Sears, What Went Wrong...

Bunky said:
Who is selling tools NOT from China?
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The snap on tools I have bought are US made, I have also have looked and purchased some Craftsman tools that are American made but all the Craftsman gear I have purchased recently is junk especially that aluminum racing jack
 
Maybe this is not a big deal and just a good business move under current conditions. I re-read the story. They are closing approximately 100 stores out of over 4000 stores, so they are not going away. And while I always thought it was Sears bought K-Mart it's actually the other way around. After they went through their own bankruptcy and were declared dead, K-Mart bought Sears. So don't count them out yet. On the other hand ever since their bankruptcy where they really became hell holes, I have not stepped foot in a K-mart in like 10 years. Once you go to Walmart for price or Target for a nice shopping experience I don't see the point. The economy is still pretty bad and many retailers are on the ropes. Best Buy is on the verge of Bankruptcy as is J. C. Penney. I'm guilty I check things out in Best Buy because I live about 1/2 mile from one. Then I buy best price from Amazon or New Egg. Spiney
 
Spiney said:
Maybe this is not a big deal and just a good business move under current conditions. I re-read the story. They are closing approximately 100 stores out of over 4000 stores, so they are not going away. And while I always thought it was Sears bought K-Mart it's actually the other way around. After they went through their own bankruptcy and were declared dead, K-Mart bought Sears. So don't count them out yet. On the other hand ever since their bankruptcy where they really became hell holes, I have not stepped foot in a K-mart in like 10 years. Spiney
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This was my thought as well. Many stores are closing the ones that are just not performing, you see this all the time. Other times companies open too many stores and the area economy isn't sufficient enough to support them all and several close to compensate.

I'll continue to shop at Sears. They carry a nice variety of merchandise and their sales staff are trained and educated on specific products.

I thought Sears bought K-Mart?
 
Spiney said:
Maybe this is not a big deal and just a good business move under current conditions. I re-read the story. They are closing approximately 100 stores out of over 4000 stores, so they are not going away. And while I always thought it was Sears bought K-Mart it's actually the other way around. After they went through their own bankruptcy and were declared dead, K-Mart bought Sears. So don't count them out yet. On the other hand ever since their bankruptcy where they really became hell holes, I have not stepped foot in a K-mart in like 10 years. Once you go to Walmart for price or Target for a nice shopping experience I don't see the point. The economy is still pretty bad and many retailers are on the ropes. Best Buy is on the verge of Bankruptcy as is J. C. Penney. I'm guilty I check things out in Best Buy because I live about 1/2 mile from one. Then I buy best price from Amazon or New Egg. Spiney
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:iagree:
BobbyG said:
This was my thought as well. Many stores are closing the ones that are just not performing, you see this all the time. Other times companies open too many stores and the area economy isn't sufficient enough to support them all and several close to compensate.

I'll continue to shop at Sears. They carry a nice variety of merchandise and their sales staff are trained and educated on specific products.

I thought Sears bought K-Mart?
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Nope. K Mart bought Sears then they sold to a billionaire,then the economy colapse

I'll continue to shop Sears as long as they stay semi competitive. I could've bought the mattress from Crazy Larry's for less, but theres something about buying a mattress from someone in a clown suit that throws me off

:)
 
Spiney said:
Maybe this is not a big deal and just a good business move under current conditions. I re-read the story. They are closing approximately 100 stores out of over 4000 stores, so they are not going away. And while I always thought it was Sears bought K-Mart it's actually the other way around. After they went through their own bankruptcy and were declared dead, K-Mart bought Sears. So don't count them out yet. On the other hand ever since their bankruptcy where they really became hell holes, I have not stepped foot in a K-mart in like 10 years. Once you go to Walmart for price or Target for a nice shopping experience I don't see the point. The economy is still pretty bad and many retailers are on the ropes. Best Buy is on the verge of Bankruptcy as is J. C. Penney. I'm guilty I check things out in Best Buy because I live about 1/2 mile from one. Then I buy best price from Amazon or New Egg. Spiney
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I just want to point out that in my neck of the woods shopping at Walmart is a far worse experience than Kmart. Customers and employees alike are some of the rudest, dirtiest, barely english speaking people I have ever met. I fear parking simply because half the people there shouldn't (and maybe don't) have a license.
 
Good analysis.

How Sears Can Save Itself: Buy (and Sell) American - DailyFinance

sears-graph-539cs122911.jpg


They are closing 120 stores, mostly Kmart, and have been growing the number of Sears stores over the past 5 years as the graph shows.

