dear sears . . . .

[a52-830]

for the last few weeks, every time i go to your web site, you ask me to take a survey. i dont know if the survey company has talked to you about it, but it is a horrible thing, and if you are not getting the feedback you are looking for, that might explain it.

i have no interest in a survey on my experience that is over 50 questions long, and where all the questions are required. here is the answer: the survey experience *****. if you want to know what i think, just give me a text box, and i will tell you. sure, it will require more work, since someone will have to read it. but to be honest, if you are not willing to invest someone's time in reading comments, you either really dont care what they think or dont understand the value of the replies you are getting.

so, here is what i think (ignoring all the "politics" of your situation):

it takes 2 minutes for the login page to appear. i leave the page, and eventually end up back at it when i have done other things, and killed those tabs. i assume that there is something you are trying to load on the page that is timing out. a simple fix, if that is really the issue. if it isn't, you have a major backend server problem.

it occasionally forgets that i am logged in, even though it lists my name along the top. then i am back waiting for the login page to load.

the Captcha widget doesnt let me continue to the page i was looking for, and dumps me on the home page. if i try and go to the page again, i get the Captcha widget again. just curious, but why are you afraid i am a robot? is it because i am shopping on your site too much, and you assume that anyone who loads more than 10 pages can't be a real customer?

i cannot find a craftsman 3/8" drive 18MM standard depth six sided socket on the web site. now, the store has them, but the sears.com web site doesn't know they exist. it doesnt think they are not available, they are just not recognized as an item. how can that be? both types (six and twelve sided) are available in 1/2" drive. 3/8" drive six sided sockets are available up to 22MM.

if i try to move an item from my "saved for later" list to the cart, sometimes it fails with an ambitious error message. (i'll throw you a bone: it can't transfer something into the cart if i have it marked for pickup, but the chosen store is out of stock.)

i can't imagine why the online system doesnt think the local store doesnt have certain sockets in stock, and wants me to wait 10 days for you to send one over. if i go, there is one there on the rack. the locals can't give it me to for my order, because one is being transferred. i also dont understand why, if you think the store is out, you dont ship several there, and use this as an opportunity to restock the store. i also dont understand why it takes so long to get a socket from your warehouse to the store. amazon can ship a 5$ ruler from a warehouse in the middle of Nevada to my house in two days (in fact, they just did last week), but you can't manage to move a socket between your locations in less than ten?

i won't dwell on the fact that when i am logged in, the system can't remember what my default store is, or even remember it across pages sometimes.

the web site is, at best, a 4 out of 10. i dont recommend it to anyone, because it is so painful use, is incomplete, and incorrect in the information it does have. it loads slowly (it loads the things saved for later in my cart immediately, but takes a moment to load the things actually in my cart, as an example).

so, this certainly isn't all, but i lack the fortitude to continue. i dont expect you to do anything, since i doubt you really care, but sometimes i can't help myself.

a (well, i wouldn't say loyal anymore) customer since you gave me a credit card in 1979. (which, of course, you flushed and forced a discover card on me a long time ago, which is long gone. too bad, i likely would still have the sears card)

 

[ovrrdrive]

Who shops at sears anymore?

I never even think about the one here as an option. I know i will always be greeted with limited stock, high prices and the same cheap tools everyone else sells for less. They are running themselves out of business.

Anytime any retailer starts struggling like them I avoid them like the plague. If they are running out of money all they can do to stay in business is charge more and lay people off. Both of which make for a terrible shopping experience.

 

[dkmc]

Dear Hospital and Staff....

Please for the love of God take Sears off of life support.
You've done all you can, and there's no need for Sears's customers to suffer any longer. The pathetic service, and crappy Chinese tools, are not the way we want to remember Sears. Also, please tell the remaining employees who stand zombie-like in all your empty (of customers) stores, to shut off the lights, and lock the doors as they leave. It's been a long run, but there's no use in lingering any longer.

R.I.P. Sears...

