Sears, What Went Wrong...

Ill tell you what went wrong.


They started selling Chinese crap...
 
I have never understood the Sears business model. You can buy tires, lawn mowers, appliances and underwear...all within a few feet of each other. Every time I walk into a store, the smell of new rubber is overpowering. I think the big box stores killed Sears and K Mart many years ago but they are just now admitting it and thousands will be out of jobs. My heart goes out to the employees.
 
Online sales. Brick and mortar stores cant compete with virtual stores. Cost of running the store is much higher than that of a warehouse.
 
tw33k2514 said:
They started selling Chinese crap...
Click to expand...

Porsche Pilot said:
I have never understood the Sears business model. You can buy tires, lawn mowers, appliances and underwear...all within a few feet of each other. Every time I walk into a store, the smell of new rubber is overpowering.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is Wal Mart has done both these things and been quite successful ^

=====================================

Which bring me to another point :idea:

A few years back I was shopping for a t.v. The exact same model I purchased from Best Buy for a little over $600, Sears had it retailed for $1,100,

IMO they've failed to be competitive
 
I guarantee it would make a comeback if Max was running the show. :dblthumb2:
 
Porsche Pilot said:
I have never understood the Sears business model. You can buy tires, lawn mowers, appliances and underwear...all within a few feet of each other. Every time I walk into a store, the smell of new rubber is overpowering. I think the big box stores killed Sears and K Mart many years ago but they are just now admitting it and thousands will be out of jobs. My heart goes out to the employees.
Click to expand...

Interesting; it must depend on the store, because I have never gotten that smell or impression in our local Sears store.
 
5.4 Shelby said:
Online sales. Brick and mortar stores cant compete with virtual stores. Cost of running the store is much higher than that of a warehouse.
Click to expand...

They failed BIG TIME in this area for sure ^

I think they should still have a brick and mortar prescence, just scaled back abit. Maybe thats what their trying to do now


CieraSL said:
I guarantee it would make a comeback if Max was running the show. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...


:iagree: That Billionaire dude should've made a thread here 5 years AGO. He wouldn't be in the mess he's in if he hadda ;)
 
I just got a good deal on an installed garage door opener from Sears online
 
Online is not the only thing that has harmed the sales, the stores are overpriced and not so helpful in the sales associates department.
 
Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowes killed Sears along with most mom and pop hardware stores. Wal-Mart has been the downfall of K-mart for years.
 
Just so you know, this online -v- retail debate is happening here in Australia too. We have a GST (10% goods and services tax which is automatically added at the time of sale) that the actual physical stores/retailers have to apply to their items. One of the 'big' stores over here (Harvey Norman) is complaining that people are buying orders under $1000 from overseas and not having to pay GST on that order. The boss of Harvey Norman contends that this makes it impossible to compete with online stores from overseas.
Mind you, his stores are always incredibly over priced to the point you can save literally $1000 on a TV by going to a different store (I know this because I saved $700 on my TV by going to another physical store, I didn't even need to go online for it).
He also fails to realise that his sales are being decimated not just by overseas online stores, but Australian online stores too. I think the whole GST point is just a scapegoat.
It's easier to whinge and complain then actual reflect and do things differently.
I think there's a lot of dinosaurs out there that have failed to adapt their business model to suit the 'new' way people are shopping. This type of antiquated mentality is not reserved for retailers though. Record and films companies share it aswell. It seems that they're frantically clinging to the 'good old days' and won't admit to themselves that times are changing.
They're going to have to either get with the program or fall by the way side. I don't think they can win this one.
 
Last edited:
Flash Gordon said:
They failed BIG TIME in this area for sure ^

I think they should still have a brick and mortar prescence, just scaled back abit. Maybe thats what their trying to do now
Click to expand...

That's what I've heard... the talk is that they may shutter the Sears brand altogether and only keep K-Mart open since it's more profitable.
 
We had a sears essentials(i never understood what that meant) near my house that was absolute garbage. At any time driving by, I would count literally maybe 10-15 cars in the massive parking lot. It was ALWAYS like that. I went in a few times, always messy and un-organized. The layout of the store was awful. I always joked with my brother that I could be stabbed and left for dead in there and no one would find me for awhile. The layout was that wacky.

The article mentions closing kmarts and sears. About a month ago that sears closed and turned into a Kmart. I went in and its actually pretty nice now. They get alot of customers too. Parking lot has probably 40-100 cars at a time now.
 
I still buy most of my tools at sears I've never had a problem with returns or anyone there same can not be said for other big box stores.. I'm looking at you bestbuy. Lol
 
It comes down to personal experience. In 2011 we bought a fridge and stove from Sears after looking at all of the competitors. Best price, great salesperson, free delivery and removal. 12 months same as cash. $2700. Just bought a garage door opener 1/3 off right before Christmas. And they price match +. Bought a TV, after we found it cheaper locally they met the price +10% more off. I'll miss them especially for tools. Main reason for closing is between the 2 they have too many stores and so much competition. My dad would only buy Craftsman tools and he was a master mechanic because of replacement policy. Now average joe will buy junk from Harbor Freight because of price. Imho
 
I will miss Sears for what they could have been. The CEO is a numbers-man and at the end of the day I can tell you the brick-and-mortar type investments (stores and technology) were poorly executed. I recently learned how they were executing IT investments and most people wouldn't have this info. Suffice to say, it was fragmented. It would be against my company's policy to divulge any more info. What I can say is that based on my personal shopping experience at the 2 stores near meL

a) things were hard to find, store layout is so 80's
b) the tire smell existed
c) 5 weeks to repair a leaf blower and zero communication?????
c) how do you quote a new gas burner install at $4-$8K when competitors are doing the same work 55% cheaper???

I hate saying this but the dog has seen better days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top