dodge610
Well-known member
They seem to be closing a lot of there stores in my area just sort of wonderin are they going out of bussiness or just doing a major cutback to increse there profits so they can get back to being a competitor again.
Sears
- Thread starter dodge610
- Start date
woody 73
Well-known member
I would think they are just trying to increase profits and close the stores that are not doing good.
I am not a business person but the clothes part of the stores seem to be a bad idea; most consumers don't care about the coo of sears tools ,but I never see many people in the tool dept. at sears even on the weekends.
I never get smart how one company goes bankrupt one day,(K-Mart) and the next day they buy Sears! Oh sure they tell me K-mart sold all their properties and took that cash to buy sears,but it seems to me if they did not learn how to survive in the first round then how are they going to survive in this next round?
Just my two cents!
Woody.
I am not a business person but the clothes part of the stores seem to be a bad idea; most consumers don't care about the coo of sears tools ,but I never see many people in the tool dept. at sears even on the weekends.
I never get smart how one company goes bankrupt one day,(K-Mart) and the next day they buy Sears! Oh sure they tell me K-mart sold all their properties and took that cash to buy sears,but it seems to me if they did not learn how to survive in the first round then how are they going to survive in this next round?
Just my two cents!
Woody.
allinon72
Well-known member
They have a long way to go in terms of customer service. The stores are OK until you have to interact with one of their employees.
Sears should be running away with the non-professional tool market by now. Instead, they ignored their customers and focused on price only, causing them to lose significant market share to competitors. I'm not sure if there is time to reverse this.
Sears should be running away with the non-professional tool market by now. Instead, they ignored their customers and focused on price only, causing them to lose significant market share to competitors. I'm not sure if there is time to reverse this.
Deafautotech
Well-known member
i had went to my local mall sears... they had a lot of tools to look at few years ago.. but i just went there last night as i had gift card to use, they seem like downsize big times... i was disappointed about it.. i do enjoy to look around to see if i has it or not...
sids04
Well-known member
You are witnessing a retail giant die... Aside from appliances and tools what does anyone ever buy there ? Quite frankly look at a new craftsman ratchet and you can see the end of the tool business on the horizon.
Up in my area both are having going out of bussiness sales as we speak i keep on meaning to get there see what i can get at a deal never get the time as mentioned earlier by someone else they shot there customer base by ignoring the customer I use to be ultimate craftsman like my dad till they started putting employees that acted like they were doing you a favor to help you and not honoring there warranty then it was bye bye sears.
crewchief888
Well-known member
in your area (ohio) it's probably not just sears that are closing.
from what ive been told, (my mom lives in ohio) there are stores closing everywhere, the ones that are staying open, are hurting, and laying off more employees.
from what ive been told, (my mom lives in ohio) there are stores closing everywhere, the ones that are staying open, are hurting, and laying off more employees.
jrodc455
Well-known member
The reason that the employees **** is because they're so desperate for people they'll hire anyone that walks in the door. I work there, and I see it all the time.
in your area (ohio) it's probably not just sears that are closing.
from what ive been told, (my mom lives in ohio) there are stores closing everywhere, the ones that are staying open, are hurting, and laying off more employees.
Its gettin somewhat better my place of employment just called back 5 of our guys that were laid off HF seems to be doin allright and other stores are seeming to be a little more crowded sears just sort of ticked off there tool buying customer base and now they are paying for it.
I used to work for Sears, and a buddy of mine still does. Ever since K-mart bought them I've been waiting for the "hammer to drop" (so to speak). My buddy says things were not supposed to change when the buyout occurred, but has since been telling me how more and more is changing. And not for the better.
On a personal note, I used to go the the mall store all the time to drool over tools, and used to buy regularly. Now, the section is smaller, there's more and more Chinese stuff, and the employees never seem to know anything but how to ring up the sale and run your credit card. Gone are the days when retired mechanics worked in the tool department - when you could get real answers from a person who actually knew what you were talking about.
On a personal note, I used to go the the mall store all the time to drool over tools, and used to buy regularly. Now, the section is smaller, there's more and more Chinese stuff, and the employees never seem to know anything but how to ring up the sale and run your credit card. Gone are the days when retired mechanics worked in the tool department - when you could get real answers from a person who actually knew what you were talking about.
thrifty bill
Well-known member
Hopefully your buddy was not naive enough to believe that story. Sears was going down the tubes, anyone buying them was going to have to make A LOT of painful changes to turn it around. So far, does not look like any of those changes have worked. Go look up Sears Holding stock. Its been a real dog.
nnoble83
Well-known member
Is the Belden Village store closing also, I know the Rolling Acres store was.
volpster31
Well-known member
quote from WOODY 73....
