Kenmore sold outside of Sears stores!!!???

[appliguy]

According to friends of mine that work at the local Best Buy starting at the beginning of 2006 Whirlpool will be selling Kenmore appliances outside of Sears stores....has anyoneselse heard this???According to my friends they have already recieved training from Whirlpool on Kenmore appliances???????OH GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!! PAT COFFEY

 

[cleanteamofny]

Sears would never sell outside the home store unless it is in the flagship store: Kmart!?!?

Why on earth they will sell their appliances outside the *Sears store(s)* when foot traffic within their stores generate higher sale for other goods within?

That's like cutting the head quarter way off the neck, it's an definite doomed for a slow but painful death!

 

[peterh770]

Wow! That's wild! Capitalizing on the Kenmore name. More corporate consolidations.

What a great thread for the Super forum!

 

[Hometechdoc]

I found this before

In the late 80's, I worked on a consulting project for Whirlpool where I secret shopped dozens of appliance stores and phoned even more. The purpose of the project was to determine salesmans knowledge of electronic controls.

While doing this, I ran accross a few hardware stores in small towns that sold Kenmore. Apparently Sears test marketed a few hardware style stores with names other than Sears. The Great Indoors chain, which sells Kenmore, came out of this concept.

 

[dalangdon]

Sears Franchices

I may be wrong about this, but doesn't Sears operate a franchise program of sorts for remote areas and small towns? I think independent stores can sign up to sell Kenmore and Craftsman brands.

 

[DADoES]

The Sears "Dealer" stores in two nearby towns may fall into that category.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Close Air Force Base:

I just want with a Friend to a nearby Air Force Base, to the "PX" and Commisary a couple of weeks ago. The "PX" had not only GE, Hotpoint, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire Appliances, they also had Sears Kenmore. They were sitting with their back side facing towards the entry of that area and I had thought they were the Frigidaire "Badged" Models, until I went to that Aisle and looked closer, finding out that they were actually Kenmores. I didn't inquire about how they were able to sell Kenmores, but was going to ask one of my Salesman Friends at Sears, whenever I was to go to that Mall again, but I haven't gone there for a while now.

Peace and Not So Happy Outside of Sears Kenmore Buying, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[appnut]

Steve, I'll take a stab at this. The products secured for PX sale are potentially sold around the world so that our servicement & women have access to what is familiar and "home" to them. It is my understanding those who live on base have the same type of electrical current as here in the US, the local energy is "stepped down" so to speak.