Sears closing 50 more stores -- 2016

[SignalZero]

A Sears close to me just closed a few months ago. It was a little appliance, lawn/garden, tool store that had been in an old Advance Auto parts building probably 5 or so years.

The Sears in the mall here still has steady foot traffic. The customer service on tool warranties has never been bad. Swapped out some pliers and torx driver a couple months ago, and swapped out a 1/2" ratchet on Sunday. pliers and torx were new USA replacements; the ratchet was a refurb'd -v- ratchet(better than the POS I gave them).

There was a Sears closer to my house. It was built as a K-mart in the late '90's and turned into a Sears Essentials in about '04. It had a good-sized tool section which always seemed to be the busiest part of the store. They turned it back into a K-mart 3 years ago, downsized the tool section and the place has been a ghost town since then.

 

[indy2door]

Once they phase out all of their Made in USA Craftsman tools, they'll be done for---for sure.

The only Sears deals I see on Slickdeals.net pertain to tools, and that's it. I think its time for Sears to shutter its doors for good. There's nothing enticing in the Sears stores near me. Long wait time just to pick up a $2 item (Online price only --- go figure, haha)

They can't even compete with Amazon and the like. Sears is a company which see's its operation slowing coming to a halt.

I wonder what this would mean for the Craftsman Warranty.

I doubt Sears cares about your opinion.

 

[indy2door]

Every time I go to kmart its a ghost town. I can wander around and never see another customer in the place. But it somehow stays open

Walmart is closing stores also.

 

[indy2door]

Here is the list!

http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-sears-and-kmart-stores-closing-2016-2

Why don't you publish the list of stores Walmart is closing.

 

[warmpancakes]

Why don't you publish the list of stores Walmart is closing.

http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-walmart-stores-closing-2016-1



they closed the one at the end of my street,

#4584: 10400 Highland Rd., Hartland, MI

when walmart closes a store they dont mess around, friday 25% off entire store, Thursday 50% off, following Wed 75% off, doors closed Friday it was 17 days from announcement till doors locked and signs off the building

 

[ChrisPace]

Yes Walmart target and many others are and have been closing stores. The retail environment is harsh. Walmart cited Amazon pressure, wage pressures and even shrinkage from shoplifters. Amazon is almost all robotic and has no theft or taxes for the customers.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[warmpancakes]

walmart closed the one by me because it was a Ghost town, it was a pain in the *** to get into and leave it theres a Meijer and Target real close that are always packed, Even on blackfriday the walmart had 40-50 cars in lot

 

[Coach James]

It is sad how this once proud American retail icon has been brought so low. All this because of one mans greed – Eddie Lampert.

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...so-investors-should-lovehate-eddie-lampe.aspx

James

Not really. Sears began losing market share in the early 1970's. Specialty stores like Circuit City and the growth of Lowes, HD and other big box chains drew customers away from Sears. Lampert gets blamed for destroying Sears, but he is the one that came up with a way for Sears to raise several billion in cash which is the only thing that has kept them open the last 2 or 3 years.

Coach

 

[fras_auto]

When they souled out to K-Mart that was one of two mistakes, the other was stopping the Craftsman Tool Catalog, that in itself drove business. When I was a little mutant I couldn't wait for the big Sears catalog to arrive and when they finally came out with the Craftsman tool catalog I'd just picking what I wanted, save my money and would buy it. I used to go to the huge Oakbrook store and drool al over the place.

Another fact is the schools stopping their shop classes. **** in 7th grade it started and thru 12th I was an industrial arts major. There more minds learned what really made the world work, releasing the imagination of the next generation of automotive and industry minded people. Once schools could started directing kids to non-hands on skills it signaled the end of a lot.

Rant off,

TheGrooveking

Amen brother [emoji1303]


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[langss]

Yes Walmart target and many others are and have been closing stores. The retail environment is harsh. Walmart cited Amazon pressure, wage pressures and even shrinkage from shoplifters. Amazon is almost all robotic and has no theft or taxes for the customers.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

In California You Pay Tax on every purchase from Amazon.

