90% of my tools are Craftsman...primarily because my Father-In-Law worked for them and I got all of the markdowns and his 20% employee discount. But in the past 10 years their quality has really gone down compared to the Craftsman tools of the 1980-2000 era. But they still do all of my maintenance.
Sears - yikes!
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I've found that Sears stores tend to have taken on a lower strata, depressing look. When I go into one (rarely anymore) they have a 'dead' feel about them and are about as lively and pleasant of a shopping experience as walking through a morgue. I do think that Craftsman and Kenmore are decent brands though.In the video that Brian Sozzi sounds like he's had TEN too many espressos! The guy talks so fast and almost in spasms that it was rather difficult to understand him.
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I've found that Sears stores tend to have taken on a lower strata, depressing look....
Compared to KMart's though, at least in this area, they look like the Taj Mahal. The Sears here is a mall anchor.
I've found that Sears stores tend to have taken on a lower strata, depressing look....
Compared to KMart's though, at least in this area, they look like the Taj Mahal. The Sears here is a mall anchor.
Our local Sears store has about a week left, before they close it for good. It has been an anchor in our mall since the mall was built in 1984.
We used to have two K-Marts. Both have been gone for several years. One is a Home Depot now. I went into one as it was closing out its stock to close down. It was so depressing that I vowed to never do that again.
Our JCPenney store is on life support, as JCP is in general.
We used to have two K-Marts. Both have been gone for several years. One is a Home Depot now. I went into one as it was closing out its stock to close down. It was so depressing that I vowed to never do that again.
Our JCPenney store is on life support, as JCP is in general.
Originally Posted By: sayjac
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I've found that Sears stores tend to have taken on a lower strata, depressing look....
Compared to KMart's at least in this area, they look like the Taj Mahal.
I agree....Kmart is the bottom of the barrel. Last time I went into one I barely got out before I felt like committing suicide.
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I've found that Sears stores tend to have taken on a lower strata, depressing look....
Compared to KMart's at least in this area, they look like the Taj Mahal.
I agree....Kmart is the bottom of the barrel. Last time I went into one I barely got out before I felt like committing suicide.
Originally Posted By: Turk
Anyone remember "Montgomery Wards"??
I have Montgomery Wards snowblower (for sale) and "PowerCraft" sockets (not for sale).
Anyone remember "Montgomery Wards"??
I have Montgomery Wards snowblower (for sale) and "PowerCraft" sockets (not for sale).
Originally Posted By: morepwr
Originally Posted By: Turk
Anyone remember "Montgomery Wards"??
I do! Where I am they tore it down and built a Lowes.
A Target where I live. Used to shop there all the time. Once retail started going south in Richmond, California, what was a vibrant neighborhood started going really bad.
Originally Posted By: Turk
Anyone remember "Montgomery Wards"??
I do! Where I am they tore it down and built a Lowes.
A Target where I live. Used to shop there all the time. Once retail started going south in Richmond, California, what was a vibrant neighborhood started going really bad.
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: dparm
I sure hope they spin Lands' End and Craftsman off. I'll be really sad if they vanish.
The Craftsman name is probably the most valuable thing Sears owns. They've already expanded the reach, so you can buy Craftsman tools at ACE, on Amazon and probably some other places I'm forgetting.
If Sears dies, Craftsman will live on, most likely. Someone will want that name.
I remember Orchard Supply Hardware here in California. Sears bought them sometime in the 90s and then sold it off a few years ago. They still maintain a contract to sell Craftsman tools.
Originally Posted By: dparm
I sure hope they spin Lands' End and Craftsman off. I'll be really sad if they vanish.
The Craftsman name is probably the most valuable thing Sears owns. They've already expanded the reach, so you can buy Craftsman tools at ACE, on Amazon and probably some other places I'm forgetting.
If Sears dies, Craftsman will live on, most likely. Someone will want that name.
I remember Orchard Supply Hardware here in California. Sears bought them sometime in the 90s and then sold it off a few years ago. They still maintain a contract to sell Craftsman tools.
Originally Posted By: wemay
Originally Posted By: dparm
I sure hope they spin Lands' End and Craftsman off. I'll be really sad if they vanish.
