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Sears Puts Kenmore, Craftsman Up for Grabs
Yahoo Finance ^ | August 26,2015

Posted on 08/26/2016 12:59:16 PM PDT by Hojczyk

Sears, which booked a 2Q loss, says a variety of companies are interested in the floundering retailer’s familiar appliance, tool and auto brands. More

Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD), which booked another loss in the second quarter, has received interest from a variety of companies eyeing the floundering retailer’s familiar appliance, tool and auto brands.

The Illinois-based company has grappled with challenges at Sears and Kmart, two chains that struggling to turn things around in a tough environment for retailers. Target (NYSE:TGT), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) and others have recently reported weaker sales as shoppers spend more online. Sears is facing some broader issues. The company has posted red ink for the last six fiscal years, and 78 additional Sears and Kmart stores will be closed by the end of the summer.

In May, Sears announced plans to seek out buyers or partners for its Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands, hoping to unlock the value of three brands that are well-known in their respective categories. The company provided an update on Thursday, saying it continues to explore strategic alternatives for the brands—housed under a division known as KCD—and Sears Home Services. Sears is considering “potential partnerships or other transactions that could expand distribution of our brands and service offerings to realize significant growth,” the company said in a statement.

(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: appliances; craftsman; kenmore; manufacturing; sears; searsstock
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To: the OlLine Rebel

Never understood the plan of Eddie Lampert.
They continue to downsize and limp along as the asymptotically approach zero.

Maybe there’s some financial engineering in there that’s making him rich but don’t understand it.


21 posted on 08/26/2016 1:13:33 PM PDT by nascarnation
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To: Hojczyk

That’s all Sears has left. Sell them off and you might as well nail the doors shut.

Why not get rid of the lines that are just another face in the crowd? Like their clothing and home furnishings. Bland, nameless, uncompetitive.

At least Kenmore USED to have a decent reputation. And Craftsman was THE brand for home-quality tools. Put your money into sustaining and improving those brands and dump the rest. Cut way back on your store sizes and start selling quality instead of quantity.

And dump K-Mart entirely. There’s a brand that deserves to die.


22 posted on 08/26/2016 1:13:51 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: Hojczyk

I don’t know if anything is made by Kenmore. My front loading washer/dryer pair are just Whirlpool with different front panels.

My Kenmore fridge is an LG.

I’ve had good experiences with the standalone Sears appliance store near me.

Don’t get me started on mid-line GE appliances. Horrible.


23 posted on 08/26/2016 1:14:18 PM PDT by NewsJunqui
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To: Hojczyk

My very first job was working for Sears, Roebuck & Co., selling automotive parts, tires, and accessories, in 1977. At that time all of those brand names meant you were buying the best products available, Sears Best. Sears would contract with the companies that made them and have them make changes to them, including better quality parts, and then place the Sears Best brand names on them. It made it easier as a salesman sell up to the customers once you compared the original name brand to the Sears Best Brand model.

In my case it was the Sears Roadhandler tires to the Michelin. Michelin made the Roadhandler for Sears and had a better warranty and tread life. Same held true for the original Diehard battery.


24 posted on 08/26/2016 1:15:01 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

Most Kenmore appliances are made for them by Whirlpool.


25 posted on 08/26/2016 1:15:26 PM PDT by Sans-Culotte ("Political Correctness is communist propaganda writ small" - Theodore Dalrymple)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

Kenmores are actually Whirlpool and, of late, LG Korean made in China................


26 posted on 08/26/2016 1:16:04 PM PDT by Red Badger (Make America AMERICA again!.........................)
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To: Sans-Culotte

Some now are LG Korean made in China.....................


27 posted on 08/26/2016 1:16:35 PM PDT by Red Badger (Make America AMERICA again!.........................)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

I have purchased Kenmore appliances for years as well. I’m probably one of the few who made money on their warranties. They replaced our fridge after two years with a brand new model. Except for the front loading washer, all of them have given great service. The quality has declined dramatically over the years, but they are comparable to other products with the same price point.