 

[langss]

That is how most K Marts were. No K Marts around here so it's been over 10 years since I was in a K Mart.

In Cali we had an OSH and K Mart in the same parking lot. OSH was always nice, clean, well stocked, K Mart was a ghetto mess. Sears had bought OSH, then K Mart bought Sears. Now OSH is owned by Lowe's.

K Mart was spun off from Kreske variety stores, the one in the 60's were nice clean, well stocked.

So is OSH still selling Craftsman tools or is it Kobalt now....??????

 

[D. Patina]

Forget coo, Sears just doesn't care anymore. The stores are dirty and unorganized and most of the employees I come across are lazy and just there to pull a paycheck.

I used to be amazed at how beautiful they kept their stores. I guess that's in the past like most thing associated with Sears these days.

This is the truth. Our Sears has sales people and 3-4 at the counter that watch and follow you around the store. Don't even think about going by the appliances because you will be hounded by several that won't leave you alone. Overall, the store is empty and prices are very expensive. Same exact item can often be found for 30% less at other stores around town.

 

[jake00]

They've been spiraling, my MIL has been a Kmart employee since 78. Her store is severely understaffed. They can't find decent employees (only pay min wage). She was in charge of pricing/mark downs/putting out sale prices for the whole store... This store is actually busy, and top 5 in the district...

One of her "perks" was that she had great hours. Something like 7-3. A couple months back, Corp decided that all the pricing people would work all different hours.... That was MIL's last straw.....

I helped her with a resume , and a month later, got hired at tj max. Making more than she was making at Kmart after 35 years... She doesn't have 5 weeks of vacation , but the healthcare is better and cheaper...

 

[jake00]

Oh yea, another tidbit..

Kmart no longer sells vid games or consoles... They couldn't pay their vendors... Think about what that does to Christmas revenue.....

 

[jake00]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhar...ways-ed-lampert-destroyed-sears/#7a53171541de

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

So is OSH still selling Craftsman tools or is it Kobalt now....??????

I have no idea been nearly 10 years since I was in a OSH store. We don't have OSH in Texas. I wish they did OSH had a better hardware dept. over the Depot or Lowe's.

 

[brittf]

My OSH in Visalia, California is still selling Craftsmen brand. Good point about Kobalt tools. Reminded me that OSH is now owned by Lowes.


Britt

 

[nutsnbolts]

We don't have OSH here in Washington. Is it similar to a Walmart? Do they sell groceries?

 

[brittf]

Orchard Supply Hardware was started (as a co-op I believe) by a group of farmers many years ago. It remained similar to an old-time hardware store for many years until Sears bought it. At one time they tried to sell white goods (like a Sears). I don't care for their current merchandising approach but it's still better than The Home Depot and Lowes.

 

[kctyphoon]

To be a successful B&M store these days, you need to offer things that people want now or need. Stuff that people either can't, or don't want to buy online.. Food, Home Supplies, Pet and Baby products, are basically recession proof businesses. My feeling is that to be successful at clothing these days you need to offer specific brands and labels. Pants aren't just "pants" anymore.. Younger and middle aged people that drive that market aren't going to Walmart or Sears to buy clothes.. They goto outlet stores specifically to buy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Timberland ect... I'm almost 40 and I've never bought a pair of Levi's, and nobody cares about what no named, off labeled brand of clothes most of these big places sell these days. The jeans I buy for work, with the intentions of ruining, are $30 and up at least.. Like I said I'm my previous post, the single biggest mistake Sears has done is eliminating the Carhartt racks in the store. I'm sure they did it in an effort to push the Craftsman brand of clothing (most of the jackets are on clearance now since nobody bought them), but it would be better to admit defeat in that market, strike a deal with Carhartt which has only a handful of outlet stores in the country. They should have made the push to be the biggest and baddest Carhartt retailers on the planet, and they would basically put every small army navy store out of business.

