Sears going belly up?
 

Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic

Sears going belly up?
 

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic

Had not heard that.
Yup, it would be a shame.
Some of us grew up sitting on the Sears, Roebuck catalog at the dinner table
as pint-sizers.

Eisboch

Sears going belly up?
 

On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:36:34 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic

Had not heard that.
Yup, it would be a shame.
Some of us grew up sitting on the Sears, Roebuck catalog at the dinner table
as pint-sizers.

Yep. And some had the catalog next to us as we sat in the outhouse.

--Vic

Sears going belly up?
 

On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:36:34 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic

Had not heard that.
Yup, it would be a shame.
Some of us grew up sitting on the Sears, Roebuck catalog at the dinner table
as pint-sizers.

Some of us grew up USING the Sears catalog as facility paper when the
rolls ran out.

Sears going belly up?
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Gene" wrote in message
...


When my wife managed a bank in the late 70's early 80's it was widely
believed that Sears only existed due to income from it's credit card.


That reminded me. A Sears card was the first credit card my wife and I
ever received.
We were newly married and applied for one at a Sears store. We had to
meet with someone in the credit department and go through a counseling
interview on the responsible use of credit cards.

Boy, have things changed.

Eisboch


We lost the Canadian equivalent ...Eatons', a number of years ago.
Here within walking distance of my house, Sears took over the Eaton store in
a major shopping center.

Sears going belly up?
 

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Gene" wrote in message
...


When my wife managed a bank in the late 70's early 80's it was widely
believed that Sears only existed due to income from it's credit card.


That reminded me. A Sears card was the first credit card my wife and I
ever received.
We were newly married and applied for one at a Sears store. We had to
meet with someone in the credit department and go through a counseling
interview on the responsible use of credit cards.

Boy, have things changed.

Eisboch


We lost the Canadian equivalent ...Eatons', a number of years ago.
Here within walking distance of my house, Sears took over the Eaton store
in a major shopping center.

There was a store named Eaton's here in MA years ago. It went belly-up but
reopened under a new name, "Stone's". It was the same owner and he simply
rearranged the letters in "Eaton's", dropping the "a" and adding another
"s". It ran for several years until it also folded.

Eisboch

Sears going belly up?
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Gene" wrote in message
...


When my wife managed a bank in the late 70's early 80's it was widely
believed that Sears only existed due to income from it's credit card.


That reminded me. A Sears card was the first credit card my wife and I
ever received.
We were newly married and applied for one at a Sears store. We had to
meet with someone in the credit department and go through a counseling
interview on the responsible use of credit cards.

Boy, have things changed.

Eisboch


We lost the Canadian equivalent ...Eatons', a number of years ago.
Here within walking distance of my house, Sears took over the Eaton store
in a major shopping center.

There was a store named Eaton's here in MA years ago. It went belly-up
but reopened under a new name, "Stone's". It was the same owner and he
simply rearranged the letters in "Eaton's", dropping the "a" and adding
another "s". It ran for several years until it also folded.

Eisboch

Don't know if there was any connection. the Eatons' catalogue was always
eagerly waited for.
Items took a couple of days to get here from Moncton, New Brunswick.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaton%2...a_Claus_Parade

Simpsons' however (later Sears) used to have their warehouse right in the
same building so an item would 'come down' in half an hour.
http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhib...cat2407e.shtml

Sears going belly up?
 

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:50:32 -0500, wrote:

On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:04:09 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic

Sears would be well served by going to an internet only model and
using the Kmart locations for their brick and mortar store and
discount operation. Most of the Sears stores are in very expensive
mall properties. They could shed that cost.
Appliances are just Whirlpool anyway but some people do take comfort
from the Kenmore label. There is no reason why they couldn't be sold
over the net too. Sears did have a certain reputation for quality and
they should build on that.
Be a known quantity in the wild and wooly internet world.
In a 21st century way that would be returning to their roots.

In the last 5 years I've bought the following at Sears:
Kenmore Fridge
Large capacity GE clothes washer
Craftman/Honda lawn mower.
Craftsman weed whacker
Some toolboxes (HD plastic)

Not that that means anything.
But some things we'll only buy if we see them in person.
There's a huge appliance store (ABT) near me, but we ended buying the
washer from Sears because it was the one my wife liked after looking
at the controls and basket. It was her hands on decision on the
Fridge too.
Couldn't find that mower anywhere else, and the price was good.
Same with the weed whacker - the shaft rotates 180 and I edge with it
too.
Happened to see the toolboxes on sale when I was looking at mower.
I naturally go to Sears for most hand tools. Just me.
But for fasteners I'll go to Ace or Home Depot.
Sears could probably get that business, but they'd have to dedicate
floor space to it.
Maybe I'll be after fasteners at Ace or HD and see a power tool or
tool bits and "suddenly decide I NEED THIS" and pick them up there.
Retailing is complicated as hell.
But my wife doesn't like Sears, and hardly ever goes there.
So they have "female" problems too.
Maybe the multi-story layout and generally cramped look.
They have some kind of perception/display problem.
Maybe some pricing issues.
But the tool/garden section is well done in Sears stores I've been in.
Easier to browse than most other stores I've been in.
Glad I'm not in charge of turning Sears around.

--Vic

Sears going belly up?
 

Gene wrote:
On Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:36:34 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
Heard some "news" financial yakkers suggesting that's what will happen
after the Holidays, which don't look good for sales.
That would be a shame.
Don't go often except for appliances and tools, but I sure would miss
it.

--Vic
Had not heard that.
Yup, it would be a shame.
Some of us grew up sitting on the Sears, Roebuck catalog at the dinner table
as pint-sizers.

Eisboch


That won't be any sort of significant loss, since the demise of the
Christmas Wish Book and the Good, Better, Best ratings (and everything
was farmed out overseas to the commune that work cheapest) so that
everything was junk, junkier, and junkiest. Craftsman hand tools may
survive, but IMHO their power tools won't.

When my wife managed a bank in the late 70's early 80's it was widely
believed that Sears only existed due to income from it's credit card.

Most of the big department stores are in the business of extending
credit. When you buy on credit you spend 20% to 50% more and you take
longer to pay. The products in the store are just a come on. Most of
their money, more than 60%, is made on the store credit cards.

Why do you think they offer you a 20% discount on your purchases if your
sign up for their store card?