Merkava_4
Banned
There's a couple of distributors in town here driving those huge, cab separate, moving van size trucks.
If Sears goes under...
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There's a couple of distributors in town here driving those huge, cab separate, moving van size trucks.
Actually, that's the other way round. K-Mart bought Sears.
Craftsman tools are also sold at Fastenal.
davestlouis
Well-known member
I get a catalog for auto body tools, and all of the handtools are C-Man, can't remember the exact name of it, but it shows up in the mailbox every couple of weeks.
PowderKeg
Well-known member
Here's an interesting article from @ a year 'n half ago from Business Weekly:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_16/b4030071.htm
The meat and potatoes of the article:
That would be KCD IP LLC (Kenmore Craftsman Diehard Intelectual Properties LLC) - that's who the USPTO shows as the last listed owner of a slew of Craftsman trademarks.
Someone with a far better grasp of financial mumbo-jumbo needs to weigh in with a translation. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my own checkbook....
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_16/b4030071.htm
The meat and potatoes of the article:
That would be KCD IP LLC (Kenmore Craftsman Diehard Intelectual Properties LLC) - that's who the USPTO shows as the last listed owner of a slew of Craftsman trademarks.
Someone with a far better grasp of financial mumbo-jumbo needs to weigh in with a translation. I have a hard enough time keeping track of my own checkbook....
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Interesting thread question. Looks like it was started today and there's already a lot of responses. I don't see most of those stores as contenders, except maybe lowe's, if they decided to replace kobalt with a different danaher line.
Maybe Craftsman will be sold exclusively on ebay?
Maybe Craftsman will be sold exclusively on ebay?
please post the name next time you come across it. It's not Eastwood is it?
PowderKeg
Well-known member
Another interesting tidbit - Eddie Lampbert, Sears Holdings CEO, was chosen as "America's Worst CEO" for 2007 by MarketWatch.
Instills confidence, eh?
Instills confidence, eh?
davestlouis
Well-known member
bchee, I think it's autobody tool mart or somesuch. They sell hand tools,air tools, paint booths and tape stands, just about anything related to a production body shop. I used to be an estimator in a large, $1 million dollar a month collision center and started getting catalogs at home...
Uncle Buck
Banned
That was why I suggested them as a viable alternative, they are nationwide, even in many smaller towns. They are huge and do a high volume business, the Cman tool line would compliment their product line very well and they already know it since they are selling Cman stuff already!
Uncle Buck
Banned
I doubt I know any more than you, but what I get from that is these parts of Sears won't go down with the ship when it sinks, but rather would survive as independent entities.
No, but Wal-Mart is beginning to behave more like K-Mart on returns.
With the pure Hell K-Mart puts you through to return something, even with a recent receipt, it is no surprise people complain about some Sears store return policies. I'm actually surprised they still warranty anything with the way K-Mart acts.
I think a fair number of people buy Craftsman because of the warranty. I would hate to see that lost.
Despite the distribution network, I just can't see Fastenal as a serious alternative. The volume just wouldn't be there without the Sears retail network.
I think a fair number of people buy Craftsman because of the warranty. I would hate to see that lost.
Despite the distribution network, I just can't see Fastenal as a serious alternative. The volume just wouldn't be there without the Sears retail network.
PowderKeg
Well-known member
I doubt I know any more than you, but what I get from that is these parts of Sears won't go down with the ship when it sinks, but rather would survive as independent entities.
UB, that's what I got out of it too - that and Sears Holdings investors would be screwed out of any equity from the sale of the trademarks, since Sears no longer "technically" owns them. The confusing part (to me) is the circular relationship the article mentioned between Sears Holding, and the Bermuda based insurance subsidiary, and KCD IP, and what-all. If I read it again I might end up with a migraine....
No, as stated earlier K-Mart bought Sears (they refer to it as a "merger", but it was actually a buyout) - the resulting conglomeration is called Sears Holdings Corp. That's why you're now seeing Craftsman tools in K-Mart.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/kmart_sears.html
http://www.searsholdings.com/
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hguerrero
Well-known member
you might want to go back and read some of the more recent threads...
mr lampert is gonna cash in one day soon.
davestlouis
Well-known member
All the exec's, no matter how badly they ran the company into the ground, will reap oodles of cash. They don't own any of the names personally, they just shuffled the cards and sold the naming rights to a new corporate entity, to separate the viable assets from the ****, so when the time comes that the company falls apart, they can extricate the viable stuff and make money on it, and let shareholders and creditors take a beating on the other stuff. American business has sunk to a new low...