Carhartt, Lands End (the only successful label Sears offers), Timberland, Duluth Trading, Hanes, - put brands like that all under one roof and people will shop. I have more Carharrt stuff then I'd ever need, and most of it I'm FORCED to buy online cause nobody sells them, or doesn't have the right sizes in the store.. I think I have 4 shirts I can't even wear, cause the sizes run so weird I buy them online and I'm too lazy to go though the return process.. If there was a full sized Carhartt retailer that sold most of clothing line, id probaly never buy it online again - and I'd have even more stuff since the trouble of "size shopping" online is what restricts me making more purchases.

 

[kythri]

Oh yea, another tidbit..

Kmart no longer sells vid games or consoles... They couldn't pay their vendors... Think about what that does to Christmas revenue.....

Really?

http://www.kmart.com/tvs-electronics-gaming/b-1347163426

Sure seems to be a lot of those available.

 

[FordTruckWench]

We don't have OSH here in Washington. Is it similar to a Walmart? Do they sell groceries?

It's a California grown version of Tractor Supply Company - kind of a big box hardware store.

 

[four.cycle]

the trouble of "size shopping" online is what restricts me making more purchases

kc, you need to call LL Bean.

 

[Davefr]

It's a California grown version of Tractor Supply Company - kind of a big box hardware store.

We have a few OSH stores that popped up here in OR. I would not really compare them to farm stores.

They are more like "lite" versions of Lowes. Take away most of the building materials and appliances and that's what OSH is like. They do offer more services like window screen repair, glass cutting and even bike repair. They're prices are also high and they're H/W selection is better then HD/Lowes but not nearly as good as a well stocked Ace.

I used to love the old original OSH stores down in California but they're not like that any more.

The tools are mostly CM but that's probably as a result of when Sears owned them. With Lowes owning them I'm curious if they'll give CM the boot and bring in Kobalt. Once Lowes took over OSH, the promotions and coupons seemed to dry up.

I'm not sure our OSH stores are doing too good.

I'd much rather shop at a good Ace H/W then OSH.

 

[four.cycle]

finding this brought to mind Coach's previous comment.

from the 1972 Sears catalog:

 

[nutsnbolts]

To be a successful B&M store these days, you need to offer things that people want now or need. Stuff that people either can't, or don't want to buy online.. Food, Home Supplies, Pet and Baby products, are basically recession proof businesses. My feeling is that to be successful at clothing these days you need to offer specific brands and labels. Pants aren't just "pants" anymore.. Younger and middle aged people that drive that market aren't going to Walmart or Sears to buy clothes.. They goto outlet stores specifically to buy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Timberland ect... I'm almost 40 and I've never bought a pair of Levi's, and nobody cares about what no named, off labeled brand of clothes most of these big places sell these days. The jeans I buy for work, with the intentions of ruining, are $30 and up at least.. Like I said I'm my previous post, the single biggest mistake Sears has done is eliminating the Carhartt racks in the store. I'm sure they did it in an effort to push the Craftsman brand of clothing (most of the jackets are on clearance now since nobody bought them), but it would be better to admit defeat in that market, strike a deal with Carhartt which has only a handful of outlet stores in the country. They should have made the push to be the biggest and baddest Carhartt retailers on the planet, and they would basically put every small army navy store out of business.

Carhartt, Lands End (the only successful label Sears offers), Timberland, Duluth Trading, Hanes, - put brands like that all under one roof and people will shop. I have more Carharrt stuff then I'd ever need, and most of it I'm FORCED to buy online cause nobody sells them, or doesn't have the right sizes in the store.. I think I have 4 shirts I can't even wear, cause the sizes run so weird I buy them online and I'm too lazy to go though the return process.. If there was a full sized Carhartt retailer that sold most of clothing line, id probaly never buy it online again - and I'd have even more stuff since the trouble of "size shopping" online is what restricts me making more purchases.

Fred Meyer carries Carhartt now. I don't know that they are nationwide yet, but they are owned by Kroger and cover most of the western states anyway. Their sales are great and their return policy is fantastic. They don't even require a receipt for cash refund if you use their rewards card when you make the purchase.