"I never get smart how one company goes bankrupt one day,(K-Mart) and the next day they buy Sears! Oh sure they tell me K-mart sold all their properties and took that cash to buy sears,but it seems to me if they did not learn how to survive in the first round then how are they going to survive in this next round?"
woody,
i work for the company(not in a store though)and i can tell you the 2 c.e.o's were neigbors and hashed the makings of this deal out..eddie lampert layed off tons of employees & cut the benefits at kmart to get the money to "buy"sears.. the shame of it is, he has no knowledge of retail and looks at the company as parts that have a "worth" of their own.theyll never get it right and i just hope they sell off the repair buisness to a true appliance retailer
"I never get smart how one company goes bankrupt one day,(K-Mart) and the next day they buy Sears! Oh sure they tell me K-mart sold all their properties and took that cash to buy sears,but it seems to me if they did not learn how to survive in the first round then how are they going to survive in this next round?"
woody,
i work for the company(not in a store though)and i can tell you the 2 c.e.o's were neigbors and hashed the makings of this deal out..eddie lampert layed off tons of employees & cut the benefits at kmart to get the money to "buy"sears.. the shame of it is, he has no knowledge of retail and looks at the company as parts that have a "worth" of their own.theyll never get it right and i just hope they sell off the repair buisness to a true appliance retailer
wafrederick
Well-known member
Get this all the time when getting a ratchet replaced,Get told the refurbished ratchet is better.That is BS,broken right away.What a refurbished Craftsman ratchet has is plastic gears.This happens when I get a new ratchet off the shelf.Used to have a good $19.99 4.8v cordless screwdriver and don't make this one anymore.Dropped it and replaced it with a POS $15.00 version.Have one of the $15.00 evolves and it is a huge POS.Does not hold a charge and wimpy power.Just found this out from my Matco tool dealer on Friday,don't take a newer Craftsman breaker back with the drive part broken to Sears.It is the same exact part in a Matco breaker bar.Only possibly differance is the pin and take it to a Matco tool dealer instead.
Met my wife at Sears 40 years ago when we both worked there part-time.
We went at Christmas this year and noticed how much has changed over the years from those earlier times. Garden shop - gone, Paint department - gone (they said they closed it when their paint mixing machine broke), Popcorn and candy has also gone away (when I was a kid, we had to stop there first, because of the popcorn smell!). 40 years ago they also had a buffeteria where you could get food - it has disappeared as well.
Add to those departments: automotive, mens suits, draperies, furniture, plumbing, sporting goods, building materials, electrical, jewelry...wow the list goes on and on - ALL are now gone!
But mostly, I am really worried about tools and the Craftsman lifetime hand tool warranty! Only had to use it a couple of times, but I when I bought myself some tools this Christmas, I wondered if they might not last longer than Sears would!
Pardon my ramblings here, I would have liked my first post to have been more substantial, but this thread hit home and reminded me of how mad it makes me when an institution like Sears can't figure out what it takes to stay in business.
We went at Christmas this year and noticed how much has changed over the years from those earlier times. Garden shop - gone, Paint department - gone (they said they closed it when their paint mixing machine broke), Popcorn and candy has also gone away (when I was a kid, we had to stop there first, because of the popcorn smell!). 40 years ago they also had a buffeteria where you could get food - it has disappeared as well.
Add to those departments: automotive, mens suits, draperies, furniture, plumbing, sporting goods, building materials, electrical, jewelry...wow the list goes on and on - ALL are now gone!
But mostly, I am really worried about tools and the Craftsman lifetime hand tool warranty! Only had to use it a couple of times, but I when I bought myself some tools this Christmas, I wondered if they might not last longer than Sears would!
Pardon my ramblings here, I would have liked my first post to have been more substantial, but this thread hit home and reminded me of how mad it makes me when an institution like Sears can't figure out what it takes to stay in business.
woody 73
Well-known member
Then I don't know what the answer is,maybe sears would be smart to spin of the craftsman division.
Just today I was at sears and I was the only customer on a Sunday,the tool dept. is getting smaller,the help looks lost and the place just looks empty.
Now if you go to the HF store they are hopping 24/7, it is a madhouse on sunday!
Just today I was at sears and I was the only customer on a Sunday,the tool dept. is getting smaller,the help looks lost and the place just looks empty.
Now if you go to the HF store they are hopping 24/7, it is a madhouse on sunday!
archirelic
Well-known member
There are some pro's and con's associated with my local Sears which is attached to our shopping mall.
First, there's still a ton of Made in USA inventory and it doesn't look like it's selling off quickly. I've been eagerly awaiting for them to start discounting this stock so I can really clean house, but so far, nothing.
Secondly, b/c of the bulk of Made in USA inventory, if and when and it is rare, that something should need to be warrantied, I may luck out and still get it replaced with another USA model. Unfortunately, had a friend of mine warranty a pair of vise grips not too long ago and they got replaced with a Chinese version.
