Figured out why Sears was clearing out those sockets

[byoungblood]

I wandered into one of the Sears locations here in the Memphis area to check to see what they had on clearance/on sale in the tool department, to find out that they had completely revamped the entire tool section. However, their socket selection was literally cut in half. There were no loose stock OR sets of 6/12pt universal sockets in any drive size, no loose stock hex or torx bits and just at a casual glance, looked like that there were fewer sizes available in loose stock.

Also, all of the loose stock wrenches were GONE. They used to have a decent number of NOS loose US made professional wrenches left over at that location but they didn't even have a loose RP available. Now, I will grant them that this is in a location that probably doesn't get much business in the tool department, but NO loose wrenches at all?

On a positive note, everything was vastly more organized in the socket area and was out from behind the locked cabinets. They also had Premium ratchets in each drive size in stock, which I had never seen in any store. I'll have to check the other stores in the area to see if they've made the same changes, it may explain the reason why some of the others had such poor loose stock in their sockets.

 

[Joe B.]

Strange. I went a Sears this last weekend and it seemed like they had a ton of open stock wrenches. Maybe more than before because they had some of those universal wrenches as open stock now. The socket shelves were kind of empty but I then realized that half of the stock had not been moved to the new location. I guess they were not done with the move yet. Maybe you saw them in transition.

 

[shampoop]

May just be a decision made at the individual store level.

 

[cascivic]

In mine a few weeks ago they had wheeled the pegboard INto the aisle and were in the middle of setting a new displayer that was low on the shelf with the ratchets above ...looked to be at least an 8ft section

 

[Super Sport]

Same at my store. For the most part it makes a lot more sense and looks a lot less outdated. You could tell by the sockets they marked down they were going to just limit the selection on the shelves. I didn't notice if all of the open stock wrenches were gone or not, but they weren't hanging on the clearance shelves. I will have to keep an eye out!

 

[byoungblood]

May just be a decision made at the individual store level.

Not sure, but the entire area had been revamped with new product cards that segmented areas off for 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" and larger tools.

I would not be surprised if that particular location did not sell enough open stock wrenches to warrant carrying them there. Looked like they took up the room to create an area for more of their max-access and spline drive tools.

 

[byoungblood]

Same at my store. For the most part it makes a lot more sense and looks a lot less outdated. You could tell by the sockets they marked down they were going to just limit the selection on the shelves. I didn't notice if all of the open stock wrenches were gone or not, but they weren't hanging on the clearance shelves. I will have to keep an eye out!

I'm guessing the open stock wrenches either got moved to stores that moved that kind of stock quicker, or have either been sent to one of their DCs for online/phone orders. They made this change at this store in the past two weeks, since that's been about how long its been since I've been there last.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

The plan-0-gram that I've seen for my wifes Sears looks like an expansion of sockets.

Looks like the wrenches will stay about the same.

This may vary from store to store.

 

[Need4racin]

Sets are probably more profitable since they cost more. I can't blame them.

 

[softailgarage]

I was at Sears this morning looking for both loose sockets and wrenches primarily ratcheting stubby wrenches. The sockets were pretty much cut in half with a lot more sets on the shelves, same with the wrenches, still loose, but a lot of wrench sets, some I've never seen before.

 

[tomshep]

Then what happens to a warranty tool if they get rid of the loose stock?

That can't be a good scenario.

Tom

 

[Geeker]

Sets are probably more profitable since they cost more. I can't blame them.

From a retail perspective, that's backwards. Sets typically have lower profit margins than individual pieces. There is maybe 20% profit in sets as opposed to 30-60% in singles.

 

[geologist]

I spend almost as much on 3 individual 1/2" drive sockets (combined) than I did for the remainder of my full set of 6 point SAE & Metric 1/2" drive sockets. To put that into context, I have 9mm - 22mm and 3/8" - 1" without any skips.