Craftsman tools are still mostly decent and I've never had any issue returning Craftsman tool for replacement. LandsEnd goods are also guaranteed for life.

If there is anything that I don't like it's Kmart. I'd rather shop at Walmart or Farm & Fleet if I'm looking for cheap. Our local Kmarts are really grungy places. Most of our Sears stores are in malls and are fairly decent but dated.

Sears used to have a reputation for quality and that has tarnished over the years. I think they could polish it back up and I agree with the articles poll, Sears should strive to make much of their goods USA made. They should find a new ad agency and go for the quality USA theme along with their price matching.
 
Shawnw said:
I just want to point out that in my neck of the woods shopping at Walmart is a far worse experience than Kmart. Customers and employees alike are some of the rudest, dirtiest, barely english speaking people I have ever met. I fear parking simply because half the people there shouldn't (and maybe don't) have a license.
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I couldn't agree more!

I almost never shop at WalMart for all the reasons you mention and because they drive out all the other businesses destroying the lives and livelihood of many.

I give you WalMart,

Photos | www.peopleofwalmart.com
 
BobbyG said:
I couldn't agree more!

I almost never shop at WalMart for all the reasons you mention and because they drive out all the other businesses destroying the lives and livelihood of many.

I give you WalMart,

Photos | www.peopleofwalmart.com
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I just spit my cereal all over my iPad, thanks!

I actually shopped for groceries at Walmart for awhile. I became so fed up with that place that I started shopping at a Wegmans. It's locally owned, but they have like 60 stores and are usually quite a bit more. My grocery bill has gone up but I'm a much happier person because of it, and that's what matters most.
 
BobbyG said:
My opinion, something I'm an expert on!

Sears was the store of middle class America back in the 40's 50, and 60's and even some 70's. If you needed a washer, dryer, refrigerator, tools or tires Sears was THE store to shop.

Sears was a generational store and not only that they were the only game in town that sold everything you need and quality products. Catalog sales were a huge part of Sears and something the customer liked and relied on. Eliminating this was one of the biggest bone headed move they made. Sears felt that the catalog shopper would be forced into visiting the store and buying additional items...they were wrong...

Through the 70's, 80's and 90's Sears quality went down hill dramatically as many of it's suppliers were using Chinese suppliers and the focus went from quality to quantity. The philosophy of profit before customer and quality is a ticking time bomb for any company. This combined with huge competition has made it difficult for Sears.

Craftsman was a name synonymous with quality. Hand tools had a full lifetime replacement warranty and their power tools were first rate. As I mentioned above, the 70's were the beginning of the end for Craftsman power tools.

Craftsman lost it customer loyalty and support. This combined with demographic changes and stiff competition made it easy picking for brand names like DeWalt, Makita, Porter Cable etc to come in and take over as front runners. This is the very reason you see these names on the shelf at every Sears store...

Buying Kmart was another bonehead move in my opinion. What not buy a dollar store, their all about quality and durability aren't they?
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:iagree: Sears was known for quality goods. Starting in the mid 80's there was a big shift to "value" meaning cheap crap. Everything became disposable. I think that is where Sears got lost. They tried to compete with Walmart on "value" but couldn't quite find their place. And as much as we all hate Walmart, they are a very powerful company that knows their business. Sears turned in to a lumbering giant when other businesses were more dynamic. Part of the problem with Sears was they got so big that they couldn't make drastic changes.

They are going to die, and its sad as they are still a great place to buy hand tools. After they are gone we're left with Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot. Not great choices if you like to work on cars.
 
I just hope Sears did the same thing McDonald's did. You see, McD's had huge problems around a dozen years ago and they closed some underperforming stores as well. However, McD's owned the land on each of their stores so while they took a hit in almost every way imagineable in the public eye, they had real assets. If you look at McD's in may ways they are just as much a real estate company as they are fast-food; you just don't see it.

I have had maybe 2-3 lawn mowers over the last 30+ years and all were Craftsman. They just last. How one does something like this in a global economy is still a work in progress. Not too sure many companies want to have their products last a long time, reduces overall volume and with so much choice out there the average store wants the foot traffic no matter what.
 
yakky said:
:iagree: Sears was known for quality goods. Starting in the mid 80's there was a big shift to "value" meaning cheap crap. Everything became disposable. I think that is where Sears got lost. They tried to compete with Walmart on "value" but couldn't quite find their place. And as much as we all hate Walmart, they are a very powerful company that knows their business. Sears turned in to a lumbering giant when other businesses were more dynamic. Part of the problem with Sears was they got so big that they couldn't make drastic changes.

