Sears: The Most Hated Company in America?

[whirlcool]

Yes, I know that most of the Marshall Field & Co. stores were converted to Macy stores. What a loss.

But at least we have Nordstrom's. Of course they are not an everyday kind of store, but when you want to buy something of quality with good service behind it they are the place to go.

 

[e2l-arry]

I agree about the incessant calling!

Which they can do according to the rules of the "DO NOT CALL LIST" since you're a customer. But I'd get unwanted call WEEKLY about some dumb offer or to add an extended warranty on something I'd already bought. Finally one night I'd HAD just about enough and told them if they bothered me one more time, I'd cancel my credit card! I was pissed so I was pretty snarky and told them. "And from what I've seen the last time I was in one of your stores was that you NEED every customer you can get!" But sure enough, a week later I get another unwanted sales call about siding of all things and I cancelled my account on the spot. No apology, no, "You've been a long term credit card customer" Almost 30 years. They just cancelled my card as I asked. And I thought, no wonder you're on the verge of going out of business. But at least the calls stopped. Now when I do shop there, like last week for the water heater, I put it on my debit card or Mastercard

 

[whirlcool]

There was a time when Sears would only accept their own credit card for charge sales.
I know it's been a long time, but when did Sears start accepting Mastercard/Visa for purchases?

 

[e2l-arry]

Visa & MasterCard

Have been accepted at Sears for quite some time now. At least 10 years. That's one smart thing they did to try and increase sales. I think the interest on Sears' card was something like 23%!. Surprised they weren't charged with breaking any usury laws! So I think it was about the same time they started selling outside name brands like Maytag, GE, LG, KitchenAid and so on along with the Kenmore name brands.

 

[goatfarmer]

I remember my wife trying to buy a TV at Sears, and they wouldn't take her VISA.  Lucky I had a Sears card with me.

 

[e2l-arry]

They will now

But back in the day, it was a Sears card of cash! They wanted that 428% interest that the Sears card charges John Q. Customer. Well, maybe not 428%, but it was pretty high!