+1
+2
Originally Posted By: dparm
I sure hope they spin Lands' End and Craftsman off. I'll be really sad if they vanish.
+1
+2
Originally Posted By: PhillyJoe
Sears was as American as Chevy and apple pie. They invented their own brands for paint, appliances, tires and batteries, tools, the list goes on and on. They had free standing stores and despised malls.
All of the brands were contracted out.
My mom worked for one of Sears suppliers. It was a company called DeSoto and they made the paint sold as Weather Beater and Sear house-brand dishwashing and laundry detergent. Back then they had a plant in Berkeley, California and they operated some white collar operations from that plant. All we used was Sears laundry and dishwashing detergent for years. It was so cheap with her employee discount. When my aunt needed her house painted, my mom got her cases of paint at maybe 30% of the retail price. We were still using that stuff long after she got laid off when they closed the plant.
I didn't follow it much, but apparently they were still selling to Sears from a plant in the Midwest, but eventually lost the contract and apparently were aquired by PPG for its paints division.
Sears was as American as Chevy and apple pie. They invented their own brands for paint, appliances, tires and batteries, tools, the list goes on and on. They had free standing stores and despised malls.
All of the brands were contracted out.
My mom worked for one of Sears suppliers. It was a company called DeSoto and they made the paint sold as Weather Beater and Sear house-brand dishwashing and laundry detergent. Back then they had a plant in Berkeley, California and they operated some white collar operations from that plant. All we used was Sears laundry and dishwashing detergent for years. It was so cheap with her employee discount. When my aunt needed her house painted, my mom got her cases of paint at maybe 30% of the retail price. We were still using that stuff long after she got laid off when they closed the plant.
I didn't follow it much, but apparently they were still selling to Sears from a plant in the Midwest, but eventually lost the contract and apparently were aquired by PPG for its paints division.
When I was little, if you went in the back door of the local Sears, you had to walk under a huge hammer hanging from the ceiling, (it was the tool section). I had a mortal fear it would break loose from the ceiling and land on my head, so I would always skirt the wall just to be on the safe side.
Fast forward a few years when my wife and I got married. An older couple we knew, (they were in their late 40's, early 50's) gave us their old Kenmore washing machine. It dated from the late 60's early 70's (Harvest Gold color). He told me I would probably get a year or two out of it. We kept it for 15 years and raised three children on it. When it finally died, I headed to Sears and bought a new washing machine convinced it would last till I died. It beat me to the grave, lasting only five years.
Fast forward a few years when my wife and I got married. An older couple we knew, (they were in their late 40's, early 50's) gave us their old Kenmore washing machine. It dated from the late 60's early 70's (Harvest Gold color). He told me I would probably get a year or two out of it. We kept it for 15 years and raised three children on it. When it finally died, I headed to Sears and bought a new washing machine convinced it would last till I died. It beat me to the grave, lasting only five years.
Thinking on it now, the very first set of tires I bought for my first car were a set of Sears Roadhandlers. That was in 1979 - 200 bucks for four tires mounted balanced and out the door, (I wanted to buy recaps from Big O tire in Orlando for ten dollars each, but my Dad wouldn't let me).
The main issue is there is a fund manager running Sears Holding Company rather than a retailer. Sears could find its niche.
Jamesway, Ames, Caldors, Bradleys went belly-up when Walmart starting to expand everywhere. But Target found a niche.
If you remember the movie Pretty Woman, the guy would buy companies and split them up. Parts were worth more than the whole.
Sears would need to improve quality and attract more loyal customers. It already has a lot of loyal customers.
Jamesway, Ames, Caldors, Bradleys went belly-up when Walmart starting to expand everywhere. But Target found a niche.
If you remember the movie Pretty Woman, the guy would buy companies and split them up. Parts were worth more than the whole.
Sears would need to improve quality and attract more loyal customers. It already has a lot of loyal customers.
Originally Posted By: strat81
As a kid, I remember how popular WeatherBeater paint was. Now? I can't remember the last time I even heard the name mentioned.
That was the exclusive stain used on my parents home for.... well as long as I know, until the last time my Dad went to buy some, everyone in the store thought he was crazy "Never heard of it." was the only response he could get.