 

[Lassen Forge]

for the last few weeks, every time i go to your web site, you ask me to take a survey...that is over 50 questions long, and where all the questions are required. here is the answer: the survey experience *****... tabs. i assume that there is something you are trying to load on the page that is timing out. a simple fix, if that is really the issue. if it isn't, you have a major backend server problem. (and the list continues)

I can offer some inside info. Knew a woman who was the head of IT for Sears some years back. How I knew her wasn't important, other than to say where she was working when I knew her, and the way she ran THEIR IT department (which was allegedly a world class university) told me she knew jack nada about anything IT related. She could do the "cultural diversity" events like nobodies business, didn't know her job but did know how to brownnose and **** up to the bosses, and routinely fired people who had the talent to make her shine, for no other reason than I think she was jealous.

And no, I didn't work for her, near her, with her... and after I met her, wondered why ANYONE would, unless it was for the company benefits.

THAT'S Sears upper echelons in the beginning of the end. Why did they fail? They PC'd themselves to death, acting like some civil service bureaucracy, hiring to fulfill the EOC guidelines instead of the bottom line.

And BTW - I have a sears card. The initial credit limit was $200. This was 16 years ago. In that time, they turned down every request to raise that limit - even $20 to buy a Christmas present for my other half. My thought was... they don't want my business, then they don't NEED my business.

Or, to quote one Ferris Buehler...

It's over.

 

[Banjorear]

Was at a Sears in Northeast NJ today. I was willing to buy a tool that was US-made. Besides screw drivers and some outsourced wire strippers, nothing was there. I was the only person in the tool department. The employee didn't even acknowledge me when he saw me.

It truly sadden me for I remember the glory days of Sears and loved wondering around the tool section isle.

As other have stated, put a fork in it for they're done. Sad.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Was at a Sears in Northeast NJ today. I was willing to buy a tool that was US-made. Besides screw drivers and some outsourced wire strippers, nothing was there. I was the only person in the tool department. The employee didn't even acknowledge me when he saw me.

It truly sadden me for I remember the glory days of Sears and loved wondering around the tool section isle.

As other have stated, put a fork in it for their done. Sad.

Sounds like Willowbrook. When I was a kid in the 90s, that was a great store with a fantastic tool department. Now half of it is becoming a Dave and Busters, and whats left is pathetic.

As far as the website, it must be written somewhere that all tool retailer websites must absolutely ****. They're all like that, even Snap On, Mac, etc. No idea why, especially for a company with the resources of Snap On.

 

[Codejack]

High prices for garbage products; gee, I wonder why they are failing?

Sears has been a joke for over 25 years, now.

 

[jakemac]

Duck -

 

[yamaha0343]

Since all of my local Sears stores shut down, no reason I guess to visit the website anymore. Best of luck with the surveys. Chances are you won't be filling them out much longer.

 

[dkmc]

Sounds like Willowbrook. When I was a kid in the 90s, that was a great store with a fantastic tool department.

In the '90's ??
Ha! You young whipper-snappers have NO idea.
When I was a kid in the '60's it was really something to see.
Even JC Penny's had a Tool and Toy department.

 

[Banjorear]

Sounds like Willowbrook. When I was a kid in the 90s, that was a great store with a fantastic tool department. Now half of it is becoming a Dave and Busters, and whats left is pathetic.

As far as the website, it must be written somewhere that all tool retailer websites must absolutely ****. They're all like that, even Snap On, Mac, etc. No idea why, especially for a company with the resources of Snap On.

Close. Livingston. I've lived in the area for 5 years now and even 5 years ago, Willowbrook was decent.

The store that I grew up near was in Phillipsburg, NJ. They always had some cool tool discounted or on sale that would be too tempting for me to resist.

I love my Craftsman tools. It also seems odd that places like Ace are stocking US made CM tools such as pliers and other hand tools. I guess these are old stock that they are trying to unload.

For a while, we had a Sears Hardware in West Caldwell. That place was great, but has closed down approx. 2 years ago.