 

[shoturtle]

My sears I goto, just revamped everything. But there is open stock wrenches, and all the same sockets. They also added loose pass through sockets and universal sockets and loose universal wrenches, ratcheting and non. I was talking to the sears guy, and all the cleareance sockets from last month got restock and back to regular prices. Also no more glass cabinet, everything is open now with sockets and wrenches.

 

[TwoInch]

maybe they are possibly reorganizing the tool dept, and will have them back up when finished?

is this a full line store, or a hardware/appliance store?

my local sears has been switching things around, and changing the way things are displayed lately.

 

[Super Sport]

Then what happens to a warranty tool if they get rid of the loose stock?

That can't be a good scenario.

Tom

They order it and have it shipped to your house. Certainly not as convenient as it used to be, but they still carry individual tools in the common sizes.

 

[TwoInch]

im thinking its not a full line store.

 

[87FoRunner]

If it is the store I am thinking of (wolfchase), it is a full store. There is only one outlet (Collierville home store) in mine and the op area.

 

[4BT]

My local sears removed all the the glass showcases around the sockets and accessories....... guess they figure chinese junk isn't worth stealing?



meanwhile, a new ACE Home Store opened up and they seem to have some older stock of craftsman sockets.

 

[sickboy motors inc.]

Could be the "uncommons" hypothetically, a 10mm socket or wrench would have more of a turn around than lets say a 9mm turn around would be significantly higher you would think. maybe the store blind ordered a sh*tload of what they considered to be ample supply of replacement loosies and over the years just accumulated, for lack of a better term, "uncommons" ...maybe ?

 

[softailgarage]

Something else I noticed, a lot of gearwrench, I mean ALOT, loose sockets too. Anybody else see this in stores? And why Gearwrench?

 

[cascivic]

From a retail perspective, that's backwards. Sets typically have lower profit margins than individual pieces. There is maybe 20% profit in sets as opposed to 30-60% in singles.

While that is true..depending on how they get there freight small pieces are usually "pic PAC" and it costs more labor to process it at the store level and distribution. Also one of the big things both the retailer reports and wall street care about is comp sales year to year. So if they push you into buying a set that gives you a larger purchase it benefits them. They'll likely make up the difference to keep the stores overall markup high by doing a price change increase on a universal remote or a kids line of shirts

 

[shoturtle]

My local sears removed all the the glass showcases around the sockets and accessories....... guess they figure chinese junk isn't worth stealing?



meanwhile, a new ACE Home Store opened up and they seem to have some older stock of craftsman sockets.

All the 6 and 12pt are made in the USA along with the rp wrenches. Not all the cmans stuff is made in china.

 

[byoungblood]

If it is the store I am thinking of (wolfchase), it is a full store. There is only one outlet (Collierville home store) in mine and the op area.

It is the one on Poplar right across the street from Oak Court Mall. They also just opened one of the small Hometown type stores (corporately owned though) here in Olive Branch just before this past Christmas. Then there are two other full locations on Winchester and another in Southland Mall in Whitehaven.

But the one I'm talking about is a full line store.

 

[byoungblood]

Something else I noticed, a lot of gearwrench, I mean ALOT, loose sockets too. Anybody else see this in stores? And why Gearwrench?

I haven't seen the loose Gearwrench sockets at my Sears stores, just a few odd sets here and there. On the other hand, it almost seems as if they carry more Gearwrench branded wrench sets at some locations than they do Craftsman.

 

[warmpancakes]

my local store manager told me some stores will not have loose sockets you need one warrantied they will mail it to you, larger mall stores will still have some singles

 

[camarotoolman]

Realy pissed me off. No more 1-1/16 and 1-1/8, 6 point deep wells. No more making up sets and selling them for $50. My best c-man seller.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I was in my local Sears just yesterday. They had the Craftsman area reorganized, but lots of open stock on sockets and wrenches like always. I too noticed a large section of the pass thru style ratchets and sockets. I did end up getting a 1/4" pass thru spinner handle and a 3/8" to 1/4" adapter for the pass thru (the square drive adapters).

I did not notice an increase of Gearwrench products, although I was not looking for them.