I needed a freezer last year so went to the locally owned Sears affiliated store as they have always treated me well. I ordered a Kenmore for a little bit less than I could get anything at Home Depot or Lowes, and picked it up in three days. I haven't been to the Sears owned stores in years, and don't even know which are still open. It's too bad because at one time you could count on them for almost anything you need, at reasonable prices.
Sears/Kmart quickly disappearing
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buckeyefarmer
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What ^^^^^ mossroad said.
In early 90s i worked implementing web based services for where i worked. Everyone was against it. They were entrenched in their old ways. Managers were threatened by the concept, because this was way over their heads...
In early 90s i worked implementing web based services for where i worked. Everyone was against it. They were entrenched in their old ways. Managers were threatened by the concept, because this was way over their heads...
MossRoad
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It's called the Diruptive Business Model
"In business, a disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market-leading firms, products, and alliances."
Disruptive innovation - Wikipedia
"In business, a disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market-leading firms, products, and alliances."
Disruptive innovation - Wikipedia
ultrarunner
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I did not leave Sears... Sears left me.
Cancelled my Credit Card after telling me it was good the night before...
As for stores closing... the 100 store Orchard Supply Hardware is closing... started local in 1931... was a great place to pick up things... also very conveniently to get in and out.
I'm really going to miss that store...
Orchard sold Craftsman and was bought by Lowes... but Lowes said all stores will close by year's end... the local store still had a banner saying it was hiring...
The big ACE and Do it Best are gone here too... the ACE had been here since the 1940's and was a city block... really had everything in that store...
I avoid mail order due to problems with delivery... lots of problems with thieves following delivery trucks here.
Cancelled my Credit Card after telling me it was good the night before...
As for stores closing... the 100 store Orchard Supply Hardware is closing... started local in 1931... was a great place to pick up things... also very conveniently to get in and out.
I'm really going to miss that store...
Orchard sold Craftsman and was bought by Lowes... but Lowes said all stores will close by year's end... the local store still had a banner saying it was hiring...
The big ACE and Do it Best are gone here too... the ACE had been here since the 1940's and was a city block... really had everything in that store...
I avoid mail order due to problems with delivery... lots of problems with thieves following delivery trucks here.
^^^^
We don't have that stealing problem here - yet- but I often have packages delivered at a nearby dropoff point, especially in winter as the town road to my house isn't the best.
It costs me a couple of bucks each time but still cheaper than driving 45 miles to the nearest business center.
We don't have that stealing problem here - yet- but I often have packages delivered at a nearby dropoff point, especially in winter as the town road to my house isn't the best.
It costs me a couple of bucks each time but still cheaper than driving 45 miles to the nearest business center.
goeduck
Super Member
I bought a clothes washer a few months back at Sears. They had a knowledgeable sales rep and delivery was actually a few hours early on they day they said. Two years back I bought a basic 100% refrigerator and basic 100% freezer for the garage from Sears (not everyone has those). Same thing, good service.
I am sure it will end some day and it will be interesting to see what happens to the real estate and eventually how the Sears name is resurrected and in what form.
I am sure it will end some day and it will be interesting to see what happens to the real estate and eventually how the Sears name is resurrected and in what form.
ultrarunner
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I was out of time and needed a refrigerator in Olympia... Saturday afternoon, I happened to see one that would fit at Lowes...
The sales person was very helpful... I said it was too late as I was driving back to California at 10am tomorrow on Sunday...
He came back and said he could have it at my home Sunday morning at 9 am... I was very skeptical but I did need one for the new tenants...
Right on clockwork, the truck shows up and drops off the new one... takes the old one and a microwave...
I want to give the guys $20... they said they cannot accept it... folded it and put it in his shirt pocket.
Sometimes things really work out well...
The sales person was very helpful... I said it was too late as I was driving back to California at 10am tomorrow on Sunday...
He came back and said he could have it at my home Sunday morning at 9 am... I was very skeptical but I did need one for the new tenants...
Right on clockwork, the truck shows up and drops off the new one... takes the old one and a microwave...
I want to give the guys $20... they said they cannot accept it... folded it and put it in his shirt pocket.
Sometimes things really work out well...
Fuddy1952
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Dad worked for Sears as service manager then home improvement sales from late 40s-'83...retired. I kept asking him to write a book, amazing funny stories. Dad passed a few years ago @88.
Oldoak
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Sears never "sold" credit cards but it is their credit division that kept them alive this long.
sixdogs
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It's said the first generation creates the wealth, the second generation spends the interest and the third generation spends the principal. That last generation just didn't seem to want to take the risks associated with new ventures and chose the safe path when it should have hired managers and CEOs willing to take some risks. Amazon looks easy today but they prospered only because of a brilliant CEO and management and success was anything but certain. Sears in the early days was run by people with skin in the game that loved every aspect of customers and retailing and couldn't wait to get to work in the morning.
Sears is probably gone, malls dying and the future is to be determined. Looks like online but the jury is still out. I think Harbor Freight is filling lots of the hand tool vacuum.
Sears is probably gone, malls dying and the future is to be determined. Looks like online but the jury is still out. I think Harbor Freight is filling lots of the hand tool vacuum.