 

[nutsnbolts]

We have a few OSH stores that popped up here in OR. I would not really compare them to farm stores.

They are more like "lite" versions of Lowes. Take away most of the building materials and appliances and that's what OSH is like. They do offer more services like window screen repair, glass cutting and even bike repair. They're prices are also high and they're H/W selection is better then HD/Lowes but not nearly as good as a well stocked Ace.

I used to love the old original OSH stores down in California but they're not like that any more.

The tools are mostly CM but that's probably as a result of when Sears owned them. With Lowes owning them I'm curious if they'll give CM the boot and bring in Kobalt. Once Lowes took over OSH, the promotions and coupons seemed to dry up.

I'm not sure our OSH stores are doing too good.

I'd much rather shop at a good Ace H/W then OSH.

I don't know if anyone remembers, but there used to be a fantastic hardware chain called Eagle Hardware, that was bought out by Lowe's. They were a little more expensive than Home Depot, but the carried EVERYTHING, if that is possible. If you wanted a new hammer, they carried 50 to choose from. Service was great, employees were well taken care of, and people were happy. They hired retired craftsmen and allowed them to share their knowledge with customers. When Lowe's took over, the overhaul was swift, and it all went to hell.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Eagle was started by Dave Heerensperger, who came out of Pay-n-Pak. **
Started out as a great idea. No idea about the acquisition by Lowes, but it went to hell after that - I've been in Lowes here maybe 3 times in 20 years.

A lot of that talent from Eagle went to Ace - Heerensperger's former "right hand" is the buyer for the Ace right up the street from me.

see http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/eagle-hardware-garden-inc-history/

again, nutsnbolts: go check out a McLendon's or Alki Lumber. you can thank me later.

** just an aside: but I believe part of the reason Eagle was so successful is that Heerensperger didn't want to peddle junk. I had a deal cooked up to sell him $30K worth of jumper cables in early 1990 but he pulled the plug on the order at the last minute.

 

[WWShop]

It wasn't on the list but a Sears by me is closing in MN. The ACE hardware store a few miles away has an aisle dedicated to Craftsman.

 

[Davefr]

again, nutsnbolts: go check out a McLendon's or Alki Lumber. you can thank me later.

Is McLendon's in Renton still a great H/W store? I remember going there a few times in the '90's and it was the "real deal". They had just about everything.

I could drop the wife off at Southcenter Mall and spend hours combing thru the Boeing Surplus store and then McLendons.

 

[nutsnbolts]

^ Eagle was started by Dave Heerensperger, who came out of Pay-n-Pak. **
Started out as a great idea. No idea about the acquisition by Lowes, but it went to hell after that - I've been in Lowes here maybe 3 times in 20 years.

A lot of that talent from Eagle went to Ace - Heerensperger's former "right hand" is the buyer for the Ace right up the street from me.

see http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/eagle-hardware-garden-inc-history/

again, nutsnbolts: go check out a McLendon's or Alki Lumber. you can thank me later.

** just an aside: but I believe part of the reason Eagle was so successful is that Heerensperger didn't want to peddle junk. I had a deal cooked up to sell him $30K worth of jumper cables in early 1990 but he pulled the plug on the order at the last minute.

I didn't know that about the Eagle guy. Good stuff

McClendon's is way over in Woodinville. Alki Lumber is way over in West Seattle. For now, I am going to give Dunn Lumber a chance and see what it is like. I have been to the one in Lynnwood a few times and they were always good to deal with.

 

[nutsnbolts]

It wasn't on the list but a Sears by me is closing in MN. The ACE hardware store a few miles away has an aisle dedicated to Craftsman.

I was in an Ace a week or two ago and they had Craftsman stuff, and DeWalt, and another line. I think it was Allen, maybe Crescent.

 

[Cato]

I used to love the old original OSH stores down in California but they're not like that any more.

I love OSH.