Now for the con's. If stuff is missing from the shelves or floor, it is rarely re-stocked or replaced...seems to be that once they sell something, they don't bother to bring more of the product in. It has been like this for awhile now...kind of scares me into thinking that they're slowly selling off everything and then one day they'll just be gone. There is also hardly any business in the tool department, it's like a dead-zone in there. I see more people buying underwear 100 ft. away in the clothing department than I will see in the tool department in a month.
First, there's still a ton of Made in USA inventory and it doesn't look like it's selling off quickly. I've been eagerly awaiting for them to start discounting this stock so I can really clean house, but so far, nothing.
Secondly, b/c of the bulk of Made in USA inventory, if and when and it is rare, that something should need to be warrantied, I may luck out and still get it replaced with another USA model. Unfortunately, had a friend of mine warranty a pair of vise grips not too long ago and they got replaced with a Chinese version.
Now for the con's. If stuff is missing from the shelves or floor, it is rarely re-stocked or replaced...seems to be that once they sell something, they don't bother to bring more of the product in. It has been like this for awhile now...kind of scares me into thinking that they're slowly selling off everything and then one day they'll just be gone. There is also hardly any business in the tool department, it's like a dead-zone in there. I see more people buying underwear 100 ft. away in the clothing department than I will see in the tool department in a month.
sids04
Well-known member
Next time you buy something at Sears look at the length of the receipt, and how inefficient the whole check out process is. I think they have some pretty bad back end business issues. I used to love the Sears Hardware store nearby but, ever since they started selling appliances there, I knew they were doomed. The full size store at the mall looks really run down. It's only a matter of time. I am sure the Craftsman name will live on and someone will market or buy the Kenmore name but, Sears as a retailer will cease to exist.
crewchief888
Well-known member
it's not just the tool dept, but the store itself has changed over the years, as have many dept stores.
the ones that survive sell what makes them more money on the bottom line.
unknowing/uncaring sales staff is only a part of the problem...
and it's not just sears.
the ones that survive sell what makes them more money on the bottom line.
unknowing/uncaring sales staff is only a part of the problem...
and it's not just sears.
monte433
Well-known member
The Rolling Acres Mall and all the stores in general in this area have not closed because of the economy, they have closed because they have been stolen blind over the last 35 years.
They have closed because parents sent their teens unsupervised and they didn't know how to behave and their antics were reported as gang violence by the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Mall closed because our local goverment has been complacent in doing anything that would bring a job to this area.
They have closed because parents sent their teens unsupervised and they didn't know how to behave and their antics were reported as gang violence by the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Mall closed because our local goverment has been complacent in doing anything that would bring a job to this area.
I have a ton of old Craftsman hand tools, and I've been satisfied with them over the years, but my loyalty is slipping away. I went to Sears today looking for a few individual SAE taps and dies. They didn't have any separate dies for sale, a very limited selection of taps, and everything was made in china. I left empty handed.
What i wanna know is all the old craftsman stuff that i have from when they were on top lifetime warranty What happens to that if sears does not recover somehow guess i just eat it and when they break I scrap em I didnt know there lifetime warranty on craftsman meant till we go under and then its all on you.
nnoble83
Well-known member
So far the Belden store is hanging on tight seems to be busy most of the time and they actually have a few guys in the tool dept that know something.
the guy that is always the most helpful to me there, but i haven't seen him in a while is an old black guy named Dank, he always knows how to find something in a hurry
I was in the nearby Sears today.There were people shopping and the tool dept. wasn't really busy but there were others there.Its also a month after Christmas so that might be it too,it was packed at Christmas.The checkout is annoying though and what is up with the 2 foot receipt? I dont think the selection is what it was 10 yrs ago in the tool dept either. I think they need to step up some but its not as bad as other places and im more satisfied there than Wal Mart.
have left.trout
Well-known member
I was on the line in the tool dept on Black Friday. Lots of people looking but there was only a 5 minute wait, plenty of "deals" in stock.
Busted Bolts
Well-known member
I see Grainger is now selling craftsman tools. They advertise the professional line, but don't know the real deal. When you really think about it, every thing that has the sears brand like c-man, kenmore, and so on are just rebranded items. We know that some of the major tool and appliance, and power equipment companies change alittle of the design, color, and packaging and then put c-man on it. Other than the convience for some to walk in the door to get a tool, there is nothing special about the brand IMO. I'm not trying to totaly bash them as they have been a staple in america for a long time, but what are you really paying for. If they are going down the cheap road, then you might as well find out who made that ratchet, hammer, or toolbox and go right to the source as they will still get the bussiness. And if they are going to lean towards china stuff, well you might as well head down to HF where they appear to have the stuff in stock and warranty most of it. It is sad how it is all heading, but the name c-man is loosing respect more and more by the day due to poor management practices.
Garage_Mahal
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2008
- Messages
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Sears is closing most Sears Essential stores or converting (returning?) them to K-marts. Given how many failed "re-imagings" the company has gone through in the last 10 years, I'd say it is a company without a clue. Remember Sears Home stores?