Sears: The Most Hated Company in America?

[frigilux]

As a tail-end baby-boomer (born 1959), Sears was the top name in department stores as I grew up. They had it all: big stores in cities, "catalog" storefronts in even tiny towns---we had one in my town of 1,800---and they sold everything under the sun. Our household was the perfect example of the Sears dream. Nearly everything came from the retail giant: Clothing, appliances, carpet, tools, lawn mover, toaster, drapes, TV, radio. The combination of easy credit availability, competitive pricing, and an Amazon-like "we'll ship anything to you" marketing strategy was very enticing for middle class families.

Not so much, these days. Here's a slightly depressing article (for nostalgic boomers, anyway) on the state-of-the-brand in 2013.

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/michael-santoli/most-hated-major-company-mall-172527823.html

 

[tomturbomatic]

franchisee-run Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Inc. (SHOS)

So does this mean that the outlet stores where people were buying Duets and other appliances cheap some years ago were franchise operations? Poor Sears. I remember stories of the rural mail carriers hating Sears & Roebuck twice; once when the catalogs were delivered and then when they had to deliver the merchandise. I remember when you could order everything for your aquarium through the catalog, even the fish. A friend and I had aquariums in elementary school and would dream about acquisitions in the Sears catalog. Of course, we had pet departments in the dime stores and real businesses where we actually went to buy stuff, but when you were at home, it was a good fantasy comparrison shopping trip. The pharmaceutical and health aids section was a good place to learn about ailments and wonder what a truss was used for. You wondered how sick you had to be to have a potty chair beside your bed. If you were lucky, you did not find out for decades. In the farm catalog we learned a lot about farming; that's where I first learned the term "stock tanks." Just from the item descriptions of their products, you could learn a lot about a wide range of things. The descriptions had to be fairly detailed to sell something sight unseen. When you think about it, creating and updating that catalog was the 19th and 20th centuries' equivalent of creating a website with all of the descriptions, catalog numbers, indexing and organization involved.

Thanks for the informative article.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Just be thankful for Freedom & Free Enterprise!

Quality-wise, maybe Sears products are likely to be going the Montgomery Ward-route, but isn't everybody's?

There have been a few rumors over the last few years that Sears Robuck would be going out of business (K-Mart, whom S-R has merged with, too!) but so far not yet has any Holiday season ever been its last!

I'd say any place that doesn't do what they do over in Russia, is still a good place, though more 'n' more manufacturing needs to be in the USA, as opposed to the USSR...!

-- Dave

 

[whirlcool]

I am sure that the creation of Sears catalogs was one heck of an undertaking even before computer could do it. I wonder if Sears printed them themselves or outsourced the printing job?

Over the years Sears has been selling off profitable parts of itself, like Homart Realty & Development. They built shopping centers (usually large ones) that contained Sears stores. But in 1996 they sold that off too along with a large amount of their income. What's left to sell? All we have left now are the unprofitable stores.

There is still one old Sears store still in operation on Richmond Av & Main St in Houston. I wonder how it remains in business? The parking lot is empty all the time It's in a pretty bad part of town, yet it remains. It looks like it may have been built in the 30's or 40's.

My parents had a refrigerator from Sears, a Coldspot and I think they had an air conditioning unit. But most everything was name brand and they used Polk Bros in Chicago.

I read a book about Polk Bros in Chicago. By 1947 almost 87% of all Chicagoans had bought at least one item at Polk Bros.

 

[joe_in_philly]

I admit, I do like to check out the appliances at Sears from time-to-time.

My parents and grandparents bought most of their major appliances from Sears. I purchased my Kenmore HE3t washer (2003), Bosch dishwasher (2005), and Kenmore Fridge (2007) from Sears. Generally, the Kenmore version of an appliance would offer better features than the name brand mate.

The sister to the Duet, the HE3t washer had the stand alone Stain treat option which its manufacturer, Whirlpool, didn't offer on the Duet. The cycle time was slightly longer on the Kenmore, and the spin speed a little faster. It also offered an additional water temperature and spin speed option.

The Kenmore fridge I bought had nicer shelves than its Whirlpool sister model, and the ice maker had a fan that would speed up ice making.

I stuck with Sears since I got a great deals. Free shipping, sale price, and a year to pay with no payments or interest on the Sears card. Now I wonder if I would be able to get such a good deal. Plus, with today's interest rates, delaying payment a year isn't the same financial benefit as it used to be.

 

[Ultramatic]

Ah Sears...