The majority of products are poorly made today, regardless of the country of origin and often the price. My wife wanted the best stove back when we had all the kids at home. I bought a Viking stove (cost as much as a car) and it was the worst product I ever purchased. Once a product proves itself, you have about 3 years before the bean counters take over and destroy the company.


28 posted on 08/26/2016 1:16:58 PM PDT by antidisestablishment (If those who defend our freedom do not know liberty, none of us will have either.)
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To: faithhopecharity

Ace Hardware now sells Craftsman tools.................


29 posted on 08/26/2016 1:17:16 PM PDT by Red Badger (Make America AMERICA again!.........................)
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To: Hojczyk

Simply start selling guns again and watch what happens. I just recently walked thru a Sears in Denver and it was much better than I remembered it.


30 posted on 08/26/2016 1:17:27 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up....)
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To: Hojczyk

You can even buy Craftsman tools at Ace Hardware these days.


31 posted on 08/26/2016 1:18:00 PM PDT by Quality_Not_Quantity (Democrat Drinking Game - Every time they mention a new social program, chug someone else's beer.)
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To: Leaning Right

Have you bought a Kenmore appliance lately? They’re already junk - really bad quality, even the ‘high end’ stuff.


32 posted on 08/26/2016 1:18:01 PM PDT by lacrew
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To: chrisser
Been starting to consider Kobalt at Lowe’s

I have several Kobalt tools and love every single one. If I could only own one tool it would be my Kobalt double-drive screwdriver.

33 posted on 08/26/2016 1:18:36 PM PDT by LivingNet
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To: the OlLine Rebel

I don’t know about the ‘Kenmore is crap’ argument. We’ve had good luck with their products - plus, their offerings often have features that you can’t get on the name-brand ‘equivalents’.


34 posted on 08/26/2016 1:19:28 PM PDT by Quality_Not_Quantity (Democrat Drinking Game - Every time they mention a new social program, chug someone else's beer.)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

We still have my Parents’ Lady Kenmore blender, quite like a VitaMix even though it is close to 50 years old...


35 posted on 08/26/2016 1:19:43 PM PDT by Shady (We are at war again......this time for our lives...)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

Sears merchandise was just K-Mart’s, with another name on it.

We looked at a Kenmore washer a couple of years ago before Sears went out of business and were shocked by its cheap tinny construction and shoddiness.


36 posted on 08/26/2016 1:19:54 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: Hojczyk

I bought a Sears water heater 20 years ago. Two years and two months after it was installed, the liner separated from the tank and the thing was shot. I called to complain and they basically told me to perform a sex act on myself since the warranty had conveniently for them expired two months earlier.

I have not purchased anything from them since. They are circling the drain? TFB.


37 posted on 08/26/2016 1:20:44 PM PDT by henkster
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To: lacrew
Have you bought a Kenmore appliance lately? They’re already junk

Good point. I should have said they'll get even junkier.

38 posted on 08/26/2016 1:22:44 PM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: Red Badger

Got a new LG washer and dryer.
They run superbly.
Negotiated a 5yr full warranty with the Lowes salesman but after that I’m on my own.

Guessing they won’t hold up like the 20+ yr old Maytags they replaced, but those can’t be duplicated today it seems.

My daughter bought one of those Maytag Neptunes a number of years ago and apparently that was one of the worst designs ever.


39 posted on 08/26/2016 1:23:31 PM PDT by nascarnation
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To: Organic Panic

Last Craftsman sockets I got (on sale and I know why) had crappy chrome. It looked brownish color. The first time I used them I was working in a wet area and they showed some rust! My old ones have gone through all kinds of torture and no rust.


40 posted on 08/26/2016 1:24:58 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault (Kill TWITTER !! Kill FACEBOOK !! Free MILO !!)
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