The buzzards are swarming now for Sears.

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One Name....

Eddie Lampert.

I read this fascinating expose in Bloomberg a few years ago, and I just found it again:

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/article...-warring-divisions-model-adds-to-the-troubles

Eddie Lampert, who took Sears and Kmart, smashed them together, has turned Sears into some kind of queer, internal Ayn Randian "utopia" where all division managers have to beg for money and attention, at the sacrifice of the brand and company as a whole.

I applied to a few engineering jobs in Hoffman Estates last year.....and luckily I abandoned that. I heard from others that management has turned into a backstabbing hell hole coliseum. There's no resources for anything. Heavy spying, nitpicking, back stabbing....and it's running all the good people away.
Pretty much the only people left are the ones desperate for a paycheck, and those few who love the blood sport.

Sears is a zombie. It's sad. It used to be so great. And they could've been an interesting mix of physical and online retailing, before Amazon ever came on the scene.
But Eddie boy blew it with his weirdo ideology.
 
This is KMart?! Stopped by the KM in Covington GA the other day for no good reason. I was prepared to see the same dingy store, half filled shelves and unhappy workers. Well butter my butt and call it a biscuit! The store had been redone and looked much nicer, blue light specials were back, nice merchandise including Hotpoint appliances and some of the nicest sales people I've ever come across. I ended up buying a TV that I didn't need just because it was such a deal.
 
Most company owned stores have been sold to a REIT, named Seritage that has it's own corporate identity. Both existing/operating, K/Sears for most part are leased by Sear's holdings it may be coincidental that as leases expire at a location it will close. Just my opinion I doubt there will be anything to get at the end except some very undesirable real estate that will be left to fester and further destroy some already impoverished communities. No doubt this all legal.
My SIL still buys Kenmore. I have told my brother not to worry too much about any extended warranties.
K/Sears is a big outfit and it will take a while to dismantle all the assets, Slow and steady. Of course some stores will be redone as operating expense. Mostly IMHO, an illusion.
Wards was not nearly as big, right after a Christmas season in the late 90's. Poof.
 
Stores in NH are fine too actually. I've been to a couple recently and the employees were very helpful and friendly. I've always liked Sears and I'll shop there whenever I can.
 
closing

the sears store in this county said fri. it will liquidate on 2/12/16 & be closed by april,its been here since 89,i have never been much of a fan of sears(because of what they did to the Western Auto chain)but its all about the big wigs & the all mighty dollar.now Wards is store that was good & should of survived.
 
 

To be honest, I can't think of the last time I was at a Sears.  Kmart yes.  These days, other than appliances or auto repair, I don't know why anyone would shop at Sears.

 

I think everyone agrees that Kenmore, Craftsmen, and the Auto repair department ARE Sears.  That is it's strong points.  Apparently, Sears Appliance Outlet is already a divested freestanding concern.  I've seen Craftsmen tools advertised at other stores.  And, its not unusual to find the Sears Auto repair portions of stores, located in a separate building from the mall.  Just saying....

 

The Sears of yester-year will always be alive for those of us that lived it, I don't think management really cares about that.  We need a national program to preserve historical markers like experiences that people have every year.  I understand business needs to move on, but it serves society when all cultural experiences are preserved.  As it is now, only those decades or time periods that reflect favorably on commercial interests are funded for preservations. 

 

I am so SICK to death of hearing about the twisted, delusional, stories of how wonderful and miraculous the 1950s were in the U.S..  But for investors in the auto and petroleum industries, this was their unrealistic ideal fantasy world; society and ecology be damned.   Colorized versions of the Andy Griffith show is just one example of how desperate some are to hold onto this less than desirable time in our countries history.

 

Where is the 1910s? 1880s? 1980s? 1990s? 1960s?  Often times, the time periods are grossly under represented in media, or totally mis-represented, usually both.  
 
We were in one of our local Kmarts last week, we end up in there once a month to pay our electric/gas bill (Kmart actually charges less to pay there than the utility company charges to pay by phone) and I have a feeling that store isn't long for this world. Half the lights in the store were off, and even though it was cold and snowing outside, the store couldn't have been over 60 degrees. Even the (few) employees were wearing long sleeves and sweaters. There is never more than 10 cars in the (huge) parking lot, and usually only one checkout lane open. We rarely actually shop there, it's too overpriced outdated and poorly stocked. Haven't been in the other Kmart store in months, but I imagine it's in the same condition. I don't think I've been in Sears in at least 3 years.
 
Very sad. Being someone who lost their job before, I certainly hope Sears can keep going. I feel for their employees. I still love shopping there. Sears was a major part of my growing up and I'll support them to the end...which hopefully won't come.
 
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

Read the article, and the comments, the whole thing is throwing good money after bad.

Eddie cannot manage his way out of a wet paper bag. That is plainly obvious.

Ever since it became de rigueur to hire MBA from Harvard Biz School and companies put more faith in clueless MBA, companies have sucked a dry cow udder.

Washman's corollary of the day:

1. Never put a beancounter in charge of running anything, even a lemonade stand.
2. When in doubt, see rule 1 above
 
I went into the Super Kmart in Port Huron about 2 years ago just for the sake of taking a look  and it was much like you described. So depressing when you walked in the front doors you'd want to turn around and walk out.  It closed last year. 
 
Sears cont.;

My dad was with Sears division 26 service for 34 years.
I grew up with everything Kenmore, Coldpspot, Silvertone, and Craftsman.
From our furnace to our attic fan.
The clothes on our backs, the furniture we sat on, the beds we slept in.
Dad said it was a great place to work, unless one was lazy.
They had good profit sharing, good insurance, and even washed his work laundry.
No dental, but dad said it averaged out because he did not have to drive his own vehicle to work.
Sears began losing money in the malls first. Higher rents, and then the big box stores came along, and there is a piece of the pie gone when ever one opens. Then internet shopping.
From what I understand is that Sears Hometown stores will survive for a while yet.
 
Sears Issues

A big part of the problem is that Sears has been in denial for years. Thinking they are the only player on the block. With an attitude that they were doing you some sort of favor when calling for service.

Sad days ahead for Sears!

Malcolm
 
The Sears store here is always clean and organized, which always surprises me seeing how much I hear of bad ones. I have noticed there are not a lot of employees there and sometimes they're just standing around waiting, especially around the appliance, electronic and bedding departments.

The Kmart here is also clean and well stocked and relatively modern. I remember about 15 years ago when my aunt was visiting we stopped in and she was amazed at how nice the store was. She said their stores in NC were always a mess. Sears Holdings claims it is one of their best performing stores in the area. It is not all that busy whenever I have been though. Finding an employee other than at the checkout counters is difficult. Recently they did away with the electronics counter and added more appliances. The snack bar also closed some time ago and is now used as an expanded clothing department.
 
 

 

It's always difficult when you're number one, and you get pushed from the pedestal you're on.  What are the choices?  Survive or disappear.  

 

I think if Kmart were going to disappear, they would have done it already.  I mean, some say we're still going through the effects of the credit crisis fall out that started in 2007.  Look at how many retailers and business' went out since then, yet Kmart/Sears is still around.  If they were going out of business, no one would give them a loan.  They are still the 4th or 5th largest retailer in the U.S.

 

If I were in the market, I wouldn't hesitate to shop Sears for appliances, and I still like shopping Kmart.  

 

Since it was Kmart that bought Sears, I wish they would just change the name of the Sears stores to Kmart and have full stock of Kenmore and Craftsman items at all stores.  Kmart's are already carrying some Kenmore and Craftsman items.

Kmart, I think, means something, that being a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">budget</span> retailer for a variety of items.  Sears on the other hand, the only thing I think of is Kenmore, Craftsmen, and Sears Auto.  That's rather specific and utilitarian.  

 

 
 
Yeah, but they kind of did that with Sears Grand didn't they, but didn't use the Kmart name. But they had groceries, etc. Here it would mean closing a store and wouldn't work well because Kmart and Sears are in the same mall and losing one would be pretty bad for it.

But both stores do sell a lot of the same items.
 
Yes, Super K

Mart's had food. The one near me is now a Walmart. I have to say, it smells much better.
Did K Mart actually buy Sears?
Not exactly. The shares of stock and capital was combined.
K Mart surpassed Sears in gross sales as #1 retailer back in 1978, or there about.
However, in Sears' defense, K mart moved away from major appliances, TV's, and stereos, as well as furniture by 1982.
Sears had Brand Central, and also serviced everything they sold in addition to Kenmore.
They may have thought they were still the main game in town, but much worse than that, they didn't care. The top dogs gut it until all is used up. it's what they do at every company on it's way out. Then they head for bankruptcy court, and or ask for a bail out.
 
Dismal

Sears here @ Boynton Beach Mall is one that is surely in a death rattle.  I only go there to have watch batteries replaced (I collect novelty watches, so there's always a couple that need batteries).  I think the watch concession is strictly a vendor operation, though they always have me make out my check to "Sears".

 

The watch counter is next to the appliance/mattress area.  Walking through here is like marching through a FL swamp without insect repellent.  Sales personnel will be over you like white on rice!  "Oh, but while you're waiting, just take a look..."

 

There's no stink like the one of desperation.
 

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