 

<span style="font-size: medium;">Nearly everything in my parents 2nd home was/is practically all Sears. Air conditioners, refrigerator, washer, vacuum, floor scrubber, toaster, dishes, linens, towels, drapes, curtains, bedspreads, lamps, living room furniture, clothes, shoes, power tools, hand tools. My grandmother started ordering things from the catalog back in the late 1930's.  </span>

 

<span style="font-size: medium;">Back in the mid 80's I ordered a TOL smooth top range for my parents. My mom hated it, too much trouble to keep the top clean. So a week later, I called Sears, ordered the equivalent coil range. 2 days after that, they took the smooth top back, and installed the coil one. No fuss, no muss. They also did that with a table saw my dad bought, they came, picked it up and brought a new replacement. Now that was service! </span>

 

<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I noticed Sears drop in appliance quality back in the late 1980's, like most manufacturers of the era.  </span></span>

<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>A sad but not all too surprising article.</span>

[this post was last edited: 6/10/2013-15:39]

 

[twintubdexter]

Not that fond of articles that run Sears into the dirt...

Sears has been in business for many, many years with most of that time being spent as a retail giant. It, like many department stores long past, were part of the concept of being all things to all people. Part of that philosophy still exists at Sears today which may be a liability instead of an asset. Indeed, a husband and wife can still walk into a Sears store with the husband heading off to buy a lawnmower and water heater while the wife shops for a dress to wear to a party and some shoes and a handbag to match (sorry for the stereotyping.) Sears was and remains so large that countless of millions of people have had contact with it's goods and services over it's long history, most very satisfied, some not.

As a buyer for Orchard Supply Hardware in San Jose I worked under the Sears umbrella both during and after the transition. I saw many fellow friends and associates in areas like accounts payable, accounts receivable and loss prevention eliminated. It was not a happy situation but now that I look back on it I suppose it was a normal part of a takeover. When my partner died suddenly 12 years ago Sears was more than understanding providing me far more "bereavement benefits" than they were required to.

It seems so many of these huge companies have their "day in court" enjoying stature and profits for a period and then falling from grace. Sears will never be the giant it once was. Their stock, once displayed simply as "S" may never be the good investment it once was. I tossed the stock option certificates I received from Sears/OSH as part of my annual incentive as they became more and more worthless to me. I am no retail authority and even less investment-savvy but all in all I wouldn't throw Sears on the scrap heap just yet. JCP may be headed there but Sears could possibly turn things around enough to at least keep their legs from wobbling. It's always easier to become number one than it is to remain number one.

I gotta feeling I'm gonna get a lot of flak for this...

 

[danemodsandy]

I Don't Hate Sears Any More -

- Because I stopped using them 30 years ago! It was already too awful to deal with them at that time, so I eliminated Sears from my life, gaining a lot of peace-of-mind in the process.

And you're talking to someone who grew up in a very Sears-oriented household. Not only did we own a lot of their stuff, I used to pore over the catalogs for hours at a time.

No more. I haven't set foot in a Sears in a long time, and haven't bought anything from them in decades. I don't even buy their vintage stuff - too frustrating to think about how great they used to be, and how rotten they became.

 

[mrb627]

Sad

Under normal circumstances, I would typically place Sears in the same category as Walmart. That is, a file of retailers I could do without. That being said, I am reminded of the greatness that was once one of the finest department stores this country has ever known. The Kenmore name has fallen so far from grace, it is painful to think of...

Malcolm

 

[hydralique]

Naaah . . .

So long as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon exist Sears is safe from being the most hated company in America, just sayin'.

 

As for Sears, I will always love Craftsman tools. In general the quality is very good for the price and availability is excellent. I'm under no delusions that they're as good as Snap-On, Mac, or some of the other true professional tool lines, but those are much too pricey for a weekend mechanic who just wants something decent to meddle around with old cars. I have rarely had a Craftsman tool fail under my use but have had failures in various store brand products. And you can't beat being able to go right down to Sears to get something odd that you find is needed for a project versus driving half way across the city to a specialized tool shop that's only open during working hours.

 

[arbilab]

For everyone who knows who they are, what they do and how they do it, Monsanto is the most hated company. Not only in the US but in the world.

I hate to see legacy companies go down the pot. The list is long, starting with ALL appliance manu's. Most of my life, one had to go out of one's way to buy shabby white goods. Cynically, that's all that's left.

Airlines, their declining standards and services. Cars, their poor practical and aesthetic designs. Radio and television, their tedious cookiecutter fare. Soda and candy, their rancid HFCS aftertaste. I'm not all-that retail oriented, but retailing is going downhill in product integrity, store staffing and policies.

One thing that flipped the switch on Sears for me was when the state of California revoked their license to operate car repair services after they were caught repeatedly padding unnecessary repairs or charging for things they weren't really doing. That's pretty despicable, don't ya think?

 

[iheartmaytag]

Sear's like any business

It's not the company, but the people that make it great.
Our Sear's close to my home gained quite a reputation for being unhelpful, rude, and overpriced. But I liked to look at the appliance section when I went through. That is where I met a wonderful saleslady, Donna, and ended up buying a stove and dishwasher from her.

Not because it was Sear's, I bought a GE Range and a Kitchenaid Dishwasher, but because of the excellent treatment I was given and how she went out of the way to satisfy me, answer my questions, and price match to make sure I got the best, or at least the same deal as anywhere else.