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
daveblank
Well-known member
There's a couple of distributors in town here driving those huge, cab separate, moving van size trucks.
While I understand that, but answer this. How full are their trucks? How big is the inventory at the local sears? How many DIY people will find a tool truck for warranty? Then when he doesn't have it in stock they're pissed! Where will he keep the woodworking tools? The logistics just aren't there.
Merkava_4
Banned
They've got about 10 of every socket and wrench in the book and they've got about 5 of every screwdriver and plier in the book .... they're never without a tool because of a warranty exchange.
daveblank
Well-known member
That's what I'm talking about. Could you imagine if they tried to add the Craftsman stuff. The DOT would really love them.
drivinhard
Well-known member
I suppose every area is different, but there are a lot more Ace stores in my area than Sears stores.
Merkava_4
Banned
I hate ACE hardware stores; they always have a bunch of overpriced **** and their stores look like drug stores. 
Gregster
Well-known member
I hate ACE hardware stores; they always have a bunch of overpriced **** and their stores look like drug stores.
Sears already went under ONCE and kmart purchased them. The Sears name and Craftsman and Kenmore brands are too valuable to let disappear, but what they mean could radically change depending on ownership.
If some company like HF bought Sears (which includes Kmart and OSH etc.) it is far more likely that the Sears name would stay on the building and HF stuff would replace the companion and evolve stuff.
If some company like HF bought Sears (which includes Kmart and OSH etc.) it is far more likely that the Sears name would stay on the building and HF stuff would replace the companion and evolve stuff.
rustyproject
Well-known member
I keep hearing AutoZone is the most likely buyer. I wouldn't bury them(Sears) just yet. They seemed to be doing better lately. Even though my local Sears is in a lousy location they seemed to be doing a lot of sales at Christmas.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
To reply to the one guy it is Auto Body Tool Mart.
Nah.....AutoZone won't buy 'em...........Sombitches are too cheap.
BigK600
Well-known member
Heres a new news article from MSN; http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyActionDyn.aspx?cp-documentid=16293546
I think Sears can turn it around. They need to get out of the malls, no one goes to malls anymore to get the kind of things one would get at Sears. Also they should remodel there stores. I think Americans have forgot about Sears, they sell good products. Somehow they have to get people to think of Sears when they are going to buy something, instead of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, Target. Opening a new style of Sears stores would do that. The tried the local hardware type stores, I dont think thats they right path because Amercians are attacted to BIG stores, i.e. Super Wal-Marts and Targets. Bigger Best Buys. I know at my Sears a week before Christmas the tool section was pretty much sold out, lots of empty shevels and needed to be restocked. And if I went into the tool section of the store there was propably at least 20 people just in the tool section alone. And all the empolyees are pretty helpful or at least they ask. just my 2 cents.
I think Sears can turn it around. They need to get out of the malls, no one goes to malls anymore to get the kind of things one would get at Sears. Also they should remodel there stores. I think Americans have forgot about Sears, they sell good products. Somehow they have to get people to think of Sears when they are going to buy something, instead of Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, Target. Opening a new style of Sears stores would do that. The tried the local hardware type stores, I dont think thats they right path because Amercians are attacted to BIG stores, i.e. Super Wal-Marts and Targets. Bigger Best Buys. I know at my Sears a week before Christmas the tool section was pretty much sold out, lots of empty shevels and needed to be restocked. And if I went into the tool section of the store there was propably at least 20 people just in the tool section alone. And all the empolyees are pretty helpful or at least they ask. just my 2 cents.
Coach James
Well-known member
Actually that sounds quite logical, but another company big enough that already has a strong connection to the Craftsman line, and worthy of speculation might be Fastenal. For those that do not know, Fastenal is a monster with a catalog as big if not bigger than many others.
I would hate to see Sears go the way of Montgomery Wards.
The problem is that Fastenal sells C-man for 2 to 2.5 times what the same items cost at Sears. Fastenal prices are rediculous. I needed a 1" SDS Plus bit and fastenal was the only place in town that had them. $65 before tax for a 1" SDS Plus Bosch bit! Two weeks ago, I'm in the Home Depot 45 miles away and they have the same bit for $36.
Coach