminds me of Fry's Electronics; the store is famous for their sales and variety of electronics, computer and tech related stuff. They are also infamous, for their customer service related problems, return issues, and other brain damage... BUT people keep going back, because of the pricing and what they sell! I used to get so irritated dealing with issues related to the store; I would many times think, I should just not deal with the brain damage anymore... THEN, they would have stuff on sale, at a price that NO ONE could beat.... I would go back and buy stuff! Kinda like the store you love to hate or have a love/hate relationship with!

I would have customers curse the store and vow to never come back.... the next week they would be back! Ugh, the curse that is Sears! LOL!

 

[Arne73]

ditto. i hate trying to navigate that website. compared to all others it's slow with everything. that includes pictures, pages, text, etc. i can't stand going to sears.com. you would think with the amount of items sold online they'd get a better webserver or whatever it is to make it more user friendly in loading. hell, look at amazon. it's got who knows how many more items and look how fast it loads.

Not only slow but counter-intuitive. There is little organization and it's difficult to find items that I know exist without entering the P/N into the search box.

 

[Stuey]

And.... Sears.com pulls the same **** as last week.

I got one order in earlier. Then decided to order something else. 12:50am ET, all looks to be well. 10% discount applies in the cart... great!

I browse around to see if there's anything else I want to order. 12:55am ET, I try to checkout.

BAM - full price.

And again, the advertisements all say "valid until 5am CT".

Sears' webmasters are not on my favorite persons list...