I suppose I should expedite getting rid of the gift cards I bought last year for them before they are truly worthless.
As a kid, I remember how popular WeatherBeater paint was. Now? I can't remember the last time I even heard the name mentioned.
That was the exclusive stain used on my parents home for.... well as long as I know, until the last time my Dad went to buy some, everyone in the store thought he was crazy "Never heard of it." was the only response he could get.
I suppose I should expedite getting rid of the gift cards I bought last year for them before they are truly worthless.
Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
When I was little, if you went in the back door of the local Sears, you had to walk under a huge hammer hanging from the ceiling, (it was the tool section). I had a mortal fear it would break loose from the ceiling and land on my head, so I would always skirt the wall just to be on the safe side.
There's a museum in San Francisco called the Exploratorium. I look my kid there last weekend. They have one exhibit about "danger", where there's a target on the floor and a full sized grand piano above that target. It's supposed to dare people to walk under the piano. It's secured to the ceiling with fiber ropes, including some that are intentionally distressed to look like they're fraying.
When I was little, if you went in the back door of the local Sears, you had to walk under a huge hammer hanging from the ceiling, (it was the tool section). I had a mortal fear it would break loose from the ceiling and land on my head, so I would always skirt the wall just to be on the safe side.
There's a museum in San Francisco called the Exploratorium. I look my kid there last weekend. They have one exhibit about "danger", where there's a target on the floor and a full sized grand piano above that target. It's supposed to dare people to walk under the piano. It's secured to the ceiling with fiber ropes, including some that are intentionally distressed to look like they're fraying.
I used to buy appliances there, they were competitive with Home Depot and Lowes, but they got rid of their free shipping and want $70 for shipping. Home Depot and Lowes still offer free delivery. Once that's factored in, they're no longer competitive, haven't been for a few years. It's too bad too because I bought a bunch from one salesman who's pretty nice but now I can't because it's $40-$50 cheaper at HD or Lowes. Now I just go to Lowes because if they have it in stock, they deliver the next day. I'm a landlord with several units so every year I'm always buying a couple of appliances like refrigerators and stoves.
Originally Posted By: dparm
Yes, but my fear is that someone will just buy the name and it will become a generic or low-end tool company.
I think that horse already left the barn.
Yes, but my fear is that someone will just buy the name and it will become a generic or low-end tool company.
I think that horse already left the barn.
Glad I bought my Sears Di-Hard Platinum Battery for my F-150 last summer! Gotta get another one for my Crown Vic before they go away for good! Thats too bad I luv their tools & Batteries, & Lawn Stuff!
Such a disappointment. It was an aspirational store for me when I was young and broke, but now I have to drive past Lowes, HD, AAP, Harbor Freight etc. to find a Sears. With the (perceived) dropoff in quality of the Craftsman brand, I don't drive those extra miles. I have two old Craftsman 3/8" drills, and each weighs way more than a new 1/2" drill, and will drill and drive all day long and never need fixing.
I am writing this on my 20 year old Ward's table and Ward's couch drinking water chilled in my Ward's refrigerator wearing clothes cleaned in my Kenmore washer. Mom still uses my old Kenmore washer that was my friends grandmothers' Kenmore washer.
It's still the best place to park if I have to go to the mall, though. The lot and store are always empty! Close parking and no crowd.
I am writing this on my 20 year old Ward's table and Ward's couch drinking water chilled in my Ward's refrigerator wearing clothes cleaned in my Kenmore washer. Mom still uses my old Kenmore washer that was my friends grandmothers' Kenmore washer.
It's still the best place to park if I have to go to the mall, though. The lot and store are always empty! Close parking and no crowd.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Possibly gone by 2017? That's a LIFETIME away in the retail industry. A whole lot can change between now and then.
Like said, Craftsman tools and Kenmore brands have got to generate cash.
Sears outdoor power equipment also has a HUGE chunk of the homeowner OPE realm.
The stuff that sells will live on.
Like said, Craftsman tools and Kenmore brands have got to generate cash.
Sears outdoor power equipment also has a HUGE chunk of the homeowner OPE realm.
The stuff that sells will live on.
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