Because of her, I would go back. Though I agree Sear's is not what it used to be, I think in the last year or so they are trying to do better.

 

[ptcruiser51]

Heritage

My parents went to Sears for a lot of things. Appliances, furniture, clothing. I kind of migrated away from the store not for any particular reason. A year ago I went there to use their optometrist service. It seemed very professional and up-front with pricing. I got a pair of contact lenses (I still wear "hard" ones), and got a pair of bifocal glasses. THD employees got a small discount on exams/purchases; that's the reason I went. My contacts are still fine, my glasses are nearly opaque at this point from scratches. I happened to stop by the store when I was at the mall, the "fitter" explained that I had not gotten scratch-resistant lenses. Well, I would have if someone had ASKED ME! Lousy service in my opinion.

I should mention, while I was waiting for my appointment I took a walk through the appliance department which happened to be next door to the optometrist's office. Wandered around for 15 minutes or more. Not a single salesperson around, the cashier station was unoccupied. Like a neutron bomb had been set off. Products were there, but no one to take your order. I could have been ready to drop $5000+ on a kitchen suite, except for the fact that the whole place was unattended.

Sears is not the only one with FAIL on their menu. Today I went to Best Buy to pick up a flatscreen that was a promo from the place where I just bought a lot of furniture. I waited a total of 35 minutes to have someone come over to help me with a carry-out purchase. Several people said an employee would be "with me in five minutes". Well, I was almost "five minutes-ed" out of the store in frustration. Again, I could have been waiting to buy a $1200 home theater purchase for all they knew.

Foo. Rant over.

 

[tolivac]

Sears--"Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back!"Feel they should go back to this-remember when Sears stores had SERVICE for their patrons.And knowledgeable help at that!-but no more.When I visited Sears-as a kid to today-the tool and appliance sections are favorites-the Craftsman tool line is much smaller now--and those tools are MADE IN CHINA-the label proudly shows it-remember when they were proudly made in the US!Its no wonder OLDER Craftsman tools are seeked out by tool lovers and collectors.And if the Sears tool was broken-no matter-they replaced it with no questions asked!!

 

[blackstone]

Looks Like "The Onion" Has Picked Up On This Thread.

I found this today.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/ghost-of-alvah-roebuck-enjoying-the-hell-out-of-se,32769/

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Right, that the article should be titled:

"Ghost Of Alvah Roebuck Enjoying The Hell Out Of Sears’ Decline", just as Aaron Montgomery Ward must be, in light of corporate bureaucracy undermining humble companies w/ a "family business"-type of heritage, laughing from his grave!

-- Dave

 

[washerboy]

Little Rock Sears

As a baby boomer I realate to many of you that said you grew with Sears..thank god for the Sears catolog..otherwise I'd been naked. I don't shop there anymore for many of the reason above..however..about 3 weeks ago I decided I needed 2 new fans for the house. I wanted good one's since the cheapies I'd been buying at Walmart last for a year or 2 and in the trash they go. So...I go to my local Sears Soooo.

* walked in the store..it was hot, smelly, felt dim/dingy/dirty.
* had to interupt 2 employees who were engaged in conversation behind the register counter {and might I add: looked like they were dressed for doing yard work} where the fans were..."upstairs in the appliance department".
* upstairs even hotter..no fans...was told they were downstairs by the outdoor furnitue.
* found fans..not really what I wanted..same stuff that walmart had..very limited selection..as in...what was left over from 2012.

Went across the street to Target:

*store bright, cool, was hit with the smell of freash popcorn and starbucks coffee
*sales associate TOOK ME to the fan selection
*many differnt types/styles to choose from
*found exactly what I wanted

I'm Mr. Thrifty, but it didn't bother me one bit to spent 90.00 for 2 fans. I just don't understand why the Sears folks are just allowing everything to go to pot. I don't know about the rest of you, but the store in Little Rock is a stand alone building..I drive by there everyday to and from work..there's ever hardly more than a handful of cars in the parking lot..I've thought for several years that a complex that big really has to do some volume just to take care of the structure and utilities. I wonder all the time just how much longer their going to keep the doors open?????

 

[retropia]

Isn't Sears now owned by a hedge fund? I believe I read somewhere that the hedge fund is only interested in pocketing profits, whatever may be left, and not reinvesting. It's more of the Carl Icahn model as opposed to the stripping-and-flipping model.

Soon it will be past the point of no return, and I expect they will go into bankruptcy. Some of the brands like Kenmore or Craftsman could be sold, if they have any remaining value.

 

[whirlcool]

ACE Hardware is already selling Craftsman tools. BTW, in 2006 Sears was thinking about buying Home Depot and/or Safeway.

The Washington Post in a March 11, 2007, article, described the current Sears as a hedge fund with money being diverted from the maintenance and improvement of stores to non-retail financial investments. And it shows.

I wonder just what these "non-retail financial investments" are?