 

[jakemac]

In the '90's ??
Ha! You young whipper-snappers have NO idea.
When I was a kid in the '60's it was really something to see.
Even JC Penny's had a Tool and Toy department.

Heck, in the 60's you could still go to Sears and order a house delivered to your lot.

 

[pendragon1998]

Going back to sears these days is like getting drunk and calling up the ex. Not really satisfying while you're doing it, and you hate yourself the next day.

 

[EddyP]

Is there another national store thats taken over? Home Depot?

 

[jakemac]

Is there another national store thats taken over? Home Depot?

Not really. The Sears tool department was a special place once upon a time.

 

[James-W]

I used to shop at Sears quite a bit, and I have a Sears credit card. Over the years I have spent many thousands of dollars there. But I have not shopped at Sears for probably 5 years now, and I have no intention of doing so. Going to Sears used to be a wonderful shopping experience, very good products, friendly and courteous customer service as well as great sales personnel, but in recent years that has turned around completely.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Going back to sears these days is like getting drunk and calling up the ex. Not really satisfying while you're doing it, and you hate yourself the next day.

Lol!

Wouldn't be so funny if it wasn't so true!

 

[Codejack]

Is there another national store thats taken over? Home Depot?

Harbor Freight...

 

[JohnDeere1]

My local Sears is now going under they had an a good selection but nothing I want as I like tool truck and industrial brands but I got a couple things like Knipex I wouldn't go to Sears for Crapsman only Knipex or something to fill a gap.

 

[dkmc]

One of the absolute best things about going to Sears (other than the tool dept) was the Carmel Corn at the snack bar! Anybody remember that, or was it a local thing? How about the escalators?
Anyway, then they moved to the mall, tore down that great store downtown.....shame.
For a little while, they had a snack bar at the mall store when they first moved there, but the Carmel Corn was NOT the same......sigh.....

Now I'm depressed....

 

[softailgarage]

Dear Hospital and Staff....

Please for the love of God take Sears off of life support.
You've done all you can, and there's no need for Sears's customers to suffer any longer. The pathetic service, and crappy Chinese tools, are not the way we want to remember Sears. Also, please tell the remaining employees who stand zombie-like in all your empty (of customers) stores, to shut off the lights, and lock the doors as they leave. It's been a long run, but there's no use in lingering any longer.

R.I.P. Sears...

 

[ctb]

Sears is just a memory anymore. Just like land line telephones, 8-track tapes, your first feel in the backseat and a 289 screaming away from a green light.
It's dead. Let it go.
Why anyone would buy tools (or anything) from them unless for rock bottom price is a mystery. Google Sears and all you get is complaints.
It was a good business model in its time, with big outlets in major cities and mail order with shipping anywhere in North America for smaller towns and isolated communities. Shipping rates were cheap - hell I even had a 12' aluminum boat shipped up the Alaska Highway in 1975 - and quality was decent with a good warranty.
But they couldn't adapt to changing times. Their heyday was in the post WW2 and Baby Boomer years, and, like Baby Boomers now, they're clinging on to past successes while half their torso is in the grave.
(Written with no disrespect to Baby Boomers - I'm one myself.)

 

[ganymede]

I think today was the last day for Sears in Warwick RI.
I had gone by several weeks ago for one last trip.
What a disaster.
I almost wish I hadn't gone but I wanted to get something for sentimental reasons.
The only thing in any quantity were stupid gimmick tools, loose sockets and wrenches.
Somehow a #2 Phillips escaped the hordes and now sits on my top chest as a reminder of better times.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'll take this thread in a different direction - the survey direction. If I had a nickle for every survey request I receive, from all web sites, I'd be a rich man. They're just never ending.

 

[a52-830]

I'll take this thread in a different direction - the survey direction. If I had a nickle for every survey request I receive, from all web sites, I'd be a rich man. They're just never ending.

if i had a nickel, i'd give it to you.

a few companies manage to understand how to do surveys. three or four questions, and a comment block. nothing required.

the rest are madness. 50 questions (how likely are you to recommend . . . . . . ) all required. make the person who authorized this take it every day before each meal, and we'll see how he (yes, he, i doubt a woman would be this stupid) likes it.

this wasn't meant to be a "dump all over sears for how they disappointed you" thread.