Down here in SoCal, all their stores have undergone major remodeling. The prices are a little higher than most places, but OSH's have become "upscale" hardware stores. You won't get hassled by day laborers in the parking lot and the clerks make it a point to ask every customer if they need help. To get around their high prices you have to join their Club Orchard - I think you get like 2% back in rewards and they are always having a "We Pay the Sales Tax" sales on most holidays. So where I live sales tax is 9%; with Club Orchard that adds up to 11% off. Then they have random sales, too.

OSH was independently owned and nearly went bankrupt when Home Depot opened in California. Sears owned it for a few years, too. Back then you could use your Shop Your Way points at either Sears or OSH. OSH was pathetic back then. Like many people, I still shopped there out of loyalty. Also it was a good medium between Home Depot which was like a refugee camp and the mom and pop hardware stores where the prices were sky high and quality was very low. Mom and Pops hardware stores always have a creepy owner who is starved for conversation.

Back when OSH was owned by Sears, I bought a large metal shelf. At OSH, you take a little card, pay for it and drive around back for loading. The guy in loading brought out a Craftsman work bench. I told him I ordered a shelf. The OSH worker told me it was worth much more and I should take it! I guess he didn't want to go back and get me my shelf. However, I needed a shelf and not a workbench.

 

[Brownsfan]

I was in an Ace a week or two ago and they had Craftsman stuff, and DeWalt, and another line. I think it was Allen, maybe Crescent.

The problem with Ace is its up to the independent owner to carry what product mix they want. Some have a big selection of tools while others don't. I have 2 near me and both carry different selection of tools.

 

[555]

Our electric range died, it is a Kenmore drop in with a bottom vent made by Jenn Air which is now owned by Kitchen Aid. No longer in production and no parts available to repair it. So we shopped the big box and appliance stores to find a replacement. I did not want to go to Sears for several reasons, but my wife insisted. I'm guessing we spent an hour looking at the display ranges/ovens and even looked in the book of ranges/ovens. Not once did a single "associate" ask if they could help us or even look our way. Lowes got the $2000 plus sale that day. I'm disappointed that Sears has not done better, but poor management decisions generally lead to failure.

 

[drink]

I shopped at a Sears store recently and they were rearranging the store. The lawn and garden section was moved to the side of the tool department that had the power tools and hammers, etc. The fitness department went to where lawn and garden was. I'm not sure if the tool department was being downsized but I didn't notice the contents of the power tools section anywhere.

 

[CJ7VFR]

....Amazon is almost all robotic and has no theft or taxes for the customers...

Not if you live in a state that has an Amazon Fulfilment Center. Then you have to pay the states sales tax on taxable items.

I live in New Jersey, and once the Amazon Fulfilment Center opened up in Robbinsville, I now have to pay sales tax on taxable items I order from them.

It's the same for LL Bean too after they opened up their store in Marlton.

As others have said, most people don't go to a B&M store when you can get the same item cheaper online, and have it delivered right to your door. I did all of my Christmas shopping online because the few times I did actually go to a store to see if I could buy an item, every store was sold out of it. I had to drive all over the place to see if another store had it. I spent all that time driving around, wasting gas and time, and I still ended up having to order it online.

That is another reason I shop online now. You can spend more time, gas and hassles driving from store to store to try to find something, versus sitting in your underwear eating Cheetos and surfing Amazon online, and having your item shipped right to your house because the online places have the item in stock.

Jim

 

[mech-tech]

The last time I went to sears was to buy a tv. Wanted a simple low priced tv and the little sales guy swore to me every tv I chose was either the worst one made or was out of stock or on back order. I finally asked about the most expensive one they had and he got all excited and said they had several in stock and asked if I was ready to get it. Needles to say I went to best buy where their employees are not commission based and they were more than happy to sell me the cheapest tv they had. I never had a reason to go back to sears since.

 

[drink]

Somebody said in a news report that Sears stock was on junk status in the market. Maybe Sears will flop in the market like lots of other places did and lose their investor's money with reverse splits. Then, after reissuing new stock come out swinging. Who knows? Some say they will flop and some say they won't.

 

[Coach James]

I've never heard of stock being on junk status. I have heard of bonds being considered junk bonds though.

Coach