They are going to die, and its sad as they are still a great place to buy hand tools. After they are gone we're left with Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot. Not great choices if you like to work on cars.
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I agree 100%. And Kmart's failure has been their inability to compete with Wal-Mart on price. Target is an interesting study if you want to see how they have survived-by catering to a different base not going head to head with Walmart they offer trendier, sightly more upscale products and better service.

I just simply cannot shop in a Wal-Mart they're filled with low quality junk, poor service, dirty stores and dirty/rude customers and employees. It's been like that at every single one I've visited.

And then there's the whole internet presence versus brick and mortar stores. Any b&m business selling products that can be sold over the internet by a giant like Amazon or kitchen table-top dealer is doomed for failure. They need to either sell unique custom products or services that cannot be sold over the web.
 
I have one of the original Craftsmen micro-Torque clicker all metal torque wrenches. About 10-12 years ago the ratchet end started to skip some teeth. I took it down to the Sears local repair facility to get a new gear set and they refused to repair even though when bought it was a lifetime deal. That was the last time I had entered a Sears facility. Since then I have received some Craftsmen tools with the infamous "made in China Logo".
Maybe they pissed off people like me and they have no customer base anymore. It would not hurt my feelings at all if sears joined Montgomery Wards grave. I still have that wrench by the way, and yes it states"Made in the USA".

Dave
 
yakky said:
:iagree: Sears was known for quality goods. Starting in the mid 80's there was a big shift to "value" meaning cheap crap. Everything became disposable. I think that is where Sears got lost. They tried to compete with Walmart on "value" but couldn't quite find their place. And as much as we all hate Walmart, they are a very powerful company that knows their business. Sears turned in to a lumbering giant when other businesses were more dynamic. Part of the problem with Sears was they got so big that they couldn't make drastic changes.
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The mid 80s is right around the time when Sears stopped engineering and manufacturing their own products in certain segments, too. Kenmore appliances are built by the cheapest bidder -- Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Black&Decker, etc., Craftsman lawn equipment is made by Toro, MTD, Cub Cadet, etc. but they charge a premium because of the "premium" name they put on their equipment.

The stupid part is I've seen more than one incident in the store where a Craftsman mower was sitting right next to an identical MTD-branded mower that was $100 cheaper. Consumers aren't THAT stupid.

They are going to die, and its sad as they are still a great place to buy hand tools. After they are gone we're left with Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot. Not great choices if you like to work on cars.
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Sadly I think as more and more technologically advanced cars flood the market, the days of guys working on their own cars mechanically will draw to a close :(
 
The moral of the story is that most consumers shop by price (what a true capitalist would appreciate). There is still a strong market for brands at higher prices but the volume of the business is in the low price leader.

Companies try to jack the price up by branding (Craftsman name by itself is worth plenty) but in this the business world of making quarterly numbers to satisfy wall street many companies will not think as long term as they should. Many are also still loaded with debt due to acquisitions so money to re-invest in the business is often limited and not always enough to gain the momentum to turn around a business quickly.
 
C. Charles Hahn said:
The mid 80s is right around the time when Sears stopped engineering and manufacturing their own products in certain segments, too. Kenmore appliances are built by the cheapest bidder -- Whirlpool, GE, Maytag, Black&Decker, etc., Craftsman lawn equipment is made by Toro, MTD, Cub Cadet, etc. but they charge a premium because of the "premium" name they put on their equipment.

The stupid part is I've seen more than one incident in the store where a Craftsman mower was sitting right next to an identical MTD-branded mower that was $100 cheaper. Consumers aren't THAT stupid...
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Here is a website where you can find who makes what for Sears.

Appliance411 The Purchase: Who makes Sears Kenmore?

I don't recall Sears actually manufacturing anything in their own factories. I believe they always farmed out everything with their labels on it.
 
smack said:
Will Craftsman tools go down with the whole sears failure? If so, where does one buy hand tools?
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I really have very few reservations about Harbor Freight's higher end hand tools; they have the same lifetime guarantee as Craftsman and are typically priced either the same or slightly less. If the choice is a Chinese-made Craftsman or HF's Pittsburgh Professional, I'll take the HF tool and save paying the Craftsman tax.

On the other hand, if a USA-made Craftsman tool is available, I'll buy that over the HF version in a heartbeat.
 
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