NEED TO VENT

em14 · Nov 30, 2002

I think that Sears started this downward spiral about 15 or 20 years ago and there does not appear to be a point where they are going to pull up. (and since it has lasted so long maybe they don’t need to) The company and it’s employees had integrity and knowledge of their products and services .. I think that they also had pride .. When this is missing I think that you can look to the management practices to see the cause … their hand tools and some of their appliances have survived all the bad that has overcome the rest of the company .. but when I look around it seems that I see the same going on in many of the other retailers … To me it appears that this country has lowered it’s standards of what we expect so that we will not be disappointed … Just trying to get someone to wait on you is difficult … I buy as little as I possible can from places like Sears ….

Rch · Nov 30, 2002

Our Sears store (small town) is a limited franchised deal and that may explain my beef with them. I brought a table saw that a contractor would use off the floor already assembled(last one) The raising and lowering mechanism of the blade worked very hard but I figuered it was only in need of adjustment. After monkeying around with it for 4 hours it was clear that the raising/lowering mechanism was spot welded out of alignment and no adjusting was going to fix it. I returned it( the next day) and had to wait two and half weeks to get me refund through Dallas TX !!

centex · Nov 30, 2002

I am glad to see that I am not the only person who got fed up with the sorry service at Sears and quit shopping there. I have not bought from them in 20 years either and never will again. It was too bad for them because I bought a lot of stuff from them before.

frank_f15 · Nov 30, 2002

you are right on bird! i have a craftsman 18hp garden tractor boutht it i may 92, in the next 16 months the repalced the transmission 3 times, finally told me to come in and pick out a comprable new model that i would accept, i did so and have been using that for 10 summers now, and i use it hard, never had to replace anything but belts and blades, except for a new starter mower. go figure!

bgott · Dec 1, 2002

I get mine at Radio Shack. I got tired of the tool trucks forgetting to order the bulbs. Ask for the Krypton bulbs. They're brighter and last longer.

northcreek2624 · Dec 1, 2002

Frank,The old timers always put the Sears catalog in the outhouse,that way you always had something to read and toilet paper too....sounds like we might be finding your Sears catalog in your outhouse......Mike

Egon · Dec 1, 2002

How times change.
When Sears started up they built stores in areas where factories supplied the goods they sold. This was done so there would be a customer base.

Egon

LGinIA · Dec 1, 2002

Another example: Last Sunday, I purchased a Craftsman finish nailer at Sears and paid $179.99. On Monday, I received a Craftsman Club Tool Flyer with the same item on sale for $143.99 starting 12/01. Yesterday 11/30 I stopped in the same Sears store (30 miles from home), showed my receipt and asked for a credit. First was told by the clerk to come back on 12/01 to discuss. Explained that I was from out of town and that would be very inconvienient (sp?). Asked again for a credit, was told she can/t do that or would get fired. Asked for a manager, clerk frowns and makes a call for a manager. Very young girl shows up, acts very inconvienced, does not acknowlege me as a customer and tells the clerk to handle it in a very unfriendly tone. And they wonder why customers dislike Sears.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 1, 2002

SEARS, because the Government can't possibly employ all the idiots.

Gary_in_Indiana · Dec 1, 2002

WOW! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I must have the best Sears tool department around or have just been incredibly lucky. I bought something from them for $199.99 and just happened to be out there three weeks later for something else and saw what I'd bought on sale for $149.99.

As the clerk was ringing me up I casually mentioned what I just explained here with a "just my luck" comment. The clerk asked how I'd paid for the item when I'd bought it. While I couldn't imagine why he wanted to know I told him I'd put it on my Sears charge (which I was using for the purchase he was riniging up then). He took it upon himself to suggest we do a paper "return" at the $199.99 then a paper "repurchase" at the $149.99 sale price.

Frankly, I never expected that and wouldn't have even suggested it had I thought of it but this guy did and went out of his way to save me $50.00. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif