Sears Closing

[Bobber]

Heard today they are closing the local store in Waterloo. Am not surprised as was in there a few weeks back and the place was nearly empty. Selection is so much more sparse relative to what it used to be and prices not so great. Sears used to be my go to store. Never dreamed they would go the way of the dodo bird.

Kenmore stuff used to be such great values....

 

[CycloneErik]

I worked at Sears for a couple years in the early 2000s. It wasn't a surprise to anyone but the most senior management of the company that they were going under.

 

[dirtyninety]

Sears owned Kmart and Lands End in superstar corporate maneuvers in recent years.
Branding.

 

[kingcy]

Just too many other options now to what made them money over the years. They used to the store to go to now they are just another store. Craftsman tools used to be the thing to get now there are so many other better options for hand tools.

 

[Gonzo]

I worked at Sears for a couple years in the early 2000s. It wasn't a surprise to anyone but the most senior management of the company that they were going under.

Sears sucks. I worked there once. Sold Lady Kenmores. Nasty... ooh, nasty work.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Sears used to be one of the biggest retailers in the world. Now the ownership group only cares about their assets which are many. They just keep selling them off when they think they can get the most bang for their buck. The retail business has meant nothing to them for at least 20 years.

 

[ISUTex]

Worked at the Crossroads Sears in the early 2000's late 90's. I hated it. Was pressured like crazy to sell those stupid maintenance agreements, which were a rip off. Felt like I was lying to customers while trying to sell those stupid things. Working there motivated me to finish college.

 

[Gerbs]

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a Sears

 

[Clonehomer]

Now that you can buy Craftsman at Kmart, Ace, Blaine's, and any number of other stores, I don't really think this will affect many. The Waterloo store is always dead and I don't know what they really sell that I can't get somewhere else cheaper or with a better selection.

 

[2forISU]

At one time, Sears was the place to buy your tools. Grew up in Waterloo and Sears was the one stop shop for everything.

 

[flynnhicks03]

Worked at the Crossroads Sears in the early 2000's late 90's. I hated it. Was pressured like crazy to sell those stupid maintenance agreements, which were a rip off. Felt like I was lying to customers while trying to sell those stupid things. Working there motivated me to finish college.

I sold appliances there in '96-'97. Did you work there at that time?

 

[JP4CY]

I think if they would have just stuck to the Craftsman/lawn/garage stuff they may have had a chance.
Selling treadmills, jewelry, shoes really “Kohl’ed” it up to me.
Menards, besides Bosch sells crap tools.
HD sells Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi.
Lowe’s sells DeWalt and Porter Cable.

If Sears could have stuck with quality tools, and tried to keep as much manufacturing in the US as possible they could have had a shot at competition.

 

[IcSyU]

I think if they would have just stuck to the Craftsman/lawn/garage stuff they may have had a chance.
Selling treadmills, jewelry, shoes really “Kohl’ed” it up to me.
Menards, besides Bosch sells crap tools.
HD sells Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Ryobi.
Lowe’s sells DeWalt and Porter Cable.

If Sears could have stuck with quality tools, and tried to keep as much manufacturing in the US as possible they could have had a shot at competition.

Power tools at Menards are crap.
DeWalt and Milwaukee are in Lowe's/Home Depot and CRUSH anything offered by Sears and Menards.

Problem with Sears vs the others? Location and offerings. The Menards/Home Depot/Lowe's of the world are "one stop" shops for your whole project.

 

[agardini]

I worked in the fort dodge sears back during a couple summers and Christmas breaks during college. That store has long been shut down. They did open one of those privately held hometown sears stores though. They only sell appliances, tools and maybe electronics. A salesman that has worked there for many years said the store makes its bread and butter with appliances and tools and that sears should have downsized to doing just that to revitalize itself. Get rid of clothes, tvs, and the small household appliances.

 

[RedBlooded]

Worked at the Waterloo
Sears in high school. Was fun place to work yet they treated their employees like ****. I knew one gal there that had been their for 30 years and never made more then the min wage.

 

[kingcy]

Now that you can buy Craftsman at Kmart, Ace, Blaine's, and any number of other stores, I don't really think this will affect many. The Waterloo store is always dead and I don't know what they really sell that I can't get somewhere else cheaper or with a better selection.

There are so many better tool options now not sure why it matters. I got tired of taking back broken tools to Sears, I have pretty much replaced all my tools with better stuff that actually lasts.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Now that you can buy Craftsman at Kmart, Ace, Blaine's, and any number of other stores, I don't really think this will affect many. The Waterloo store is always dead and I don't know what they really sell that I can't get somewhere else cheaper or with a better selection.

How much longer will that even be possible? How many are even still open? I believe Kmart is a Detroit institution, and the only one that I'm aware of that exists in the Detroit metro area has "store closing" signs on it.

 

[SoapyCy]

I've followed the decline of Sears for years. In addition to the things already mentioned, the CEO was clearly using it's real estate holdings as the primary focus as opposed to the retail business. He ruled with an iron fist and rarely, if ever, went to the corporate office, preferring to video call in from his house in south Florida.

 

[FarminCy]

The moment Sears sold Craftsman to Stanley was the official sign it’s all shutting down.

And agree with others that there are much better tool options out there both hand and power.

 

[BCClone]

Power tools at Menards are crap.
DeWalt and Milwaukee are in Lowe's/Home Depot and CRUSH anything offered by Sears and Menards.

Problem with Sears vs the others? Location and offerings. The Menards/Home Depot/Lowe's of the world are "one stop" shops for your whole project.

Menards must be bad, because I consider the stuff I get from HD or Lowes to be my cheap stuff no matter the brand. Bought some dewalt tools at bomgaars because i needed a cheaper option for a couple jobs.