 

[7avalon7]

And here is another direction for this thread...

Who shops at sears anymore?

I do... granted this is due to SYW points

Dear Hospital and Staff....Please for the love of God take Sears off of life support.

Please keep it alive as long as it gives me free points So many more tools on I want list

And I believe I am not the only person who shops at Sears. I know several members here plays SYW points as well...

 

[tonyciambrone]

I went to Sears yesterday to pick up my 5.98 SAE and Metrix Hex sockets.

All the hardwares were priced at ACE hardware levels or worse. $7 a tube for sealant, 5.29 for a can of Krylon, etc etc. I ended up with a Hoover vacuum cleaner for 99.99, a refrigerator brush for 3.99. Mostly due to the convenience of already being there. On the whole, the place was absolutely dead. 6 employees and 2 customers type dead.

All the craftsman tools look like a joke now. Angle grinders and power tools look almost as chintzy as Harbor Freight at three times the price.

I'm young, but even when I was a kid Sears was an impressive store. I remember the parents doing an awful lot of Christmas shopping, and for home improvement tools it was Dad and Granddad's favorite.

It's a shame...

 

[Codejack]

I'm young, but even when I was a kid Sears was an impressive store. I remember the parents doing an awful lot of Christmas shopping, and for home improvement tools it was Dad and Granddad's favorite.

It's a shame...

I came of age just as their tools went to Hell, about 25 years ago.

My Dad always swore by Craftsman (although, in retrospect, he didn't actually own any...) and bought me my first combination wrench set. Here's one that I still have:

Those tool marks are not from abuse, just trying to get stuck bolts off. Several more broke and I threw them away rather than waste my time getting them replaced.

Same with the Cman socket set I had; a 17mm socket broke on a brake caliper bolt, so I drove down and got a new one, drove home, put it on the exact same bolt... and the new one cracked, too.

-----------------------------------------------------

A few years ago, my Dad bought me a Craftsman rolling tool case, a portable box to carry my basic tools around for my job at the time; rated for 100lb, it broke the first day I had it with less than 50lb of stuff in it.

Dad wanted me to get it warrantied, but I insisted on getting him a refund; my girlfriend at the time went and asked a random salesperson somewhere to recommend a box, and bought me a cheap box/seat that I've had for 4 years now, and it's held up like a champ.

When random Chinese plastic **** is better quality than your highly respected name brand stuff...

 

[eyeball]

Dearest new wife:

My dearest Home Depot, no matter how I love you, Sears will always be my first wife and I will always love her. I can't understand why she left me after we were together for so long, she was a seasoned woman, and it was my first time, but it was loveand love cannot be conquered.
So, my dear Lowes, your cooking will never be up to par, you can never be as nice nor smell the way my first love did.
I'll cherish you, but Sears will always be my first, and no one ever falls out of love with their first.

Now go make me a sandwich *****, and it better be like Sears did.

Love,
Everyone who has since forgotten about Wards.
Xoxo o.

In your letter you called your new wife by the wrong name (Home Depot / Lowes).

I am guessing that was an intentional shot across the bow to get her attention and keep her on her toes.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Codejack]

In your letter you called your new wife by the wrong name (Home Depot / Lowes). That might cause doubts about your sincerity...

"The plural of 'spouse,' friend, is 'spice.'"

 

[Motown]

A Sears near my work is adding a huge addition, with a second floor. For the life of me, I can't understand why they are doing this. You go in there and their is hardly anyone in the store and its sparsely stocked, also.

 

[buffalobill]

McKinley mall near buffalo is pathetic, they chopped back their auto tools to nothing, all their tools are Chinese from what I've seen. No more wf screwdrivers either, new Chinese garbage taking its place.